Need new tires for 2018 TRD Pro

I have been searching old posts about the best tires to replace the stock Terra Grapplers that came with my 2018 TRD Pro. There are a lot of opinions on this board. Please allow me to explain my use case to help me select what would work best for me.

My experience with the TG's is that they are very quiet and have decent traction. Overall, I like them. I have taken them through moderately deep sand, mud, and light snow (3-4") without too much trouble. However, recently I found myself driving through a foot of new snow with a 3/4" layer of ice underneath (sand below that) and the TG's had almost no traction at times. The truck did okay on level terrain but when climbing a moderate hill it slid all around in an unsafe manner. In addition, several times I almost got stuck as the tires spun on the surface of the ice without any traction no matter what I asked the electronics to do. Ultimately, because it was night, I could not see well, and I did not want to slide off the hill or into a ditch I just parked the truck and waited until daylight. Luckily, I was within a short hike of my vacation house. The next morning with the help of a shovel and some sunshine to melt some ice and snow I got myself free pretty easily but still slid around quite a bit.

The first lesson to me was that I need to be carrying (and use!) chains - 4WD or not. I will buy some and use them. I don't really want a dedicated winter tire like Blizzaks because I am only in deep snow and ice a couple times per year at most.

Would a different tire like K02's or Ridge Grapplers (or even Duratracs) have performed better? My use is MOSTLY highway driving but I do get into sand, mud, and snow (in that order) a few times per year. If simply running chains solves my problem I would be happy with the TG's again but I have to say that I was a little disappointed with the performance. It was a pretty bad storm and lots of cars got stuck (anything 2WD was abandoned on the road) but I did see some trucks making it through where I got stuck. I have to imagine the difference was the tires. Where I was in California almost no one runs winter tires (even in occasional snow) so it made me think the TG's may just be subpar on ice. Would any of the other tires I mentioned do significantly better in that situation? If not, I guess I will just buy another set of TG's and make sure to use chains next time.

 

Without knowing the condition of your tires, i will say ice is very hard to drive on no matter what kind of tire you use. In true ice conditions chains would probably be best for you.

 

I agree with silver slug. Ice is slippery no matter what tires you have. Studs, chains and possibly siping are the only things I know of that are going to improve traction on ice.

 

I live just outside the greater Toronto area in a small town, in a snow belt of Central Ontario, Canada. The only time I ever needed chains was in the northern Rocky Mountains, in the Yukon - to ascend and descend steep mountain passes safely in winter storm conditions. Here in Ontario I use KO2’s in summer, and Blizzaks in winter. Blizzaks are amazing on ice. Amazing. They are soft and grippy. The downside is that they wear prematurely if driven on dry warm roads, especially at high speeds.
I find chains to be a hassle, generally. They’re hard to put on in cold and wet conditions. If you don’t get them tight, they will damage the fender well of the vehicle.
Terra Grapplers are tough. Maybe not as good as KO2s, but possibly tougher. As a winter tire - no way, not even close. Not KO2s either.

 

Ko2s here, and they suck ass on ice....., like id expect most to.

EDIT- local roads where shit this morning at 4am... i did a cool slide into maverick for my coffee.... Ice, is ice.... doubt any tire is worth a damn.

 

I agree, at the end of the day it’s just 4 small patches of rubber holding you on the road no matter what you choose. But within that constraint, winter tires will transform a vehicle like a 4 Runner. Along with good driving, it’s unstoppable if it has good winter tires. I’ve driven back roads that were glare ice with ease. Just slow down and let all the technology do it’s job. Mine is a 2018 ORP. The Blizzaks are great. Where I live, they’re a no brainer.