Off Road and Snow Tires

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:24 pm

Hey everyone, I just got my '07 Sport a week ago :twisted:

and was wondering if anyone can recommend a good brand and size of tires for me. I live in Wisconisn and we get a lot of snow here so I will need performance not only off road but in the snow and on ice as well. Any info would be helpfull. Thanks for your time!

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:05 pm

Only snow tires really work in the ice and snow.
That said, the BFG ATs, General AT2s, Nokian Vatiivas, Bridgestone Revos and scores of others will get you generally around in everything to a certain extent. Lots of good tires out there.

the1jferg · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:00 am

Somebody on here said these were the ones:

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/overview ... on/48.html

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:15 am

Like spoonplugger1 said, most A/T tires will do just fine for you. Like he also said, snow tires are really in their own league, especially if you stud them. A/Ts are the best compromise, though, since snow tires aren't so hot offroad, and if you decided to stud them they'd be illegal to run most the time. I'd say BFGoodrich and Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revos are some of the highest rated A/Ts out there, and they do better in snow than some mud-terrains and other "max-traction" tires, unless your hitting really deep stuff. Mud-terrain tires tend to do the best in deep snow, when self-cleaning is needed to maintain traction.
I want the same things as you from a tire, so I went with the BFGoodrich Commercial T/A Tractions. I just got them and haven't put them through much at all, so I'm not recommending them just yet. They are severe-snow rated, have a crap-load of siping, nice sidewall rubber, and are supposed to get "commercial" tread-wear. I got them specifically because my friend who worked at Discount Tire recommended them after hearing what I liked/disliked about my worn Firestone Destination M/Ts I was replacing. Look on BFGoodrich's website for pics and specs.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:17 am

Ah, the 1jferg beat me to it. I think I gave away who that someone was :oops:

the1jferg · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:32 am

Hey man, I've had plenty of MT's and to me they ain't all that. (unless they are the depth of a tractor tire). The only good MT, is a new MT.

The MT's on any vehicle I ever owned never got me anywhere better than an aggressive street tire with lower air pressure, except to the tireshop or gas station.

kayadog · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:16 am

I live in Northeastern Mass. and drive in snow and ices a lot. I've been very happy with my BFG AT's in those conditions as well as on wet and dry roads and mild off road.

The General Grabber AT's are studable if that matters.

I've heard these Nokians are excellent in the snow as well:

http://www.nokiantires.com/en/tire_vati ... son=summer

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Do you do much off-road driving in the winter? If not, just focus on getting a tire that will handle snow and ice on road. If studs are legal in your area, get them. You will be glad you did when you come cruising around a curve and hit a patch of black ice...

Many of the A/T tires do well in deep snow but some of them aren't great on ice. I've got Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires, studded, for winter and love them, but they have to come off for spring. That's when I run the Grabbers. I'd be willing to bet that studded Grabbers would be a dang good winter tire too.

andOrr · **Posted:** Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:10 pm

Maybe I could get some input from you folks too. I'm running 17" limited wheels with new touring tires from the dealer (on a Jeep?!) that came when I bought used. I know I'll need something grippier in the winter and would like to hear how good AT tires did in snow, packed snow, ice etc. How about severe weather rated tires like the Grabbers? I'm kind of "limited" with my wheels

which rules out a lot of AT tires, but I like my rims

Currently, no lift.

If it was really worth it, I would get dedicated winter tires on another set of rims. I want to get some input from other KJ users in the know first though!

FYI, our winters of late have been something like 40% dry roads, 30% rough hard pack, 30% deep snow or slushy wet snow.

Thanks!

renegadekj · **Posted:** Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:08 pm

andOrr & Jeepman56
I would strongly recommend Goodyear Wrangler silent armors, These tires have proven to be an excellent snow/ice tire. The wear doen't seem too bad but their not going to last 80 000KMS thats for sure. As andOrr propably knows the alberta winters can get extreme and especially where i'am in Fort mcmurray, and i must say i feel very comfortable letting the fiance use the KJ everyday on these ice packed roads with the silent armors on.Ive also been looking into a set of maxxis bighorns,has anyone had any experience with these?I see you can stud them so they may be another good option iam not sure.

