I have Goodyear Fortera Tripletred's on my '06 S 4WD...
I'll be driving her in the Boston area (her first winter away from SoCal)
No off-roading, 90% of the roads I'll use will be plowed, but most of them (specially around lexington-concord where I commute to) are low-salt or no-salt areas because of all the ponds and reservoir areas...
Are my severe weather rated tripletreds enough? or do I have to opt for something like the bridgestone blizzaks?

thanks

:kalt-big:

Xterras are not very good in the snow IMO. It's hard to say if those are good enough. you can always find a tire shop that will sipe your tires, there just has to be enough tread to do that. If your not familiar with what that is, It's when they use heated blades to add more grooves to your tires. It's not bad for the tires at all, but it really helps with traction. Look in to it, you may not need to buy snow tires, rather, just have them siped.

you'll be fine. Drive within what the conditions allow. You've got severe weather rated tires. It's not like you are on UHP summer tires.

Hello, Just some caution here? ...adding chains is great for heavy snows...when you reach hard grounds..it can tear up tires and ruin the chains...besides a rough riding too..

Snow tires for those who live in snowy places? ...makes sense to have a special sets...(yes added cost...and so is living in winter snow places)

It snows on the Big Island too...Hawaii - Mauna Kea mountain snows every year and we go up to play in the snow...roads are clear for visitors first...


Aloha...have one snow jacket...will NOT share..UM? BFG's A/T's

PS: Please have a winter suvival kit in the Xterra...in case have to stay in the "X"...winter sleeping bags, winter jackets, toilet papers,flash lights(blinking), water (unfrozen), energy foods, thermos-hot drinks-coffee?,tea? ...and milk-for us?

Xterras are not very good in the snow
Im curious, why is this?
I would think 4x4, and heavy would be great for the snow? Please educate me if I'm wrong...

Xterra's are very good in the snow....but, just like any rig, you need tires that work in it too for it to work well/its best, etc.

Knowing HOW to drive in snow is probably the MOST important part of the equation though.

:D

For all around use, I really love the BFG AT ko's...they've never failed me in winter driving.

If you do not off road, the Blizzaks are a purpose built, and amazing, winter tire...and excel in the snow and ice compared to other tires.

The Bridgestone Revo's are another good winter tire.

Generally, the deeper and softer the snow, the better a more aggressive tread will work, as the tread blocks can sink in and get bite like paddle wheels, etc.

As the snow gets harder packed/more icy, tires with lots of sipes, and or microtexture features, such as the Blizzak has, gain the upper hand.

Its like cleats vs basket ball shoes...on soft ground, the cleats work amazingly well, and the basketball shoes slide all over...

....on a hard surface, like a baskeball court, the cleats will slide all over, and the basketball shoes will grip...

...and so forth.

So, the BEST tire will depend upon if you are on a plowed, but hard packed snow or ice road, or, deep soft powder, or what ever's inbetween.

Hence the AT ko's versitility...its like the cross trainer compromise...works on soft, and hard surfaces, maybe less well on each than a DEDICATED type of tire, but, better than BOTH on BOTH surface types.

:D


The '06 has very good traction control by the way...in snow, just let it nibble its way out if stuck....do not gas it...its pretty cool really.

The AT ko also lasts about 2x as long as the other tires, 75-90 k miles from a set is common....Blizzaks wear out, and that microtexture rubber is only on HALF the tread depth, etc.

Food for thought.

Xterra's are great in the snow. Mine is extremely predictable and if it looses traction and slides I can usually get it under control pretty easily.

Ok thanks, This is exactly what I thought. I read probably every the tire thread on the forum before I bought mine, and ended up with the Revo's. I just hadn't heard anything about them being poor and snow and was curious to see the explanation behind this. The defroster is a beast too compared to my moms Suby as well
Thanks,

Sierraboarder

Hey Thanks everyone, From what I gather, and where I drive 90% of the time I figured my severe weather rated triple threads should be fine, but in extreme cases I might get through with the help of chains...

so here is my tangent question, do I need chains on all for because its a 4x4, or the rear 2 tires chained is enough... and what cahins/cords do I buy??

Where do you live, again?

I know most places outlaw chains because they tear up roads.

They only place u know they are legal are high mountain passes in western states, where they are required during times of severe snowfall.

Being from the climate you are I would net you idea of severe is not the same.


To answer your question, chains go on the driven axles. But check your local laws before spending money.

Didn't you say you had a 4X2? Shit, if you got a 4X4 with decent tires, you're already ahead of the game. Sometimes the Colorado Dept. of Transportation will not allow vehicles on certain roads unless they are 4X4, or have chains. I-70 is one of those roads, not particularly in the city, but up towards Evergreen/Floyd Hill and beyond that sometimes comes in to play. I'm pretty sure the cable setup allows you to travel at a faster speed and definitely does less damage to the roads. But how fast do you need to be going if you have to chain-up.

Well I'll be driving near Boston, Mass (not allways with the chains obviously :))
And the tires are rated severe weather, not by me, but who ever is rating them, it has the snow flake logo on it, and what not...

Oh. are you not the guy from florida who moved to Colorado? Whoops.lol.

I live right downthe road formyou inporter square...

for snow you can expect a few dumps ( 6-10") and when it does dump the snow Will be cleared within 4-6 hours

I work over in waltham, ma next to the cambridge reservoir. and they use vey little salt here, my commute is rt 2 to 128 South.

You will be ok with your tires.. you don't need blizzaks, reason being when there is snow traffic will go slow enough that you wil be fine. You'll only need blizzaks when you head up north routinely thru NH and VT

Ps where exactly where are you.. always up for meeting new peeps in the area with an xterra.

