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Got Duratracs for winter: Stud or not? TPS or not?

14K views 12 replies 10 participants last post by  That Jeep Guy 
#1 ·
Decided to buy official winter tires, so got some Duratracs that I'm going to mount on the basic jeep rims to use in winter. Our issue here in the Pacific Northwest is not snow - which I know the Duratracs will do fine in anyway - but black ice.

I'm debating whether to stud these new tires. Does anyone run duratracs on winter black ice and have opinions on this?

Secondly, I'm debating whether to put the tire pressure sensors in these winter tires. If I don't, the light will stay on all winter. Plus I won't have the info on the tires, though I hope I don't need the computer to remind me to watch my tires! But the only down side to installing these sensors is the cost. I struck out in trying to find the 2015 sensors cheaply on line, so I'm looking at $200 at least to get them. Wonder if running the light all season could burn out that little bulb? I sure don't want to be tempted to rip into my dash to replace a bulb. Opinions on this, anyone?

Thanks!
 
#3 ·
If it was me, I'd bite the bullet and get the sensors. The light is one thing, but the chime would drive me nuts! Although I think the dash uses LEDs, so there is not much danger of them burning out.

I lived for years in Whatcom county without studded tires, I think it's not needed unless you are going up the mountain skiing, or you have some reason that you can't just stay off the roads if there is an ice storm.
 
#4 ·
These tires do really well in black ice, I'm in OKC and we get ice more than snow. I wish we would get snow, it's much easier to drive on. I don't use studs and find that airing down just a bit helps. I like to run about 25-28psi in bad weather - in comparison I prefer 29 psi in summer and winter if there's no ice/snow/slush.
 
#6 ·
The TPMS are there for safety. If you can afford them put them in.

Studs help on very icy roads but they are a nuisance otherwise. They are usually put in places where the roads are snow covered and icy for weeks or months at at time or for long trips on this type of roads.
 
#10 ·
Studs help on very icy roads but they are a nuisance otherwise. They are usually put in places where the roads are snow covered and icy for weeks or months at at time or for long trips on this type of roads.
This.

Pavement will destroy studs in short order....
 
#7 ·
#8 ·
Thanks!

Thanks, all, for the thoughts. Very helpful.

One thing I learned in my initial research: the sensors appear to be different between model year 2014 (mopar part 5602 9398 AB - which can be had for under $100 for four of them) and model year 2015 (mopar part 6824 1067AA). I failed in my first efforts to find the 2015's at a great price, but I'll keep trying.

Thanks again, S
 
#9 ·
If you're going to have them mounted on a second set of rims, why not get dedicated snow tires? The Duratecs are a great all season tire. I will likely be running them when my BFGs wear out. However, if you're investing in dedicated winter tires, I'd suggest looking at Blizzaks. They will likely outperform the Duratecs.
 
#11 ·
If you're going to have them mounted on a second set of rims, why not get dedicated snow tires?
This^

Lots of winter tires available that are great without studs.

As for the TPMS; like some othwrs have said, get them if you can afford them. Although don't do it beacause you think the lamp may burn out (it won't) or because of the chime (it will chime once after a few miles and then again the next time you start the Jeep; after that, no more chime.) one should of course check their tire pressure regularly and not rely only on the TPMS, but it is nice to have for the time in between manually checks for some warning in case there is a slow leak or puncture.
 
#12 ·
Well, more informative thoughts - thanks all. Since I have 4 brand new duratracs in the garage, I'm stuck with them :) Since I'll only use them about 3 months out of the year, I will likely transition to them on my good rims once my stock Willys tires run out. I just could not bring myself to by a snow tire that did not also look really cool! It's a jeep thing....

I appreciate the OKC driver with experience with Duratracs on ice, as the road to our place has a few hundred yards that stay in black ice for about 3 months. I did a fair share of skidding on it in the last couple of years on my stock JKU Sport tires, but never left the road. Surely I'll notice a difference there in my duratracs. My local dealer is not a huge stud fan for the reasons listed in this thread.

Now if I could only find some cheaper 2015 sensors :) I'll work on it!
 
#13 ·
Yes, the old, "snow tire that looks cool" dilemma.

Well, the sidewalls on Duratracs do fit the bill for "looks cool" and since you already got them I will refrain from mentioning what else is available and looks cool.

One option to look at is studding them yourself with screw-in studs and then you could put them in at that point during winter when you are likely to need them and then remove them as soon as you don't. But you will likely repurpose the Duratracs after the first season or two when they begin to wear; IIRC the siping is only the first 1/3 of the tread blocks.
 
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