Hi all

The GY Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure on my P300 D90S are due to be replaced soon.

I have the factory 19" wheels and neither the Adventure nor the Duratrac are 3 peak snow rated.

I am going to be taking a multi week ski road trip in VT, ME and NH in January/February so I am shopping for a proper setup for the trip as well as in general for the rest of the year.

I am in the Hudson Valley NY area and I don't do serious off-roading.

1. Buy a set of 18" factory steelies and put BFG KO3 (if I am not mistaken, they are 3 peak rated) and sell the 19".

2. Buy a set of 18" factory steelies and put Bridgestone Blizzak or Hakka R5 on them as dedicated winter set up and put either Adventure or all season on the 19" for the rest of the year set up.

3. Put Michelin X-Ice on the 19" as dedicated winter set up and buy a set of 18" factory steelies and put KO3 or Duratrac or similar all-terrain tires on them for the rest of the year.

Thoughts?

Thanks

 

I would get the steelies and put on a set of Blizzaks or the Hakkas. Nothing beats a good snow tire during the winter season. Keep the 19's for the rest of the year and mount all season tire.

 

I'm going to do #3.
I got the TuffAnt 18" Kimberly and have Wildpeak AT3W on them. This winter I'm going to get the X-Ice for the 19".

 

That's what I am leaning as i can take my time to shop for the 18" wheels since I won't need them until April of 2026.

Where did you buy the TuffAnt 18" Kimberly? Also, do they need any modifications to the calipers (P300)?

I also looked at Evo Corse Dark Zero but they are pretty pricey.

 

The 3-peak rating is mostly BS. It misleads people into thinking that the tire is as good as a dedicated winter tire when its only slightly better under limited conditions than a non-3-peak rated AT.

Having lived in Maine now for 10 years and having driven nothing but offroad focused SUV's... you don't need anything more than a good set of A/T's. Last winter on our 110, we got by just fine on our set of OEM AT's that have only 6mm of tread left. We'll be replacing them next month but not because of snow performance. On my FJ I have a set of like 8 year old Nitto Tera Grappler AT's (1st gen) which do a great job combined with the Toyota traction control, don't even use 4WD very often. We don't do a lot of things well up here in Maine but we can plow the roads pretty good ayup.

The biggest determining factor for a tire's snow performance IMO is siping. The more sipes per tread block, the better it does. Minimum 2 sipes. 3 is what we call ... "bettah".

 

As you have the P300 I'd try to get a set of snows to fit the otherwise not so useful 19" rims. There are a few options apparently. I'm a big fan of a dedicated winter tire. Makes perfect sense for me and you'll make good use of the 19"s that you can throw back on the car whenever you come to sell it. Nothing as good as a dedicated winter tire when you really need it. Was in BC and Alberta this winter and they're ubiquitous. I'm in the snowy passes every week in winter and there's a handful of days every year where it's carnage. To me it's the best bit of $ you can spend for yours and your family's safety in winter if you drive on a lot of snow.

I'd get a set of OEM steelies on ebay (always quite a few on there) and a nice set of 265/70 R18s in your A/T of choice. I'm a fan of KO2 but there are plenty of great options in 18"s Nothing quite as fine a steelie shod Defender. Shame on LR for canning them.

 

I got them from Lucky8, and also the rear calipers, as I didn't want to grid mine down (P400).

 

Ok thanks!

 

I hear you. Point well taken.

But since I will be driving to ski resorts throughout New England and some of the access roads are very steep and narrow and sometimes not plowed early in the morning, so I think the little extra snow performance from the dedicated winter tires would/could make a difference when I need it

Last year I was doing a similar trip on my stock Wrangler AT Adventure and there were a few dicey moments in the Adirondack and in Maine when I was driving during a big dump.

 

Thanks! Excellent point.

That's exactly what I am thinking about the limited tire choice for the 19". As I use them as dedicated winter set up, such limitation becomes an non issue.

I had Blizzak in the past which were good, and I have Hakkapiileta on my other car which are phenomenal. So I think I am going to try the Michelin X-ice as I read a lot of good things about them.