What's your opinion on snow tires? Do you need them?

[Riley_monthule]

I recently moved to the 5th snowiest city in the US and as winter is around the corner I'm curious how other people approach choosing the right tire. Now my current tires are only M+S rated so no triple peak rating but I'm personally not worried. I'm very confident in the snow and got around fine through one of the biggest snow years in a first gen Prius with $50 all seasons haha Buttttt.... I live with five women two of which have 2wd cars so I've been making a lot of recommendations lately . I assume a lot of people who get Tacomas get them to deal with conditions like this so I wanted another point of view. My question is do you guys change out for dedicated snow tires every season? How necessary do you think studs are? They seem to only be helpful on the ice. Or do most of you just get a good all around tire and call it a day? What do you put on your significant others vehicle?

Personally I'm just keeping my M+S tires on. They'll be more than fine for me even with the extreme conditions here but Looking to make my recommendations more well rounded for people who don't enjoy sliding around View attachment RIL02514.jpg

 

[tacomel]

I think it really boils down to personal preference and what you are comfortable with.

I live in a fairly snowy area (Idaho) and will be sticking with the stock falken wildpeaks which are not 3 peak rated, and I am guessing I will be fine. Eventually I will upgrade to an all terrain that will be 3 peak rating. My wife (5th gen 4runner) is also perfectly happy with ATs with 3 peak rating, but we do have a set of studs (gotten for the great price of free) we will make the switch too.

If I were in your shoes I would probably wait and see how well the city keeps the roads cleared. Our city does a decent job with the main roads and less so with the side roads/neighborhood. My biggest worry is not me or our vehicles, but the other idiots on the road who don't understand that their suburbatank has 4 wheel drive and not necessarily 4 wheel stop on the snow and ice

 

[PghTaco]

Just today, I ordered BFG Trail Terrain T/As to run year-round. I decided not to get dedicated winter tires. I only have 6,000 miles on the truck but I didn't want to run the OE Michelin Primacy tires in the winter. Western Pennsylvania can be unpredictable in the winter. The last few have not been bad.

 

[Rick Acres]

I recently moved to the 5th snowiest city in the US and as winter is around the corner I'm curious how other people approach choosing the right tire. Now my current tires are only M+S rated so no triple peak rating but I'm personally not worried. I'm very confident in the snow and got around fine through one of the biggest snow years in a first gen Prius with $50 all seasons haha Buttttt.... I live with five women two of which have 2wd cars so I've been making a lot of recommendations lately . I assume a lot of people who get Tacomas get them to deal with conditions like this so I wanted another point of view. My question is do you guys change out for dedicated snow tires every season? How necessary do you think studs are? They seem to only be helpful on the ice. Or do most of you just get a good all around tire and call it a day? What do you put on your significant others vehicle?

Personally I'm just keeping my M+S tires on. They'll be more than fine for me even with the extreme conditions here but Looking to make my recommendations more well rounded for people who don't enjoy sliding around View attachment 1312

Riley . I live in Ontario Canada and I use 4 Michelin snows which is needed up here. i have a limited and here it comes with what i would call 3 season tires.

 

[PghTaco]

I just had the 3pmsf rated BFG Trail Terrain T/As put on my truck. I have been running dedicated winter tires on vehicles for 40 years. Tire design and materials have obviously advanced a lot in those 40 years. I really wanted a 4-season tire. I am tired of storing and switching. First small test today. Rain/snow mix. Had the truck out on western PA hills and highways. Felt completely stable. But winter will get worse....

 

[FL_Jake]

I recently moved to the 5th snowiest city in the US and as winter is around the corner I'm curious how other people approach choosing the right tire. Now my current tires are only M+S rated so no triple peak rating but I'm personally not worried. I'm very confident in the snow and got around fine through one of the biggest snow years in a first gen Prius with $50 all seasons haha Buttttt.... I live with five women two of which have 2wd cars so I've been making a lot of recommendations lately . I assume a lot of people who get Tacomas get them to deal with conditions like this so I wanted another point of view. My question is do you guys change out for dedicated snow tires every season? How necessary do you think studs are? They seem to only be helpful on the ice. Or do most of you just get a good all around tire and call it a day? What do you put on your significant others vehicle?

Personally I'm just keeping my M+S tires on. They'll be more than fine for me even with the extreme conditions here but Looking to make my recommendations more well rounded for people who don't enjoy sliding around View attachment 1312

When I lived in a colder part of the country, I was driving a 2001 Tacoma. At that time I also carried a few tubes of sand in the bed, for added weight but also to use in the event I got stuck in a snow rut. While these newer trucks are much heavier, having a bit more weight over the rear axel is fairly cheap to obtain and can give some added assurance.

https://tinyurl.com/sfdr89bb

 

[PghTaco]

When I lived in a colder part of the country, I was driving a 2001 Tacoma. At that time I also carried a few tubes of sand in the bed, for added weight but also to use in the event I got stuck in a snow rut. While these newer trucks are much heavier, having a bit more weight over the rear axel is fairly cheap to obtain and can give some added assurance.

https://tinyurl.com/sfdr89bb

Over 30 years ago, I had a 1990 Toyota pickup (they weren't even called Tacoma then). I did exactly what you suggested. A few tubes of sand in the bed helped significantly. I was just thinking today if I will do the same thing with my new Tacoma. I think that I will. Some weight in the bed is good plus as you said, you can also use it to help if you get stuck. Cheap insurance IMO.