KM2's in the snow....?

[iptman]

Decided to take advantage of Snowpocalypse 2010. I aired the KM2's down to 20 psi and got right out of my driveway without shoveling.

 

[Brentbba]

Nice - wish I could find out how they handle. Two ski trips with the scouts in two weeks cancelled due to poor to dangerous road conditions in the local Socal mountains. edit for those of you that drive snow all the time - we've got one driver that's NEVER driven on snow and way to many idiots out here that don't know how to drive in the rain, much less snow!!!

 

[iptman]

Getting back in the driveway way a different story altogether. My axle got hung up on the packed snow. I actually didn't know my wife took this pic until after I was back inside. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately) a nicely built YJ was driving by right after this picture was taken and after about 10 yanks we got the 80 out.

On a side note he had this tow strap I've never heard about before. Super easy to use and quite narrow for the load rating. Plus you don't have to untie a tight knot after you're done using it.

 

[UncleJesse]

How did the tires do driving around? I am looking for new tires and the km2's are high on my list. This snow is really something isn't it! My worn MTR's actually do an ok job in the deep snow. But they can get a little slick at times too. The 2nd start button really makes a difference starting from a complete stop.

 

[bignasty]

I lost a tire today and had to change it in the snow because i ran over debris from one of the numerous crashes on the way up to Toano on 64. People cant drive. You had more snow than us. I want to go bogging but i need to wait on my new tires to come.

 

[Nay]

KM2's are going to have awesome forward traction, mediocre lateral traction. Easy to see from the tread design. Mediocre lateral traction does not matter in 2 feet of snow, but it matters a lot in slick conditions.

No tire will pull an 80 forward that is sitting on it's frame in heavy snow. Once they sink to a certain depth it is over (having spent some amount of time watching all four spin in idle, I am painfully aware of this fact).

 

[Hefty]

I ran a set of 315/75r16 KM2's on my old Superduty. I lived just outside of Breckenridge CO and drove over vail pass 2-3 times every week. Lots of snow and ice!!! I had mine siped when I bought them and can honestly say they were by far the best tire I have ever ran in snowy icy conditions. I'm saving up fora set of 37's now!

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

No tire will pull an 80 forward that is sitting on it's frame in heavy snow. Once they sink to a certain depth it is over (having spent some amount of time watching all four spin in idle, I am painfully aware of this fact).

I've been there, and not a tree in sight for winching.

 

[IdahoDoug]

FYI, a 1" strap with a 10,000lb rating is too small for automobiles, which is likely why the linked site shows the 1" model being used on a quad. Definitely too small for an 80.

The strap's website is short on details though it looks like the innovation is simply the end of the strap eh? It always shows the strap neatly coiled up as though somehow they've gotten around the pain in the ass part of strapping which is re-coiling and stowing it. Let me know if I'm wrong on that because that WOULD be something. I think their end innovation is nice, but I could hook up a conventional strap with a traditional shackle faster than weaving on this product - especially in mud, crud or with winter gloves on....



DougM

 

[Salue]

There is also a 20k strap on there too: 2" Big Daddy SpeedStrap

I've seen these advertised somewhere in a magazine before but can't remember right now...Might have been perf products

 

[MikePL]

Snow actually requires tires with moderate tread. If they are too aggressive you end up digging downwards instead of going forward. I have, unfortunately, snow every year so I know when to approach snow in a delicate manner and when I can slam the gas to the floor. But apart from this, the truck drives very well in snow, even for an inexperienced driver.

 

[snatchfj80]

hefty,
how long did the km2 last since you had them siped, did they chunk off when doing any offroad driving?

 

[ecameron87]

I had my KM2s siped as well. So far it performs amazingly in the ice and shallow snow. In the deep slow they love to dig so you don't get too far when the axles get hung up. In my experience, the stiff sidewalls don't allow for a much bigger footprint when aired down. Maybe I am not airing it down too much, but at 15 PSI it shows little bulge. I haven't seen any chunking yet, but I barely had them siped 3 months ago.

 

[arndog123]

Nice trim job on the stock bumper.

 

[UCBerzerkeley]

whoa we need more pics of that stock bumper, stat. does it look like a hack job from up close?

can we do front, side, quartering?

 

[yoopercharged]

I had my KM2s siped as well. So far it performs amazingly in the ice and shallow snow. In the deep slow they love to dig so you don't get too far when the axles get hung up. In my experience, the stiff sidewalls don't allow for a much bigger footprint when aired down. Maybe I am not airing it down too much, but at 15 PSI it shows little bulge. I haven't seen any chunking yet, but I barely had them siped 3 months ago.

Keep airing down. 15 psi isn't enough. About 10 psi before things start getting cool. I don't drive behind a snow groomer though. Probably don't need to air down as much

 

[Hefty]

hefty,
how long did the km2 last since you had them siped, did they chunk off when doing any offroad driving?

My Superduty would eat tires like crazy. I got 21K out of a set of BFG AT's, 19K out of a set of Nitto Terra's.....Not good on tires (It could be the way I drove it though)

Anyway I had them siped when put on and never had any real chunking. Every once in a while a little piece here or there but never major. I sold the truck when the tires had 17k on them and they were still about 2/3's tread left. They wore better than the AT's. The siping helps dissipate heat as well which will lead to longer tread life. I would say on an 80 series you should get 40k out of a set. I think they have a 40k tread life warranty too.

 

[fzjconvert]

Nice - wish I could find out how they handle. Two ski trips with the scouts in two weeks cancelled due to poor to dangerous road conditions in the local Socal mountains. edit for those of you that drive snow all the time - we've got one driver that's NEVER driven on snow and way to many idiots out here that don't know how to drive in the rain, much less snow!!!

Preachit brother!

 

[fzjconvert]

KM2's are going to have awesome forward traction, mediocre lateral traction. Easy to see from the tread design. Mediocre lateral traction does not matter in 2 feet of snow, but it matters a lot in slick conditions.

No tire will pull an 80 forward that is sitting on it's frame in heavy snow. Once they sink to a certain depth it is over (having spent some amount of time watching all four spin in idle, I am painfully aware of this fact).

The funny or odd thing when you get hung up like that, you don't realize that your tires are still turning until you try to put the truck
into park.

 

[fjfar80]

iptman -

Nice pictures...my parents live in Fairfax (right behind George Mason University) and my Dad was calling me up telling me he wished he had my 80. I guess it is a bit more capable than a Saab.

Cheers.

- Mark