I'm looking for any opinions on what studdable tire offers the best grip in the snow. I live in Canada, and I am only considering studded tires. The vehicle is a 2014 RWD Silverado 1500, stock tire sizes are P rated 255/70/17 and 265/70/17. I don't tow or haul more than a few hundred pounds (I will keep some weight in the bed this winter) so LT tires are not a requirement but I'm open to either P or LT tires. I've heard and read conflicting things regarding LT tires and snow performance. I like the idea of deeper tread and more plys/toughness with LT tires, but have also heard this comes at a cost to traction due to the stiffness, and the different compounds used.
I had read many reviews and checked consumer reports, but their ratings seem to focus too much on factors like noise, rolling resistance, ride comfort, etc that are unimportant to me. Every snow tire listed is simply tagged as "Excellent" for snow traction. I don't put many miles on in the winter, so tread life isn't a big factor. It also won't bother me if the tires sound like a bad wheel bearing, my main concern is grip. I have ran studless winter tires like the top rated Michelin X-Ice in the past and found they are fine in mild winter conditions and it's impressive how quiet and how well mannered they are for snow tires, but I was disappointed with the performance on icy roads or in deeper snow. I've used studded Altimax Arctics for years on different cars and SUVs and found them to be great, but they aren't made in the right size for this truck.
I've heard good things about Cooper Discoverer M+S, and was leaning towards those. General Tire Grabber Arctic looks similar to the Altimax Arctic. and I was also looking at the Goodyear WinterCommand. I'd appreciate any help or opinions.
I had read many reviews and checked consumer reports, but their ratings seem to focus too much on factors like noise, rolling resistance, ride comfort, etc that are unimportant to me. Every snow tire listed is simply tagged as "Excellent" for snow traction. I don't put many miles on in the winter, so tread life isn't a big factor. It also won't bother me if the tires sound like a bad wheel bearing, my main concern is grip. I have ran studless winter tires like the top rated Michelin X-Ice in the past and found they are fine in mild winter conditions and it's impressive how quiet and how well mannered they are for snow tires, but I was disappointed with the performance on icy roads or in deeper snow. I've used studded Altimax Arctics for years on different cars and SUVs and found them to be great, but they aren't made in the right size for this truck.
I've heard good things about Cooper Discoverer M+S, and was leaning towards those. General Tire Grabber Arctic looks similar to the Altimax Arctic. and I was also looking at the Goodyear WinterCommand. I'd appreciate any help or opinions.