questions about driving in snow

[Yarek]

Quick background: I grew up with real winter and I know everything about being easy on the throttle, countersteering etc. Back in the day I either drove:
- a tiny fiat 600, RWD with the engine was in the back; it weighted about 1200lbs and two people could push it anywhere; or...
- a 20T truck with 40" wheels and large chains.

For the last 12 years I've been steering clear of snow with my little Honda here in California. Now I'm a happy owner of a 2001 Ram2500, 4WD. It's lifted and has 315/75R16 tires on it. They are Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs. I got them new last year. They have served me really well on gravel and pavement, and in mud off-road, but I have no idea how well they do on fresh or packed snow. They say they are good on snow (not just an all-season tire, but technically rated as a snow tire).

Does anyone have experience with Duratracks on snow, especially in a 4WD truck? how bad does the snow need to get for me to need chains, and if so: what chains would you recommend? Given that the thread is over 1/2" deep, I'm guessing only beefy chains make sense. I have no clearance issues BTW, so that's not a concern.

 

[MontanaHandyman]

I have those tires on my '14 Ram 1500 4wd...they work fantastic in snow, and even deeper snow, but my experience is that they're not all that great on icy conditions or hard packed snow. Still gotta take it easy. (My wife's AWD minivan with the studless softer rubber winter tires work extremely well on ice/hard pack conditions...even better than my truck.)

 

[rule18]

I've run Duratracs on two of my previous RAMs and four of my Wranglers and I drive in snow. They performed exceptionally well in snow, but they're not actual snow tires. Yes, they've got the three peak rating which is great, but the rubber compound is not that of a true snow tire.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

Frankly, Duratracs are the only Goodyear tire I'd own.
They came stock on my Power Wagon and, had they been 35" instead of 33's ,I wouldn't have replaced them.

 

[Yarek]

Thx guys! I know what you mean about the hardness of the compound. It does make a big difference in the cold, but those soft tires wear out extremely quickly in the hot sun I couldn't justify getting real snow tires given how rarely I need to deal with it. It's mostly the fresh/softly packed snow that is my concern.

What I think I might miss from the 20T truck I used to drive: the ability to lock all differentials. That is a recipe for some serious fun I have the limited slip diff in the rear, which helps, for sure.

If you ever found yourself needing chains: how bad did it have to get for you to need them?

 

[huntergreen]

I've run Duratracs on two of my previous RAMs and four of my Wranglers and I drive in snow. They performed exceptionally well in snow, but they're not actual snow tires. Yes, they've got the three peak rating which is great, but the rubber compound is not that of a true snow

You get snow over in the flatlands ? Lol

 

[ChaosMike]

You get snow over in the flatlands ? Lol

Orange County, NY gets the excess that falls off my roof and blows across the Delaware.

To the topic, since my truck is about to arrive I was thinking about a set of 18s as dedicated winter rims and putting Blizzaks on based on how they were on my little 2wd S10 years back. They seem to still have good stuff said about them.

 

[rule18]

Orange County, NY gets the excess that falls off my roof and blows across the Delaware.

 

[huntergreen]

Orange County, NY gets the excess that falls off my roof and blows across the Delaware.

To the topic, since my truck is about to arrive I was thinking about a set of 18s as dedicated winter rims and putting Blizzaks on based on how they were on my little 2wd S10 years back. They seem to still have good stuff said about them.

To be honest, my SRA wranglers were great in the heavy wet snow and hard pack snow. The sucked in pretty much every other condition.

I take it your in the Milford Pa area ?
My Cooper At3 4S have handled all the snow we have had in the last 2 years along with all other conditions. I’m thinking I’ll only get 40000 miles out of them, not the 50000 they advertise. No need need for dedicated snows in my experience.

 

[ChaosMike]

To be honest, my SRA wranglers were great in the heavy wet snow and hard pack snow. The sucked in pretty much every other condition.

I take it your in the Milford Pa area ?
My Cooper At3 4S have handled all the snow we have had in the last 2 years along with all other conditions. I’m thinking I’ll only get 40000 miles out of them, not the 50000 they advertise. No need need for dedicated snows in my experience.

About 25 miles further up Rt 6 at a slightly higher elevation (around 1300 ft), enough that it might be snowing at home and not down there. I'll do the dedicated snows on the truck as it's going to be my wife's new daily and "mine" on the weekends

 

[Dean2]

I have been running Duratracs on my 4x4s for 35 years. I have tried lots of other tires, but for an all round tire I keep going back to Duratracs. My 2021 2500, got 33" Duratracs when it had less than 3000 miles on it because the Firestone Transforce ATs that came on it were completely useless in mud.

