2019 Snow tires

[ME120]

No, Duratrac is a snow-flake rated all-terrain tire that GY markets as "A workhorse tire for rugged off-road terrain — including snow — that still offers a quieter ride on paved roads. The bold aggressive tread design is great for work truck towing and hauling.".

If you look online, there are a ton of positive reviews for this tire, and I have personally been running it for the last 4 or 5 years on all my trucks year around. I find it to provide excellent traction in all conditions that I have encountered, and am even able to leave my truck in 2wd most of the time in the winter. In heavy snowfall or on severely icy roads in 4wd, I find myself pretty much doing circles around most other people struggling to get traction. And while I do not have any experience with dedicated winter tires, the GY DT has never left me wanting more traction. The only down side I've found is that it is a tad bit louder on smooth pavement, and does wear a bit faster.

As for the KO2, it is also a snow-flake rated (https://www.tires-easy.com/blog/mountainsnowflake-symbol/) and I personally think it outperforms most other tires. That said, I switched to the Duratrac within the first 1000 miles of owning my truck if that tells you anything...

Yep. It tells me a lot. Especially with you being from Michigan. I know you get brutal snow storms up there. I went 1 winter with the stock tires on my raptor last year and I was not impressed, they are great on pavement, gravel, and rocks, but not in snow/ice.

 

[Raptor911]

Duratracs are awesome. I have been running them on my 2013 for the last 5 years and plan to run them on my 2019 when it arrives in the next 2-3 weeks.

BTW .. the duratracs in size 315/70/17 is a lighter tire when compared to other tires in the same size.

Yep. It tells me a lot. Especially with you being from Michigan. I know you get brutal snow storms up there. I went 1 winter with the stock tires on my raptor last year and I was not impressed, they are great on pavement, gravel, and rocks, but not in snow/ice.

 

[ME120]

Duratracs are awesome. I have been running them on my 2013 for the last 5 years and plan to run them on my 2019 when it arrives in the next 2-3 weeks.

BTW .. the duratracs in size 315/70/17 is a lighter tire when compared to other tires in the same size.

Thank you. Did you only run them in the winter ? Or where you running them year round.

 

[WRCRaptor]

The Duratrac Load range D is a great tire, I ran them for 5 years they are a All Terrain tire that has the winter mountain snow flake symbol. They work very well in all conditions year round but the side wall is thiner then the KO2 and can puncture if you are to sideways in harsher desert or large sharp gravel (some trails in ME or most of out west) type conditions but I never had any issues here in Michigan. They are maybe a touch better in ice because of more sipes like a snow tire. They can get a little loud as they age so keep an eye on the rotation so as not to cup them but not like a mud terrain.

The KO2 load range E ( what I run on my Gen1) is a that also has the mountain snow flake symbol and is a good tire in the snow and not terrible in the ice. It is a lot better driving tire on the street the then DuraTrac and quieter all around. In the last year it has done everything very well and I think it is better off road then the DuraTrac, plus the sidewall is far better at taking sideways impacts.

If I am correct the Gen2 takes a C load range tire so going to a E which is available in the KO2 would make for a fairly harsh ride. The KO2 is available in C & E load ratings and the DuraTrac is only E load on Tirerack.com.

As for the Nokian LT2 I do not have any experience with it but a few trucks ran them at Snoball last year and liked them. Studs are great for ice but not a real benefit in deep snow unless you can get down to the ice, as for the street the studs actually can make the trie spin more on cold dry pavement degrading traction and handling but maybe the spark show would be fun.

I think if you get a lot of Ice go with the LT2 studded, more snow then ice it is a flip of the coin for me between the KO2 and DuraTrac. My pick is the KO2 after a year of great results here in MI and when I buy a Gen2 someday I will most likely stay with the KO2. I am a real fan of true snow tires like the Blizzak and such and the LT2 may be the closest tire to a Blizzak type tire yet for these trucks but I would only run them in the winter like I have on my cars for the last 30+ years of winter driving.

Good luck picking and have fun in the winter!!!

 

[Raptor911]

I run them year round.

Thank you. Did you only run them in the winter ? Or where you running them year round.

 

[ME120]

The Duratrac Load range D is a great tire, I ran them for 5 years they are a All Terrain tire that has the winter mountain snow flake symbol. They work very well in all conditions year round but the side wall is thiner then the KO2 and can puncture if you are to sideways in harsher desert or large sharp gravel (some trails in ME or most of out west) type conditions but I never had any issues here in Michigan. They are maybe a touch better in ice because of more sipes like a snow tire. They can get a little loud as they age so keep an eye on the rotation so as not to cup them but not like a mud terrain.

The KO2 load range E ( what I run on my Gen1) is a that also has the mountain snow flake symbol and is a good tire in the snow and not terrible in the ice. It is a lot better driving tire on the street the then DuraTrac and quieter all around. In the last year it has done everything very well and I think it is better off road then the DuraTrac, plus the sidewall is far better at taking sideways impacts.

