- Sep 20, 2017
- 4,005
- First Name
- Jeff
- Willys Model
- Wagon
- Pickup
- CJ
- Willys Year:
- 1955
- 1958
- 1962
I plow my driveway with my '55 truck which is equipped with 25 year old (I never leave the property) Farm and Fart off-brand 7.50-16 standard (for 40 years ago) mud and snow tires. They look great on the truck! Traditional and period correct looking....but they absolutely suck in the snow, as in being nearly useless. They may work in mud, but between being rock hard, even at 12 psi, and the fact that the truck suspension is as flexible as an eggshell, I'm constantly getting stuck plowing my hilly driveway, or worse, sliding onto the lawn, and ripping it up getting out (which causes marital consternation!).
By contrast, my 3/4 ton Suburban, with radial Michelin Defenders (not really a snow tire), can drive right up to the stuck truck, in worse snow, and just pull it out. In fact, I dragged a tandem axle car hauler with about a half a ton of Willys parts right through the areas that the plow truck got stuck in, maneuvered it into the shop, and then after unloading it drove it through over a foot of heavy snow and parked it with nearly no issues, just the other day. I know there's lots of other variables, but I "assume" the primary difference is in the tires, where the rubber meets the "road". Michelin tires are very expensive, but if they actually work, then it's worth it. Since they will rot long before they're wear out, I could consider a cheaper brand, but they gotta work, and due to vanity, can't look like a modern corvette tire. I know I'll get an instant improvement with radials, but I also assume the tread pattern and siping are critical.
This is a long shot, but does anybody have any experience with traction in the snow on pavement (off-road/AT tires are not what I need for snow plowing) on tires that actually grip (lot's of sipes) snow. I can read all the manufacturers claims, and look at the tires and guess, but does anyone here actually have any experiences with true snow tires on these stiff rigs? I'd probably go with the 215/85R16 size on my stock 5" truck wheels, but due to a refurb project on the truck, I may have to use my '58 wagon to plow for a season, so they have to fit that too. I'm thinking the snow tires sales might happen in another month or so, so I'm preparing ahead of time.
Thanx!!!
By contrast, my 3/4 ton Suburban, with radial Michelin Defenders (not really a snow tire), can drive right up to the stuck truck, in worse snow, and just pull it out. In fact, I dragged a tandem axle car hauler with about a half a ton of Willys parts right through the areas that the plow truck got stuck in, maneuvered it into the shop, and then after unloading it drove it through over a foot of heavy snow and parked it with nearly no issues, just the other day. I know there's lots of other variables, but I "assume" the primary difference is in the tires, where the rubber meets the "road". Michelin tires are very expensive, but if they actually work, then it's worth it. Since they will rot long before they're wear out, I could consider a cheaper brand, but they gotta work, and due to vanity, can't look like a modern corvette tire. I know I'll get an instant improvement with radials, but I also assume the tread pattern and siping are critical.
This is a long shot, but does anybody have any experience with traction in the snow on pavement (off-road/AT tires are not what I need for snow plowing) on tires that actually grip (lot's of sipes) snow. I can read all the manufacturers claims, and look at the tires and guess, but does anyone here actually have any experiences with true snow tires on these stiff rigs? I'd probably go with the 215/85R16 size on my stock 5" truck wheels, but due to a refurb project on the truck, I may have to use my '58 wagon to plow for a season, so they have to fit that too. I'm thinking the snow tires sales might happen in another month or so, so I'm preparing ahead of time.
Thanx!!!
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