What kind of tires (other than dedicated winter/snow tires) are the best in snow? I want to get some that'll help me out in the occasional snowstorm, but still be usable on trails and stuff. I don't do mud; muddy trails are the closest I come. I mostly do dirt trails and rocks.

So, a tire that'll work well in snow and on trails (and road of course), and won't break the bank. Preferably in 31". Any recommendations?

 

How deep of snow, how much abuse.

 

<disclaimer>
<--- BFG Fanboy
</disclaimer>

I've got a set of 31" BFG KM2s - haven't gotten stuck in anything yet, but I've only had them since May, so they haven't seen snow yet, either. And they also ran me $180/tire, and won't last much past 20k miles since they're a mud-terrain

Their All-Terrain KO is usually well accepted, a little cheaper, and easily lasts past 30k miles.

Alot of people have good things to say about General Grabbers. Don't have any experience with them myself, but the price is usually what catches people's eyes.

 

Treadwright>BFG for price and performance.

 

you want something with some siping. not just smooth block tread.
my vote, hands down would be trxus.

 

With the requirement you've stated, I'd suggest looking into an all terrain tire. You've got TONS of options to chose from, and plenty of ppl will have plenty of personal preferences.

 

http://www.google.com/search?q=tread...ient=firefox-a
http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic..._ko/index.html
Fourwheeler mag seemed to like the caps.
http://www.treadwright.com/

Just an option you may not have thought of.

 

this, i loved my interco trxus m/ts in the snow. you will get everybody hating saying muds suck in snow but the trxus tires i had were amazing in the snow. im pretty much considering selling my KM2s and buying a set of trxus for my jeep. but they probably wont see more than 10,000 miles.

as for whoever said the KM2s wont last past 20k, just keep them properly rotated and ive seen them last past 40k..no joke

 

You can get your tires siped at a Les Schwab tire store if you have one nearby, or possibly at a truck shop. They will look like this.

 

Poundage per square inch is what gets you through the snow with a combo of the tread pattern.
Same thing why hydro plane on a wet road with wide rubber.
In the winter months you really are better off if you live in the snow belt with a skinny mud tire than a fat mud tire. This produces more poundage per square inch of traction. If the mud you want the opposite less poundage per square inch so the tire will tend to stay on top.

Good luck on your tire search.

 

If I lived in Colorado I would be looking for a MT and have the centers siped. ATs are good for driving on packed snow and ice and a few inches of fresh unpacked or unploughed snow and ATs are the way to go if your Cherokee is mainly a DD with some wheeling.
But for rocks and mountain trails the max traction tire is better and if you can afford it get something with a 3 ply side wall. Have the centers siped and you'll be able to handle packed snow and ice and the side lugs will make it so you can get through some really deep snow.

 

Look into Good year Duratrac Wranglers. Run them on mine in Michigan and have done decent on rocks ( not big into them though ) and went amazing through our winter snow storms. Big down side is they are pricey... cost me around 800 for my four that have lasted me for over a year. My two cents.

 

id say go with the Big O XT. they are a great all around tire. i run the 33x12.5r15 on my 92 xj and the 245/75r17 on my 2006 dodge ram 1500 2wd. great street manners and handle everything ive ever thrown at them from including 12"+ of snow, various types of mud, sand, dirt and asphalt (all in a 2wd ram 1500). and they do fairly well on the rocks in AZ and UT(thats home grounds for me. grew up in the az high country and i still play up there with my xj). and they come with a waranty. i got 5 33x12.5r15s for $1100 and my 5 245/75r17 for $1175. the waranty and afordable price sold me on them.