After 123,000 miles I finally replaced my BFG AT KO's. I really couldn't be happier with the mileage I got out of the and if I lived in a warm climate, I wouldn't hesitate to put them on again as an everyday tire for commuting, etc. That is the end of the positives for that tire in a northern climate.

I had some real control issues while driving in slick conditions. I started a thread about it long ago because it was quite concerning. As a result, I never really felt as confident driving the 3 as I did the 97 Jeep GC I had previously. After considering many things, including my driving habits, I began to suspect the BFG's were the problem, specifically the tread pattern being too tight. I noticed that the tires would pack tight with snow and never clear very well. This resulted in what was almost a racing slick on some occasions.

This time when I replaced tires I got 285 Duratracs. It has been like driving a different vehicle in the snow and what I expected driving a Hummer would be like. It's point and go like the GC was and stops on a dime. I never get the 'snow plow' affect anymore. The tread pattern is much more open on the Duratracs which I suspect is the difference. I also think 285's are a must in snowy areas for the 3's. It is a much more manageable vehicle in the deep snow with the 285's opposed to the 265's.

 

I plan on replacing the cooper at3's on mine they are terrible in the bad roads. I have ran the bfg's at's before they were good too me. Last winter I ran mud tires and it went like nothing but the noise drove me crazy in the early summer so I took them off. I was looking at the goodyears as well, I might go that way.

 

The Duratracs are really good in snow, they do tend to pick up and hold pea-sized gravel in the tread. I replaced them with Kelly Safari TSR's and found that they are even better in the snow but not quite as good in standing water evacuation. The Kelly's are a hair quieter and don't trap gravel in the tread. They also self-clean mud much better than the Duratracs- I would drive several hundred yards throwing mud on the street but not with the Kelly's. The Kelly's tread feels just a little looser when turning the wheel from a stop (those big tread blocks?) but the Duratracs squirm in the corners for the first 10k miles where the Kelly's are solid in the curves. I got about 54k miles out of the Duratracs with minimal rotations and still had about 1/8" before the wear bars when I replaced them. I bet they both will go 60k miles.

 

I've had Duratrac's on my truck for 5 years now. I live in New England and couldn't be happier with the winter performance.

 

Mickey Thompson 305 MTZs here. You guys mentioned something about..... winter???

Never noticed, I just ignore that white flying stuff, so do my tires.

I have had many sets of BFGs on prior trucks, the MTZs are simply better in every department, except they do get noisy at the end of tread life.

 

Last year I got to see plenty of snow, this year just a few flurries.

 

My tires are Good Year Wrangler: P265/70R16. I cannot say that I feel very confident on them driving my H3 during harsh, cold and snowy Canadian winters, but they are still good enough!

 

During the "snowpacolapse" of 2010 MY 3 still had the Stock 285/75/R16 Bridgestone duelers AKA Adventure tires and they were great.



Back in my Air Force days haha



The other vehicles on base didn't move.. for days.



The 3 got me to work every day, without fail.



Now I use 285/75/R16 hercules mud diggers, haven't had the chance to try them out in deep snow but I'd be willing to be there're much better.

 

Love my duratracs. My driveway is very steep and I never have issue getting out even in deep snow.

 

I just got brand new Nitto Trail Grapplers and so far so good. Tire noise did increase a little over my BFG A/Ts. So far after driving around the last 3 days I'm happy with my purchase. Good luck.