Hi, this is my first post, just registered on this site. I am in a similar search as you. I have owned for just over a year a 1990 HDJ-81V in Delta BC. I'm currently running BF Goodrich AT's in 33x12.5x16.5. Even though this tire is a TC approved snow tire, they are terrible on hard packed west coast moist snow, mainly due to their 12.5" width. These tires worked much better on my Toyota Tundra in a 10.5" width.
Welcome, glad to have you here
I am looking for some winter wheels and would have bought the Nokian Hakkapeliittas if they came taller than 31.8".
I have been using them for several years now, but I'd likle to try something more civilized on this truck. These studded tires are nice because they wear long, but the rubber is not as grippy as that on modern 'studless' compositions. I'm looking at getting Blizzaks this time around. The old Hakkas from my old 60 are fine, but they are FOUR INCHES smaller (about 28.5 inches tall) than the tires I have on now (which stand around 32.5 inches), so I'm not sure If I should install them. It would be a huge difference on the speedometer.
Not a big difference from current, but would actually like a little taller to slow RPM's more on highway.
So do I. I like the big 285/75-16s I now have on the truck (Bridgestones Dueller A/T). Really grippy on asphalt, that's for sure. Don't know in the snow, we've had some but not since I took possession of my rig 10 days ago.
The 255x85x16 size looks great to me. The only two tires in this sizeI can find for snow is the Dunlop RV which were only $133 at Cdn Tire last month. They are TC approved for snow, but don't have much siping so don't think they would be so good.
Looked at that deal. Was going for them until I saw the reviews. They are pretty much at the botom for tires that size in practically everything related to winter. For summer, they are probably good.
Maybe you should look into the 235/85 size, the tire is not that much samller, still pretty big, and much more choice.
The Interco TRXUS gets some excellent reviews for snow because they are so soft, but get poor reviews for balancing, and lifespan. Big-O makes one but they want $261, and have heard mixed reviews, nothing on snow. There are many mud terrains that I won't consider.
The two I have short listed in a 255x85x16 are theCooper Discoverer S/T and Toyo M-55.
Toyos winter tires have an excellent reputation here. Coopers (Sears brand?), NOT. Remember, we have very cold winters here, last january (or was it february?) we had -20C and below for three weeks solid in a row.
While neither are a TC approved snow tire, both have a fair amount of siping and good, deep lugs. I would guess they would work just as well as the BF Goodrich AT in a similar size. If I could find someone in Vancouver to put in extra sipes, one of these would be my choice. According to my Cooper dealer, the Discoverer S/T-C can also now be had in this size, although apparently even though it looks the same as the S/T, the tread is harder to prevent losing lugs on rocks so it wouldn't be as good in the snow.
I am also intrigued by the Green Diamond tire company. They make snow tires that have embedded into the rubber, lots of small silicon carbide granules. As the tire wears, more become exposed so it is like always driving on lots of fresh, miniature studs. Some of these tires are actually made in Rimouski, Quebec by a company called Technopneu.
Great to know that!!! The only thing that bothers me with Green Daimond is that they are retreads. Not good in my books. From my experience tires fail structurally once in every 6 tires or so before they are completely worn. We do have terrible roads here. Remember how Montreal looked from the air when Trudeau's coffin was transported from one place downtown to the church. Looked like Beirut from the air, with all the potholes everywhere.
They make two tires, the Ultra Traction, that would be better off road and in deep snow, and the Alaska, better suited to ice on road. The tires are actually re-treads off apparently good, name brand casings, and they use a harder rubber compound so they will last longer than a traditional snow tire. Unfortunately, the tallest sizes are 265x75x16 or 235x85x16 but they are good value at $132-140 depending on size and type. Looks like there are lots of distributers in Quebec.
Where? where? where? Wanna see!
Seriously, this technology seems very promising. As long as the old casings spent their life on smooth american raods and not on what passes for roads here!
For 16x7" rims in steel look at Unique, Pro-comp, and Stockton wheel. Stockton and Unique can be custom ordered with various backspacings. Aluminum wheels in 16x7 are American Eagle #055. It has a back spacing of only 3 9/16" and are rated over 3000Lbs. I like this wheel as it will keep the tire track a little wider. Kal Tire sells a Nomad in 16x7 that looks the same and is $114.
Good luck in your winter wheel hunting, hope this helps.
Peter
Great! I'll have a look at Unique. If only I could get OEM chrome rims of the type that were on the old 60s, but in 16" size... It still think those wheesl are true classics. Now if I could find a manufacturer that would be willing to make some out of stainless steel, now we'd be talking longevity. Here it's a continual struggle. No matter the number of coatings, they all rust in short order in our salt baths, even the chrome wheels don't last much more than 10 years without rust unless coated with vaseline. Even the lips of the wheels rust and the tires develop slow leaks. Repair, powder coat, do what you want, rust reappears in short order. I can't understand why there are no stainless steel rims available. Tons of alloys that pit and turn fluffy white after a couple of winters, but no stainless steel (unless you want to mount harley tires on your rig
Thanks for your great contribution and welcome again, snowrider