If I am correct the Gen2 takes a C load range tire so going to a E which is available in the KO2 would make for a fairly harsh ride. The KO2 is available in C & E load ratings and the DuraTrac is only E load on Tirerack.com.

As for the Nokian LT2 I do not have any experience with it but a few trucks ran them at Snoball last year and liked them. Studs are great for ice but not a real benefit in deep snow unless you can get down to the ice, as for the street the studs actually can make the trie spin more on cold dry pavement degrading traction and handling but maybe the spark show would be fun.

I think if you get a lot of Ice go with the LT2 studded, more snow then ice it is a flip of the coin for me between the KO2 and DuraTrac. My pick is the KO2 after a year of great results here in MI and when I buy a Gen2 someday I will most likely stay with the KO2. I am a real fan of true snow tires like the Blizzak and such and the LT2 may be the closest tire to a Blizzak type tire yet for these trucks but I would only run them in the winter like I have on my cars for the last 30+ years of winter driving.

Good luck picking and have fun in the winter!!!

Thank you. Excellent detailed information. I think I will get a dedicated snow tire, either a nokkia or a blizzak, and then put the KO2'S back on in the spring.

 

[ME120]

The Duratrac Load range D is a great tire, I ran them for 5 years they are a All Terrain tire that has the winter mountain snow flake symbol. They work very well in all conditions year round but the side wall is thiner then the KO2 and can puncture if you are to sideways in harsher desert or large sharp gravel (some trails in ME or most of out west) type conditions but I never had any issues here in Michigan. They are maybe a touch better in ice because of more sipes like a snow tire. They can get a little loud as they age so keep an eye on the rotation so as not to cup them but not like a mud terrain.

The KO2 load range E ( what I run on my Gen1) is a that also has the mountain snow flake symbol and is a good tire in the snow and not terrible in the ice. It is a lot better driving tire on the street the then DuraTrac and quieter all around. In the last year it has done everything very well and I think it is better off road then the DuraTrac, plus the sidewall is far better at taking sideways impacts.

If I am correct the Gen2 takes a C load range tire so going to a E which is available in the KO2 would make for a fairly harsh ride. The KO2 is available in C & E load ratings and the DuraTrac is only E load on Tirerack.com.

As for the Nokian LT2 I do not have any experience with it but a few trucks ran them at Snoball last year and liked them. Studs are great for ice but not a real benefit in deep snow unless you can get down to the ice, as for the street the studs actually can make the trie spin more on cold dry pavement degrading traction and handling but maybe the spark show would be fun.

I think if you get a lot of Ice go with the LT2 studded, more snow then ice it is a flip of the coin for me between the KO2 and DuraTrac. My pick is the KO2 after a year of great results here in MI and when I buy a Gen2 someday I will most likely stay with the KO2. I am a real fan of true snow tires like the Blizzak and such and the LT2 may be the closest tire to a Blizzak type tire yet for these trucks but I would only run them in the winter like I have on my cars for the last 30+ years of winter driving.

Good luck picking and have fun in the winter!!!

Thank you. Your post was a big help. The problem I have, living on the coast of maine, is we get big snow storms 4 inches to 18 inches sometimes, and they always transition to rain/ice at some point during the storm so the roads get that ice glaze on top and even though the state of maine does a excellent job with the state roads the towns do a terrible job. Thats why I am seriously considering nokkia studded tires.

 

[loupuleff]

Hi There,

I just purchased a 2019 ruby red metallic raptor December 31, 2018. I traded my 2017. I was not planning on actually purchasing, I just wanted to test the live shocks. After about 5 minutes of driving I could feel the difference , in a good way. Almost no body roll in corners and the truck just feels more planted. Firm, but planted. There were only 2 things I did not like about my 2017, body roll and secure feeling driving in snow. I know the snow driving is more about tires.

So I was wondering if there are any winter tires members suggest for the raptor. I live on the coast and we tend to get get rain with most of our snow storms, which ends up creating ice. I do not like the KO2'S in a combination of ice and snow.

I also feel like ford did a great job with the mid cycle refresh of the raptor enough that I could justify trading. I got $ 58,000.00 for my 2017 with 21,000 miles and I paid $ 1000.00 under invoice. All the other dealers around me were $ 5000.00 over MSRP.

Any suggestions on winter tires would be much appreciated.

I'm looking at the km3's right now lots of great reviews probably will do a complete separate set to change out when needed

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Jake17]

Duratracs are awesome.

 

[WRCRaptor]

I think that Nokkian is the only true snow tire in the size we need. I use the Blizzak on my Golf and our Outback and last time I looked they did not make our size or a close enough one to work.

The LT2 would be my choice for winter only tire