Winter Tire and Wheel Recommendations

[brianp6621]

I use 255/55/18s run flat performance winters, went with run flat winters by accident then realized I really didn't want to change a tire in the snow, especially trying to find a solid spot to use the jack just in case. Didn't even throw out the speedometer more than about 1% from actual, little smaller than stock size in height but works well. The size I mentioned is one of the most common SUV size available unless you need a tire with less width, I wanted to retain some cornering ability when dry or just wet out that's why picked these.

Surprising, those tires are 3.3% different than stock and are above what people on the forum recommend. What brand/model?

 

[brianp6621]

It sounds like the Nokian are some of the best with the Hakkapeliitta R2 highly recommended in snow/ice. How do these do on dry? I need to have a good balance as we'll be in the bay area during the week on dry/wet pavement and then driving up to Kirkwood.

Edit..
Reading more the Nokian WRG3s seem like a great alternative, somewhat better on dry (which is where I'll be all week and much of the way to the mountain) and then still very good (better than most) AS/AW tires in the snow/ice.

Any direct experience with these on explorers?

 

[reserved50]

that percentage isn't set in stone but a general rule, it all depends on what options your suv had from the factory, each one is different, and how far from factory you sway, that's why I mentioned it will make your speedometer read different (maybe lower on interceptor models) than actual speed. On your vehicle your speedometer could be off by less or a little more. 255/50/20 factory height is 30.0** ", 255/55/18 is 29.0** " , so it will have enough clearance but going to a larger than factory tire might rub on the body. Even tires from one model to another have different heights even if they are listed as the same size, if you are willing to sway from factory specs it is considered a modification which may or may not affect handling or the electronics, in my case it made no difference to the vehicles electronics etc.

is what I used but they are discontinued now, they are probably as good in the snow as an aggressive all season tire, I would say its a "city" winter tire maybe up to 10" of snow tops, my vehicle being AWD I wasn't too worried since I see 2wds with all seasons getting around just fine.

In the future I will try and stick with runflat winters due to all the potholes and other hazards out there and my laziness to change a tire on the side of a road agrees

Surprising, those tires are 3.3% different than stock and are above what people on the forum recommend. What brand/model?

 

[peterk9]

I can find the 235s no problem but I'm a little worried about what I read upthread with 235s maybe being a bit on the skinny side when on pavement. Would do 245 in a heartbeat but can't find 4 of any 1 tire online

Brian

I'm running 235/60R18 Winters only because I already had them from a previous vehicle. Diameter variance is -3.1%. Will go with 235/65R18 when they are replaced.

Peter

 

[peterk9]

Surprising, those tires are 3.3% different than stock and are above what people on the forum recommend. What brand/model?

Actually the diameter difference is only -1.7%. The 2011 Base model came with 245/65R17 tires.

 

[TTA89]

Here is my setup:

18" XLT wheels from ebay - $400
TPMS sensors from Amazon - $75
Blizzaks DM-V2s 245/60-18s installed - $760

The speed is about 2mph fast. I was hoping I could correct it with Forscan but so far I can't get it to work. In the spring I'll swap the stock wheels/tires back on and reprogram the TPMS sensors. I've always run Blizzaks, they are so good I have no reason to try another brand.

 

[peterk9]

Here is my setup:

18" XLT wheels from ebay - $400
TPMS sensors from Amazon - $75
Blizzaks DM-V2s 245/60-18s installed - $760

The speed is about 2mph fast. I was hoping I could correct it with Forscan but so far I can't get it to work. In the spring I'll swap the stock wheels/tires back on and reprogram the TPMS sensors. I've always run Blizzaks, they are so good I have no reason to try another brand.

With 235/65R/18 tires you would have had a perfect match to the OEM Mike. With what you have when the speedo read 60 MPH you actually doing 59.07 according to this site; https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=255-50r20-245-60r18

Peter

 

[613GT500]

My winters are 245/60/18 Hankook iPike RW11 on black steelies.
These tires meets all of my expectations and combined with AWD, gotten me in and out of my old folks home, where they live on a crescent; in which it doesn't get plowed for weeks at a time.

 

[TTA89]

With 235/65R/18 tires you would have had a perfect match to the OEM Mike. With what you have when the speedo read 60 MPH you actually doing 59.07 according to this site; https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=255-50r20-245-60r18

Peter

Based on Waze GPS from my phone, 75 on the speed is usually 73 on the GPS. I went by the Tire Rack recommendations and knew it would be a little off.. I would prefer it to read slower than to put extra miles on..

 

[brianp6621]

Now I'm unsure.

I'm concerned about all the driving during the week and the 150 miles up before we'd likely even encounter snow. This seems like a ton of wear on dedicated snow tires. Would great AS tires like the Nokian WRG3s (only during the winter on winter rims) make more sense?

 

[TTA89]

I'd say 95% of the driving we do is on dry roads during the winter. The roads are cleaned up pretty quick here and it doesn't snow THAT much.... I wouldn't worry to much about it. I throw them on Dec 1st and take them off mid April usually...

 

[peterk9]

Now I'm unsure.

I'm concerned about all the driving during the week and the 150 miles up before we'd likely even encounter snow. This seems like a ton of wear on dedicated snow tires. Would great AS tires like the Nokian WRG3s (only during the winter on winter rims) make more sense?

