RFtech53

Guys (or gals),

I've got a 2015 KL TH and it came with the OEM Firestone Destination AT tires. I drive pretty conservatively, but I've noticed on wet pavement in town, I do experience a little tire slip sometimes when taking off from a stop. I've only got about 4800 miles on them.

I'm in east-central Iowa and am (not) looking forward to winter. My previous cars have either been FWD or AWD, and I've typically bought a set of snow tires for winter use since I live in the boonies and with snow storms over 6", I may not see a county plow for 24-36 hours or more.

Obviously, I know I now have a 4WD vehicle with mode selects and hence, I've got more traction capabilities than I used to have.

The tread on these seems fairly aggressive, but I've noticed on places like Tire Rack that, even though they are branded with the M+S mark, they're not really considered a "snow" tire except for light snow.

I'm just looking for opinions from others who have these tires and have used them in snow. How well do they perform in SNOW mode? Problems with them in heavy snow, slush, ice, etc?

Thanks in advance.

toasterknight

If you having issues with slipping in rain I would check tire pressures. It seems around me no one dealer included can get pressure right and sets it way too high on every vehicle.

sycoglitch

There is something not right and yes check pressure, even with chalk test.

I loved loved my destination AT, driving in rain swayless, I never lost control. Even this last winter, they were at wear bars, they still got me around safely.


And about spinning tires from takeoff, I've noticed many tirs I've owned, even current 235/85/16 GG AT2, I can break them loose if I'm peddle happy from a stop. Sometimes its also how we drive the vehicle too.

Watchful

I too get slippage once in a while, particularly if turning out of a stop on wet pavement. It's torque, and isn't much of a problem.

I use snow mode quite a bit in winter, and have noticed a positive difference. Basically, as far as I can tell, it sort of puts you in second gear right away. This results in a softer start with decent acceleration after a second or so. I can definitely tell the difference in how the beast handles, too: much more conservative in cornering, etc., which reduces slippage and skidding.

RFtech53

I appreciate all the replies so far.

I did check my tire pressures right after I bought it home new. Like others on the forum have mentioned in other threads, they were uber high ... 41 PSI ... which is what I read the factory sets them at for transport, and the dealer is suppose to deflate to the correct pressure before it goes home with the customer.

I set the tires down to what the placcard on the door pillar states (and also the Firestone webpage for my car states ... which if I remember correctly (I'm at work) ... is 31 PSI cold. It definitely has a softer ride than when I first brought it home.

GCWIMMER

^^^31PSI is a little low, might try 36PSI cold.

RFtech53

@GCWIMMER ... my mistake for not looking first. The label on the car, and Firestone's site, shows a recommended 33 PSI for those tires. But I might try a pound of two higher to see what it rides like. Here's the Firestone link for my 2015 TH with their tires. http://www.firestonecompleteautocare...odel=Trailhawk