My previous Expeditions all had the Pirelli Scorpion STR tires which were absolutely terrible in snow, even new they just slid when accelerating and had trouble stopping. I would always swap them out for a set of 17" snows on rims for the winter. Looking at the tread on these Hankook tires on my 2016 they look far more aggressive than the Pirelli STRs. I am wondering what others have been experiencing with these in the snow and whether I should still bother with snow tires? I just bought new rubber last year and have 17" ford rims with TPMS sensors, I figure I could sell them for good money if I won't be needing them.. Thoughts?

 

I would see if the Hankooks are listed on Tire Rack's ratings--they have snow and ice traction I think.

Regardless of how aggressive a tread looks, though, the low-temp rubber in true winter tires is always gonna be better on ice.

 

I was thinking based on looks with siping and aggressive block edges I might try them for a month or two and see.
However based on first winter conditions outing earlier this week where temps hovered around freezing overnight leaving a nasty refrozen glaze on roads I have changed my mind and will be getting proper winter tires.

While not alarmingly bad and certainly better than many all season tires which can be downright scary I did not feel confident in them. Deliberately started in 2wd and could feel them slipping while the ESC light flashed furiously. Noticeably better in 4A but that only helps going, and the problem almost always arises stopping or turning.

Depends where you live and how often you encounter such conditions but since you have good winter wheels and rubber it seems to make sense to use it.

 

My F-150 came with the Hankooks. I could shred them with the ecoboost very easily. In 4wd I felt the truck was sufficiently planted but in 2wd, the tires were painfully inadequate. I live in SE Virginia where we don't get much snow but it ices up pretty good and the region has limited snow removal resources.

If I were to move back to Maine, I'd mount a set of winter tires / wheels with TPMS and store the road tires for spring.

On an upside, my Hankooks came off my truck at about 50K miles and still had 6/32's of tread remaining across each tire. I couldn't stand how loose my truck felt even in a rain storm so I took them off.

 

Ok Thanks guys, guess I will put the snows on. I hate the look of the 17" rims for half the year, but I do like the confidence of how they grip the road.

 

If you want the best why not order a set of Blizzak's in your current size from TireRack? They have the original V1's on sale now that the V2's are available. I just ordered a set of the brand new 22" Michelin Defender LTX M/S from Tirerack. If they are anything like the previous M/S tires I've owned I should be a happy camper. Good luck

 

While we're talking winter tires....

Anyone able to confirm that F150 wheels will fit an Expedition? OR anyone aware of any fitment issues?

I'm looking at 18" wheels off a '15 F150 Lariat to put winter tires on in place of the OEM 20"s on my '15 Expedition Ltd.

My research suggests that bolt patterns on both vehicles have been the same 6x135. I know the 18"s are narrower than my 20"s narrower but that should be good for winter tires.

I have no reason to think backspacing or offset on factory wheels will cause an issue but I'd love to know for sure before laying down the cash.

 

AFAIK the F-150 and Expy has the same lug pattern. Tire clearance issues may be the only concern.

 

Seems I have run in to an issue with my snow tires. I went to mount my snow tires and the lugs would not spin on freely. I have a set of 17" steel chrome Ford oem rims for my snows and they have the open end type lug for the cap to snap on to and cover the lugs, I have been using these for years. Well Ford changed the thread pitch from 2 to 1.5 on the 2015 and up F150 expedition. I have searched the net high and low and it is next to impossible to find this style of lug in the size I need so i can use the covers.

I called the place that originally sold me the rims and he said he is running in to the same problem, can't find the lug nuts to fit these. He also said my TPMS sensors might not work either. I got my TPMS sensors with my 2014, anyone know off hand if they will work? At this point I am leaning towards dumping the snows and just running the hankooks for the winter. I drove in the snow with them yesterday and they are night and day difference to the Pirellis.

 

Cross posting other winter tire thread but got my new winter shoes on this week.
Blizzaks on f150 wheels.



Could I have got away with the Hankook's? Maybe, but losing traction briefly while cornering at < 10mph last week convinced me they are a worthwhile investment for where I live.

Only issue is rear center caps don't fit because the center axle protrudes beyond rim surface a little.

 

I have an 07 navigator with 20" wheels but I bought a set of oem 18" wheels on ebay and just put hankook ipike rw11's on last week. They look nice, and the one of the guys at the shop says he has them on his f150 and loves them. I was torn on studding or not and in the end did not. But I can't say how they will do in the snow since PA hasn't had any winter weather yet!

 

If the hankooks in the rain are any indication how they will perform in the snow...I am worried.

Because I think they are terrible in the rain.