Winter Tires? Dura Trac or Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 or? Please help!!!

[JazzyKrav]

Hello CT Clan! My CT is at the Tesla shop right now. They want to know if I want the Dura Trac (3 peak snowflake) tires they have in stock for my Arapahoe Basin Colorado trip. I’m swapping out my AWD CT tires for the drive with the fam and two dogs from Houston, Texas to Arapahoe Basin, Colorado. I ordered the Tesla winter package $3,500, but it’s not in yet. I can also call discount tire real quick about my two back up options, Nokian Hakkapoliita LT3/R5 or Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2/LT??? Thanks for your help in advance!

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[EXPTREVER]

I'm sad Tesla changed their winter tire package. I bought the package last year and the tires were Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT's. The look is great and have done several snow trips and they have done fantastic. Day to day driving in dry conditions is also fine and road noise isn't terrible. They probably changed them to the current versions for range?

 

[MyOtherTruck]

For weather that looks like this I’d never use anything but Blizzaks. I tried duratracks (great on and off road) and hakkas in a g63, but ultimately Blizzaks have the edge in all conditions but particularly on ice!

 

[pricedm]

Hi @JazzyKrav, greetings from Winter Park, CO. Living in Colorado, I have dedicated snow tires (complete wheel set) for my Model Y. But for my Cybertruck, doubtful I will get dedicated snow tires. Living in TX, you will have less opportunities to enjoy snow tires.

A good option is to consider, as you are, All Terrain tires. Dura Trac are a good option. Other A/T tires with decent snow abilities are BFG KO3 and Bridgestone Dueler AT Ascent. Lots of other AT options as well....

When my OEM Pirelli tires (Core wheels) wear out, I will most likely get one of the above-listed AT tires. If conditions are icy (early and late winters in Colorado) yes a true snow tire will significantly out perform an AT tire. But for dry snow, AT tires will perform close to a snow tire. Driving slower is also an option!

If you go with AT tires, you have the added benefit of having a more capable truck for off-road adventures. If you lived in a snow climate like @MyOtherTruck's picture above, yes, get snow tires.

 

[acey]

KO3's ftw!

 

[shopaholic]

I have had winter tires on my SUV’s for sierra winters for the past 40+ seasons, but have been going less often last 3,4 years and planning on getting these as an insurance with AT tires on.

https://a.co/d/8wlWzcV

 

[Schroederhc]

Nokian LT is an excellent winter tire for the CT.

 

[jameslook]

I’m looking for reviews and comments on the Nokia. Hakka. I have Pirelli Scorpian on my G63 and they are okay.
I am looking for off road crazy deep snow insanity!

 

[Schroederhc]

I have run them in some severe snow conditions through the mountain passes (WA, ID, MT), and they have been great. I have always been confident with them.

 

[woodersonowl]

Loving the Nokian Outpost NAT so far but haven’t hit any deep snow yet here in New England. FWIW I Paid $1,600 delivered from eBay. Had them installed/balanced on OEM rims at local Firestone for $150. Tesla-recommended alignment was unnecessary according to local SC but they still cleaned my windshield cam for free. Have some ski trips up north coming up so we’ll see how they do.

 

[HaulingAss]

I'm sad Tesla changed their winter tire package. I bought the package last year and the tires were Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT's.

I think you mean the winter tire package included Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires. The Territory RT's were the OEM standard tire included with Foundation Series.

I've used both of these tires. My take is the ones sold with the winter tire package last year (Duratrac) are good in typical winter slop but not very good on icy surfaces. I used them on a winter highway trip last winter and they were ok on icy highways but a true winter tire would have allowed higher speeds where ice was the concern with a higher safety margin. They do have a high load capacity and good reliability and resistance to flats so if you are fully loaded that might be a consideration, just be aware that you may have to reduce your speeds more in icy conditions.

A true winter tire will probably have less load capacity and have a somewhat higher chance of getting a flat tire, but feel more secure on icy surfaces. They will also wear faster. Everything is a compromise, they will all work when used within their capabilities.

On a long winter trip I prefer to have better grip than most of the cars on the road because my observation is the vast majority of drivers have no clue of how tenuous their grip is, or how tenuous it is about to become, as they merrily speed along. This gives a larger margin of safety should other drivers get into trouble. Especially oncoming drivers sliding into my lane due to an unexpected icy section. It can be deadly. That's why I prefer true winter tires (vs. the Duratracs). They provide more emergency avoidance capability. It's not about not getting stuck, I could run All-Season tires year round if my only concern was keeping myself on the road and not getting stuck.

I do like the Duratracs for tooling around locally in winter storms (even if winter tires have higher grip), just not high speed driving on potentially icy roads with all the clueless drivers out there. For that a tire with a true winter rubber compound is impossible to beat. Just know they will not last as many miles (and they need to be removed for warmer weather, unlike the Duratracs).

Keep any of the lighter duty tires well-inflated, at least to the manufacturers recommended pressures and be aware of significant drops in temperature that will cause your tires to enter a low pressure state. That increases your chances of a flat tire and reduces grip in corners. A heavier duty tire (like the Duratracs) are a little less sensitive to minor changes in tire pressure. If you depart in warm temperatures towards colder areas, it might be a good idea to over-inflate by at least 2 psi., knowing the pressure will drop with colder temperatures.

 

[HaulingAss]

But for dry snow, AT tires will perform close to a snow tire.

I would say this differently:

In dry snow you have more traction, it's not as critical to get every last bit of traction.

The reason I even bring this up, is a true winter tire, particularly a winter tire designed for sporty winter driving, will have far superior traction in cold, dry snow vs. an AT tire. The difference is still huge, it's just not as necessary or noticeable in normal driving. Put the hammer down and hit some snowy twisties and the difference between a winter compound and an AT compound is still night/day. And it's not just the rubber compound, winter tires tend to have finer, more spidery tread designs (vs. the more open/coarse tread of an AT tire). This provides more biting edges for traction.

 

[RonSol]

Loving the Nokian Outpost NAT so far but haven’t hit any deep snow yet here in New England. FWIW I Paid $1,600 delivered from eBay. Had them installed/balanced on OEM rims at local Firestone for $150. Tesla-recommended alignment was unnecessary according to local SC but they still cleaned my windshield cam for free. Have some ski trips up north coming up so we’ll see how they do.

Nice tires. Very good in deep snow and general winter slop

 

[pricedm]

I would say this differently:

In dry snow you have more traction, it's not as critical to get every last bit of traction.

The reason I even bring this up, is a true winter tire, particularly a winter tire designed for sporty winter driving, will have far superior traction in cold, dry snow vs. an AT tire. The difference is still huge, it's just not as necessary or noticeable in normal driving. Put the hammer down and hit some snowy twisties and the difference between a winter compound and an AT compound is still night/day. And it's not just the rubber compound, winter tires tend to have finer, more spidery tread designs (vs. the more open/coarse tread of an AT tire). This provides more biting edges for traction.

Agree. “Softer” rubber compound aka winter-optimized tire compound and tread is significantly better than alternatives in colder weather. Tire manufacturers typically say under 40* F is the point non-winter tires loose grip due to less pliable materials.

With a small car like a Tesla Model S3XY it’s easy to jack up the car and switch out wheels— something I typically do multiple times during a winter season in Colorado. But it’s an expense I’m hoping to avoid on the Cybertruck with AT tires, knowing I will definitely be giving up some winter performance.

 

[jameslook]

How to get the Nokian Hakka LT3?? Everywhere I check only Scorpian 2 Winter is available for the Cyberbeast.

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