Winter tires

westcoastrider1982

Well-known member
Jul 16, 2011
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Bought a new truck about a month ago.
I ran winter tires on a set of shitty rims last year on my old truck and wow what a difference that made!
North Shore has it’s fair share of hills and 4wd does jack shit going downhills.
Sadly the wheels are different now on the new ride so I couldn’t use the old winter rims/tires(sold them with the truck anyways).
New truck came with BFGOODRICH All Terrain KO2’s which feature the mountain peak/snowflake symbol indicating it’s an “all weather tire”.
Anyone on here experience using all weather tires compared to a true winter tire?
Soft powdery snow is one thing...ice is a whole new can of worms!!
 

johnnydepth

Average Sized Member
Nov 14, 2015
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winnipeg
I've been using the all weather for years. What I've noticed is they work just as well as winter tires. It's summer time you lose some of the performance. They have more road noise and don't handle the corners quite as well. Not a big deal, just can't take the clover leafs as fast. Nice thing with the all weather, no extra rims and tires, no swapping twice a year.
I like them.
 

westwoody

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Jun 10, 2004
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Westwood
I have a Sierra z71 with Bridgestone Dueller AT for snow in Manitoba.

Vancouver hovers around freezing so a specific ice tire is best. I haven't tried Pirelli Scorpion but someone I know likes them.
 

Lo-ki

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2011
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Check your closet..:)
BLIZZAK TIRES.....never let me down...:)
 

justwannahavefun

Active member
Mar 17, 2018
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I am running the BFG A/T as well and it is a great all around tire, even in snow. But when it comes to any sort of traction on ice, only a winter tire can perform like a winter tire.
 

take8easy

Well-known member
Jul 27, 2014
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I have always been on all season ones. Only exception is that a long time ago I used to own a Chevrolet Impala. Those rear wheel monsters were a pain in as*phalt to drive during snow. I had snow tires on it, but only on the rear wheels. The front tires were still crappy all season ones.

Now a days, you have to have same kind of tires on all the four wheels or so a grease covered, blue overall clad, highway robber said while raising my car on the hoist.
 

carvesg

Well-known member
Feb 2, 2010
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Go get yourself a good set of winter tires if you live on the north shore . All weather or 4 seasons are made with the same compound as summer tires with a slightly more agressive tread to expulse heavy fall rain but not made for real snowy surfaces.

Winter tires have a softer compound for a better grip and often silica is added to the compound . The treads are made to expulse snow while the small grooves in the treads act as suction cups on icy surfaces.

Nokian as become the standard these days for pick up trucks

Years ago it was the Goodyear F32 until they changed the compound by going cheap to maintain the pricing I suppose .

Good luck
 
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204fun

Active member
Jan 18, 2018
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I drive a mid-sized sedan with all wheel drive and have a set of Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires. With all of the snow that we get during the Winter here in Winnipeg I find that I really haven't had an issue at all over the years and they have been surprisingly good on ice as well. Have always bought my Winter tires as Costco and the price has usually been right up there with Fountain Tire or actually somewhat cheaper.
 

m_clock

Active member
Jun 4, 2012
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KO2's for trucks and SUV's are a very good winter tire. I would stick with them. You may have noticed some road noise at freeway speeds (most common customer concern) That is the trade off for good winter traction. There are people that use KO2's as their winter tires then switch to Michelin for their summer tire. You haven't mentioned a noise issue, stay the course, keep them on all year.
 

westwoody

Well-known member
Jun 10, 2004
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Westwood
Have always bought my Winter tires as Costco.
Costco has unbeatable service. Car is ready when they say it will be ready and they don't try to scam you.

I had a flat on my way to work and limped to a Kal Tire. Big mistake. Picked out a replacement, came back at agreed time. They hadn't even started, they hadn't got the tire off the rack yet. But they had looked at my air cleaner, to try and sell me a new one. Also wanted to change my oil, book a tune up etc.

KAL TIRE ARE SLEAZY ASSHOLES.
 

Lo-ki

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2011
3,672
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Check your closet..:)
Costco has unbeatable service. Car is ready when they say it will be ready and they don't try to scam you.

I had a flat on my way to work and limped to a Kal Tire. Big mistake. Picked out a replacement, came back at agreed time. They hadn't even started, they hadn't got the tire off the rack yet. But they had looked at my air cleaner, to try and sell me a new one. Also wanted to change my oil, book a tune up etc.

