With winter coming in a few months, I have been wondering what are the best tires to use on My 2002 2 wheel drive? I have Uniroyals on it now but I wasn't impressed with them. What do You people use to make it through the snow? Thanks Scott

 

About 500 lbs in the back will help a lot. Do you have a LS rear end?

BTW, you are in Michigan? Is snow the problem or ice?

 

First, get a 4x4.

I use Nokian for year around use. I deal with ice and snow all winter long. They take a little getting use to but work about 98% of the time. On my second set. First lasted over 50k miles.

Bob
Anchorage, AK

 

From what I have read Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armors are good choice of not quite pure winter tire.

But yeah a Limited Slip Differental will help leagues since I don't think your willing to sell your truck and get a 4x4.

 

A dedicated snow tire will work wonders, so long as it has lots of sipes and has an ice traction rating, it will do well in snow. All season tires don't cut the mustard, they are a compromise in every sense of the word. Even all season tires that are rated well in the snow are not in the same league as a dedicated snow tire. So long as it is a snow tire, it shouldn't matter what brand you get, I guess whatever the tire shop recommends.

 

As a general rule, I used to look for the most aggressive tread pattern, with the lowest service life miles rating. That gives you the tread and soft enough rubber to handle snow. High mileage rated tires, or high performance tires typically have a harder rubber compound to achieve those ratings, and that's a killer in snow.

Dave

 

I can't justify paying at least $1000.00 more when I buy a truck for 4 wheel dr I've had 7 ford trucks in 30 years, all 2wheel dr. I can't remember how many times I've been towed out of snow banks. Maybe getting a cap and putting extra weight in the bed will help. I've tried Wrangler M/S but on the highway they are very noisy. I guess it's a compromise Noise, mileage, and longevity. Thanks for the ideas Scott

 

4WD will make your life easier. It's not the end all because you can still get stuck with them. But, it can make things so much easier once you know what it is and what it can do.

Everything else is a band-aid.

 

If you live where it snows regularly, and you choose to drive 2wd trucks, you should expect that winters will offer challenges.

Putting some wieght in the bed will help, but do not go overboard or you wont be able to steer or stop. The best way to go would be to go to the truckstop and wiegh the truck at the axles. Then add enough weight to get yourself to about 50/50 on the axles.

Tire technology has come a long way in the last 5-10 years. Some of the best snow tires of today have some of the wimpiest looking tread patterns. What they have for sure is lots of siping, or biting edges. For not a lot of money Copper makes an excellent snow tire, though I do not recall what it is called. Many of the newer design AT tread tires have the "snowflake on the mountain" symbol which denotes proven winter prowess. Yes, an AT tire will be a little louder but it is very useable all year. Dedicated snows will wear out quickly and lose winter effectiveness if run all summer.

So, get some weight in back, and decide whether or not you want to bother with two sets of tires. Dedicted snows and some weight will make the truck work in winter like you never imagined. Snow rated AT tires you run all year may be a little louder but save you in other ways.

I'm not trying to rip you but I frankly do not understand two wheel drive half ton pick-ups. Why not just buy a car? Tire noise a problem in a TRUCK???? I actually like the hum of my MT tires, and the rumble of my louder muffler, it is a truck it wasn't meant to be a luxury car.