Winter Tire Knowledge

[Silver-Bolt]

The Blizzak doesn't seem to come in a sasquatch size though Neither do any of the Nokians.

Nokian does. https://www.nokiantires.com/tires/by-tire-size/snow-winter-tires/315-70-17/

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[Tigerwalk]

Nokian does. https://www.nokiantires.com/tires/by-tire-size/snow-winter-tires/315-70-17/

The Nokian LT3 comes in the right size, I just bought them. Limited supply due to shipping delays though

 

[FrankenRodz]

I've always heard good things about Bridgestone Blizzak. I never had an issue with them when I lived up north.

I used to run 4 Blizzaks on my Wife’s Dodge Magnum Wagon. Great snow tire, but they only lasted 5 seasons.

 

[mtclimb3r]

If you find yourself driving on hard-packed ice or snow the majority of those 4 months, I'd go studded. Studs are loud and slippery on pavement, so if you typically have clear roads with intermittent snow/blizzards, I'd skip the studs. If you're driving on snow every day for months, I'd do studs.

This used to be true, but I think Nokian themselves have stated that tire technology has advanced to the point that studs are not really necessary for the majority of the lower 48. Alaska and *Canada (*mountainous or remote areas) would be the only places I would run studs. I live in Bozeman, MT and my studless winter tires on my Tacoma have been stable in every condition I have encountered.

 

[Laminar]

This used to be true, but I think Nokian themselves have stated that tire technology has advanced to the point that studs are not really necessary for the majority of the lower 48. Alaska and *Canada (*mountainous or remote areas) would be the only places I would run studs. I live in Bozeman, MT and my studless winter tires on my Tacoma have been stable in every condition I have encountered.

I don't understand what you're saying, you said, "This used to be true" and then agreed with me. All I said was that if studs offer an advantage for the majority of your winter driving, then run them.

That mirrors what Nokian literally says:

If you spend more time driving on icy roads or roads with packed snow in the winter, you should choose studded winter tires. Non-studded tires are generally better suited for snowy roads.

https://www.nokiantires.com/customer-service/selecting-tires/studded-or-non-studded/

 

[AKBronc49]

I'm on my second season of my studded Nokian Hakkapeliittas, I run a mix of studs and studless tires on my vehicles blizzaks on 2, Nokian studded on the Bronco, Hankook studded on my plow truck and studded cooper's on my Excursion. I live in Alaska and we don't salt, so winter means icy roads. I'm very happy with my tire selection and they work well for our roads.

I do enjoy less road noise on the studless tires on pavement. So if you have well maintained roads skip them.

 

[Sonny]

Nokian does. https://www.nokiantires.com/tires/by-tire-size/snow-winter-tires/315-70-17/

Hmm R3s I’ve heard are way better

 

[Sonny]

I'm on my second season of my studded Nokian Hakkapeliittas, I run a mix of studs and studless tires on my vehicles blizzaks on 2, Nokian studded on the Bronco, Hankook studded on my plow truck and studded cooper's on my Excursion. I live in Alaska and we don't salt, so winter means icy roads. I'm very happy with my tire selection and they work well for our roads.

I do enjoy less road noise on the studless tires on pavement. So if you have well maintained roads skip them.

Which Hakkas are these? I couldn’t find them in 315/70/17

 

[AKBronc49]

Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT3 315/70R17

Mine are the older design LT2 but same thing. They are E rated tires.

https://www.nokiantires.com/snow-wi...MIt-PS4pKi-wIVAgd9Ch3nYQ9CEAAYASAAEgL8-fD_BwE

 

[MistaGavin]

I'm on my second season of my studded Nokian Hakkapeliittas, I run a mix of studs and studless tires on my vehicles blizzaks on 2, Nokian studded on the Bronco, Hankook studded on my plow truck and studded cooper's on my Excursion. I live in Alaska and we don't salt, so winter means icy roads. I'm very happy with my tire selection and they work well for our roads.

I do enjoy less road noise on the studless tires on pavement. So if you have well maintained roads skip them.

Where are you that they don’t salt the roads?

Up in Fairbanks, if it’s ~10°F or warmer they started putting brine on the roads which is basically liquid oxidizer. I hate it. I put fluid film on my bronco after seeing what it’s doing to my poor old high school truck.

 

[Sonny]

Any reports on how the stock 315 MT’s are in snow?

 

[AKBronc49]

Where are you that they don’t salt the roads?

Up in Fairbanks, if it’s ~10°F or warmer they started putting brine on the roads which is basically liquid oxidizer. I hate it. I put fluid film on my bronco after seeing what it’s doing to my poor old high school truck.

I know I'll never understand why AKDOT decided to do that crap.
I'm in Anchorage, DOT uses a little deicer on state roads mostly only the Seward and Glenn but the municipality doesn't, just gravel/sand. I don't leave Anchorage so I have 20+ year old trucks with no rust that don't leave the municipality much.

 

[Laminar]

I used to run 4 Blizzaks on my Wife’s Dodge Magnum Wagon. Great snow tire, but they only lasted 5 seasons.

I'm surprised you got 5 seasons. Expected lifespan of maximum grip is ~20,000 miles which is only 3ish seasons for me. The top half of the tread blocks contains the grippiest compound - once that is gone you'll have reduced traction. But snow tires aren't like all-seasons that you can wear down to the bars - you need tread depth for them to do their job.

I tried pushing my second set of Blizzaks to 30,000 miles but that ended up with my wife's car in a snowbank and cost me a bumper, which ended up being more than a new set of tires would have cost in the first place.

 

[FrankenRodz]

I'm surprised you got 5 seasons. Expected lifespan of maximum grip is ~20,000 miles which is only 3ish seasons for me. The top half of the tread blocks contains the grippiest compound - once that is gone you'll have reduced traction. But snow tires aren't like all-seasons that you can wear down to the bars - you need tread depth for them to do their job.

I tried pushing my second set of Blizzaks to 30,000 miles but that ended up with my wife's car in a snowbank and cost me a bumper, which ended up being more than a new set of tires would have cost in the first place.

My Wife only drives about 5k miles a year! Most of that is not Winter driving.

 

[Sonny]

Was told the LT3's are made in Russia, so they are virtually unattainable

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