ford F150 Tires

Dedicated winter / snow tires perform better than non-winter tires on snow- and ice-covered roads. The downside is that winter tires aren't designed for year-round use, therefore an additional set of tires is needed.  

In light of this, some light truck and SUV drivers choose to compromise and use one set of tires all 12 months of the year. Many will choose a tire from the Highway All-Season or Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season category because of their quiet ride and long wear. 

However, for drivers who are willing to deal with more road road noise and slightly reduced road handling, On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires are worth considering for their better snow traction. On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires (commonly referred to as A/T tires) typically have snow and ice traction that's better than street all-season tires but fall short of the winter performance of a dedicated winter / snow tire. 

Which of the On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires have the best snow traction? The following are my top three choices:

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO

General Grabber AT 2

Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor

As you can see, all three tires have a fairly aggressive tread pattern with many small tread blocks and multiple sipes for better snow, ice and off-road traction. Based on our extensive customer survey data, the General Grabber AT 2 has higher ratings for deep snow traction, light snow traction and ice traction, while being a bit louder and slightly stiffer riding than the other two options. However, these differences were separated by very few points, so it's hard to go wrong with any one of these tires. 

Take a look at what some of our customers are saying about their experiences with the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO, General Grabber AT 2 and Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor:

"I bought these to replace my Original Equipment which honestly were horrible in snow. I slid everywhere, even in the rain. Bought these (BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO) and it is like a whole different truck. I love these tires and will buy them for every truck I ever own as long as they stay this good. Have had them on for about 10,000 miles and they still look new, and I am what they call an aggressive driver. I really love these tires. If they made them to fit all my vehicles, I would buy them for all of them. Best tires I have come across for my truck hands down! Buy them, you won't be disappointed." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4wd (BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO)

"These tires are amazing! i just put a new set on my truck because I was so happy with the performance of the last set. I live in rural North Dakota, so they get plenty of time to play in the mud, gravel and snow. My tire size is mountain/snowflake rated and I see why. They go through deep snow. When it starts snowing in town and you see all the other cars unable to get traction, I can keep it in two-wheel drive and go like it's dry pavement. Even blizzards can't slow them down!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 1999 Nissan Frontier XE 4wd (General Grabber AT 2)

"Best tires I have ever bought! Awesome traction in any condition: wet, dry, snow and even ice. Goodyear hit a home run with this design. 5 stars. I can't say enough good about this tire." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review (Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor)

Shop by vehicle today and upgrade your vehicle's snow and ice traction!

Most often, one of the biggest concerns when replacing tires is winter weather performance. If you're the owner of a light truck or SUV and need an On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tire that can perform to an exceptional level in winter conditions, then choosing a tire branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol will assure you have the very best winter traction offered.

In 1999, the U.S. Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) agreed on a performance based standard to identify passenger and light truck tires that attain a traction index equal to, or greater than 110 (compared to a reference tire which is rated 100) during the specified American Society for Testing and Materials traction tests on packed snow. The new standard helps ensure that drivers can easily identify tires that provide a higher level of snow traction.

On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires typically have as much capability off the road as they do on the road. These tires feature multifaceted tread blocks to help deliver traction in any direction on gravel roads and dirt trails, as well as are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol indicating their ability to provide all-season versatility, including traction in snow.

Currently, three well-received options in this category include the General Grabber AT 2, Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor, and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO. Certain sizes of these tires display the mountain/snowflake symbol for severe snow service requirements and will be suitable for all-season use.

General Grabber AT 2

Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO

The General Grabber AT 2 has a chip- and tear-resistant tread compound molded into an aggressive, symmetric tread design featuring five rows of independent tread blocks that blends on-road handling with off-road traction. Its internal structure includes twin steel belts on top of a two-ply polyester cord body to combine strength and durability with a quiet ride.

Wrangler SilentArmor tires feature Goodyear's Durawell rubber compound molded at the base of the tread grooves to increase resistance to stone/rock drilling. The tire's internal structure is designed with an Armor Zone that consists of twin, high-tensile steel belts that are reinforced by a layer of DuPont KEVLAR cord to combine strength with comfort.

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires are designed to deliver go-anywhere traction along with outstanding durability and great wear. The tire is ranked in the top ten of our Tire Survey Results and our customers have great things to say about it, including the owner of a 2003 Ford F150 Super Crew 4wd who says "This is my fourth set of BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires. These tires are rugged. Despite the rugged tread design, they are quiet on the highway. They will get you anywhere you want to go: sand, mud, light snow, deep snow...bring it on!"

NOTE: While most General Grabber AT 2, Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires meet the industry's severe snow service requirements (and are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol), selected tires do not. Specific tires/sizes not meeting the industry's severe snow service requirements are identified with a "Not Rated For Severe Snow" notation under the Sizes & Pricing, as well as the Specs tab.

To find the tire that's right for your on-road and off-road travels including snow-covered roads, view all On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires.

Looking for an aggressive tire? Do your off-road challenges include deep mud, loose soil, slippery rocks and tough trails? If so, take a look at the options available in the Off-Road Maximum Traction category. These tires are super aggressive, with deep and open lug patterns. They are designed primarily for extreme off-road use, capable of ripping through the mud and dirt with total confidence.

