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A friend moved to the Western Virginia area from Minnesota. He asked some of us shortly after getting here how much snow we got and we told him it varied year to year between 10"/year to 60"/year. We mentioned that sleet, freezing rain and wet heavy snow was more common here and it was very hard to drive in going up and down the hills and mountains in the area. He of course said since he was from Minnesota he knew all about driving in it and it would be no problem for him.

First morning of the first snow of the year I found him in the ditch at the first downhill slope he came to out of our little neighborhood and of course I stopped and took him home. He was amazed at how slick it was and of course he had never been up a hill or down a hill steep hills in Minnesota.

I have been to Minnesota in the winter and that super cold dry snow is much easier to drive.

I had Load E Duratracs on my '06 F250 diesel. They sucked, way squishy on the sidewalls from 65PSI up to 80PSI.

I liked the Nitto Exo Grapplers better on ice than any other non-studded tire I've run. I switched back to studded tires mid winter this year, because the Nittos had done such a good job up till then.

That said, on ice, nothing beats studs, and having two sets of tires is the way to go (although I will certainly admit that it can be a PITA).

Usain Bolt can't run fast enough to give me a set of Duratracks. I suspect the same applies to anybody that rode in my truck while it was wearing them, but to each his own.

I've looked for a used set of 17" wheels for my pickup and haven't found any that cost much under $1000. I can pay for a lot of tire swapping for that money.

Good on 1/2tn, not good on 3/4-1tn.

They SUCK on ice/packed snow.

Only if your a neophyte that doesn't inflate/deflate properly given road/hauling conditions.

There is no better AT tire for ice conditions.

Excuse me, yes there is a Spiked/Chained Toyo M-55

Goodyear Duratracs.

I've had mixed success with ice traction on my half ton pickups using AT tires. My current tires on two pickups are Hankook Dynapro ATMs, and they're not bad. Friend of mine swears by his Cooper AT3 4S, but another friends had a set of the original Cooper AT3 and said they were horrible. So, for those of you in the northern climates, what do you think is the best AT light truck tires for winter conditions, ice traction a priority, mostly on pavement but some off-road as well?

Bridgestone Blizzaks. Hands down.

I liked the Nitto Exo Grapplers better on ice than any other non-studded tire I've run. I switched back to studded tires mid winter this year, because the Nittos had done such a good job up till then.

That said, on ice, nothing beats studs, and having two sets of tires is the way to go (although I will certainly admit that it can be a PITA).

Usain Bolt can't run fast enough to give me a set of Duratracks. I suspect the same applies to anybody that rode in my truck while it was wearing them, but to each his own.

That probably is the best choice since they were actually made for it.

I have a hard time believing the 19 year old kids at tire shops that recommend the "best" tires. But, at Discount Tire they recommended I get the Pathfinder AT's for my F-150 because I have been more than unsatisfied with BFG's traction on wet pavement, ice, and pretty much anything else. I'll be dipped if he wasn't right. They're great.

So Blizzaks or Pathfinder AT's.