I'm going to need new tires in a short while, and I want an MT, or at least an AT. A friend of mine bought MudGrapplers but had to have them syped to have traction on ice or in snow. I also want something that's going to be really good in the mud as well as have good traction of pavement. I know I'm asking alot out of a tire but what would be the best compromise?

 

Generally, a mud terrain tire is not going to do well on icy or snowy roads due to their lack of siping.

Look for tires that have the snowflake logo on the sidewall, as these tires are certified for severe weather and snow use.

Off hand, I think the new Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac is the most aggressive tire that still has the snowflake. This tire has larger, mud-terrain like tread blocks, but also has a TON of siping.

 

cooper discoverer stt, they're great in snow and mud. i had em when i was up in colorado and utah and could go through a foot of snow without spinning a tire.

 

my mtz's where great on rocks, in mud and snow, but absolutely sucked on ice... i had them in upto a foot of snow in a 2wd truck... i was definitely not going up hill lol

toyo's seemed to be the tire of choice where i was in CO...

 

The goodyear's have alot of siping for sure. The coopers seem to be almost identical to toyo MT's which I was planning on getting, but the toyo's look like they have a bit better siping. I guess I could always just get what I want and get them siped like my friend did.

 

Typically a MT tire is going to do fine in deeper snow but not so great on packed snow/ice. All Terrains will do much better in snow but not so great in mud as they cant kick the mud loose as well.

Great snow tires:
BFG AT KO
Nitto Terra Grappler

Mud's ok in snow
Toyo MT
BFG KM2

 

The original design Pro Comp mud terrian actually isn't too bad in snow either, especially if you install the studs.

 

I was in the same boat as you between an all terrain and mud terrain but still good in the snow and I went with the goodyear wrangler duratracs and so far there great on the road drove 600 miles on them yesterday on the highway and also did some mudding and did not get stuck at all was very impressed what you can make it through with out having to kick in 4x4. Oh and there also rated for severe snow and ice you having the option of getting studs if you need them.

 

My nitto terra grapplers did really good in the snow and ice for two years now

 

my pro comp xtreme all terrains did good in the snow storm we had

 

I have had great luck with my BFG Mud Terrains, they are the older version and not the new ones......they have been great in 3 winters and seemed to do Ok on ice......but my Expy is pretty heavy.

Oh yea, always good traction off road and on dry and wet pavement too

 

That is a lot of snow Pardon!

 

Haha, yea.....that was after I shoveled the driveway.

 

MT tires won't give you any better grip on icy roads than touring tires will. Go for a tire that has a more advanced compound as well as that's where most of the grip is coming from.

I run the Bridgestone AT/Revo on mine and they come close to snow tires in terms of winter grip. It's the rubber compound doing most of the work on them.