Duratracs have been updated in the last three years. They have far more sipes, which helps on ice. They still aren't as good on ice as a true winter tire but they are better. In mud and snow no AT type tire can touch them. I have often been in snow deep enough to be pushing it with the front bumper, I have never needed chains. It is to the point I don't even carry them anymore. If you get into snow deep enough that you need chains, time to switch to a Snowmobile.

Another tip, Duratrac makes what is called a standard load tire specifically for the 1500s. It is not E rated like the ones used on 2500s and 3500s. It is quieter and rides quite a bit better, plus runs at lower air pressure.

 

[LouM]

Big wide luggy tires are fine in the fluffly snow when it starts to settle and get hard they are not that good.
I run dedicated snow tires and have for over 50 years I ran Cooper Wintermasters for many years then tried
Nokian Hakkapeliitta's have never looked for different snow tire since.

As far as chains while they will help in deep settled heavy snow where they really shine is when there is ice or hard pack snow on the ground or under fresh falling snow. There is nothing that will match chains in those conditions.

 

[ultivssl]

Living on an acreage in Saskatchewan Canada, we get our fair share of all types of winter conditions. I ran the stock SRA's for a season and they were pretty good on ice, hard packed snow, but as soon as you stop, they ice up and you're not going anywhere. In as little as an inch of snow, it was a hard time to get going. I moved the BFG KO2's and they were awesome in hard pack and deep snow. Plowed through snow that was as high as the headlights with no issues. I've now moved to duratracs and got them studded and they're amazing. Best combo. Great on ice, amazing in deep snow, and perfectly stable on hardpack. I rarely have to put the truck in 4x4 (got the pt transfercase).

 

[Chas0218]

I've ran a bunch of all terrian tires and the best ive ran are the pirelli scorpion a/t. My mother runs the duratracs on her Tacomas and although good in mud and snow they arr horrible on any hard pack that we get in upstate NY.

Previous tires:
BFGoodrich TKO
Kumho AT 51
Firestone Destination A/T
Cooper Discovery A/T

 

[Udy2554]

I run studded Hakkapelliitas! By far, the best icy road snow tire ever! BUT, if you plan on wheeling deep snow off road, not so great!



I rand D rated Duratracs on my Tacoma, year round! I wish they wore as well on the full size! Great all around tire!




I think when my Hakkas wear out, I’ll go to studded E rated Duratracs!?!?

 

[Aggie86]

My rule of thumb, if I need chains on a 4x4, she stays in the garage unless there is a medical emergency.

 

[Weebear]

To be honest, my SRA wranglers were great in the heavy wet snow and hard pack snow. The sucked in pretty much every other condition.

I take it your in the Milford Pa area ?
My Cooper At3 4S have handled all the snow we have had in the last 2 years along with all other conditions. I’m thinking I’ll only get 40000 miles out of them, not the 50000 they advertise. No need need for dedicated snows in my experience.

Someone that knows about Milford, PA? My grandparents had a house up at Twin Lakes (on the big lake). I grew up sailing a Sunfish in the summers there. My parents now have a house on the little lake.

 

[huntergreen]

Someone that knows about Milford, PA? My grandparents had a house up at Twin Lakes (on the big lake). I grew up sailing a Sunfish in the summers there. My parents now have a house on the little lake.

I’m right across the River.

 

[Dean2]

Since tire threads are all the rage right now though I would bump this one as it has lots of good info.

 

[69_XS29L]

100% on 10ply DuraTracs, SilentArmors before. Two types, need to specify/check with your dealer if purchasing. Winter snowflake is studdable. RCMP can theoretically check and bar you from the road for lacking...doubt it ever happens. Driveways for two of our cabins are very steep, no chains except for very deep, loose snow. We log our property a bit for milling timber/firewood in winter, also chain up to pull the trailer. Drive a ton of winter miles B.C. to NV, outstanding performance, packed snow, , icy, no issues. Rain before snow, serious back east type ice, sketchy. My neighbor studs his, monster tire for winter.
FWIW ran off two sets of Michelin LTX AT2 in 18in 10ply, excellent winter performance, obviously foundered in deep snow much sooner that my Duratracs/Silent Armors. Superior rain, and dry traction, weak in slick mud.