These days the leader of the pack is the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2. This off-road option is very popular with rock climbers. It's the second generation KM tire and features BFGoodrich's Krawler TEK sidewall and carcass. Krawler TEK consists of three components that include aggressive sidewall lugs, cut- and chip-resistant sidewall compounds and BFGoodrich's TriGard carcass (three-ply polyester construction) with sidewall cords that are up to 33 percent stronger than the previous Mud-Terrain T/A KM tire. BFGoodrich's Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires are branded with the M+S symbol and are able to churn through deep snow, their typical oversize applications and absence of snow-biting sipes in their large smooth lugs can challenge their on-road wintertime traction on packed snow and icy surfaces.

Another great tire to consider is the Firestone Destination M/T. This proven tire has been around for many years and simply gets the job done. The Destination M/T features a Long Link Carbon (a special form of molecular re-engineered carbon black) enhanced tread compound for improved wet performance and wear on the road while maintaining cut, tear and abrasion resistance off the road. Currently ranked second in our Tire Survey Results, the Firestone Destination M/T receives high marks for its dry, light snow and wet traction capabilities.

BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2

Firestone Destination M/T

Dunlop Radial Mud Rover

Rounding out this group is the Dunlop Radial Mud Rover. This tire has been very popular with the off-road crowd for many years and features a serviceable and self-cleaning lug pattern that handles most off-road elements. The tire's internal structure includes six full plies under the tread (2 nylon, 2 steel and 2 polyester) to improve overall durability. Then the two-ply polyester sidewalls feature high ply turn-ups to enhance lower sidewall toughness and handling.

All three tires have been well received by consumers and evidence is in the comments they've made about their experience with them:

"These tires are amazing off-road and will take anything I throw at them. They are really good on the road as well. Overall, I am very pleased with the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 and will be buying five more when these wear out." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2)

"I have driven in some of the most difficult conditions with these tires and they have never let me down! I can't say enough good things about these tires. Well worth the money and I have no reluctance to buy another set. If you drive in the mud or on the highway, these tires are just the ticket. Two big thumbs up from me." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 1996 Ford F150 4wd Pick-up (Firestone Destination M/T)

"I have driven these tires everywhere - through mud, snow, deep water and on ice. Best bang for my buck! I will definitely buy these tires again." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 1992 GMC Sonoma 4x4 (Dunlop Radial Mud Rover)

America's best-selling pickup truck, the Ford F-150, deserves Tire Rack's best-selling tires. Many F-150 owners are passionate about their truck and hold on to them for a long period of time. Most owners even go through multiple sets of tires, due to the truck's long-lasting dependability. With that in mind, Ford truck owners want nothing but the best for their pickup.

I believe the best Highway All-Season tire for this vehicle is the Michelin LTX M/S2. This tires does it all and is exactly what you would expect from Michelin. It has superior all-season traction, a smooth and quiet ride and is offered with a 70,000-mile treadlife warranty.

If you're looking to get a little dirty and go off-road with the truck, one of the best On-/Off-Road All Terrain tires is the Firestone Destination A/T. This tire has been around for many years, but it never gets old. It takes on all newcomers and is still a best-selling tire in its class. Featuring Firestone's UNI-T technology, the tire blends off-road traction with enhanced on-road capabilities. UNI-T is a combination of technologies that merge a comprehensive design method with innovative manufacturing features for improved tire comfort, performance and wear.

Finally, if you're looking for F-150 tires to handle winter's worst condition, then go with the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1. This tire simply gets it done on ice and in the snow. With a focus on ice traction and braking, as well as wet road handling and hydroplaning resistance, this tire provides wintertime driving competence. Blizzak DM-V1 radials meet the industry's severe snow service requirements and are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol.

Michelin LTX M/S 2

Firestone Destination A/T

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1

All three tires have provided our customers with the driving experience they've been looking for and their comments prove this:

"I've had these tires on my truck for two weeks and they are just outstanding. They grip the road like glue in the rain. On the dry pavement they handle superb. They don't roll or pitch in the corners. You won't be sorry if you buy them." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2005 Ford F-150 XLT Sup Cab 4wd (Michelin LTX M/S2)

"Absolutely, hands down, the best all-terrain tire on the market. 90% on-road driving, 10% off-road. I wouldn't hesitate to drive my truck through anything with these. I've had more aggressive tires which gave up handling. These are a no compromise tire. Buy them ASAP if you're in the market before Firestone realizes they are worth double the price!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2011 Ford F-150 XLT 4wd Super Crew (Firestone Destination A/T)

"After reading the reviews for this tire and other winter traction tires, I decided on the Blizzaks. Best snow tire ever! I live in the Pacific Northwest and drive in varied conditions: compact snow and ice, deep snow, slush, water, uphill, etc. Great traction in all conditions. I hardly ever need to use four-wheel drive. I would highly recommend these tires to anyone, and I will never buy anything else." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2010 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 Super Crew (Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1)