Looking for recommendations on a good winter tire, something really good in snow and ice for highway/city driving in Iowa. I have a 2003 Ranger ext. Cab 2wd with a limited slip axle (the one good thing my truck has for winter driving, at least I will have two tires pushing). I have 400 lbs. of sandbags for the bed. I don't want year round tires, and I don't want mud and snow either, just some good solid snow/ice tires. I plan to buy a set of 4 and use them in the winter only, buying rims this spring for summer driving. Truck currently has the factory Continental 225 70 R15's on it now, would like to stick with the same size for speedo accuracy. A raised white letter would be nice but not necessary.

when I had my 2wd Dakota 310 rwhp - stick- 4.10 -rear gears, I used Blizzaks with no sand bags in the back and I went everywhere. The one time I got stuck was when we had 7 inches of snow.. the roads were not plowed and I could not make it out of my driveway due to the truck being lowered lol. I have never been so impressed by a tire as I was with those.. Go for em!!!!

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03 Ranger - 4.0, 4x4, 5 Spd - 332x11.5x15 on Pro comp wheels, Dynomax catback, SCT Tuned, Hellwig rear sway bar, KYB Monomax shocks
On deck - Hurst shifter, Ported TB, Grants roll pan

03 SVT Focus - 6 spd, Dominant Engineering HFC, AEM CAI, CFM 67mm TB, Predator Tuned.. Time for suspension goodies!

That would be my first choice but they don't make em in my size. Right now according to reviews it looks like the General Altimax Arctic would be a close second and in my size.

my roommate uses those on his ls1 swapped 240..car goes very well. For the sand I would make sure you keep it over the rear axle. I don't know how much snow you guys get, but i would just see what the truck does with out the sand at first, few times I tried it I hated how the truck braked...much more control with out it.

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03 Ranger - 4.0, 4x4, 5 Spd - 332x11.5x15 on Pro comp wheels, Dynomax catback, SCT Tuned, Hellwig rear sway bar, KYB Monomax shocks
On deck - Hurst shifter, Ported TB, Grants roll pan

03 SVT Focus - 6 spd, Dominant Engineering HFC, AEM CAI, CFM 67mm TB, Predator Tuned.. Time for suspension goodies!

Toyo Open Country's

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Merlin215

2010 Ford Ranger 4 wheel drive
Black
XLT Power Group package

If you don't mind off name brands, Kelly and Cooper make a good winter tire. I've had good luck with both and they are non-directional, so you can do a proper tire rotation.

Otherwise, go with Blizzaks or Firestone Winterforce. The Blizzaks have a slightly better review but you pay more for them than you do for the Firestones.

Sent from my DROID X2 using FRF App

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Sgtsandman's Work in Progress
2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed M50D-R1HD, 3.73:1, 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
2019 Ford Ranger STX FX4, Super Crew, 2.3L Ecoboost, 10 speed automatic, 3.73:1 with rear locker, Leer 100XR cap

I started off looking at the Firestone Winter force tires as that's what a local shop recommended, but they have terrible reviews for ice and hard packed snow. Unfortunately they don't have Blizzaks in my size.

Blizzaks are your number one tire of choice, pricey yes but well worth it, my truck will go everywhere in the winter with them on keeping it only in 2wd, as for size, I am actually running a size smaller, speedo isn't out by much, you just need to figure out how much it is by driving next to a civic....

My Firestone Winterforce tires in 255/70-16 109S took me North up the James Bay Road, East along the Trans Taiga road and another 100km North on the Laforge 1 dam access road last year. And back home safely of course.

My travelling partner was running Avalanche Extreme tires (cooper clone?) on his 2006 Tundra. They worked well.

I was surprised by the folks passing us in the freeIng rain conditions close to Matagami - I realized later on that they must have studs in their tires.

Other than studded tires, Blizzaks have the best reputation and the General Altmax get the best reviews.

You can try alternate sizes, for example, 245/75-16 is close enough in diameter to 255/70-16 and there are lots more options. I may do that when my winterforces wear out in a couple of years, ie go with the Blizzak W695 in the 245 size (not available in the 255 size).

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2011 Supercab Sport 4x4, 4.0L, Auto, 3.73LS.

I forgot about the Generals. They got good reviews too.

Around here, studs aren't worth the extra cost only because our roads aren't snow covered all the time. After one season, they are about worthless after being worn down to almost nothing on the bare pavement.

I really need to invest in a set of chains for all my vehicles but good chains aren't cheap.

Sent from my DROID X2 using FRF App

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Sgtsandman's Work in Progress
2011 Ranger XLT, 4X4, 4 door Super Cab. 4.0L, 5 Speed M50D-R1HD, 3.73:1, 8.8" open differential, Jason Pace cap
2019 Ford Ranger STX FX4, Super Crew, 2.3L Ecoboost, 10 speed automatic, 3.73:1 with rear locker, Leer 100XR cap

I think I'm gonna go with the generals. I can use the stock size and I can use them year round, plus they are good in snow and ice. The blizzaks would be ideal but there is no guarantee I will be able to afford summer tires and rims by this spring and I would hate to use them up in summer driving as they are so soft. Although I am going to do my damdest to get a set of 16x8 Torque Thrust D's and some nice white letter summer tires this spring.

Thanks for helping me think this out, I do appreciate the help.

I have generals winter tire on my truck, but I had them studded for only $10 more a tire it was a no brainer. They so far are unreal in snow. I was just out in the mountains moose hunting and pushing through 2ft of snow or more and wasn't a big deal at all. I was quite surprised with these tires and are a night and day difference than the horrible excuse of a tire Ford put on stock (Goodyear Wrangler RTS).

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2011 SuperCab Ford Ranger Sport 4x4-stock for now
Future mods: T- bar crank and 31 duratracs

IMO, the General Altimax Arctics are hard to beat in the best bang for the buck category for winter tires. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 are a close second. If you do more highway driving, I think that Hankook I*Pike W409 have good reviews.

Personally, I wouldn't drive the General Altimax Arctics year around....they have a soft rubber compound and will likely wear fast. I'm down from 12/32nds to 9/32nds after two winters (winter use only...however winter lasts 5-6 months each year up here).

Dave

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2010 Ford Ranger FX4
Armaguard sprayed on box liner
Truxedo Low Pro QT tonneau cover
Studded General Altimax Arctic P245/75-16 winter tires on black steelies

Ya I Agree, the altimax is soft, my sister has them on her Mini Cooper, the blizzak is amazing in deep snow, last year we had a set on my dads for edge and we were pushing snow with the grill, it wasn't stopping the edge at all!