KAL TIRE ARE SLEAZY ASSHOLES.
Never had issues with KAL TIRE....which one did you go to..??
 
KO2 is a good multi use tire but on the prairies I've always run studded tires for the last 15 years. My Nokians are awesome, come from factory with the toughest studs that never fall out. Also, worked at a Kal Tire they're no worse or better on average than anybody else.
 

westcoastrider1982

Well-known member
Jul 16, 2011
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Totally agree that a true winter tire is the best bet!

My BFG KO2’s have about 11,000 km on them.
Have a 2019 Sierra I just picked up. GM ran the same bolt pattern and wheel offset for years then changed the offset in 2014. Now it’s the same offset as the 2014-2018 but they put massive callipers on the newly designed trucks so the ‘14-‘18 rims don’t fit.
I’ll probably just run the KO2’s for at least this year until I can find a set of used wheels. And I’ll be sure to keep the salt off my nice 20’ rims!
Absolutely nothing on Craigslist, getting a set of wheels from GM would cost a fortune and I don’t trust the aftermarket yet.
 

80watts

Well-known member
May 20, 2004
2,420
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Victoria
For years I used 4 season tires, have gone over the #5 at Christmas time and never had a problem (always watched the weather forecast before). Now driving the Malahat you need winter tires, because its the law.

In Victoria I can get away with just 4 seasons all year, just stay at home when/if it snows. But still alot depend on how you drive your car. Dont drive as fast and break before you usually do if snow covered... But I stay off the roads usually because their are idiots who think they can drive in the snow or just have to get to work....

I have snow tires for my car (on second set of rims) and the winter tires stops better in winter conditions (snow covered) than 4 seasons. But in snow conditions I'm not so heavy on the gas pedal...

I'm not sure about the snow tires working that good on ice (black ice- a slick surface), I think you will still slide alot, compared to snow covered ice with snow/ice tires... maybe its the rougher surface...

For the most part highways and roads are kept open due to good road clearing, and salting and sanding.... Which is one key to good traction in winter.....
 

westwoody

Well-known member
Jun 10, 2004
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Westwood
Kal Tire, Portage and Rouge, Winnipeg

I had a flat from hitting a curb on Rouge, schoolkid ran across the road in front of me. Drove a few blocks to KT, told the guy I was on my way to work, he said it would be done in 45 minutes max. Went to diner for breakfast, came back in an hour to give him extra time. He had not done a thing about the tire.
He did find time to check my air filter and dig through my glove compartment to get at my cabin air filter.
This was first thing in the morning, there were no other cars in the shop.
No excuse. KT are blacklisted forever.
Never had anything like that happen at Costco or Birchwood dealership.
 

westcoastrider1982

Well-known member
Jul 16, 2011
4,659
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KO2's for trucks and SUV's are a very good winter tire. I would stick with them. You may have noticed some road noise at freeway speeds (most common customer concern) That is the trade off for good winter traction. There are people that use KO2's as their winter tires then switch to Michelin for their summer tire. You haven't mentioned a noise issue, stay the course, keep them on all year.
Yeah I have a bit of road noise but they’re a fairly aggressive AT tire on a full size truck, doesn’t bother me one bit!
Kinda adds character to my truck and makes it sound mean lol!
 

westcoastrider1982

Well-known member
Jul 16, 2011
4,659
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I've been using the all weather for years. What I've noticed is they work just as well as winter tires. It's summer time you lose some of the performance. They have more road noise and don't handle the corners quite as well. Not a big deal, just can't take the clover leafs as fast. Nice thing with the all weather, no extra rims and tires, no swapping twice a year.
I like them.
Lol I’m driving a full size truck not a Corvette!
Don’t usually “take fast corners!”
 
Still makes me laugh, I work at a dealer. Customers seem to love the looks of the Goodyear Duratrac but for some reason are surprised they're noisy. Look at the tread! What the bloody hell did you expect?

On the flip side we've found the Bridgestone Dueler A/T to be surprisingly quiet for still having a fairly aggressive tread.

Tire guy joke: Why do they call them Goodyears? Cause they're good for about a year.
 

wetnose

Well-known member
Mar 23, 2003
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South Vancouver
IMO all seasons are great for regular Vancouver use, esp if you live in the non-snow prone neighbourhoods (e.g. Richmond). But if you live on the North Shore and have to make it down a slope every day, then a full set of winter tires is worth the investment. One black icy morning can really ruin your day.
 
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