Studded winter tire recommendation for 18's

[ANZAC]

I had an underwear soiling adventure last winter with my 20" Duratracs (which are great in snow, now so much on ice). Driving on a dead straight piece of interstate, hit some black ice and proceeded to do a 3/4 mile drifting stunt that took up both lanes - a full tank slapper. I used up all my talent and luck in one go to keep it on the road.

So I bit the bullet and bought some 18's (the gray Tremor wheels that Ford sells as a kit M-1007K-1875G). I need 18's because my truck is a MaxTow and need 18's to clear rear calipers.

I'm a big fan of studless tires, but as I'm driving unplowed roads I need a more aggressive open tread which means studless are out.

So the studabble contenders in 275/65-18 I've found are:

Firestone Winterforce LT

Cooper Discover Snow Claw

Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT3

Falken Winterpeak F-ICE 1

I had some Falken A/Ts on my prior Subaru and loved them, I was previously a long time Hakka snob doing winter rallies, but $400 a tire for the LT3's is eye watering. I was previously sponsored by Cooper and their WinterMaster ST/2 was one of the best winter tires I've ever used. Firestone, yeah... but Bridgestone do make some good winter tires.

Any reviews? Horror stories? Studded versions only please.

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[redline]

Nokian R10... no need for winter LT tires, but i use Studded C4 nokians on the work vans (LT) tires

I have used R3 Nokians and Now use the studded R10s they are great option, love them and we use Nokian C4 on transit work vans in the winter.

Nokian is my winter tire of choice

 

[ANZAC]

Nokian R10... no need for winter LT tires, but i use Studded C4 nokians on the work vans (LT) tires

I have used R3 Nokians and Now use the studded R10s they are great option, love them and we use Nokian C4 on transit work vans in the winter.

Nokian is my winter tire of choice

The online tire selectors didn't show the 10s as an option for my truck (not sure why). They did show the Studless 5 as an option.

The 10 has a lower load index 116 (2760lb) than the LT3's 123/120 (3420lb) - the standard load index is 115 for my truck so that's probably fine.

The LT3 has a more aggressive tread pattern. I live on a dirt road.
Also the 10's are on backorder. (maybe that's why it didn't show on Discounttire?)

 

[Daddonap]

I was thinking of going studded last year, but ended up with the Nokian Hakka R5 SUV. First tire to have the new ice rating. in Vermont most of the Winder and have used Nokian tyres for many years.

in Connecticut we are limited to when we can run studded tires also.

If you only want a studded tire I would go with the Nokian LT3 or the 10

https://na.nokiantyres.com/snow-winter-tires/nokian-tyres-hakkapeliitta-r5-suv/

 

[ANZAC]

I was thinking of going studded last year, but ended up with the Nokian Hakka R5 SUV. First tire to have the new ice rating. in Vermont most of the Winder and have used Nokian tyres for many years.

in Connecticut we are limited to when we can run studded tires also.

If you only want a studded tire I would go with the Nokian LT3 or the 10

https://na.nokiantyres.com/snow-winter-tires/nokian-tyres-hakkapeliitta-r5-suv/

Thanks, the tread pattern (as is typical with studless tires to have more edges) is too closed, I need a more aggressive pattern for the deep snow on my driveway, and therefore studded.

 

[ryanc111]

I’m running the Cooper Snow Claw studded right now and they’re solid - way better than the siped Toyo AT3s I had before. That being said, I would have bought the studded LT3 but they were unobtainium (at any price) last winter.

I’m happy with the Coopers but if I had to do it again I would spring for the LT3 every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

**Edit to add that I’ve been running various versions of the Nokians on my trucks and SUVs over the past 12 years living in the CO mountains and Montana. I have yet to find a winter tire brand that works better than Nokian.

 

[F150 Farmer]

I run the Nokian hakka LT3 on my raptor and they're the best snow tire I've ever owned.

 

[EricR]

FWIW, Walmart carries Nokian tires. Maybe they have inventory of the ones you are looking for.

 

[ANZAC]

Yes, I eventually got them from Walmart. They had that size listed twice, once at the regular price of $335, but also at a crazy low price of $211. Walmart was the seller (not a marketplace item) though they were shipped from SimpleTire to my local Walmart.

They are the correct LTD with factory studs. Huge saving, I saved over $500. I believe this is some kind of pricing mistake from Walmart, because it is listed twice.

Date codes were 4324 (Oct 24) which for low volume tires like this is just fine.

Note they are a Q speed rating (99MPH)

Anyway, thanks for the feedback on the LT3s and enjoy!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Radar-Re...5-50R20-121-118Q-E-Light-Truck-Tire/173580907

 

[Aonarch]

https://www.tire-reviews.com/Tire-Tests/2023-Tire-Reviews-SUV-Winter-Tire-Test.htm

https://www.tire-reviews.com/Tire-Tests/2022-Tire-Reviews-Studless-Winter-Tire-Test.htm

The R5s are awesome studless Winter Tires.

We've always used Michelin X Ice for Montana with no complaints.

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Glad you went with the Nokian tires. I have used them for years and they are fantastic.

 

[ANZAC]

https://www.tire-reviews.com/Tire-Tests/2023-Tire-Reviews-SUV-Winter-Tire-Test.htm

https://www.tire-reviews.com/Tire-Tests/2022-Tire-Reviews-Studless-Winter-Tire-Test.htm

The R5s are awesome studless Winter Tires.

We've always used Michelin X Ice for Montana with no complaints.

Studless won't cut it here where we live. I drive on dirt, unplowed forest roads too much. Studless tires are great for an icy freeway, but they rely on a lot of sipes which results in a closed up tread pattern that is not open and aggressive enough for deep, unplowed snow. I've had about 8 sets of Blizzaks on various Subarus and love them to death.

 

[ANZAC]

Mounted on the Motorsport/Tremor 18's.

 

[MikeNH]

Yes, I eventually got them from Walmart. They had that size listed twice, once at the regular price of $335, but also at a crazy low price of $211. Walmart was the seller (not a marketplace item) though they were shipped from SimpleTire to my local Walmart.

They are the correct LTD with factory studs. Huge saving, I saved over $500. I believe this is some kind of pricing mistake from Walmart, because it is listed twice.

Date codes were 4324 (Oct 24) which for low volume tires like this is just fine.

Note they are a Q speed rating (99MPH)

Anyway, thanks for the feedback on the LT3s and enjoy!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Radar-Re...5-50R20-121-118Q-E-Light-Truck-Tire/173580907

Dude that is the deal of the century for Nokians! Thanks for sharing this. I just ordered a set myself but will have them shipped to the house. 0% chance Walmart is touching my truck. haha

 

[ANZAC]

Dude that is the deal of the century for Nokians! Thanks for sharing this. I just ordered a set myself but will have them shipped to the house. 0% chance Walmart is touching my truck. haha

Yeah, I didn't install them there, I just picked them up and took them over to Discount Tire to get mounted. I figured if they were the wrong tire, I'd be able to return them and get a refund super easy.

The URL has a different tire as the title of the page if you look closely at it.

I forgot to mention, I'm a volunteer firefighter/EMT and especially in winter, I respond directly to calls with my F-150 (as long as not on the freeway). So being able to get there safely at 2am when it is sleeting and snowing and the roads aren't plowed is essential. Some of our apparatus are 4WD and some have winter tire or chains - but a lot of the time they're not worth the hassle especially on some of the steeper unpaved hills here. Of course I can't run lights and sirens but in winter it isn't like you're going to drive all that fast anyway.

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