-John


I have Goodyear Fortera Tripletred's on my '06 S 4WD...
I'll be driving her in the Boston area (her first winter away from SoCal)
No off-roading, 90% of the roads I'll use will be plowed, but most of them (specially around lexington-concord where I commute to) are low-salt or no-salt areas because of all the ponds and reservoir areas...
Are my severe weather rated tripletreds enough? or do I have to opt for something like the bridgestone blizzaks?

thanks

:kalt-big:

PS you wont need chains around here.... unless it's a major dump..and like I said before a major dump shuts the city down as the major arteries get stuck with traffic and idiots who dont know how to drive in snow.

but if you're intent on getting chains for that 1-100 chance of being stuck in boston ( you can always take the "T" home get them for all 4 but dont get chains... cables will be plenty for around here

what i carry is bag of kitty litter a small shovel( plastic foldable) some gloves and that's because I head up north to go skiing thru franconia notch and pinkham notch

Xterras do fine in the snow the only problem I have ever noticed was from some crappy street tread tires that were on mine when I bought it and the heater has a hard time keeping up with below -20F(in the back seat area anyway) but my amplifier helps.

My Goodyear Fortera's are great all season tires, you should be fine if they have decent tread left and your rig is 4x4. I just threw on some new rims and studded tires however in 4x4 mode, the Fortera's were pretty much as good as the studded tires considering the Fortera's have little tread left and the studded tires have huge tread. It's all about the 4x4 in the snow.

Hi everyone,

I've been driving for over 30 years in a severe winter climate (Atlantic Canada, specifically Newfoundland). Out here on an island in the North Atlantic we get extreme winters with massive snowfalls. A few years back we had a winter in which the total snowfall for the entire winter was over 6 meters (~20ft). A typical snowfall can bring 50cm (20") or more. Winter conditions are wettish (probably similar to New England) so the roads are covered in ice, hardpacked snow, slush, powder snow and rain (sometimes all in an 8-hour period). Our roads are salted and plowed, but you can be driving on unsalted roads frequently. I do mostly city driving and not much highway.

I have driven my completely stock (blush) '06 Xterra with nothing more than BFG T/A's and it is amazing compared to any 2WD car/minivan etc. Its the 4WD combined with ground clearance that makes the difference. You will not get stuck unless you get high-centered.

On the other hand, if the road is covered in black ice or otherwise slippery, staying on the road and stopping are more important issues and having a sticky winter tire would give you some advantages over an all-season.

Driving style is important too. Slow down, no sudden steering motions, no sudden braking and no sudden gas pedal. This goes for any vehicle and is just prudent winter driving.

In my experience, your Xterra (in 4WD) equipped with no special tires will be better than 95% (or more) cars on the road when its snowing, so your problem will be how to get around all the other people in front who are stuck and spinning their wheels! :)

If you really want to shell out for snow tires, you will have some advantage on stopping distance and possibly cornering.


GBS

Hi everyone,

I've been driving for over 30 years in a severe winter climate (Atlantic Canada, specifically Newfoundland). Out here on an island in the North Atlantic we get extreme winters with massive snowfalls. A few years back we had a winter in which the total snowfall for the entire winter was over 6 meters (~20ft). A typical snowfall can bring 50cm (20") or more. Winter conditions are wettish (probably similar to New England) so the roads are covered in ice, hardpacked snow, slush, powder snow and rain (sometimes all in an 8-hour period). Our roads are salted and plowed, but you can be driving on unsalted roads frequently. I do mostly city driving and not much highway.

I have driven my completely stock (blush) '06 Xterra with nothing more than BFG T/A's and it is amazing compared to any 2WD car/minivan etc. Its the 4WD combined with ground clearance that makes the difference. You will not get stuck unless you get high-centered.

On the other hand, if the road is covered in black ice or otherwise slippery, staying on the road and stopping are more important issues and having a sticky winter tire would give you some advantages over an all-season.

Driving style is important too. Slow down, no sudden steering motions, no sudden braking and no sudden gas pedal. This goes for any vehicle and is just prudent winter driving.

In my experience, your Xterra (in 4WD) equipped with no special tires will be better than 95% (or more) cars on the road when its snowing, so your problem will be how to get around all the other people in front who are stuck and spinning their wheels! :)

If you really want to shell out for snow tires, you will have some advantage on stopping distance and possibly cornering.


GBS

LOL

Nice first post.

:D

LOL

Nice first post.

:D

Thanks, winter driving is one thing I know something about.

No snow here yet, but its on the way! Yippee. :D

GBS

When I spoke of the Xterra not being good in the snow I was talking about the wheelbase and weight. If anyone has ever had a jeep and driven it REGULARLY in the snow you will know what I mean. The 4x4 is GREAT on the X even with stock tires. The shorter wheelbase of the Xterra (106 give or take) compared to a fullsize pickup or other suv that is heavier and longer is noticeable. I'm not saying that I'm the snow expert but I'm pretty sure that i've driven in snowy conditions more than most of you. Just like most of you have logged more trail time than myself. I am comparing my Xterra to several other cars that i've had in the snow including a jeep an f250 a subie an f150 and several other heavier work vehicles. Bottom line. The X loses its ass end easier and tends to oversteer more than these other vehicles in the snow. It's actually enjoyable to drive in severe weather, it does fine but there ARE other vehicles that do better. Plenty of them.

ryguy:

Agreed, heavier is better, bigger wheels are better, not so sure on longer wheelbase.

But for me the X is a step up from a 2000 Dodge Caravan (a BIG step!)!

I see you mention F150 & f250's, how was the weight distribution? My neighbour uses his GMC pickup with a plow blade to clear his driveway and he used to get stuck so bad (all 4 wheels spinning) I would have to go and snowblow him out.

GBS

Hey Guys thanks for all the great info, I feel good about taking on the winter with my current setup... thanks