Josh

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:54 pm

I've been very happy with the Revos last winter up here in Canader, eh?

:wink:

andOrr · **Posted:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:38 pm

The Wrangler Silent Armors are on my A/T short list for sure, they come close to my size (245's instead of 235's, hear they work though) and who can argue with a Fort Mac endorsement

. The Toyo A/Ts and Firestone Destination A/Ts also seem popular.

At work, we always run good A/T tires on the trucks to get to 2-way radio repeater sites in remote locations. I know the last set we got was the Revos; really nice on-road ride haven't used them myself off-road though. Unfortunately, me no fit

.

Neatus · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:25 am

I'm going to through my 2 cents in here for the BFG TA KOs. I live right off Lake Ontario near Canada. We get aweful amounts of snow at times and I am never afraid to make a trip anywhere....this was not the case when I had the Goodyear SRAs. I have pulled many a car out of a ditch in a snow storm with these baby's. I am sure the other AT's mentioned here do a good job as well.

p.s. just getting into my driveway is a chore sometimes but the BFGs have not let me down yet...even had to tug my plow guy out of my driveway once:)

JimKJSVT · **Posted:** Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:03 pm

If I lived where you live I would probably get the Nokian Vatiivas like I believe spoonplugger has. I'm probably going to try Firestone Destination A/Ts. We do get some ice and snow in N.E. Ohio

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

Just buy good AT's and some chains. Unless you are going to get studs, you can't beat chains. Plus you put them on when you need them, take them off when you don't. Better than two sets of tires.

andOrr · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:01 pm

Anybody here have first hand experience with chains on there stock liberty? Clearance issues? time to put on? Would they work on the 17" limited rims? They sound like a great winter solution, but I can just see myself not bothering to put them on and then getting real stuck or sliding down the black ice :shock:

andOrr · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:03 pm

This winter tire chit chat is kinda funny right now. We just had our return to summer today after a week of depressing misery

Rush345 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:36 am

I have not used chains on my Libby, but years ago I drove a 1980 Toyota Celica GT. Low dollar sports car anyway in 1982 Denver got a blizzard, all you could see of the car was about 2" of roof line. Anyway I dug it out backed it into the garage and strapped on the chains. As light as this car was and with a relatively flat belly pan it became a enclose snowmobile. I went where ever I wanted and passed up a lot of cowboys who did not realize 4 wheel drive did not mean 4 wheel stop. Chains are a great investment and when you need them they are indespencible. Just my $.02 worth have fun.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 8:27 am

chains can be a big pain , for instance you may have snowwhere you are but going to work ten miles away no snow so you have to take them off half way there along the road. Where I grew up (and my parents still live) we had to put chains on to get to the main road to leave to go anywhere, put them back on to get back into home, then links would break and bang the heck out of you fenders, not good memories at all
Sure they help but with all the extra hassle not sure if they are worth it unless you are going a long distance and know for sure its snow covered!

Rush345 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:46 pm

tommudd wrote:

chains can be a big pain , for instance you may have snowwhere you are but going to work ten miles away no snow so you have to take them off half way there along the road. Where I grew up (and my parents still live) we had to put chains on to get to the main road to leave to go anywhere, put them back on to get back into home, then links would break and bang the heck out of you fenders, not good memories at all
Sure they help but with all the extra hassle not sure if they are worth it unless you are going a long distance and know for sure its snow covered!

You are 100% correct Tom but they do have their place from time to time. One of the key things is before you ever use them make sure you have fitted them to your Tires trim excess and get the elastic tighteners to keep them snug. OR yes you will chew up your fender wells and do a lot of damage. Pre-Fit them long before you need them and they are great. Wait till the weather is bad to use them the first time and thery might get you moving but yes they will create untold amount of damage. Like any tool if used properly they are indespencible use wrong they could cost you more then you really wnt to spend in repairs.

Off Road and Snow Tires

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