Winter Tires

[wozzer]

Hi. Just joined the forum. I have a 2006 LR3 HSE. The original equipment, GY 19" Wranglers were just awful. Tread gone at about 13,000 mi. I live in the mountains of UT and need a good snow tire ASAP, and ultimately a good non-summer tire recommendation. Last year I couldn't believe this 3 ton vehicle was stuck in 8" of snow. My '73 Maverick was virtually never stuck in Buffalo. I won't make the same mistake this year - and snow has fallen on this weekend the past two years here.

I have had great success with Blizzaks for winter on other cars, but do not believe that 255/55-19 are available. I seem to be given the choice of GY or Pirelli Scorpion and Ice. My previous experience with both manufacturers over the past 35 years has not been favorable. GY on the current vehicle and Pirelli - which was an all-season tire - which is probably a bad idea for any tire with temperature extremes - hot summers and snow.

Love to hear some suggestions! Or do I have no choice? Go Bills!

 

[bgsntth]

I've never had them, but a lot of folks here and in Europe use these; some year-round.
http://www.tiresbyweb.com/p-7198-vredestein-wintrac-4-xtreme.aspx

 

[Lyon]

I don't know if they're snow rated but...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wrangler+MT%2FR

Apparently these are the ****.

 

[roverman]

The Hakkapellitas by Nokian are the real deal. No offense Lyon, but MTR's aren't meant for snow and are probably worse than many all season tires. Mud Terrain's have big lugs for mud/rocks, but they don't have the siping grooves needed for traction on hardpack/ice. Although they might be better than the HPs the truck came with. I had the Nokians on my old RR 4.0 and it was absolutely unstoppable. That said, I haven't looked into whether or not they are available in 19". I believe the recommended winter tire is the Dunlop in 235 width but I can't find them at the moment (grandtrek SJ5).

 

[codemonkey]

Blizzaks of various types for various vehicles have been my consistent favorite snow tires. My last set on my SLK I cheaped out and got Dunlop Graspics, not bad in the snow or in the dry. Way better than any all-season tire I've ever had.

I think as long as you stay away from any performance-oriented winter tire you'll do OK. I had a set of Pirelli Winter 210's on an S4 and they totally sucked for anything other than fresh loose snow - packed or slush they were pretty bad. The Goodyears on Tire Rack (Ultra Grip SUV) are described as a performance winter tire, I'd go for the Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow given the choice.

Nokians would be the ultimate, but a quick glance on that tiresbyweb shows close to $300 per tire.


Let us know what you go with and what you think. I'm going to give this winter a go on my Cooper Xeons, but really prefer to have real winter tires.

 

[CoMclovin]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wrangler+MT%2FR

Apparently these are the ****.

Those are the tires Land Rover equips the G4 challenge vehicles with. My brother works for GoodYear, he loves those tires. I personally haven't tried them yet, but hear great things about them.

 

[Lyon]

The Hakkapellitas by Nokian are the real deal. No offense Lyon, but MTR's aren't meant for snow and are probably worse than many all season tires. Mud Terrain's have big lugs for mud/rocks, but they don't have the siping grooves needed for traction on hardpack/ice. Although they might be better than the HPs the truck came with. I had the Nokians on my old RR 4.0 and it was absolutely unstoppable. That said, I haven't looked into whether or not they are available in 19". I believe the recommended winter tire is the Dunlop in 235 width but I can't find them at the moment (grandtrek SJ5).

No offense taken! I'm not planning on getting the MTRs. I'm hoping that the BFG TA-KO's that I got will work in the snow/ice but, as you pointed out, that's not really what they're primarily made for even if they do carry the severe service label. I certainly agree with you about the Nokians. I've had studded Hakkapelitas on past cars, my wife's Honda Pilot wears the WRs year round and I have some WRs for the TT Roadster that go on in the winter. I just didn't think that they made anything that fit the LR3!

 

[CoMclovin]

The Hakkapellitas by Nokian are the real deal. No offense Lyon, but MTR's aren't meant for snow and are probably worse than many all season tires. Mud Terrain's have big lugs for mud/rocks, but they don't have the siping grooves needed for traction on hardpack/ice. Although they might be better than the HPs the truck came with. I had the Nokians on my old RR 4.0 and it was absolutely unstoppable. That said, I haven't looked into whether or not they are available in 19". I believe the recommended winter tire is the Dunlop in 235 width but I can't find them at the moment (grandtrek SJ5).

After talking to a buddy who runs these in snow, he says they run great in snow. Ice is of course a different story, but he tells me he loved them in the snow. Again I don't run these so can't speak personally, although I'll be in the market for tires in the near future so I'm sure I'll be checking into all of these as well.

Cheers.

 

[roverman]

I had always wanted them (Nokians), but felt it was overkill. What inspired me to get them for my 4.0 was one day we had a few inches of slushy snow. I was going about 30 and slammed on my brakes. Crunch Clatter Grind Grind Grind! and I finally stopped in about 150 feet. Just ridiculous. With the Nokians, it would barely even need the traction controls. It just simply stopped. If I lived in Utah or any mountainous state I would definitely get them. Even in Michigan I want them - I hate having the ultimate 4x4 that doesn't perform ultimately - I just haven't felt like chumping up for the spare set of rims and the tires.

 

[bgsntth]

I do not believe that the Nokian's are available in an LR3 diameter or LI.

The Vredestein Wintrac extremes are the appropriate size and LI.