Truck Tire thoughts

Dani

Dani

Well-known member
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Hey y'all, I need some thoughts/advice on what to do about truck tires for the Chevy.

So, heading downstate for New Years I started getting a THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP. I pulled off the interstate and found a Tire Kingdom that was luckily close by. One of my back tires was beginning to separate. That was a first for me. Luckily it didn't blow. Unluckily, it was 20 minutes prior to closing time on New Years Eve. Tire Kingdom didn't have an appropriate sized tire in stock and we couldn't find my spare tire lowerer tool. I called a tow truck rather than keep the guys even later, though the New Smyrna Tire Kingdom guys were super kind to stay later than necessary and try to see if we could lower my tire with a tool they might have. No dice. While waiting on the tow truck, I had the brilliant idea to check the big tool box in the back because the jack and spare tire lowerer tool was not where the manual said it should be. I am sure that Steve thought hey it's a tool....goes in the tool box. UGH I was slow on the uptake on that. Anyway, as a result I need a new tire or perhaps two.

These are what the truck currently has:

Goodyear Wrangler SR-A Tires | Truck All-Season Tires | Discount Tire

I was advised to make sure the back tires have the same tires, not two different kinds (which makes sense to me). I was told that these tires are much more of a highway tire by Tire Kingdom folk and it seemed like they did not have the traction that my Michelins on the FJ have when we hunted out west. But that could just be the difference in the sandy mud here and the snotty gooey mud up there. Hard to tell. I do remember Steve saying he would upgrade tires when it was time to replace them, but I can't remember the why for the upgrade. I haven't heard in a while of Goodyears having problems but I remember when Goodyears were having big problems, which kinda makes me leery (goofy I know). I have always been a Michelin person, parents and brother run Michelins and they were always happy with their tires...have always worn out my tires on all of my vehicles, gotten many more miles than their warranty and I've never once had a separation happen (though I am sure it happens to people from time to time).

These are what I have been looking at and I would plan on buying two for the back and then replace the front and spare when the front tires wear out:

Michelin Defender LTX M/S Tires | Truck All-Season Tires | Discount Tire

My current tires have 63,000 miles on them and I am not sure where they are as far as how close they are to tread life. So, I guess that is something I should check out. I know I am kind of biased towards Michelins but I am curious about peoples thoughts on the Goodyears these days. The Michelin tire seems more of an all terrain tire than the Goodyear, which I think is a better thing overall to me than highway tires. But that is just based on the tread pictures. Am I correct?

Are all terrains better for towing or is a highway tire better for towing? I would say that if I am going to be towing long distances, it will be also because I am heading out to hunt places and I want to make sure that I have tires that are also up to the task of surviving hunting out west or up north. I am all about saving money where I can, but can also appreciate spending a little more for better quality. Especially when it comes to safety and longevity.

So, am I overthinking this? Are these two tires pretty much equal and I am just being a Michelin snob?

Y'alls thoughts would be appreciated.

Dani
 
Hi Dani, I like a tire with a bit more tread than those.


For towing, you need a stiff tire, but if the truck the 2500 HD, a stiff tire will be specified to get the load rating. In that case you will be getting a pretty stiff tire already (probably 10 plys), so not an issue.

I've had great luck with BFG KO2 (3 trucks, 5 or 6 sets old style then KO2s), but next tires I'm going to try are Falken Wildpeak AT3W to try to get a little more longevity and they get great reviews . I want the most aggressive tire I can have, but still have it quiet enough and wear well enough for road trips.
 
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There are plenty of light off rd./highway tread combos out there now. Michelin makes both those combos and more off rd. oriented tires as well as just about every other manufacturer.
If your still hauling camper much you may want to look into upping the load rating on your current trk. tires as that extends both tread life and reliability when carrying heavy loads. Tire Manufacturers sites will give you that info. I like michelins myself but basically go with the longest tread life in type you choose. Generally the tires that are more off rd. oriented can be more noisy on highway and some don,t give as good a grip on wet rds. as the combo versions. If you stick the vehicle even with the combos dropping air pressure to about 15 lbs. on a 35 psi tire all the way around gets you unstuck via larger sidewall footprint many times. Air up again first chance you get.
 
Thanks Tod. I'll check out those tires.

The tires I have are 10 ply tires (I do have the 2500HD) so I think the most I could go up is to 12 ply and honestly I'm not sure I could find that around my area of the country.

I don't want truly off-road tires because I do a lot more highway driving than off road driving and I've always been happy with my All Terrains (I assume what Roy means by combo?). Plus I can't stand a noisy road noise vehicle.
 

Continental TerrainContact A/T $166, 55,000 tread life. Have Consumer Reports best rating.

Michelin LTX A/T2 $222, 100,000 tread life. 2nd best CR best rating.

Both have folks that swear by them, not at them, especially if ya don't like noise


IF a more aggressive tread is needed. Best to have tires of your choice, on rims, balanced and ready to GO when needed.

Many outdoors/farming folks (farming, camping, hunting, fishing, lots of seasonal driving) up here do that.

Cuz trucks are serious business, and take one helluva beating here all year long.


my 2 cents
 
Hi Dani,

I just put a set of the Falken Wildpeak AT3 on my Dodge Ram 2500 this fall. So far so good, nice ride and no road noise to speak of. Prior to that the truck came with Nitto Grappler G2. I run a 20" tire so they are not cheap.

