I live in snowy New England in the mountains and I purchased a set of Cooper Discoverer M&S tires (severe snow rated). I had them fully studded and loved them. They worked extremely well in both light and heavy snow. The full studs gave the truck excellent hook-up in icy conditions as well. They wore like iron, balanced up well and were quiet except for the studs. I ran them in a set of LT275/70R17's, but they also have LT 265/70R17/s and P265/70R17's(slightly smaller and lighter load range). They were on my 05 Chevy Crew cab and if I could fit them on my stock Tundra DC without lifting it, I would put them on in an instant!
Yes, Anchorage. By M/T I am guessing you are meaning something like the BFG M/T? What about those Cooper tires? Studded and siped, almost 32" and about 2" narrower than my 32.9" BFG ATs. ??? For the dollars they seem better than the BFG M/Ts... However, I have nothing but positive things to say about my BFG ATs..... Wish I had kept my factory alloys....
Found the Nokian Hakkapalita LTs in 235/85/16 for $807 installed
The Coopers Discovery M+S in 235/85R16 are $642 installed
This makes the Nokians $165 more than the Coopers. The real question: Are they worth it?
Last edited by T23; 10-31-2006 at 08:15 PM.
Reason: Made a Typo on Size!!!
I am now looking for some studded tires for my Tundra. I see lots of post on all kinds of AT & MT tires.... What I want is tire only to be used in the winter. I want a studded winter tire. I am thinking of using size LT235/85R16 since I currently run BFG AT 285/75R16s (over 40K miles and still looking like they have another 10K+ on them). I think the 235s will be narrower and bit shorter, but with studs should do me well.
I have two options on the table right now....These options are a studded BFG Commercial TA ($680 installed), or a Cooper M+S ($642 installed at TDS West). I am leaning toward the Cooper since it is more of a snow specific tire. There are not a lot of options up here in Alaska and shipping bites! Any thoughts, suggestions?
I found the BFG Commerical TAs for $598 installed at Costco and a local tire shop has the Nokian Hakkapelitas LTs for $807 installed.... So Cooper Discovery M+S, BFG Commerical TAs, or Nokian Hakkas LT..... Tough choices....
I can't comment on the Coopers or BFG's since I have not tried them. I do not know what they use for rubber compounds. I do know that the Nokians are made in Finland and tested in the Arctic Circle to make sure they perform as designed in COLD WEATHER. One of the few times I tried a M+S category tire was my Michelin LTX M+S. As compared to my Nokians I thought they were horrible in the snow. Many people comment on how good the LTX's are in the snow but I guess it is "as compared to what".
The Coopers look decent from the pics and have a lot of siping but I do not know how hard they get. The BFG's are listed as an all season and from the pics have a nice void/rubber ratio but again how hard do they get at 0 degrees or colder as you'll get?
Go to TIRERACK and read up on their winter stuff. Most "all season" tires get very hard like plastic in the cold and don't allow the tread to flex as good. They also recommend dedicated winter tires for all the above reasons.
I can't comment on the Coopers or BFG's since I have not tried them. I do not know what they use for rubber compounds. I do know that the Nokians are made in Finland and tested in the Arctic Circle to make sure they perform as designed in COLD WEATHER. One of the few times I tried a M+S category tire was my Michelin LTX M+S. As compared to my Nokians I thought they were horrible in the snow. Many people comment on how good the LTX's are in the snow but I guess it is "as compared to what".
The Coopers look decent from the pics and have a lot of siping but I do not know how hard they get. The BFG's are listed as an all season and from the pics have a nice void/rubber ratio but again how hard do they get at 0 degrees or colder as you'll get?
Go to TIRERACK and read up on their winter stuff. Most "all season" tires get very hard like plastic in the cold and don't allow the tread to flex as good. They also recommend dedicated winter tires for all the above reasons.
Yeah, I read some of that stuff. I guess that would rule out the BFG Commercials... Now I have deterimine if I am wiling to spend $165 more to get the Nokians vs. the Coopers.... What will it gain me?
Found the Nokian Hakkapalita LTs in 285/75/16 for $807 installed
The Coopers Discovery M+S in 285/75R16 are $642 installed
This makes the Nokians $165 more than the Coopers. The real question: Are they worth it?
Where did you find the 33"s or equivalent? I understand they only make 33"s in the Vaativa's not Haka's LT's or anything else , where is this link?
