20" Inch Time to think about winter tires

[CGriding]

Starting to think about winter tires. I have the oem 275/65/20 Pirelli scorpions right now.

I think my options here are the Blizzak LT or the HAKKAPELIITTA LT3. Any pros and cons to either?

I’m also weighing whether to get some rims and get them mounted. Then I’d swap them my selves or get the blizzaks lt from Costco and they do the swap for 12.50 a tire. Could do a lot of swaps for the price of rims. Am I missing a benefit of having the winter mounted a different set of rims?

Sponsored

 

[Andystroh]

The blizzaks work great and wear a lot better than the pirellis. I have about 30k on mine and a lot of life remaining after 3 winters.

we decided it was not worth the cost of a second set of rims. There may be more affordable sets now but the wheels are expensive for this truck. I don’t really want to change them myself anyway.

 

[2kwik4u]

The blizzaks work great and wear a lot better than the pirellis. I have about 30k on mine and a lot of life remaining after 3 winters.

we decided it was not worth the cost of a second set of rims. There may be more affordable sets now but the wheels are expensive for this truck. I don’t really want to change them myself anyway.

I've seen some guys running wheels off of Dodge Ram 1500 pickups. If you can find a set it might make a cheap set of winter wheels if you wanted to go that route.

In other thoughts, I had good luck with the OEM Pirelli's last year in a Buffalo, NY winter. Not much mountain climbing around here, local ski resort is only at 3k ft ASL, so there are some "hills", but not like what you guys have out west.

 

[Singletracker]

I have the Blizzak LT’s. I will say, they have really performed spectacularly well. They stick like glue in the Sierra winter conditions, are very quiet, and don’t seem to impact driving efficiency, at all. I’ve had them on for two winters - maybe 8000-9000 miles and they don’t appear to be wearing much. They are mounted on MSW Type 52 wheels, which were about $275/wheel when I got them. I think the price has gone up since. It’s nice that I can mount/dismount them, at my house, when the weather timing is right. Sometimes winter arrives early. Sometimes not so much. If money is not an issue, I think having extra wheels is the way to go.

 

[Osyras]

I had HAKKAPELIITTA r5's and they had really very little wear and worked great!

 

[BigSkies]

I bought the Blizzak's on the EVSportline rims.

The tires work great.

I changed them out myself a few times, but I think I'm going to have discount tire do it for me in the future.

Compared with my prior (lighter) cars, these tires are massive, heavy, and hard to work with. Lifting them to hang them on the wall of my garage required a pulley, and is slightly beyond the limit of what felt I can do safely on my own.

I'm keeping them on separate rims since I already have them.

I'd choose to use a single set of rims if it were an option (I have the 21" tires).

 

[CGriding]

Thanks I go up and around the sierras a lot so I figure better be safe on some winter tires

 

[Seano]

Highly recommended (dedicated snows for the Sierra). I’m partial to Nokian the last 12+ years; have had Pirrelli snows & Blizzaks and honestly I’d argue ANY dedicated snow is better than an all season or an AT.

I’ve found I can swap all 4 mounted snows in about 30-45 min.

if I take everything to the tire store, it’s all in 1 1/2 - 2hr ordeal, min.

We tend to go up for a week every few weeks vs every weekend now, so I pull the snows off between trips.

 

[usulio]

Plenty of forum threads if you search. Hakka R5s here, expensive but great. 275/60R20 size (33"). MSW Type 52 wheels.

 

[LLJJ]

I've been running the Nokian Hakkas for the last 3 winters and absolutely love them. Smoother and quieter than the stock 20 inch AT's. I didn't get separate wheels so I just have them swapped on and off the stock wheels.

 

[Seano]

@usulio That’s the setup I went with - opted for gunmetal finish (or whatever they call it) - looks sharp with both:

 

[Hauser37]

Can't go wrong with Blizzacks. I have had them on multiple cars and they are as someone said quiet, smooth, grip great in all conditions and not much wear. I wish they came in 22's as I just ordered a R1T with 22 inch wheels...

 

[ksurfier]

This thread! Mid-summer and we’re already talking winter tires?! Depending on availability, where you live, and the all-important Rivian factor, it’s worth getting a set ready for November/December, not scrambling to figure it out on Halloween. I know by Thanksgiving the best are usually sold out.

 

[KeithPleas]

I've got 34k miles on my original Scorpions - love the look (on darks), don't really care about efficiency, and of course don't like the noise. 100% on paved roads except for our second home in Cle Elum where gravel is common and - in particular - we have a winding gravel driveway that has a steep section that also has a sideways slope and THAT gave me some trouble last January. When I come to a stop and tried to get going again my R1S just slid sideways. Fortunately all my neighbors have heavy equipment so a phone call and 15 minutes and I was recovered (had to leave my car lower down on the driveway than I would have preferred).

So I had been thinking of getting a set of socks for the tires for just this use case (and potentially over Snoqualmie Pass) but wanted to ask - how much difference would these dedicated snow tires make?

 

[CGriding]

This thread! Mid-summer and we’re already talking winter tires?! Depending on availability, where you live, and the all-important Rivian factor, it’s worth getting a set ready for November/December, not scrambling to figure it out on Halloween. I know by Thanksgiving the best are usually sold out.

Never too early to prep before they’re sold out

Sponsored