Running Winter/Snow tires in relatively warmer temperature areas

Hello all,

We are in the SoCal area but plan to do a few trips to mountains this winter, Big Bear, etc.

We went to Mountain High/Wrightwood this past weekend and the 19 inch OEM Contis on my brand new truck (with only about 1300 miles on it) weren't exactly confidence inspiring at around 6.5k altitude on those winding two lanes, and it wasn't even snowing at the time we went out there, but there were some sporadic black ice type conditions and temperatures dipped from 27F to like 19F at night.

I have lived in the east coast for years and bought my first LR, an LR3 back there and have experienced first hand how crappy and dangerous OEM all seasons could be in winter/snowy conditions. My LR3 had come with Good Years all seasons and the traction on snow or ice was not good at all.

I never had thought that living in SoCal I'd ever need winter tires but recalling those couple of near-mishaps resulting from the combination of the weight of my LR3 and the all seasons rubber, I am afraid to take this truck into any snowy or icy surfaces without proper tires

So I am wondering that for the days/times we are not out in the mountains, would running winter/snow tires in typical SoCal winter weather in my area with normal temperatures well above 55 to 65 degrees, cause any premature wear.

Here are the two tires I was looking at, they have got some good reviews:

The Blizzak DM-V2:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...toYear=2016&autoModel=LR4&autoModClar=HSE+LUX


and the Latitude X-ICE X12:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...toYear=2016&autoModel=LR4&autoModClar=HSE LUX


I am leaning towards the Latitude for its higher speed rating of 111H vs the Blizzak' 111T, guessing it would be quieter on the freeways.

I may also be looking to get a dedicated set of 19 inch OEM rims, style 703 (i believe this maybe the part number: LR040788).

I wouldn't run dedicated tires (often at least) above 40 or so. They just aren't made for it. In SoCal temps you'd be replacing them a LOT. Have you considered chains? I don't know if they are legal there, they aren't in Michigan. If not, maybe a winter rated all season like the nokian WR2.

Good to see someone highlight that all-season tires are really no-season tires.

You should consider a "snowflake" rated tire that you could run 365 days a year. I have the General Grabber AT2 and have driven across Colorado, Kansas and Missouri many times with that tire. Winter storms, ice and wind. I was very pleased with their performance both winter and summer, on-road and off-road.

The Nokian WRG3 SUV is supposed to be exactly what you're looking for. I've never run them so I can't vouch for them, but they're supposedly a great snow tire that can be run year round.

Nothing will beat a dedicated winter tire in snow & ice, but I am curious to hear how the KO2s perform this season. They have a snowflake and mountain designation symbols on them. Not sure if it means much in the long run.

I put the Nokian WRG2 on my 2013 after I slid down a low grade wet hill a few weeks after owning the car. Its actually how I found this forum. I couldn't understand how the OEM tires could be so bad and began researching. These tires are excellent on slick roads which to me is as important as how good they are in snow. If I lived in VT, I'd run dedicated snow tires in the winter and these the rest of the time. But here on Long Island, where it was 55 yesterday and we haven't seen an inch of snow yet this year, these are an excellent year-round choice.

I'm running the Michelin Premier LTX on my 2011 LR4. Previously ran the OEM Contis and then Cooper Zeons. The Michelin's are much better in both dry (smooth and quiet) and wet (good grip) compared to those two tires, IMO, and they've held their own in the snow so far (I'm in the Northeast). The Conti's should be rated as summer tires - they were undrivable on the snow and ice. I considered replacing them after 5k miles due to how bad they were, but in they only lasted about 20k miles anyway. Unlike others on here, I got pretty poor life out of my Coopers as well, and the noise levels ratcheted up quite a bit as the wore out.

Hoping the Michelins hold up, but the ride on those has been by far the best of the three.

Thanks all, much appreciated. And Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all here.

WRG2 (or is it G3 now?) is indeed very enticing as an all season. Maybe I will have that as an all season and for the light snow days, etc. But I am still very much interested in a dedicated snow tire. I plan to go out there in the mountains when its crazy blizzard or snowing out there, and this is just one heavy truck, the fear of it wanting to swap ends during braking on down grade etc makes me wanna go the snow tire route. Looking at the Mich Premier LTX, and that is also a very good choice as an all season, specially for wet/rainy surfaces (tire rack rates them very well for wet surface). I wish tire rack had ratings for the WRG2/3 as well so I could compare the two, but it seems like they don't sell those Nokians.

In the end I am already seeing myself having two sets, one for all season (Premier LTX, WRG3/2, or maybe an AT with snow/mountain symbol, or at least with good snow performance). And the second set for a dedicated snow tires.

mpinco, I couldn't fine Grabber AT2 in 255/55/19. For now I really want to stay within the spec.

Also very curious about the KO2's performance in snow/slush and rain/wet surfaces.

The Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs come in 255/55/19 and would be a good all-terrain option if you want to stay with a 30" tire.

Also, Mich Premier LTX has the tread depth of only 8/32, is that a typo on tirerack site?