I have limited funds and can't afford to buy 2 sets of tires for winter and summer. I need a tire that's excellent in snow traction but wears well for my summer driving. Here's my problem. I deliver newspapers and all the low speed maneuvering around mailboxes and U-turns and K-turns scrubs rubber off the tires at an amazing rate. I'm only getting about 1/2 the rated mileage on any tires I've bought so far. I started off with Firestone Winterforce but didn't have them long enough to run them over a summer, they were excellent in snow. They were on my ZJ when the frame rotted out. Then I bought my WJ and put General Grabber AT2's on it which were excellent in snow but wore out after about 25K miles. I now have BFG Rugged Terain A/T's and they look like they'll do the same but again,They are excellent in the snow.

I was going to try another set of Firestones because from ancient history, they have a reputation of being hard rubber with limited wet traction, but good in snow. YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE! I looked at BFG Mud-Terrains, but the thought of paying over $275 each has me shaking. What I need are 245/70R16's

I do very limited off-road driving, mostly dirt roads, sometimes with grass in the middle and small mud holes.

 

I would take a look at Coopers AT tire. I think theyre called the discoverer AT.

 

I've just been looking at Cooper Tires and I like the Discoverer ST MAXX. They aren't made in my exact size but they do make 75's and they're only 1" taller which will only make me want my 2" lift all the more sooner. I could buy 225's but I'd loose almost 2" in width, and that's no going to happen. They are right around $200, $225 each. Not too bad as long as they last better. The Discoverer STT's look awesome but are a bit much for the type of driving I do.

Thanks for the tip!

 

Yeah they STT's are pretty gnarly. Theyre a great mud tire but I wouldn't recommend them for what youre planning.

 

I've found Cooper Discoverer AT/3s are pretty good in the snow and mud. Really liked them in the snow actually.

Not that loud either, in fact quieter than the soccer mom Costco Michelins SUVs always seem to get. Also pretty good in the rain. A lot better than what they put on Audi Quattros-- at least when it comes to acceleration vs an Audi Quattro in the rain...

Handled all this mud and snow just fine.




Not my DD, but I've had these tires 3 years doing a lot of offroad (both trail and--urban offroading) and still tons of tread. Cheaper than the classic BFGs everyone gets, at least out here in silicon valley. Enough tread after 7,000mi+ that the tire shop guy said "wow" when I got a rotation done.

 

The Definity Dakota A/T are USA made by BFG if memory serves and those are only like $145 each (well for 31x10.5x15).



Max

 

I had a set of Big O Bigfoot A/T's on my ZJ and they worked great for just about everything. They were made by Cooper.

 

Have you seen the new Grand Cherokee commercials? That's the kind of snow I occasionally have to drive thru. Bumper deep soft powder or rocker panel deep wet stuff. My 1/2 worn BFG's still handle that with ease. I got looking closely at them yesterday and they don't seem as bad as I thought they were. They may go 30K which isn't half bad.

 

I like the pro comp all terrains. Same extreme snow rating at the BFGS but with a 50000 mile warranty.

 

I drove around this campground for about 10 mins. Not even sure I was on roads or not. Started to worry I'd run something over eventually so I left. But it was good old Sierra Cement snow and no problem for Cooper AT3s

 

I'm running on Pirelli Scorpion winter tyres on my zj, same size you need, they are really good in snow and on dry and wet pavement. In mud it's not so strong. I think they would fit your needs.

 

The problems I'm having are not traction, but wear resistance. All these tires mentioned are terrific in snow, but wear out too fast on dry roads in the summer, because of my driving with U & K turns many times a night. The alignment, balance, and inflation pressure is right and they are nitrogen filled and haven't changed pressure at all.

I'm going to get my paperwork and measure the tread depth and get back to you.

Okay, my tires are 40% worn in 15,000 miles. Not what I'd call good. That means in another 15K, I'll have to replace them.

I've never spun them on anything but ice, but at that time, I could smell rubber. That's when I shifted to low range and got myself out of the snowbank.

 

I love my hercules all trac's I don't get any snow, but for the short types of drives with uturns and stuff, they have held up very well. I got them for $93 each + install for a 31x10.5r15. They have a few tires in your size, I would look them up. a lot of their tires are made by cooper I think. and the terra trac II gets really good reviews.

 

Cooper AT3s... 7,000 mi on them and they looked new to the guy whose job is installing and removing tires... that included urban offroading..ie curbs, rocks, up and down steps, through old military bases, down unused train tracks etc

 

I have Hankook Dynapro A/T's and they are pretty good. I only have a few thousand miles on them, but I've read that people get great life out of them (40000+), and they handle snow and slush here well.