Winter Tires vs All Season

[MattVT]

I'm a new F-150 Lightning Lariat owner living several miles down an unpaved Class 3 town-maintained road in rural, central Vermont, and have a ~1,000ft relatively steep driveway. While the town plows the road and we have someone to plow our driveway, as a volunteer firefighter I often find myself needing to be out on the roads before they've been plowed - it's typically during storms that we get called out the most.

Vermont also has the infamous "mud season" when the roads thaw from the top, but it's still frozen underneath, acting like a big bathtub and trapping the water in the road, turning it into thick, wet mud. This is a photo of our class 3 town road during mud season a couple of years ago - in fairness, it's not normally this bad!

On my previous truck, a 2016 F-150 Platinum, I ran BFGoodrich KO2s and was really happy with them. We were full-time RVers for several years and they worked well for towing, but were also plenty capable for off-roading as well as in the various conditions we get now living in Vermont. They did have an impact on fuel economy but it was worth it with that setup for the all-year performance they gave.

My Lariat came with 275/60R20 tires and I know I need something better before winter. The decision I'm trying to make is whether to go with my previous strategy of all season tires (likely the newer KO3s unless I hear compelling reasons otherwise) or switch in dedicated winter tires (I've heard very good things about the Nokian Hakkapeliitta).

As I look at it, with all season tires I don't have to worry about swapping between two sets of tires twice a year (cost + scheduling + storage), a late winter storm isn't going to catch me out, they'll likely be the best tire for mud season, and I get the benefit of a better-than-OEM tire for the rest of the year (between road grading and heavy rains, our road can be a little dicey even in summer at times). But I'm under no illusion that the winter tire will likely offer superior winter performance (although my KO2s always seemed very capable) and I am a little worried about the efficiency / range impacts of the all seasons vs summer / winter tires. I am trying to avoid replacing the wheels and / or buying another set of wheels.

I very rarely drive 200+ miles in a day, so I don't want to get too hung up on the range, but I'd like to hear any thoughts and opinions from people in the forum to help me decide what to do. I'm especially interested in hearing from other Vermonters / New Englanders and what they do, as well as anyone running KO2s / KO3s or Nokians and how they like them / impact on range, etc.

I've read through various other threads in the forum and while there are lots of good data points and suggestions, I'm still struggling to decide.

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[Tony Burgh]

Snow tires with rubber compounds that don‘t harden as much at cold temperatures for better traction aren’t necessary, until you need them.
btw - in western PA we normally get one or two ice storms per winter. It’s only dangerous for a couple hours each time. People stay home unless they are caught out when it hits.

 

[Athrun88]

You could look at all-weather tires. Basically all season tires but are also triple peak snowflake rated. My neighbour runs the Michelin CrossClimates and is impressed by them. I'm debating getting the CrossClimate 2's for the wife's Q6 since it'll be one less car I have to swap. I have a dedicated set of Xice for the Lightning since I do most of the driving in the household and I'd rather have dedicated sets.

 

[RickLightning]

You could look at all-weather tires. Basically all season tires but are also triple peak snowflake rated. My neighbour runs the Michelin CrossClimates and is impressed by them. I'm debating getting the CrossClimate 2's for the wife's Q6 since it'll be one less car I have to swap. I have a dedicated set of Xice for the Lightning since I do most of the driving in the household and I'd rather have dedicated sets.

CrossClimate 2s are not available in 275/60-R20...

 

[Athrun88]

CrossClimate 2s are not available in 275/60-R20...

Noted, but I never said he should get those specifically. Just mentioned them as an example of the type of all-weather tire.

 

[WXman]

If you've been happy with BFG KO2, then you'd be happier with any new all-terrain on the market. BFG KO and KO2 tires were generally regarded and some of the worst on the market. I never had any luck with them either, especially in snow and ice.

I'll tell you a tire that I do love though. The Falken Wildpeak A/T4W (and A/T3W if you can still find a set somewhere). Those tires stick to the road like a cat on carpet and they don't care what the weather is. I don't know what kind of magic Falken worked on those tires, but they got the rubber compound DIALED IN on those.

 

[RLXXI]

I have the ko2's on my old truck, never had any issue with them. They are heavy af so there's that.

 

[MattVT]

If you've been happy with BFG KO2, then you'd be happier with any new all-terrain on the market. BFG KO and KO2 tires were generally regarded and some of the worst on the market. I never had any luck with them either, especially in snow and ice.

I'll tell you a tire that I do love though. The Falken Wildpeak A/T4W (and A/T3W if you can still find a set somewhere). Those tires stick to the road like a cat on carpet and they don't care what the weather is. I don't know what kind of magic Falken worked on those tires, but they got the rubber compound DIALED IN on those.

Interesting! It's been a long while since I last researched them, but as I recall reviews were generally positive and I put ~100k on the truck with those tires on (not on one set, obviously) and was very happy with them.

That said, I'm not attached to them beyond it being a tire I've personally had good success with, so totally open to other options! It looks like the A/T4W is available in the size I would need. Do you run those on your Lightning? Any sense of impact on range / noise / comfort?

 

[MattVT]

I have the ko2's on my old truck, never had any issue with them. They are heavy af so there's that.

You're not wrong there! We put the Trail Terrain T/A tires (which are sorta the SUV equivalent) on our Subaru Crosstrek and the tire install guy said he was caught off guard by how heavy they are. We definitely noticed a drop in fuel economy with them on (~3mpg) but felt it was worth it - they made the car handle much better in all conditions, and the Crosstrek has proven surprisingly capable even in harsh winter conditions.

