Tire suggestions -- snow coming

[NWwoman]

Hi --- Driving a new to me Ford Explorer 2000 Limited AWD. It came with Uniroyal Laredo cross country P245/75 R 16 109s M+S tires that I've liked. (Stock is P255 / 70 R 16) Plenty of tread left. Weather folks are saying that we'll get about a foot more snow this year here -- about 60 inches. I'm on the border of Idaho and Washington, in the country. I drive on two-lane roads, gravel and a bit around town. I'm wondering if you folks reading this buy separate snow tires -- branded mountain/snowflake one's -- or if you are using all season or all terrain for driving year round. I've been reading at tire rack and now I am more confused than ever about what to do.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[sport97]

I live in PA, i run a M+S (mud and snow) rated AT tire. I had the Firestone destination ATs and they did excellent in the snow. If you want to run actual winter tires, and switch back over to your uniroyals in the summer i would suggest the Firestone winter-force tires. They are beasts in the snow.

That being said, you have an M+S rated tire now with decent tread, you could probably run them no problem. I went out for a drive with my Firestone AT's in the middle of our 30 inch blizzard last year and had no issues on hills with over 12inches of snow.

 

[corkey]

bickety bam,
best stock sized tires i ever owned, with them on my unmodified Explorer i never got stuck,,

http://www.coopertire.com/html/products/tires_lighttruck.aspx?page=discoverer_ms

 

[Joe Dirt]

I liked my Coopers, but I really enjoyed spinning that tire in the link, Pete...

 

[corkey]

when i spun it the first time, i was like WTF, than i kept doing it,, and enjoyed it,

simple pleasures make life great,,

 

[mustangsrus]

lol yea spinning the tire was really cool & i will have to check out some of those tires too cause i was fixing to make a thread like this too lol

 

[NWwoman]

Hey Vince -- Those Firestone Winterforce UV tires are wowee inexpensive. If a tire at that price runs the snow here fine, then I am definitely looking at getting these. TireRack has them for 400 which includes shipping. ( See: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Winterforce+UV&partnum=57SR6FWFUV )

Do you run them with or without studs? My vehicle is AWD.

The Uniroyals are All-Season not all-terrain, although they are AS M&S. I really like these tires (122 each) but can't figure out why no one carries them here. I called ten places and they have to order them. Someone told me they were an off-brand inexpensive tire. They've done well on rained upon slippery gravel washboard roads, which is a good signal to me. (course it could be the driver, ha ha)

I did read that AT are better than AS tires. Maybe that's why you are getting such good performance off those AT tires in the snow...?

 

[NWwoman]

So Corkey -- did you run those Cooper M&S year round? Thinking you did but just checking.

Reading at TireRack, it says that the M&S are only good for very light snow areas. At 60 inches here expected for this season, I think we're past that light category. TireRack is encouraging either the true snow tires -- like Continental ExtremeWinterContact (Studless Ice & Snow) -- or All Terrain tires.

But you guys seem to be saying that the simple M&S all season is fine, too??

 

[sport97]

I personally have not ran the winterforce. My neighbor runs them on his awd astro van with no studs, and my buddy runs them on a chevy truck with no studs. I was shocked how good the truck went in the snow with an empty bed and in 2wd. They both love and recommended them to me for the price and traction.

 

[sport97]

Also i would not run a winter tire year round. It will wear like crap.

 

[corkey]

So Corkey -- did you run those Cooper M&S year round? Thinking you did but just checking.

Reading at TireRack, it says that the M&S are only good for very light snow areas. At 60 inches here expected for this season, I think we're past that light category. TireRack is encouraging either the true snow tires -- like Continental ExtremeWinterContact (Studless Ice & Snow) -- or All Terrain tires.

But you guys seem to be saying that the simple M&S all season is fine, too??

no i didn't, i just used them in winter, and i ran in some big snowfalls, as we usually get good ones,
it doesn't say on my side dealio, but i live in Canada, and run on ice roads too, ,

 

[X6StringerX]

I put Destination ATs on my Explorer last winter and I have to say that I was completely satisfied with their performance. Furthermore, they've been wearing great ever since and I suspect that I'll be just as satisfied with them this winter as I was last. They could almost still pass as new tires.

My wife's Focus recently had a tire blow out, so I put a couple of Winterforces on the front of it since the snow will start flying soon. The softness of the rubber would be of concern to me as far as treadwear goes if we weren't planning to trade in the car come spring. At this point, I can't say how they perform yet... we're still hitting the 60s during the daylight hours. If we had long-term plans for the car, I would have went with all season tires if I were in a position where I couldn't afford to have two sets. I don't see the Winterforces lasting more than 15-20k miles if that. They look like they'll do an excellent job at what they're designed for though.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I had the Cooper Discoverer ATR's on Snowball, I loved them all year...

They're also very good in grass for photo shoots.

 

[NWwoman]

Joe Dirt -- Do you off-road with those ATs? Nice explorer!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Nah, my trucks have a dirt-phobia.

Worst I see are two-tracks... Thanks for the comment though!

 

[NWwoman]

Are those Coopers noisy on the highway?

 

[ThePhoenix]

there is snow coming?

ps...look at my location

 

[NWwoman]

Chaz -- lucky you!

 

[ThePhoenix]

come visit.....

all welcome~!

 

[storlied]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned BFG A/T KO's? I've run them in 31's, and now 33's. Just take a look at them and you're gonna be scratching your head at all the other tires.

I live in Alaska and I can point these tires out on 60+% of the trucks here, I love them in the snow.