Greetings I am brand new to this site. I have been a lurker for quite a while but just signed up. Unfortunately I am at work and don’t have a lot of time to search. So please don’t hate if there is thread about this out there. Gracefully just point me to it as I only have till morning to decide what I want to do.

I recently just purchased a 2010 FX4 with everything her in Michigan. We recently just had our first taste of snow for the season with I am sure plenty more to come. With the snow I was almost completely unable to drive my truck. I could not accelerate as the antilock would keep triggering. 4 wheels was better but still same thing. I wasn’t moving incredibly fast and turning wheel would just push the front end strait and still the antilock would kick in. This pushing was made worse in 4 wheel. Also if I touch the brake at all I would be instantly in antilock and I would slide any direction except where I was trying to go. If it did slide out on me, it was almost like I could not correct only wait until I stopped.

When I got the truck it had come with a set of Michelin LTX A/T2 E rated. They are 265 wide. I am running about 40 psi in all 4. I know these are not the greatest AT tires there is but they do have lots of tread depth left.

I am wondering what you guys thought about my issues. Is this pretty common on these vehicles? Do I have something wrong that needs to be checked out? Are my tires really that bad of tire? It was so difficult to drive that even if I put new better tires on and it made it only half as bad I still don’t feel that it’s a safe drive. I do not have any dash lights on indicating any kind of problem.

I am just looking for advice on if I spend money on new tires, will it make the truck safe to drive.

I would need to get these tires tomorrow as it is my last time off for a while from work. So a quick response would be awesome.

Lastly as people respond, if anyone has used any of the following tires, would you give me your opinion of them please?

BFG AT's
GY Wrangler AT's
Duratek’s?
Cooper Discovery
Firestone Duller AT 2 (I had these on my s10 ZR2 and they were sweet)

Thanks for the patronage and my noob tactics.

 

As I live in the great white north I feel qualified to reply. My truck handles great in snow and ice, I used to have the GY Wrangler A/T, but just switched to the GY Wrangler Silent Armour Pro Grade which is actually a winter rated A/T tire. I've been running it for a month both on slippery stuff and in deep snow, no complaints at all! It is a stiffer tire than the regular GY Wrangler A/T. When I'm in 4x4 I rarely have traction control come on. Same with stopping, rarely have the ABS kick in unless I really hammer on the brakes.

 

Currently have the Good Year Wrangler SR-As and have had them in the past on other F-150s. *Because that's what came-on 'em.

You may want to add Toyo Open Country ATs to your list of potential candidates. Had them in the past on my 1986 F-150 (which replaced the Good Year Wranglers and were on the truck when it was traded for a 2009 STX). EXCELLENT traction in the snow. Only dislike was the road-noise they caused.

BTW ... Consider putting a few 80Lb bags of sand in the bed over the rear axle. With my current 2011 FX4 5.0L, I have 4.
.

 

try running at 35 psi if just around town. keep the gas tank full. add weight over the rear wheels. bfg at is the most aggressive at tire on that list, and thats what I would go with unless you go with a true snow tire just for winter

 

So it sounds like you guys think the only issue is tires?

I also forgot to add i have 320 lbs right over the axles.

 

My '10 XLT 4x4, 3.73w/limited slip is one of the best driving trucks in the snow I've ever owned so was I u, I'd be heading back to the selling dealer if you we're given any sort of warranty.

Still running the original Goodyears that came with, too.

 

I run 32" silent armors, 255 75 17, past 4 winters and they have been outstanding. I went with an "odd" size to help winter traction. I have the 36 gallon tank and keep it well above 1/2 all winter. I run a rubber cattle mat in the bed (75lbs) and one 60lb sand bag. I've been extremely impressed with the winter traction in both 2 and 4 wheel drive. We just got a load of snow and ice this past week and no issues. FWIW I ran 275/65/18 michelin MS2's during the first dump of snow/ice and they were mediocre at best compared to my silent armors. MS2's are quieter and smoother however.

Silent armors one of the few A/T's to achieve snowflake rating.

If you can afford it get a dedicated snow tire like blizzak.

I might add, it does sound like you are using too much throttle because you are achieving understeer in 4x4, nothing personal.

Good luck, let us know what you do.

 

I have decided to switch to the Silent Armor. I did stay with the 275 65's though. Was that a mistake. I also still have the option to change to the Duratrac as long as i decide by Monday. I do have 320 lbs in the bed because i thought that would help. It did not seem to make any change in my issues though. Throttle is not the issue with pushing the front end, as I was either coasting or slowing down when i had the problem. I do realize speed could also be the issue but I was going very slow. I hope these tires solve the issue. I will post if they don't.

 

Are you saying, the brakes come on while trying to accelerate without pushing on the brake pedal or am i completely misunderstanding this?
I'd have the abs checked out

 

I think what he is refering to is the traction control kicking in and hitting the brakes, it almost has a grinding sound when it kicks in. As far as you issue with the poor snow traction, your tires are your problem. They where the factory tire installed in the Chevy 2500 for a couple of year and all the owners complaints with those tires where poor snow traction.

 

Well the FX4 came standard with 275 65 18. Your first post references the AT2's in a 265 width. What are the rest of the dimensions of your tires? You then mention you've ordered 275 65's, I'm assuming in the 18's. My personal opinion regarding snow traction is to stay narrow. If you in fact have the 18" rims then I would look at 255/70/18 (32") or a 265/70/18 (32.6"). After driving on my 275's the other day I would shy away from that width for snow use, but that's just me. Wider and flatter profiled tires get up on top of the snow which is not what you want for snow traction.

I know for sure the silent armors come in 265 70 18 because it may be my next tire.

 

I ended up putting on a set of GY duratrac's. See my post in the wheels and tires section about Goodyear tires. I have asked about the tire pressure there. Ill see if this cures the problem. Now I just need a bunch more snow. BUnches and bunches of snow.