The Nokian WRG3 is an All Weather tire, not an All Season tire. All Weather tires appear to have a unique tread pattern. I think it may indeed be a good choice if the majority of driving is on pavement. Just curious as to why they are not listed on either the Tire Rack or 1010tires.

Peter

 

[peterk9]

I'd say 95% of the driving we do is on dry roads during the winter. The roads are cleaned up pretty quick here and it doesn't snow THAT much.... I wouldn't worry to much about it. I throw them on Dec 1st and take them off mid April usually...

Dry roads in Winter are one of the conditions that dedicated Winter tires prove their worth. When the temperature drops below 44 Fahrenheit, all season tires start to lose optimum grip and that grip continues to degrade as the temperature falls. That is because they don't have the softer rubber of a Winter tire which enables it to maintain its grip on bare roads. The true test comes when emergency braking or quick maneuvers are required.

Peter

 

[brianp6621]

The Nokian WRG3 is an All Weather tire, not an All Season tire. All Weather tires appear to have a unique tread pattern. I think it may indeed be a good choice if the majority of driving is on pavement. Just curious as to why they are not listed on either the Tire Rack or 1010tires.

Peter

Sorry. I meant all weather.

 

[brianp6621]

Dry roads in Winter are one of the conditions that dedicated Winter tires prove their worth. When the temperature drops below 44 Fahrenheit, all season tires start to lose optimum grip and that grip continues to degrade as the temperature falls. That is because they don't have the softer rubber of a Winter tire which enables it to maintain its grip on bare roads. The true test comes when emergency braking or quick maneuvers are required.

Peter

That would be great but in the bay area when it is dumping on Tahoe/Kirkwood it is usually 50-70 degrees in the bay area where I live. It is basically summer conditions, other than rain. That's why I don't want to compromise too much.

It is almost never below 40 in the bay area except a few days a year and only until 9-10 am.

Today is a perfect example. It was 60 degrees coming home tonight but I just read 88 leading north to KW is closed with no immediate timeline for opening.

 

[peterk9]

That would be great but in the bay area when it is dumping on Tahoe/Kirkwood it is usually 50-70 degrees in the bay area where I live. It is basically summer conditions, other than rain. That's why I don't want to compromise too much.

It is almost never below 40 in the bay area except a few days a year and only until 9-10 am.

Today is a perfect example. It was 60 degrees coming home tonight but I just read 88 leading north to KW is closed with no immediate timeline for opening.

I was in San Francisco once (sister lives in San Jose) and it was around 60 degrees around 11 AM. I was walking around in shorts and T shirt and the 'natives' were wearing what looked like Winter clothes.

Peter

 

[brianp6621]

Now I'm pretty set on the WRG3s in 18" but can't find any.

I either need the 245/60/18(-1.5%) which is what is recommended in the Manual or 235/65/18" (exact size match)

I'm concerned about the 235s being too a little too narrow for the Sport during normal dry driving.

 

[Eltee]

I wasn't aware that OEM tires came in a '70'. Since you haven't added the trim of your Explorer to your profile I don't know for sure which you have. I'm guessing perhaps the XLT which came with 245/60R18. If that is indeed what you have then going with your proposed size is definitely not recommended. The generally accepted maximum diameter variance is 3%. If you do indeed have the 60 and not the 70 right now the variance is more than double the maximum at 8.4%. If somehow you do have the 245/70R18 size than you are good to go with a difference of 1.7%.
Please add the trim to your profile so it shows in the margin. Thanks.

Peter

2013 EXP XLT 4WD w 18" rims.

I live in California so terrain is asphalt, desert / dirt trails, occasional trips to the snow and I will be going with all season tires. With 4WD and all season tires you don't need chains in "chains required" snow conditions. The tires must have the letters MS, M/S, M+S or the words MUD AND SNOW stamped into the sidewall.

I prefer wide footprint tires because I drive in the desert and I grew up in the muscle car era when tires looked like fat doughnuts.

Would a 255/60R18 work with no clearance problems? Thanks for any info.

 

[peterk9]

2013 EXP XLT 4WD w 18" rims.

I live in California so terrain is asphalt, desert / dirt trails, occasional trips to the snow and I will be going with all season tires. With 4WD and all season tires you don't need chains in "chains required" snow conditions. The tires must have the letters MS, M/S, M+S or the words MUD AND SNOW stamped into the sidewall.

I prefer wide footprint tires because I drive in the desert and I grew up in the muscle car era when tires looked like fat doughnuts.

Would a 255/60R18 work with no clearance problems? Thanks for any info.

That size has a 1.6% diameter difference, well within the 3% maximum. It would mean that you would be going slightly faster (1.6%) than what your speedo indicates.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=245-60r18-255-60r18
Although I can't say for sure but I doubt that tire would present any clearance issues.

Peter

 

[Eltee]

That size has a 1.6% diameter difference, well within the 3% maximum. It would mean that you would be going slightly faster (1.6%0 than what your speedo indicates.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=245-60r18-255-60r18
Although I can't say for sure but I doubt that tire would present any clearance issues.

Peter

THANK YOU. Current tires are Michelin Latitude Tour HP with the "M&S" rating, 245/60R18 so when they are due for replacement I'll bump it up to 255/60R18.