Duratracs in snow (1 Viewer)

[george_tlc]

Went for a week camping trip with my two kids. Trinity national forest, south of SR36 off Bramlet Road.

Had fun getting through some areas - crystallized snow. My older son was wondering if I was ever going to stop for him

The duratracs seemed to work well - just kept pulling us forward, as long as it wasn't so thick that we were down to the chassis...



cheers,
george.

 

[Nay]

Those tires look like they'd work really well if you added about 4" in diameter

The vid is interesting, clearly old crystallized snow, and on the one hand it seems it isn't deep enough to not just drive through, but on the other hand the forward pull is extremely consistent.

That's the thing about snow - it is not all created or aged equally and so it can be hard to judge the tire on a single variable.

Looks like fun in any case

 

[Cattledog]

Looking good.

Looks like the snow was clearing out of the tread well. What was the temp outside?

 

[mshelby]

Looks good, I just ordered a set of 33X1250X15 last night

 

[chap79]

What air pressure were you running? I've been running Duratracs for about 10k miles now. I don't have any complaints.

 

[george_tlc]

Yep, snow was very nicely staying out of the tread area. I ran the same area last year with MTR's and they definitely filled up more. Conditions were similar - crystal snow. I was locked f/r to get through the area in the video.

Temps were in the 50F range. I was running 18psi with some tyre bulge - E load rating. I run 38psi on the road.

Been very pleased with the extremely quiet road noise given their reasonably aggressive tread pattern. They really grip well on wet roads (downpour wet). I've got about 2k on them at this point and am very happy with my purchase. Will be heading to Oregon in April and will hit the sand dunes there so will get an idea of what they're like in those conditions.

cheers,
george.

 

[mshelby]

Just curious, the lowest price I could find were $143 a tire for the 33X12.5X15 from Tire Rack, even the local Goodyear quoted me $215/tire. Anyone know where they can be had for less or did I get the best possible price?

 

[stonemasoncruiser]

Thanks for the little demo George, I'll be needing new tread b4 next winter and snow mobility is
important in minnesota. On a side note I wanted to thank you for your great led domes! A few
weeks ago I accidentally left my dome light on for 4 or 5 days, the temps were single digits in
the day and sub zero nights! My cruiser fired right up!!! No way the battery would have survived
with normal bulbs. Thanks again, Steve

 

[grizzlygibbs]

I can't wait until I need new rubber, I have been wanting duratracs for a long time now!

 

[tirewater]

That's the thing about snow - it is not all created or aged equally and so it can be hard to judge the tire on a single variable.

x2, to me it looks like a truck having trouble driving through 5-6" of snow.

It's very hard to determine the character of the snow when you're not there and you don't have the frame of reference of 'the guy who was stuck'. The crystalized, crusty snow, packs down into some pretty slippery stuff, which I imagine was causing most of the difficulty.

 

[george_tlc]

It's pretty nasty 'snow' - and a bit deeper than 5-6"

Unlocked you basically just sit and spin wheels going nowhere. The stuff seems like ball bearings - it is definitely NOT packed powder... You can hear how 'crispy' it is from the sound track.

We were in the same area around the same time last year and there was less snow, but still crispy. We found patches that we could drive through easily and patches that were deep and you just sunk and spun - winch time

We met one local that was in a big dodge and big tyres and he had turned around when we met him on another track. Nice guy, just commented that the snow was way to crystallized to drive through.

I'll dig up some other video of playing in the snow from last year.

cheers,
george.

 

[george_tlc]

Here we go - video from last year - we got a lot further in due to much less snow. The 80 was on MT/R's (old style) on that trip. We never saw anyone over the few days that we were in the area and no tyre tracks anywhere (at least in front of us...).

Too much fun



The MT/R's did work well - I just think the duratracs do as good or better in similar conditions and they are just so much quieter on the road.

cheers,
george.

 

[julstirn]

I just ordered me a set of these in the 315 variety, i hope i am pleased

 

[Bryan E.]

I've had 315 sized MTR's for years, and that's with stock gearing. I thought I would have to change gears but it's actually been fine. It would give me back the pep but with today's fuel prices, and tire costs, I've learned to drive slow and easy. I bought five tires, and I always do a five tire rotation. Pick a pattern, rotate them at regular intervals, and you'll love these tires.

I also had them sipped at the tire store, after reading that it gives them better grip on super slick roads in rain or ice, and it also is supposed to make them last longer. I've got about 35K miles and I've got a huge amount of rubber left. They look great. I've been extremely impressed with these tires.

They do get louder as they wear but so do most tires but they've never had any problems in balancing them like I have read with other tires and they are lasting great for such an agressive treaded tire.

They also look really good, and are fine driving across country. Even my wife was fine with a 1000 mile cross country drive.

 

[powderpig]

I have a 80, but this is not about the 80, but the DuraTrac's. Before winter really hit here in Boulder, CO. we had a couple of early heavy snow storms and the wife did not like the 2 year old Michlean's on her 07 4Runner. I went and order the 255/85/16 Dura trac's with Stud's(that what she wanted). Found some cheap Taco rims($80 for the set of 4). I would of gone with out the studs. But her call.
I will say, I have been impressed with the gription these tires have showen on Wet snow, dry snow, Ice slush, dry pavement as well. I know the 4 runner is not quite as heavy as a cruiser, but these tires do preform well in all the conditions we have had this winter. The only thing stopping the runner currently is the traction control BS. They are a bit noiser than some tire I have run in the past, but the safty factor with the traction they provide out weighs the noise.
Given these will be winter only, I will have to see how long they wear. I may even look at a set for my 80 since they are in the 315 size.

 

[Stone]

Damn...I wish I had lockers. Still have to figure out a fix for my CDL too...I think it's siezed.

Those duratracks look good...too bad they don't come in tall skinnies.

 

[julstirn]

my bad i meant the 315 duratracs i ordered. The snow will be gone by time i get back to use them, but they look like a good tire for all around use. Well see i am just waiting thill they arrive in mail, i ordered them through 4wheelparts and they were back ordered through goodyear, so its taking a couple extra weeks. I am excited either way.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

I love my Duratracs. Have about 2,000 miles on them now. NO COMPLAINTS!