SNOW and ICE tires

[DustyGladiator]

I live in Colorado and I have some tire questions for the group. My Mojave Gladiator has 37" Falcon wildpeaks on it that do excellent in the winter here. My Wifes Rubicon has the xtreme recon package and has the factory 35" KO2's on it. They also do excellent in the winter here. Additionally, my wife put 100k miles on her KO2's and they could probably go another 20k before needing to be replaced. Their wear life is downright commendable. I noirmally need new tires at 40k-50k miles.
ISSUE: I want a more agressive offroad tire, but I live in Colorado and not dying on icy snowy roads in the winter is pretty important. I am considering getting the trail grapplers but all I hear about them is that while they are unstoppable in the mud and on the rocks, they are pretty horrid on ice/snow.

So as a forum, what is your experience with a Goldilock tire? Great on ice/snow, but pretty good on the rocks too. Am I stuck with getting another Falcon wildpeak? Not that there is a problem with that.

(SIDENOTE: as I live in Colorado and most of my wheeling is west, I'm not too concerned with mud performance, I just need to stick to rocks when i'm offroad)

Pictures so the post isn't text only. Although I do regularly go out with the wife when we hit the mountains.

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[Not2Late]

I have the wildpeaks on my gladiator. The ATW3 variety. I hear those are not available anymore and they have a new version - ATW4. Think the ATW4 is more skewed towards offroad performance than the ATW3 is/was.

I always felt like the wildpeaks did a good job for what you are describing: off-road and also on-road snow and ice. For any appreciable amount of ice, I think most tires will not do well. Unless they are studded, specific winter/ice tires, or chained. I think every tire is going to be a compromise. The best I personnally experienced with an AT tire for snow/winter were a set of goodyear duratracs I had. But, they had a somewhat thinner sidewall, so had so sacrifice some off-road durability. They still clawed well when aired down. They came in "C" load rating which was also a plus for weight and comfort. No way they would have lasted 100k miles though..

I am running Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires on my JL. Just got back from colorado and they were unstobable. Have not used them in the snow yet.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I've had the AT3W and AT4W. I can say the 4's did not do as good in the winter as the 3's did. Still decent, but not as good. I've read the same from others on various forums and bookface posts. I'm on Toyo OCIII now and really like them, but we didn't have much of a winter after I got them to really know how they will do.

That said, I think the Falkens are still probably your best all around option.

 

[DustyGladiator]

Sounds like Falcons it is. I know not to expect 100k miles like the KO2's but i'm willing to give up a little longevity for better snow/ice performance and better rock grip. The AT3W's have admittedly performed flawlessly for me.

If it wasn't for the fact that i have to drive onicy roads for 4 months out of the year I would be going with Nitto Trail Grapplers 100%. But since I'm not made out of money and I don't want two sets of 37's, I need to compromise.

 

[InvertedLogic]

what are you actually looking for when you say you want something more "aggressive"? Looks, offroad performance? Where offroad do the KO2s or Falken's lack?

 

[DustyGladiator]

what are you actually looking for when you say you want something more "aggressive"? Looks, offroad performance? Where offroad do the KO2s or Falken's lack?

The KO2's feel pretty slick on the rocks. (Especially on the east coast. I took a trip to Rausche Creek in PA with them and it felt like I had regular highway tires on) The Falkens do decently well on the rocks. On the opposite end the K02's lasted on my wifes jeep for 100k miles, but the Falkens that im currenlty running dont appear like they are going to last that long but their offroad performance has been good for me.

Ultimataly what i want doesn't exist. A Trail Grappler that is good in the winter and will last a long time.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I live in Colorado and I have some tire questions for the group. My Mojave Gladiator has 37" Falcon wildpeaks on it that do excellent in the winter here. My Wifes Rubicon has the xtreme recon package and has the factory 35" KO2's on it. They also do excellent in the winter here. Additionally, my wife put 100k miles on her KO2's and they could probably go another 20k before needing to be replaced. Their wear life is downright commendable. I noirmally need new tires at 40k-50k miles.
ISSUE: I want a more agressive offroad tire, but I live in Colorado and not dying on icy snowy roads in the winter is pretty important. I am considering getting the trail grapplers but all I hear about them is that while they are unstoppable in the mud and on the rocks, they are pretty horrid on ice/snow.

So as a forum, what is your experience with a Goldilock tire? Great on ice/snow, but pretty good on the rocks too. Am I stuck with getting another Falcon wildpeak? Not that there is a problem with that.