If they do make 33's .....I want to know where.
Found the Nokian Hakkapalita LTs in 285/75/16 for $807 installed
The Coopers Discovery M+S in 285/75R16 are $642 installed
This makes the Nokians $165 more than the Coopers. The real question: Are they worth it?
yes! yes! yes! once youve driven nokians youll never go back, unless you have to. i wish they made a 35".
the m/t tires with the large lugs perform exceedingly *poorly* on ice and wet conditions because of their complete lack of siping. they MUST be siped to perform well in water and on ice. in the winters anchorage sees, i would run a siped, possibly grooved, and studded m/t...the large, open lugs will "paddle" through the deep stuff in the spring and christmas storms, and the narrow, 85% profile cuts through the crud to the road surface. the sipes will help you keep the traction the studs provide, and will impart some manners to an otherwise unruly tire. i would never run an m/t straight from the factory. even the big-o x/t tire needs sipes with the studs, for all that it shines in deep snow.
if i couldn't get m/s siped and studded, i would get the nokians above all else. they are siped from the factory to a degree that looks like the tread blocks should barely hold together, but they do. the rubber will stay supple in a january -30F cold snap, and grip hardpack, black ice, glazed pavement, thaw-cycled crud, and greased owl poop. ignore the size, make sure youre getting a nokian that can also take studs, not all their tires are studdable. good deal if the 33" nokians youve found can also take studs . if not, drop back to a size that can be studded.
this is my dad's truck, parked up at flattop. it is lifted 2", and the tires are 32" nokians (he has 33s for summer). ive written elsewhere about how well those tires performed. the only thing i'd change would be the rims, and only to make the truck more visually appealing...bump them out a hair...but there's no reason to do so when the truck performs reliably and flawlessly as it is.
def get the nokians .
you been to the brewery yet? try the alaskan amber...the beer of the gods . we bring a case back from the motherland every chance we get.
Where did you find the 33"s or equivalent? I understand they only make 33"s in the Vaativa's not Haka's LT's or anything else , where is this link?
If they do make 33's .....I want to know where.
Sorry, I meant 235/85/16s.... Not quite as tall as the 33s, but a little narrower....
I found this link on another thread:
This is the setup I did: Toyota Tundra Snow Tire and Wheel Setup
But I went with the Cooper Discovery M+S tires. I wanted the Nokians, but for the extra $$ I decided to try the Coopers. They seemed to be the best combination of what I was looking for. Not as nice looking as my AR-23 Wheels & BFG AT 285/75R16 tires, but much more functional for winter driving.
The Cooper tires are impressing me. Very little noise on the Freeway, nice and narrow, beefy trend, and pretty good ice performance. Squirled around abit in both 2WD and 4WD in several places around town. Iced over empty parking lot, vacant area with no previous tracks down by the RR tracks, and a few other areas. I have no weight in the rear so 4WD obviously worked better, however they did just fine plowing through 6-12" of virgin snow and pretyt decent on the ice.
Verdict so far? Coopers Discovery M+S is a pretty good snow tire. I am sure the Nokians are the bomb, but for the $$ I saved I am pretty happy with them. 4 out of 5 stars.
yes! yes! yes! once youve driven nokians youll never go back, unless you have to. i wish they made a 35".
the m/t tires with the large lugs perform exceedingly *poorly* on ice and wet conditions because of their complete lack of siping. they MUST be siped to perform well in water and on ice. in the winters anchorage sees, i would run a siped, possibly grooved, and studded m/t...the large, open lugs will "paddle" through the deep stuff in the spring and christmas storms, and the narrow, 85% profile cuts through the crud to the road surface. the sipes will help you keep the traction the studs provide, and will impart some manners to an otherwise unruly tire. i would never run an m/t straight from the factory. even the big-o x/t tire needs sipes with the studs, for all that it shines in deep snow.
if i couldn't get m/s siped and studded, i would get the nokians above all else. they are siped from the factory to a degree that looks like the tread blocks should barely hold together, but they do. the rubber will stay supple in a january -30F cold snap, and grip hardpack, black ice, glazed pavement, thaw-cycled crud, and greased owl poop. ignore the size, make sure youre getting a nokian that can also take studs, not all their tires are studdable. good deal if the 33" nokians youve found can also take studs . if not, drop back to a size that can be studded.
this is my dad's truck, parked up at flattop. it is lifted 2", and the tires are 32" nokians (he has 33s for summer). ive written elsewhere about how well those tires performed. the only thing i'd change would be the rims, and only to make the truck more visually appealing...bump them out a hair...but there's no reason to do so when the truck performs reliably and flawlessly as it is.
def get the nokians .
you been to the brewery yet? try the alaskan amber...the beer of the gods . we bring a case back from the motherland every chance we get.
