Okay... I tried searching so if you can find something that I didn't thanks in advance.

I'm wondering what would be recommended for a snow-rig setup. I live in the frozen plains of the north and everything is basically flat and covered with snow for 6+ months of the year. This leaves very little opportunity for wheeling other than the occasional mud hole and of course snow.

I don't have an XJ yet (it's only a matter of time! ) but I'd like to avoid having to regear - at least initially. I know this will limit my tire selection so I'm thinking 31's or 33's max to get me started. Maybe when the Jeep obsession has fully sunk in I'll be running some D60's and 37's but realistically this rig will be a DD and I'd like to be able to reach 75mph on the highway.

Here are some of my ideas:

• 31's x 10.5" or would 9.5" be better or even 12.5"? I've heard about running skinny tires in snow to avoid flotation.
• Studded tires? Any recommended type? All Terrain's?
• Lockers? Which one is most beneficial to do first, Front or Rear?
• Lift? 3"? Realistically there won't be a TON of flexing going on here.

I'm open to any other ideas/suggestions too. Is there anything else that would be helpful?

Thanks!

 

I have 1992 Jeep Cherokee laredo I6 with 3 inch lift kit and Dick cepek 31"X12.5" tires and I love that set up, it handles great in the snow, last winter we had 4' of snow and everyone was basically stranded but not me. I plowed our driveway which was a 50 foot gravel road up hill. I plowed it just by getting speed and ramming the snow with my bumper then crawin up 15 feet or so then do it over and over again and never once got stuck

 

on my 95 I have 31x10.50 and I have no problems getting around. although it's fun to leave it in 2hi and perfect my speedway skills

 

without regearing dont go more than 31x10.50. the wider the tire the more traction, and you wont sink as bad. i dont think the skinny tire theory ever works out to good in bad weather. i would get an aggressive a/t tire that has the most sipping. this will give you the most traction on ice, and snow aside from a set of chains.

 

Why would you want to run a skinnier to AVOID flotation? You usually want to run a wider tire in the snow to help you float on top of the snow. As far as the locker I'd lock the rear first, it will get you farther than just 2wd without it. Another thing to think about for snow wheeling is beedlocks and some kind of on board air.

 

If you are running on the highway, selectable lockers or none at all. All terrains with studs if possible. Narrower tires. If you are looking at running the deep stuff then it is the opposite. As much tire as possible, lockers a definite help and all terains work well, or a very soft mud terrain such as swamper radials, siped of course

 

I have never understood why any one in their right mind would sipe a mud tire??? I mean come on, why get mud tires, if you are worried about ice traction. The genius that put the tires on my jeep before I bought it had the km's siped, and they worn twice as fast as my old km's did, and didnt help with traction in ice. It is a waste of time and money!!!

 

Someone in their right mind would know that the sipes open up and close on soft snow and make lots of little pinch grips. That is someone in their right mind that has wheeled in deep snow.

 

 

what he said

 

we used to run super swampers all over in nebraska and we always siped our tires. It helps a ton in snow and ice. So I gotta agree with pwned.

 

Bridgestone Dueler A/T's (REVO's or 695), are the best A/T tire money can buy. Great on and off road, snow, sand, some mud.

 

I've heard some really great things about those tires, Bridgestone definitely makes a great tire. BFG ATs are a tried, and trusted tire, about the most common AT I see.

 

I say Cooper STT's better, and cheaper than Bridgestone or BFG.

 

Thanks for the tips! I'm not so sure if I'd want much flotation or not. Would flotation affect handling negatively say on normal roads when there is 4-6 inches of fresh snow? Realistically I'd encounter this situation a lot more than having to plow through (or over) a 4' drift. I'm concerned that I'd start floating in situations where it's not really necessary at the expense of handling and control.

Good advice on the selectable locker and tires too. I have a buddy who had some 31" mudders w/ large lugs and he said they were terrible on ice. He ended up switching to A/T's. Not sure of the brand though...

I found this thread on Pirate yesterday:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...=833531&page=4
I had been thinking something more along the lines of the Mitsu in post 84 or the XJ in post 97 rather than the foolsize ford in that thread. I think the XJ is esp. sweet!