On my Toyota and other past trucks, I have had very good luck with General Grabber AT2. If you look at these tires, you'll see the tread design is pretty similar, but a design that has treated me well here in Maine. One of the "boat ramps" I use for sea ducking is simply backing down over a packed sand/gravel beach to the ocean inlet and the Falken's have worked very well pulling my duckwater out of that location. I always run 10ply as well. Great for the shale roads of western Maine as well as towing.

Good luck in your search, it took me a little bit of time and research before pulling the trigger on the Falken's, but glad I did.

As for tire life, some tire shops will rotate for free if you buy there. I rotate mine about every 5000-7500 miles to keep the tread wear even and you much longer life. Some say rotate every oil change as a rule of thumb. BUT you would need four of the same. One thought would be to keep your 2 "good" Michelin's as spares and buy 4 new, just a thought
 
tod osier said:
I've had great luck with BFG KO2 (3 trucks, 5 or 6 sets old style then KO2s), but next tires I'm going to try are Falken Wildpeak AT3W to try to get a little more longevity and they get great reviews . I want the most aggressive tire I can have, but still have it quiet enough and wear well enough for road trips.
Click to expand...

i have also had good luck with the K02's on my 4Runner - I've buried them to the hub getting boats out of the marsh's channel and walked right out

its time for me to get a new set - i'll check the Falkens first
 
Dani said:
Thanks Tod. I'll check out those tires.

The tires I have are 10 ply tires (I do have the 2500HD) so I think the most I could go up is to 12 ply and honestly I'm not sure I could find that around my area of the country.

I don't want truly off-road tires because I do a lot more highway driving than off road driving and I've always been happy with my All Terrains (I assume what Roy means by combo?). Plus I can't stand a noisy road noise vehicle.
Click to expand...

Just a note, since I've spent quite a bit of time looking at tires lately, the Falken Wildpeak AT3, BFG KO2's and Cooper AT3s are all basically the same class tire, one fairly significant step more aggressive than you are looking originally. I don't find them loud and don't notice noise from them at all, although I'm sure there is some. That is where my sweet spot is for highway towing and them driving on dirt and I'd happily trade some gas mileage and wear for having a beefy tire when you need it.
 
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Cooper AT3 tires are a very popular light truck tire up here in the UP. You are going to give up some mileage due to the more agressive tread. You could play with the aspect ratio in an effort to minimize this.
 
I am on my second set of Toyo R/Ts on my tacoma and have no complaints. I have several of my loggers running them on everything from F-450s to 1500s and all of them love them as a road and offroad tire. I also had the Michelin ltxs and hts on a dually and was not pleased with the tread but had no issues with the quality of the tires themselves.
 
Like Charles I run Toyos on my Tacoma (AT II), in addition to my 85 SR5 (MT) and my son's Silverado (AT II). Over the years I've tried many makes and plainly put the mileage I get from Toyos is superior and the handling and noise is as good or better too. I'm cheap, so the fewer sets of tires I buy the better. Toyos outlast other brands and the cost is inline with competitors.

Eric
 
Eric Patterson said:
Like Charles I run Toyos on my Tacoma (AT II), in addition to my 85 SR5 (MT) and my son's Silverado (AT II). Over the years I've tried many makes and plainly put the mileage I get from Toyos is superior and the handling and noise is as good or better too. I'm cheap, so the fewer sets of tires I buy the better. Toyos outlast other brands and the cost is inline with competitors.

Eric
Click to expand...

Just to add, the Toyos are supposed to be great and the Open Country AT II that Eric suggests are in the exact niche as the group I highlighted above.
 
Thanks a lot y'all!! I really appreciate the input.

I won't be getting Michelins because they don't make an all terrain tire in my rim size (20") according to their website. And I do want an all terrain tire.
 
Dani,
this November I replaced the tires on my equestrian mover, duckboat puller, daily driver 2004 Dodge 3500. I looked at many of the tires mentioned already. It ended up a coin flip for me between the new Toyo ATIII and the Falken Wildpeak AT3W. I went with the Toyos on the advice one of the aftermarket frontend manufactures. The Toyos have performed great on gravel roads, light mud, highway driving, and snow covered mountain passes. That said, I may get the Falkens next time just to compare. I had put 45k on the Kumho AT51s and they did everything I needed, which is mostly highway miles and winter snow. The Kumho AT51s were a great cost effective ugly alternative at the time. For me the "mountain snowflake" and the E load are a necessity for the winter travel in the Cascades and the truck weight/towing.
 
I'll put in another plug for the Falken Wildpeaks that Troy mentioned. You've got lots of good choices!
 
I have had the Defender a couple of times and couldn't say a bad word about them. The best thing about them is they will take you farther than just about any competitor.

I am currently running the Wrangler Duratrac and have had the Wrangler SR-A twice before. The Duratrac has the mountain snow rating which is what I need to travel mountain highways in the winter. Otherwise the SR-A is a fine tire. It is less than optimal on ice, however. (probably not a concern for you)

I have also had the Cooper tires that are mentioned. They were very good and a lot less expensive. I would have bought them again if I could have found the size I needed when I needed them.
 
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We have been putting the Cooper AT3's on our trucks at work for a few years. I like they way they ride and handle on road. Off road they seem to get around fine but we aren't mud bogging or anything. I have a set on my one truck that I drive in the winter and I am happy with the traction. They are pretty economically priced at the local rural tire dealer here so lots of folks are running them.
 
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