(SIDENOTE: as I live in Colorado and most of my wheeling is west, I'm not too concerned with mud performance, I just need to stick to rocks when i'm offroad)

Pictures so the post isn't text only. Although I do regularly go out with the wife when we hit the mountains.

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT. I’m on my second set. I’m in the mountains west of Denver.

 

[WILDHOBO]

The Baja boss is also 3 peak winter rated. Necessity for me. Also quiet on the road, and dominate offroad.

 

[red/green hawk]

North Idaho checking in. I installed Yokohama Geolandar G015s 285/75/17 last fall. They look like your grandpa's tires, but man did they handle the snow and ice admirably.

 

[ALT2870]

Alternative option is Toyo AT/III. Has preformed phenomenally on a smaller vehicle I have in the snow and wet conditions and constantly gets good offroad ratings. Gladiator does run the Falken WP ATIII's and nothing wrong sticking to those. I too have heard the KO2 isn't the best and tends to be over priced/hyped. When it comes time to change the AT's will probably go with what is cheapest between Toyo and the Falken.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Alternative option is Toyo AT/III. Has preformed phenomenally on a smaller vehicle I have in the snow and wet conditions and constantly gets good offroad ratings. Gladiator does run the Falken WP ATIII's and nothing wrong sticking to those. I too have heard the KO2 isn't the best and tends to be over priced/hyped. When it comes time to change the AT's will probably go with what is cheapest between Toyo and the Falken.

I’m sure Toyo and falken are both great. I had the falkens on my Jeep stock, and they were great in snow. But neither stands out off road to me like some others. I’m not here to argue. I’m trying to figure out the same thing. I need new tires and just can’t decide. I’m not going near nitto after everything I’ve read recently. If I stay with 37’s it’s Mickey again. If Mickey made a 38 they’d already have my money for the third set.

 

[chr15m]

Had the Falken AT3Ws in snow and ice, really good.

Have had 2 sets of Mickey T Baja Boss ATs, they're better for me in the wet PNW snow and ice. I have to traverse a 11% grade hill to get to and from my area everyday, need good tires to keep from getting shut in for the week or so of freeze we get every year.

Next set of tires will be the Baja Boss ATs again, they really are that good.

At this point all my coworkers and friends are converts and at the last 2 PNW Overland Expos the Baja Boss ATs were on more than half of the trucks. The brand was a secret kind of lesser known tire company but that changed with this tire. I've ran a few sets of the previous generation ATZ P3 tires, they were great too.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Had the Falken AT3Ws in snow and ice, really good.

Have had 2 sets of Mickey T Baja Boss ATs, they're better for me in the wet PNW snow and ice. I have to traverse a 11% grade hill to get to and from my area everyday, need good tires to keep from getting shut in for the week or so of freeze we get every year.

Next set of tires will be the Baja Boss ATs again, they really are that good.

At this point all my coworkers and friends are converts and at the last 2 PNW Overland Expos the Baja Boss ATs were on more than half of the trucks. The brand was a secret kind of lesser known tire company but that changed with this tire. I've ran a few sets of the previous generation ATZ P3 tires, they were great too.

I feel the same way. I just wish I could hold out until that tire comes out in a 38. I really want that tire in a 38. They’re amazing. My friends have mostly all converted to them as well. Maybe all of them actually.

 

[chr15m]

I've had the AT3W and AT4W. I can say the 4's did not do as good in the winter as the 3's did. Still decent, but not as good. I've read the same from others on various forums and bookface posts. I'm on Toyo OCIII now and really like them, but we didn't have much of a winter after I got them to really know how they will do.

That said, I think the Falkens are still probably your best all around option.

Ive heard this few times now and that sucks. The main selling point for me with the AT3Ws was the winter performance. They're very quiet as well, but they're heavy and wore fast for me, they were also terrible in standing rain water here. Losing some winter performance makes them a no go for me, not that that matters much anymore though.

 

[professorkx]

The Baja boss is also 3 peak winter rated. Necessity for me. Also quiet on the road, and dominate offroad.

If we leave late for our winter trip, the dirt road to our place can turn into 4 inches of ice. I have used the Baja Boss 37” tires for years and I have pulled SVUs (including Jeeps) off the edge of our hill in the ice. my Baja Boss tires will start from a dead start on the hill and crawl up the hill.

one time I pulled an E-Jeep off the edge and he asked why my jeep worked so well on ice…I simply said “the right tires”…

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