Good Tires For 2wd In The Midwest

solarjustin · September 23, 2007

I live in Iowa and have a 2wd truck that i bough this summer. It is a 2004 with 36k miles and still has the OEM tires on it. Well it fast come apperant that these whees suck a**. I'm looking for opions from guys with 2wd trucks that live in climents where they get snow and what tires you have found to work well for you.

solarjustin · September 23, 2007

also want to know if any of you have gone from a 235/75-16 to a 255/70-16. This seams like it whould be helpful in the number of selections and a little wider tire also. And the spedo would not be off by much.

Paul58 · September 23, 2007

I swapped my stock General Americrap's for Bridgestone Alenza H/L's before I had a 100 miles on the truck! They ride sooo much better, are rated to 65,000 miles, and get excellent ratings for all conditions from TireRack.com.

EDIT: I just saw your last question, I replaced the stock 245/0-17's with 255/75-17's. The 75 series it taller than the 70 series, so you shouldn't be off much if you go with the 70 series. My GPS showed I was actually running at 71 mph when the speedo showed 70 mph. With the 70 series you'd probably be dead on!

Tucson_02Silverado · September 23, 2007

245/70-16 Ameritracs, I thought they wore ok, lacking a bit of traction, wore even but fast.

Bought new 17" wheels, went to Falken S/TZ-01 285/60-17, great looking tread, noisy, didn't wear or bite any better than the Ameritracs

After barely 32000 miles of life from the Falken's, Goodyear Fortera Silent Armor 275/60-17, very quiet tire, after 12K+ no real signs of wear, very 'grippy', warranted for 70K of tread life.

I was getting a Wester's tune at the time of going to 17", so that wasn't a concern of mine for the ECM. Since I went both ways with the tire change, shorter sidewall and wider track, it's hard to say which was the greater improvement in handling. For 2WD I would tend to lean towards the shorter sidewall contributing most to a very noticeble improvment.

Paul58 · September 23, 2007

Something to keep in mind, especially with a 2WD in snow, a thinner tire will tend to cut through the snow and grip the road below, a wider tire will ride on top of the snow providing less traction.

svensk · September 24, 2007

Something to keep in mind, especially with a 2WD in snow, a thinner tire will tend to cut through the snow and grip the road below, a wider tire will ride on top of the snow providing less traction.

dittos! If you have 2wd don't get short sidewall tires with wide tread no matter how tempting it is. I would keep the tires and wheels you have get a cheapo set of steel wheels and fit them with Blizzaks for the winter months.

rogerf · September 24, 2007

Something to keep in mind, especially with a 2WD in snow, a thinner tire will tend to cut through the snow and grip the road below, a wider tire will ride on top of the snow providing less traction.

dittos! If you have 2wd don't get short sidewall tires with wide tread no matter how tempting it is. I would keep the tires and wheels you have get a cheapo set of steel wheels and fit them with Blizzaks for the winter months.

X2....I kept a set of steel wheels for my 2wd '97 1500 W/T for Winter use with a set of BS Dueler A/T's on the rear. Went through the snow just fine with some weight in the tail and driving with some common sense.

Considering doing the same for this new truck. Find a set of steel take-offs and mount the factory Goodyear ATS for winter. Then get a new set of something smooth & quite on the factory aluminum wheels for Summer. The road noise & vibration from the ATS's are more than I want on the expressway.

ATMINF · September 24, 2007

When I was stationed up in WI, I had my 2wd 3/4ton Burban and swithched out the factory tires with some Kelly springfield "all-terrain" type of tires, I went from the factory 245/16/70 to a 265/16/70 and they were great in the snow and slush. As for the thinner tire cutting better thru the snow, that is probably true for a true "snow" tire, but for me the 265 with the all terrain style of tread really helped out. I am too lazy and cheap to get a set of "winter tires", I just say drive smarter and slower when the weather is crappy. But I also drove my 1995 supercharged Z28 during the winter on the regular tires(about a 10 mile drive). I can also say alot of guys that had the BFG all terrain tires that were sized in the 285 or 265 range liked them alot and only had good things to say. Good luck!

SoCalChris · September 24, 2007

Studded snow tires for the winter will be the best investment that you make for a 2WD truck in the snow. A lot of people up here even put the studded tires on the 4WD trucks in the winter, they really make a huge difference.

Also, go to Home Depot and buy about 300 lbs of sand tubes to throw in the back.

bryanhunt · September 24, 2007

A lot of midwest states don't allow studs given the fact that once plowed the roads dry out pretty quick. The best snow tire I've used was the Goodyear Wrangler AT/S. While I had them fitted to a 4wd vehicle is was open diff and I still never had to use 4wd in the lake effect snow off lake michigan.

silverado02excb · September 24, 2007

I just went from 235/75/16 Wrangler ST(sucka$$ tire:) on my 2002 2wd to 255/70/16 Firestone Destination AT's. I have used the destination LE twice before and loved them on my SUV and other pickup. Bought the AT's b/c I sold the SUV and wanted the extra traction for the winter. So far they are awesome. Quiet and no more sliping and sliding in the rain. I hope for the same results in the snow.

svensk · September 25, 2007

I run my Mich ltx M/S year round (I have 4x4) and they do well. I put about 500-600 in the bed and the traction is good.

rogerf · September 25, 2007

I just went from 235/75/16 Wrangler ST(sucka$$ tire:) on my 2002 2wd...

They call these "Spin-out Tires" on the Jeep sites. Had them on my Liberty, perfect match...a POS vehicle with a POS tire.

I have used the destination LE twice before and loved them on my SUV and other pickup.

Also got a set of Destination LE's for the Jeep after my 4th 180* spin-out on rain water. Was like driving a completely different vehicle. Would not hesitate to get these again, exceptional tire for the money.

2004GMC1500CC · September 25, 2007

I live in Iowa and have a 2wd truck that i bough this summer. It is a 2004 with 36k miles and still has the OEM tires on it. Well it fast come apperant that these whees suck a**. I'm looking for opions from guys with 2wd trucks that live in climents where they get snow and what tires you have found to work well for you.

On my 91 2wd I have BFG All Terains (31x10.5x15) and they have never left me stranded. Here in Dallas we get a lot of ice and sleet in the winter and they have been real good. Add some weight to the back, drive real careful and you won't have any problems.

silverado02excb · September 27, 2007

I live in Iowa and have a 2wd truck that i bough this summer. It is a 2004 with 36k miles and still has the OEM tires on it. Well it fast come apperant that these whees suck a**. I'm looking for opions from guys with 2wd trucks that live in climents where they get snow and what tires you have found to work well for you.

On my 91 2wd I have BFG All Terains (31x10.5x15) and they have never left me stranded. Here in Dallas we get a lot of ice and sleet in the winter and they have been real good. Add some weight to the back, drive real careful and you won't have any problems.

BFG A/T's were awesome tires. Had them on an 86 Bronco. The only downside is the hum will put you to sleep like a baby on highway runs