-sean
Your Dad's truck looks good. I think my Coopers are just under 32" and just over 9" wide. (235/85R16) They most definitely sit lower than my BFG 285/75R16s. Alsakan Amber is brewed in Juneau and availble pretty much up and down the west coast. Good stuff! Some of the local stuff is pretty good as well, but the Alskan Amber is always a favorite. If you ever come up this way again let us know.
yes! yes! yes! once youve driven nokians youll never go back, unless you have to. i wish they made a 35".
the m/t tires with the large lugs perform exceedingly *poorly* on ice and wet conditions because of their complete lack of siping. they MUST be siped to perform well in water and on ice. in the winters anchorage sees, i would run a siped, possibly grooved, and studded m/t...the large, open lugs will "paddle" through the deep stuff in the spring and christmas storms, and the narrow, 85% profile cuts through the crud to the road surface. the sipes will help you keep the traction the studs provide, and will impart some manners to an otherwise unruly tire. i would never run an m/t straight from the factory. even the big-o x/t tire needs sipes with the studs, for all that it shines in deep snow.
if i couldn't get m/s siped and studded, i would get the nokians above all else. they are siped from the factory to a degree that looks like the tread blocks should barely hold together, but they do. the rubber will stay supple in a january -30F cold snap, and grip hardpack, black ice, glazed pavement, thaw-cycled crud, and greased owl poop. ignore the size, make sure youre getting a nokian that can also take studs, not all their tires are studdable. good deal if the 33" nokians youve found can also take studs . if not, drop back to a size that can be studded.
this is my dad's truck, parked up at flattop. it is lifted 2", and the tires are 32" nokians (he has 33s for summer). ive written elsewhere about how well those tires performed. the only thing i'd change would be the rims, and only to make the truck more visually appealing...bump them out a hair...but there's no reason to do so when the truck performs reliably and flawlessly as it is.
def get the nokians .
you been to the brewery yet? try the alaskan amber...the beer of the gods . we bring a case back from the motherland every chance we get.
__________________
03' Access Cab Toyota Tundra V-8 4.7L, 4x4
305/70/16 BFG Muds on 4" B/S Wheelers' Offroad Steel Rims
Donahoe Racing Coilovers (cranked 2.5")
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms and Rack Bushings.
ORS upper mount shock hoop kit / FOX Racing 2.0" Reservoir 11" travel shocks w/ Deaver G57 10 pack rear springs
ARB Sahara Bumper with Fog Light Kit and KC SlimLites in Front
*edit* duh, I misread the price. These are keepers! You won't find a better winter (road) tire than these.
GREAT find . I'm definately keeping these on the radar! Nokians in a 315/75/16...beautiful.
Now when will they make a 37 ...
I've been keeping in contact with the Fins (Finlands) on bigger tires and they say they are looking into making more on the other series like the Hakkaa's SUV, Hakkaa 5 SUV , etc.
__________________
03' Access Cab Toyota Tundra V-8 4.7L, 4x4
305/70/16 BFG Muds on 4" B/S Wheelers' Offroad Steel Rims
Donahoe Racing Coilovers (cranked 2.5")
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms and Rack Bushings.
ORS upper mount shock hoop kit / FOX Racing 2.0" Reservoir 11" travel shocks w/ Deaver G57 10 pack rear springs
ARB Sahara Bumper with Fog Light Kit and KC SlimLites in Front
I bought a set of tires at this online tire dealer and had pretty good luck with them. I found them through this forum which was pretty good with its reviews on Nokian tires which I hadn't heard of before. I have the Vatiiva HT and love them on my Seq and bought them cheaper than any other Nokian dealer. Their feed back forum looked pretty good to.
Re: Opinions on new tires. Nokian tires anyone?
. if not, drop back to a size that can be studded.
. we bring a case back from the motherland every chance we get.
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