Advice: Winter/Highway Tire & Wheel Setup

[Deleted member 59498]

Get some winter tires. Your scale of "good" needs some adjustment.
Of course you don't drive on ice you can't walk on unless an urgent reason. You have bad tires. Winter tires makes ice mostly a non-issue. Night & day difference.

Until then, please don't follow me. If you do manage to keep up you won't stop in time or be able to swerve out of the way.

No it doesn't need any adjustment. There is no winter tire for solid ice, need chains or cables. 30 years driving in Alaska I think I have some experience in winter driving, no accidents. Thanks for your opinion though.

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[Deleted member 59498]

I've lived in MN my entire life, aside from three years in MT. I've never had true winter tires on any vehicle I've owned, nor have I ever really experienced a need for them.

My JK had NITTO TGs when I got it. I had those for a winter and a half. They were decent in deep snow, but average at best in ice and slushy conditions. Then I put on Cooper STT Pros. I was a little worried about how they'd handle winter conditions. I had those for the past two winters; they are hands down WAY better than the NITTO TGs in any type of winter condition.

Maybe since I've driven in crappy conditions for so long, winter driving just doesn't bother me? IDK? I'm rarely the fastest car on the road in bad conditions, but I'm far from the slowest. I feel like I drive safely for the conditions. Too many in MN see a snowflake forming in the clouds above and they immediately go into white knuckle mode. It's really annoying!!

Anyway, back to my STT Pros, I was so happy with them on my JK, I'm having my dealer put them on before I take my JLUR home, and this will be my DD.

I completely agree. Maybe it is just experience, I have no problem driving with mud terrain or all terrain tires in the winter. Which winter last a long time here in mostly dark conditions.

 

[Reinen]

No it doesn't need any adjustment. There is no winter tire for solid ice, need chains or cables. 30 years driving in Alaska I think I have some experience in winter driving, no accidents. Thanks for your opinion though.

Seriously, if you haven't been on winter tires for 30 years, you don't know what tires are capable of now. The traction KO2s provide isn't very good anymore. Winter tires have over twice the traction.

BTW, Alaska means nothing. I get more snow more often than you do.

 

[CapeJLandy]

For me in northern New England, we have tight steep windy back roads. Typically half plowed, over-salted which goes from wetter snow/slush to frozen.

The K02’s are a good tires agreed (or I would currently not have on two vehicles). However as far as tires go I would rate them as ‘fair’ for roads/hwy with a nod more towards off-road fun. On packed snow - like a snowmobile trail - they can do well, on wet / slippery roads they certainly would not be my choice. Thus the plan to save them for 3 season use.

e.g. wife has a set of Pirelli Pzero all seasons and that tire rips by comparison on her Sport SUV. Call a spade a spade - similar to the ‘Rubicon handles as well as a Sahara on road’ debate. Just not true…

 

[shekmark]

When my Rubi had the OEM KO2 I was scared shitless on the Northway and NY Thruway in slushy, snowy wet conditions. Nice looking tire otherwise. I went to Goodyear Duratracs, but last winter didn’t see much snow in Jersey so no good test, though I am told they are very good. They are more noisy on the highway than the KO2. They are definitely better in wet, but still not great. I probably drive too fast, but coming from Suburban and Tahoe, those were awesome in snow. Rubi… not so much.

 

[Strommen95]

Avoid KO2s. They're acceptable in the snow, not good. Blizzaks would be the best bet if you want a dedicated snow tire. Duratracs if you want an A/T and maintain a more rugged appearance on the Jeep.

 

[Pinion]

I've been very happy with BFG All Terrain tires in the snow.
Just keep in mind that you're driving a truck and not a car. They obviously handle differently. Like others have said, if it's icy or bad conditions out, just stay in.
For the icy roads here in New England, get a beater Volvo or Subaru and put winter tires on it. Leave your expensive Jeep in the driveway.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

When my Rubi had the OEM KO2 I was scared shitless on the Northway and NY Thruway in slushy, snowy wet conditions. Nice looking tire otherwise. I went to Goodyear Duratracs, but last winter didn’t see much snow in Jersey so no good test, though I am told they are very good. They are more noisy on the highway than the KO2. They are definitely better in wet, but still not great. I probably drive too fast, but coming from Suburban and Tahoe, those were awesome in snow. Rubi… not so much.

