"All weather" tires in place of winter tires

[auvgeek]

A bit of an update on Wilpeak AT3W. I cannot recommend them highly enough for HD truck owners. I'm not well into my second winter without heavily degraded performance. I'm a huge fan and will replace with another set at the end of next summer.

Back story: The only other tire I've gotten two seasons from was a Duratrac and they simply aren't as good on ice. My truck is heavy, I tow a lot and usually eat tires in 20-25k miles. Like I said, AT3W is going through the second winter. I expect to get 40k from these. I'll call that a win.

I'm equally impressed with the Toyo MT's on my Jeep. NOT a winter tire, but wildly good when the snow is deep. The Jeep makes magic somehow. It'll go anywhere in any conditions on that tire, so if you want a MT that's passable in snowy conditions....

I'll be very curious if you decide to try a Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT, on either your Jeep or truck. Seems to get rave reviews for being a 3PMSF-rated hybrid mud/AT tire with a very strong sidewall. Sits right between the Wildpeak and Toyo MT you're currently running.

[auvgeek]

Looks like Falken Wildpeak AT3W is replaced with the AT4W. Initial take/discussion indicates the AT4W has improved durability and tread wear, but slightly reduced snow/ice/wet performance, based on both compound and tread/sipe design. But good news for the HD/big truck, towing, jobsite crowd.

[Muggydude]

This video is a pretty good in depth look at the AT4W: https://youtu.be/IPXfAkAlv6g?feature=shared

IMO the changes are very disappointing and I’m guessing the tire will be noticeably worse in ice and snow.

Seems like a stupid move for Falken IMO, as the main reason most people choose the Falken is for their superior winter performance over most every other AT Tire. The AT3Ws are plenty sturdy for my Camper van, so I could care less about the “durability upgrades”. I think Falken is going to eventually lose a lot of the market share gains they made after the first set of people buy the AT4W and are disappointed in their winter performance. Maybe somehow the tire will still perform really well, but based on all the changes they made, I can’t see how

Guess I’ll be looking for a new AT tire now. The KO3 has gone the opposite direction, softer more flexible compound, more sipes, better water evacuation, etc. should be a better winter tire now.

https://youtu.be/UQlcwKUwrg8?feature=shared

Baja Boss AT also looks promising, although it’s limited in size availability and is heavy

[auvgeek]

It’s really too bad Falken didn’t just stagger the shoulder lugs, add the side biters, and go true 3 ply sidewalls -- and just call it a day there.

Those changes would be substantial enough to justify a new model, and it seems like most people would be happy/fine with improved sidewall durability and off-road/deep snow performance. Obviously we're all biased here, but I doubt most people are fine with losing any winter performance.

[Fishskisurf]

Glad I put a fresh set of AT3W’s on then….
My prior set had 60k miles and nearly 6 or 7/32nds left, which is ample tread depth for most.
Granted they were getting loud and rubber compound was getting harder, but I generally replace tires early, running old vs fresh rubber is noticeable in the PNWet

[SnowMachine]

I'll be very curious if you decide to try a Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT, on either your Jeep or truck. Seems to get rave reviews for being a 3PMSF-rated hybrid mud/AT tire with a very strong sidewall. Sits right between the Wildpeak and Toyo MT you're currently running.

That tire is very much on the radar. I'm looking forward to trying them on some trucks.

[SnowMachine]

Pretty bummed about the AT3W being replaced. I can't tell you how many of those tires I've installed. It's been a go-to the last two years.

This is the first I've heard of the AT4W. I'm not impressed. I wonder if I should order another set of AT3W's now.

[The SnowShow]

I was about to get AT3Ws but they seem to be gone from DiscountTire. What other AT tire should I get that has good winter capability?

[VTskibum]

Recently went with BFG Trail Terrain over KO2s and have a bunch of snowy drives in. So far so good. Read one review that said the Trail Terrain brakes better being softer compound than KO2, which I can't directly compare but seems to be pretty good.

[whyturn]

I was about to get AT3Ws but they seem to be gone from DiscountTire. What other AT tire should I get that has good winter capability?

I’m really impressed with my toyo open country at tires on my Forester Used in 35ish weather in parking lot with a hill on snow and worked good I still run dedicated snows but for three season have been good


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[The SnowShow]

Recently went with BFG Trail Terrain over KO2s and have a bunch of snowy drives in. So far so good. Read one review that said the Trail Terrain brakes better being softer compound than KO2, which I can't directly compare but seems to be pretty good.

Good to hear. But I assume because they’re softer, they’ll get more worn out offroading (in CO and UT)?

[auvgeek]

I was about to get AT3Ws but they seem to be gone from DiscountTire. What other AT tire should I get that has good winter capability?

KO3, Baja Boss, Nokian Outpost nAT.

[The SnowShow]

Are KO3s an upgrade to KO2s in snow? What about mildly technical off-road?

