need some help from experinced dodge truck guy's, with what are the best winter tires to put on my 2004 3500 quad cab,4+4,live in alberta,like the best of both worlds.winter highway and snow road tires

 

I put on a set of 315/70/17 Goodyear Duratrac tires last winter. I had them studded and I'm happy with their winter performance.

If you go with the stock 265/70/17 there are lots of dedicated snow tires to choose from. I can't tell you which ones are the best, but I can tell you to get studded tires.

Most tire shops will try and talk you out of studded tires, but don't listen to them. I believe the only reason they do this is that studding tires is a tedious job that they like to avoid.

Carl

 

Studded tires are fine if you drive on a lot of ice. Other wise they actually reduce traction on dry or wet roads.

I put a set of Goodyear Silent Armors on my truck last week. Just in time for the first snow of the year. I've been impressed with them so far.

 

Studded tires may in fact increase dry and wet braking distances slightly (around 5% according to the last test I've seen). However, if in the wintertime you're regularly using anywhere near the full braking potential of your vehicle on clean, dry pavement, you're not driving safely to begin with.

I'd gladly trade off a few feet of dry braking performance to gain car lengths reductions in icy conditions.

With the horrible abs we have in these trucks, we need all the help we can get on winter roads.

 

i run nitto terra grapplers in the winter on the stock rims, and have had good luck with them. you have to remember that any tire on a diesel truck in two wheel drive is going to suck, too much weight in the front end and not enough in the back.

 

Im also running Nitto tera grapplers was able to go through all the snow we had last year with no problem

 

What's up with people not using the 4x4 on these trucks? I've noticed that almost everyone I've ridden with that has a diesel 4x4 rarely uses 4 wheel drive. The back end of these trucks can come around so quickly. It's a combination of the heavy front, light back end, and the boost that can come on rather abruptly. Everyone I mention this too says that they want to prevent wear to the drivetrain, but I say the effects are minimal in the winter. Besides, any wear that is incurred is a lot cheaper then an accident.

I put my truck in 4x4 at the first sign of bad road conditions, sometimes leaving it engaged for hours at a time.

What are everyone's else's habits / thoughts on this issue?

 

I use 4wd all the time. I've ran in 4hi for hundreds of miles at a stretch.

I didn't buy a 4x4 not to use it.

 

I use the 4X4 only when i'm stuck other than that it's 2wd, as far as winter tires, the Yokohoma geolanders have done pretty good this winter for my work truck

 

I use sipped Toyo MTs on stock rims. Love 'em in the snow, as long as you're gentle on the throttle. Limited slips on the 4x4 rigs can cause more problems than weight differential in snow/ice. Both rear wheels locked sacrifices lateral resistance, ie cross wind gusts. When initially sliding on ice, put the rig in neutral to stabilize the slide, allowing all 4/6 tires to rotate freely. Then re-engage and keep going. No tire is perfect for all seasons. Alot of guys like the Goodyear Wranglers and BF Goodrich brands. Sipping tires helps alot for most tires for snow/ice road situations. Personally, I don't use studded tires. Common sense is your best 'modification'.

 

When I first moved to southern Alberta I put studded tires on out of force of habit. I quickly learned that the roads are dry and bare more often than not and unless you stay under 80 km/h the studs heat up and will toast your expensive winter tires.

 

We are getting a good amount of snow here this year. I think 2-3 feet so far in a little over a week and snow plows that aren't running due to 'lack of funding'. I just invested in some Toyo MTs 285/75/17 on the stock wheels and they are working fine.

I would have to agree with mtman86 though, common sense is where it's at. I drive on the freeway a lot to get to work and I pass a lot of 4WD trucks and SUVs in the ditch due to lack of common sense.

 

I just can't say enough good about my Hankook ATMs. I was pushing snow up to my front bumper without any trouble yesterday on the way to go dig my Mom's place out, uphill too. Running them at 40psi for the winter. They rock!

 

I just put a set of Cooper Discover M/S (studded) all around and then threw a dozen sand bags in the bed.

I too use 4x4. It drives me crazy to see these guys spinning their tires and not being able to pull away from a stop sign while in a 4x4. My father in law does that, he waits till the last moment, like he's going to ware it out.

Craig

 

x2 for the Hankooks. Put them on last winter and they performed better than the bfg at's they replaced. I have 30k on them and it looks like i will get another 30k. I will see how they perform this winter.