Best Wheel and Tire Combination for Snow/Ice

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
Hello All,

For a 2004 D2, I wanted to get some ideas of the best/preferred wheel and tire combo for those of you driving around in the snow and ice during winter.
I've got 16 x 8 wheels with 265/75-16 General Grabber AT/x. They're fine in rain. I have not been in the snow with them...not yet anyway.

I'll be driving from S.F. Bay Area to Tahoe and then Salt Lake City and back for a week and a half in late January.

Thanks for any feedback.
 

DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
Depends on what you are looking for. A true snow/winter tire will be constructed of a softer more flexible material to give better traction when it gets cold. Stands to reason they're going to wear if driven in warm weather.

As someone who's lived in a seasonal area his whole life, I'd say save your money. When you get to the snow hit 4x4. Snow isn't all that hard to drive on. Your AT/x will do fine. Snow/ice and ice are the problem. The worst is when it has snowed, started to melt, and then refrozen. You can get some pretty substantial rock-hard ruts in the road.
 
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Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
Hello All,

For a 2004 D2, I wanted to get some ideas of the best/preferred wheel and tire combo for those of you driving around in the snow and ice during winter.
I've got 16 x 8 wheels with 265/75-16 General Grabber AT/x. They're fine in rain. I have not been in the snow with them...not yet anyway.

I'll be driving from S.F. Bay Area to Tahoe and then Salt Lake City and back for a week and a half in late January.

Thanks for any feedback.
Sounds like you haven’t driven too much in snow. Your Rover will be better than the majority of vehicles on the same road. Just remember stopping takes longer. Don’t be the yahoo going too fast because you’re in a 4x4. Your current tires should be fine for the trip.
 
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Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
561
Seattle
I live in Seattle and routinely drive my Rovers over the snowy passes of the Cascades in winter. I have AT tires on both vehicles (snowflake rated) and these have always provided ample traction. Good driving technique will take you far, dedicated winter tires will provide more grip, and nothing will help you on ice except for studs or chains. A set of snow tires won't be cheap, so it's probably not worth the investment unless you plan to spend a lot of time in severe winter conditions. Drive slowly, be gentle with throttle and steering inputs, and carry recovery gear - mainly to help the other people who slid off the road. I used to drive a VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI and I put a set of Blizzaks on that car for the winter. Those were excellent. If I was going to buy a dedicated set of snow tires now I'd choose the gold standard, Nokian Hakkepellitas. But realistically, I'll stick with my ATs because they are plenty good in the snow.

Also carry emergency lighting (I have a set of the LED strobe hockey pucks in each vehicle), water, sleeping bag, camp stove, food, shovel, and other goodies you might need to spend a night on the side of the road. Sometimes in Washington the passes close for avalanche control and you need to be prepared to wait it out comfortably.
 
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Flyfish

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2004
1,402
212
52
St. Louis
Sounds like you haven’t driven too much in snow. Your Rover will be better than the majority of vehicles on the same road. Just remember stopping takes longer. Don’t be the yahoo going too fast because you’re in a 4x4. Your current tires should be fine for the trip.
Yep, you’ll be fine going but stopping will vary depending on conditions. You can do some brake tests every once in a while just to gauge how slippery it is. But it can change in ten feet so always be cautious.

One thing to remember is, if you start to slide sideways, shift to neutral, no brakes and steer. Removing all power or drag from the wheels will let them find traction faster.
 
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Jimmy

Well-known member
Apr 10, 2006
740
64
Aurora, CO
The approach I apply in Colorado may also apply there... If the highways are so bad that you're thinking of needing a better tire, they are usually shut down. Otherwise, you're tires will be fine so long as there's adequate tread depth (law here says 6/32" minimum when conditions are bad enough).

I carry chains and only ever use them to offroad in the winter. If the roads are bad enough to need chains, they get closed. Even in a couple of feet of snow I didn't need them on a paved road.

If you plan to be in a remote area, carry chains (cheaper than dedicated snow tires) and don't be surprised if you don't need them.
 

Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
If the roads are bad enough to need chains, they get closed. Even in a couple of feet of snow I didn't need them on a paved road.
When living in Switzerland it could dump snow in a few hours. I kept low profile chains in the trunk for the DD Saab to get around especially the hill to our house from work. After a few times I could chain up in less than 5 minutes with gloves on. Frt wheels only. Chains made the Saab drive like a little tank!
 
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mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
I'll be driving from S.F. Bay Area to Tahoe and then Salt Lake City and back for a week and a half in late January.
Once you’re past Colfax on 80 there will be chain requirements if it is snowing or the road will be closed completely until they clear it. So honestly it doesn’t matter as much what tires you have because you’re either going to need the chains or anything with mountain snowflake symbol and carrying chains in your vehicle. If you want a good snow tire nokian hakkapeliitta is probably the best way to go. I’d just get any of the regular ATs that people like for snow. I used Yokohama geolandar g015s in that area and they were fine in snow.

For just one trip I’d say use your tires and carry chains.
 
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CBiDrive

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2007
108
22
Parker, CO
The skinnier your tires are the better off you are. When my 285/75r16 Cepek Crushers tread got on the lower side I had them siped and it made all the difference in the world on the snow/ice. They are now my dedicated ice racing tire in bare rubber class.
 

JohnB

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2007
2,292
12
Oregon
Around the passes in Oregon if you don't run snow rated tires or chains you will enjoy a ticket if the conditions are bad. Think it's over a grand.

I always have a set for ski season over the years.

Right now we have snow down to the sea floor in most of Oregon. Drove hhy 18 yesterday with about 2 inches of snow. Counted dozen of cars in ditches and one down into the River. Imagine totalling your car and possibly hurting someone else because your shit isn't capable both because your an idiot and you don't have proper equipment.

Any good snow rated tire will work well. Even the cheapest will help with the softer rubber. I don't do Studs any longer the rubber compound seems sticky but will probably regret not having Studs if serious ice hits.

16s are the best for a Rover.
Downsized my Range Rover to 16s for winter and love the ride compared to the 20s