[Toadman]

Are KO3s an upgrade to KO2s in snow? What about mildly technical off-road?

https://tiredriver.com/bf-goodrich-k...e%20ratings%29.

[Muggydude]

I can’t tell if this guy actually knows what he’s talking about or it’s just a well written and edited AI generated article. Doesn’t strike me as having real experience on the ground with them.

I think Nokian Outpost AT/nAT will be my next tire purchase now that AT3Ws are gone. Baja boss looks nice, but they’re heavy, expensive, and have limited sizes


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[PhishingME]

I have about 27k on a pair of Goodyear Assurance Weather ready. The side lugs seem to be getting worn, but plenty of life in the center. Thinking of another year any thoughts? Been good thus far in marginal New England winters.

[Cono Este]

Update on my 22 wrx

I went with vredstein quadtrack. It’s a gt tire with a snowflake. Not a true winter tire, but I did about 15k on them all over NA, and never let me down, but maybe deep slush. Softer ride than stock summers, but still grip, miss the summers though. Great tire for yr round if you have a drive to the mtn.

[MyNameIsAugustWest]

My new to me wagon came with Michelin CrossClimate 2s. They are an all season tire that also have the 3Peak/Snowflake rating. The did fine in new snow and moderate slush. Probably not as good as Blizzaks on ice but it’s hard to say without doing A to B testing.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[schuss]

My new to me wagon came with Michelin CrossClimate 2s. They are an all season tire that also have the 3Peak/Snowflake rating. The did fine in new snow and moderate slush. Probably not as good as Blizzaks on ice but it’s hard to say without doing A to B testing.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

I've switched from dedicated snows/summers to crossclimates - they give up very little in my experience (mixed NH driving).

[Cocximus]

I have the geolandar g015 as my spring off road access tires that I never got around to changing. They wear out considerably quicker than a non 3pms tire. Ok the other hand they are very damp off road, I don't have to let the pressure out unless the road is in poor condition.

[MyNameIsAugustWest]

I've switched from dedicated snows/summers to crossclimates - they give up very little in my experience (mixed NH driving).

Yep. I may be past my storm-chasing days. I do have a Honda Ridgeline that I run Blizzaks on in case we really have to get somewhere in the middle of a big one. Southern Vermont for reference.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[ASmileyFace]

Starting the process to replace my current late Spring/Summer/Fall tire and curious if anyone here has real KO3 experience yet. The news that it might be slightly better in snow is a win for me and bumps it up my list a bit over the other usual suspects.

I drive on snowpacked roads 75% of the time for 3.5/4 months a year so I will continue to run dedicated winters for those months, but am looking for something that doesn't suck in those late fall/early spring storms when I might be hitting the desert in between daily driving on muddy dirt roads with snowpacked sections.

[dcpnz]

My new to me wagon came with Michelin CrossClimate 2s. They are an all season tire that also have the 3Peak/Snowflake rating. The did fine in new snow and moderate slush. Probably not as good as Blizzaks on ice but it’s hard to say without doing A to B testing.

I've switched from dedicated snows/summers to crossclimates - they give up very little in my experience (mixed NH driving).

Discount tire pushed the crossclimate pretty hard when I was shopping this spring . I passed as I’m still running two sets of dedicated summer/winter.
But I’ve seen a lot around here (CO Rockies) on a wide variety of vehicles and they sure look interesting option for those wanting all season with good winter capability or those that see a lot of dry road in winter - appear to be aggressive tread rather than lots of siping .

Will be interested in your feedback on them after getting some summer miles in

[The SnowShow]

Starting the process to replace my current late Spring/Summer/Fall tire and curious if anyone here has real KO3 experience yet. The news that it might be slightly better in snow is a win for me and bumps it up my list a bit over the other usual suspects.

I drive on snowpacked roads 75% of the time for 3.5/4 months a year so I will continue to run dedicated winters for those months, but am looking for something that doesn't suck in those late fall/early spring storms when I might be hitting the desert in between daily driving on muddy dirt roads with snowpacked sections.

I’m in that mode too and am curious about the KO3s.
Otherwise, it appears the Toyo Open Country AT3’s are the best tire for a mix of off road and snow? The new Wildpeaks sound less so but maybe I’m wrong?

[ASmileyFace]

I’m in that mode too and am curious about the KO3s.
Otherwise, it appears the Toyo Open Country AT3’s are the best tire for a mix of off road and snow? The new Wildpeaks sound less so but maybe I’m wrong?

The Wildpeak AT3 was top of my list before, but they seem harder (or impossible) to find in my size now. A lot of folks around me were running them year round without issue (auvgeek has them I think). A quick google and reading this thread makes it seem like the AT4 has gone the other direction and is heavier and better in off-road non-wet/snow applications than it's predecessor.