Maybe not drive then? I really don't understand that since KO2 is a sever snow tire? KO2 is an awesome snow tire, hell Falken MT tires are great snow tires. Why because they clear the treads every rotation. Valdez gets 9 feet of snow sometimes.

Most people can not even imagine 9 feet of snow LOL. So yeah who gets more snow than that? No one.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Days		Inches	Centimetres
16.0	January	67.8	172.2
14.2	February	61.3	155.7
13.1	March	48.4	122.9
7.2	April	21.0	53.3
0.8	May	1.9	4.8
0.2	September	0.5	1.3
5.0	October	10.7	27.2
13.0	November	42.8	108.7
16.3	December	71.9	182.6
85.8	Year	326.3	82

 

[Deleted member 59498]

"BTW, Alaska means nothing. I get more snow more often than you do. "

Not even remotely. Bro. You would all starve to death if you had our snow.

Maybe Finland, Norway, Scotland but Colorado? LOL

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Subarus are badass snow getters. My sons first car was a beat up 1993 legacy, that thing was awesome on winter roads. Subs are just awesome period. If I didn't have a jeep I would have a Subaru.

 

[BRuby]

"BTW, Alaska means nothing. I get more snow more often than you do. "

Not even remotely. Bro. You would all starve to death if you had our snow.

Maybe Finland, Norway, Scotland but Colorado? LOL

Yep our son worked in Norway designing a manufacturing plant for ferry and ship lithium batteries. Plan on full winters and studs as a minimum there - and chains as you need. F-ing chilly up that way.

We have used KO2s with success. But bought a brand new take-off set with full tread for pure winter use. Will wear down my existing KO2s and then switch to full winters. Probably with studs.

If you are on ice you must simply slow down. Or expect to go off the road especially downhill with momentum. Full snows only have very limited grip on that. Studs a bit more. Chains a lot more.

Probably 90% are fine driving on KO2s in most situations. Almost everyone has KO2s. Our Rubicon is way better than our full time symmetrical AWD 50/50 manual Subie with winters. Yeah fantastic drifter rally car. But deep snow - not so much. Drive with common sense for the conditions and the KO2s are fine.

Same with DT WP Toyo whatever 3PMSF AT.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Avoid KO2s. They're acceptable in the snow, not good. Blizzaks would be the best bet if you want a dedicated snow tire. Duratracs if you want an A/T and maintain a more rugged appearance on the Jeep.

Even though my son runs these on a sedan in the winter they are useless on drive pavement, terrible in turns and dangerous if not on cold weather roads. They are too soft.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

Yep our son worked in Norway designing a manufacturing plant for ferry and ship lithium batteries. Plan on full winters and studs as a minimum there - and chains as you need. F-ing chilly up that way.

We have used KO2s with success. But bought a brand new take-off set with full tread for pure winter use. Will wear down my existing KO2s and then switch to full winters. Probably with studs.

If you are on ice you must simply slow down. Or expect to go off the road especially downhill with momentum. Full snows only have very limited grip on that. Studs a bit more. Chains a lot more.

Probably 90% are fine driving on KO2s in most situations. Almost everyone has KO2s. Our Rubicon is way better than our full time symmetrical AWD 50/50 manual Subie with winters. Yeah fantastic drifter rally car. But deep snow - not so much. Drive with common sense for the conditions and the KO2s are fine.

Same with DT WP Toyo whatever 3PMSF AT.

I totally agree, if I can not drive on KO2's I am not driving. Ice is just bad no matter what.

Ice is just bad for any tire!

Thankfully I work where if I tell my boss hey weather is bad I am VPN today he is like "Talk to you later" Hell that was pre- Covid Crazy.

Oh something you said is so important. USE THE OFF ROAD if you can not stop. Hit the frozen grass or hit the snow burn from cleaning the roads. All of those are FAR less dangerous than hitting a car or a person! Look for the snow pile to hit instead of a person or a car.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

You could buy a set of Willys take offs. Black wheels and the Firestone MTs are studable. They will be loud though as they’re already loud enough without studs.

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