I just got a new flat on already used tires (about 4/32" left), and this time the puncture is almost on the sidewall. Even if I patch it I don't think any shop will install it due to liability.
I was planning on replacing them all before this winter but now I'm thinking I'll have to do it sooner.
Most of the miles on my truck are winter driven miles. Traction on snow is very important, but about 40% of my winter miles are on wet but cleared roads. The current A/S tires that came on the truck were marginal on any kind of snow or ice even when relatively new. Getting a new A/S tire that will perform about the same or just a little bit better does not excite me. I'm used to drive on winter tires on my other cars having two sets of wheels for each. That is great but it also means the garage is full already with 3 sets. I cannot have one more set of wheels/tires, especially as big and heavy as the 200 wheels. I also have to stay with the 20" size to fit the TRD front brakes.
Getting an A/T tire does not excite me either as winter traction will not be much improved over A/S and highway manners are very important to my family. My truck does not do off road. Plenty of forest roads is the most it does.
That brings the question: how about running winter tires all year round? I usually end up doing that with all my winter tires when they are on their last season - at end of winter they still have a lot of thread left for a non-winter tire but not enough for the next winter. So, I drove them the entire spring, summer, and fall to get all my money out of them.
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 are available on my size (OEM 285/50R20) and load (XL) for cheaper now than the good A/S tires ($280 each). Besides winter traction I'm also getting deeper thread and better non-pavement traction year around.
Has anyone done that on the 200, and what is your experience? Do you get lower MPG? How about noise on highway?
The fall back is to get the Defenders. I know they are a good option but they are no snow tires either. The Conti TerranContact H/T are better on wet and snow than Defenders but they are not available on my size (I'm not going to 275/60R20).
I was planning on replacing them all before this winter but now I'm thinking I'll have to do it sooner.
Most of the miles on my truck are winter driven miles. Traction on snow is very important, but about 40% of my winter miles are on wet but cleared roads. The current A/S tires that came on the truck were marginal on any kind of snow or ice even when relatively new. Getting a new A/S tire that will perform about the same or just a little bit better does not excite me. I'm used to drive on winter tires on my other cars having two sets of wheels for each. That is great but it also means the garage is full already with 3 sets. I cannot have one more set of wheels/tires, especially as big and heavy as the 200 wheels. I also have to stay with the 20" size to fit the TRD front brakes.
Getting an A/T tire does not excite me either as winter traction will not be much improved over A/S and highway manners are very important to my family. My truck does not do off road. Plenty of forest roads is the most it does.
That brings the question: how about running winter tires all year round? I usually end up doing that with all my winter tires when they are on their last season - at end of winter they still have a lot of thread left for a non-winter tire but not enough for the next winter. So, I drove them the entire spring, summer, and fall to get all my money out of them.
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 are available on my size (OEM 285/50R20) and load (XL) for cheaper now than the good A/S tires ($280 each). Besides winter traction I'm also getting deeper thread and better non-pavement traction year around.
Has anyone done that on the 200, and what is your experience? Do you get lower MPG? How about noise on highway?
The fall back is to get the Defenders. I know they are a good option but they are no snow tires either. The Conti TerranContact H/T are better on wet and snow than Defenders but they are not available on my size (I'm not going to 275/60R20).