 

[FirstF150InCasco]

I'm a new F-150 Lightning Lariat owner living several miles down an unpaved Class 3 town-maintained road in rural, central Vermont, and have a ~1,000ft relatively steep driveway. While the town plows the road and we have someone to plow our driveway, as a volunteer firefighter I often find myself needing to be out on the roads before they've been plowed - it's typically during storms that we get called out the most.

Vermont also has the infamous "mud season" when the roads thaw from the top, but it's still frozen underneath, acting like a big bathtub and trapping the water in the road, turning it into thick, wet mud. This is a photo of our class 3 town road during mud season a couple of years ago - in fairness, it's not normally this bad!

On my previous truck, a 2016 F-150 Platinum, I ran BFGoodrich KO2s and was really happy with them. We were full-time RVers for several years and they worked well for towing, but were also plenty capable for off-roading as well as in the various conditions we get now living in Vermont. They did have an impact on fuel economy but it was worth it with that setup for the all-year performance they gave.

My Lariat came with 275/60R20 tires and I know I need something better before winter. The decision I'm trying to make is whether to go with my previous strategy of all season tires (likely the newer KO3s unless I hear compelling reasons otherwise) or switch in dedicated winter tires (I've heard very good things about the Nokian Hakkapeliitta).

As I look at it, with all season tires I don't have to worry about swapping between two sets of tires twice a year (cost + scheduling + storage), a late winter storm isn't going to catch me out, they'll likely be the best tire for mud season, and I get the benefit of a better-than-OEM tire for the rest of the year (between road grading and heavy rains, our road can be a little dicey even in summer at times). But I'm under no illusion that the winter tire will likely offer superior winter performance (although my KO2s always seemed very capable) and I am a little worried about the efficiency / range impacts of the all seasons vs summer / winter tires. I am trying to avoid replacing the wheels and / or buying another set of wheels.

I very rarely drive 200+ miles in a day, so I don't want to get too hung up on the range, but I'd like to hear any thoughts and opinions from people in the forum to help me decide what to do. I'm especially interested in hearing from other Vermonters / New Englanders and what they do, as well as anyone running KO2s / KO3s or Nokians and how they like them / impact on range, etc.

I've read through various other threads in the forum and while there are lots of good data points and suggestions, I'm still struggling to decide.

Winter Tires. Hands down for anyone living in New England.

 

[bobn]

I had a Taurus with all season tires. Father in law had same car with blizzaks.

Drove his car on a slick day; and wow, night and day difference with the blizzaks. Really not a big deal doing a swap.

 

[21st Century Truck]

Where You (the OP) live, imho You should get the Winter tires on a set of dedicated steel rims.

REASON: when it really counts, all it takes is one time... "For the want of a penny the horse shoe was lost", and all that.

 

[MattVT]

Where You (the OP) live, imho You should get the Winter tires on a set of dedicated steel rims.

REASON: when it really counts, all it takes is one time... "For the want of a penny the horse shoe was lost", and all that.

There's definitely a lingering voice in the back of my head saying that winter tires are the best option for winter driving so that's what I should put on. But, there's still the big two downsides of 1) mud season, and 2) being caught out by an early or late storm before or after I do a tire swap.

I'm curious though why you are recommending a set of dedicated steel rims? Is that to offer more choice in tires, because if so, the winter tire I'd get is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 and that's available for my OEM wheels. Or is it so I can swap them myself, because if so, while that is appealing, given our current situation I think I'd probably prefer to stick with having a tire shop swap them for me for the next few years at least. Or something else entirely?

FWIW, I'm not averse to different wheels in general - on my 2016 F-150 Platinum I replaced the OEM 20" wheels with 18" wheels a few years ago. But in the case of the Lightning, I'm not desperately keen to invest in a brand new extra set of wheels right now if I'm honest.

 

[TaxmanHog]

We put the Trail Terrain T/A tires (which are sorta the SUV equivalent) on our Subaru Crosstrek and the tire install guy said he was caught off guard by how heavy they are.

I thought of your statement while watching this video this morning.

A bit of comedy relief ICE F150 not a BEV........

 

[21st Century Truck]

There's definitely a lingering voice in the back of my head saying that winter tires are the best option for winter driving so that's what I should put on. But, there's still the big two downsides of 1) mud season, and 2) being caught out by an early or late storm before or after I do a tire swap.

I'm curious though why you are recommending a set of dedicated steel rims? Is that to offer more choice in tires, because if so, the winter tire I'd get is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 and that's available for my OEM wheels. Or is it so I can swap them myself, because if so, while that is appealing, given our current situation I think I'd probably prefer to stick with having a tire shop swap them for me for the next few years at least. Or something else entirely?

FWIW, I'm not averse to different wheels in general - on my 2016 F-150 Platinum I replaced the OEM 20" wheels with 18" wheels a few years ago. But in the case of the Lightning, I'm not desperately keen to invest in a brand new extra set of wheels right now if I'm honest.

Steel rims take Winter abuse (curbs hidden under ice ridges especially granite curbs, rocks, very hard ice, etc. etc.) better and can even be pounded back into shape with a heavy hammer if needed. Cast wheels, not so much. I roughed up my XLT cast OEM rims somewhat this past Winter. Cast wheels can even be damaged beyond repair (total loss) in the right Winter circumstances. Steelies are much more forgiving in harsh conditions, and again, steel can be bent back into shape.

As far as tire size goes, my preference is to stick to the same size specs for all tire sets so that the vehicle behaves more predictably. Matter of fact, I'm planning for some Happalitas myself.

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