Need advice on new tires for my ice fishing truck

[Minnetonka]

I have a 2001 Dodge Dakota that I primarly use for hunting and ice fishing. Most of the time I have it in 4-wheel drive is on the ice. I need to get a new set of tires that will get me around on the ice, work well on the road and not cost me an arm and a leg. I live in the West Metro area (Twin cities) and would like any advice on a good tire for my needs and where do I go to get them? Thanks

[Valv]

I just installed a set of General Grabber HTS on my truck and I couldn't be any happier. I had OEM BFG before and my rear end kept spinning on anything.

The General tires have a normal design, not very aggressive, but they have a great rating for ice and hard snow, which is what I drive on 1/2 of the year. The other 1/2 is dry or wet pavement so I really like to be quiet.

I have approx 3000 miles on them and I am very happy, in fact I will install them on my Jeep too as soon as possible.

I bought them online, mine is the LT version which is Load range E 10ply for HD trucks, paid $ 111 each but they went up already to $ 131. You can buy the standard version (Load range D 8ply )which will save you $ approx $20/$30 each.

Send me an email and I'll give you more info.

I drive Firestone Transforce at work on many trucks and I really dislike the tire, we also have Toyo MT and I am not impressed neither.

[Bassinbob84]

I am running nitto Terra grapplers. They are by far the best tire I've ever owned. Got 35,000 mi on my last set ( mine are 35" ), super soft tread but seems to hold up, excellent on road manners. I don't know how much road driving you do but super swampers make excellent tires for snow as well. My girlfriend will have them on her s10 blazer in about a month.

[BottomPounder]

Valve, What didnt you like about the Transforce?

[Esox_Magnum]

Been running Bridgestone Duelers for the last few sets, not sure what retail is just put a set on the wifes Trailblazer this summer mounted balanced and installed was $380.

[vikingmeatwad]

I hear the Duelers are good. Just had Destinations (Buy 3 get 1 free) put on the truck and will let you know how they work on the lake.

Both top tires according to reviews.

[fish with teeth]

i have the same tires as bassinbob84 and love them. i have a 2500 chevy diesel and an 8x18 ice castle and i drove all over the lakes last year towing it. didn't get stuck once last year. i think they were about 800 dollars installed and ready to go. mine are 285's so if you want a smaller tire it will be cheaper. hope this helps. good luck

[Valv]

Valve, What didnt you like about the Transforce?

We run Transforce AT on 2007 and newer Chevy trucks, traction on ice or hard snow is really poor and they are very, very noisy.

[Pooh]

i had starfire radial AT on my 92 F150, great in snow. i think i paid 75 bucks a tire for them new 3 or 4 years ago. only thing i didnt like was they were soft and ate up really fast, but was rarly stuck on the lake. I went to discoverer ATR not as good in snow, but lasting much better

[catfishkid]

super swampers are great in the snow and mud. they are no good at all on the ice. I had some and couldn't move on glare ice, but when i hit the edge of the lake the truck would walk right up the hill.

[deadeye]

So far the best two choices for tires for snow and ice that I have owned are Cooper Discoverer S/T and BFG All terrains. The Coopers are studable (not really legal in MN but work really nice on ice).

Another good choice for the money if you can find them are Dayton Timberline A/T's. They do pretty decent in the snow/ice.

I owned dueler a/t's as well and they worked good when they were new but wore out fast.

[jltimm]

I have the Dayton Timberline AT's and they are a excellent wearing tire! I don't have nothing to compare them to in the snow, but they seem ok. I've got 60,000 miles on them and they still have 50% tread left.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I've put 105,000 miles on a set of Goodyear Wrangler AT's, and could have got another 20,000 or so had I not sold the truck.

I bought a truck last year with BFG Rugged Trails and they were absolute junk. I put the Wranglers on the truck and have 30,000 on them now with virtually zero wear and have great traction. I know there are a lot of other good options out there, but I've had good luck with these.

[Tyler23]

I've put 105,000 miles on a set of Goodyear Wrangler AT's, and could have got another 20,000 or so had I not sold the truck.

are you serious about that??... do you do alot of highway driving? even with highway driving thats alot of miles on one set of tires

[jltimm]

Funny, my truck came stock with Wrangler AT's and I changed them at 60,000 miles to the Dayton's. They had some tread left, but not much.

[Scott K]

I put 80,0000 on my Warangler AT's, and they still had a little less then half tread. I replaced them because they were noisey.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Lots of highway driving. The guys at Discount Tire said it is one of the best tires out there.

The BFGs that came stock on the truck were shot at 20,000 miles. One of the most worthless tires I've ever used. I probably had 1/2 the traction in 4x4 with the BFGs as I have in 2x4 with the Wranglers.