Tires...yet again

[Houndoc]

Odd tread life. I got about 80K on my first set of BFGs on the Montero, so went back to them after only getting about 45K off Cooper Discoverer STs. Since it is no longer my daily driver, the ones I put on last year should be the last set I suppose.

On my Ram CDT got 45K with Discoverer ATRs, so went this fall with Hankook. Experiment in progress there as well.

Couple months ago put Yokahama Geolander ATS on my 1500 Chevy. Again, time will tell how they do.

 

[Maverick]

Nitto's came today. Neato.Size on label says 295/70R18E and then under it 35x11.50R18. Funky size!They look about the same as my 305's but taller. The 305's are on 7" wide rims, these are on 8.5" wide rims.Edit: mounted

 

[mbryson]

Just an update to my Goodyear Silent Armors. I'm done with them. Killed another one on a dirt road right through the tread. Not to sure I'd recommend them for anything other than highway driving. Not quite an endorsement for the "All-Terrain" that they are made for.

 

[I Lean]

FWIW, I'm still satisfied with my Treadwrights. I'm about 10K into them now, with no noticeable wear. (and only occasional dirt-road usage, it's mostly a commuter and sometimes tow vehicle these days)

 

[Maverick]

Just an update to my Goodyear Silent Armors. I'm done with them. Killed another one on a dirt road right through the tread. Not to sure I'd recommend them for anything other than highway driving. Not quite an endorsement for the "All-Terrain" that they are made for.

Bummer. That's how I felt after shredding my 35" BFG AT's hauling equipment up to the cabin. Sucks to spend that much on equipment to have it fail. Any warranty?

The Neato's did ok getting up to the cabin over the weekend. Took 3 tries to get up the last stretch, BFG's (new) would have done it the first try, or maybe better driving would have done it the first (or second try) cuz I found a better line the 3rd try.

 

[mbryson]

Bummer. That's how I felt after shredding my 35" BFG AT's hauling equipment up to the cabin. Sucks to spend that much on equipment to have it fail. Any warranty?

The Neato's did ok getting up to the cabin over the weekend. Took 3 tries to get up the last stretch, BFG's (new) would have done it the first try, or maybe better driving would have done it the first (or second try) cuz I found a better line the 3rd try.

Goodyear is giving me a fair amount of credit towards one tire. Not exactly helping me out, but a semi-decent gesture. The conundrum now is do I use the credit towards a better overall tire solution or just replace the Silent Armor with another fragile treaded tire when used on a packed, maintained dirt road.

Kind of thinking about going back to the Toyo MT but am not sure what to do as I'm not exactly thrilled with the Dodge overall anyway and don't see it staying in my stable for much longer anyways.

 

[skippy]

What dont you like about your dodge???

 

[Maverick]

What dont you like about your dodge???

Let me try: That it's not his '99 Superduty crewcab short bed auto with an edge. The only way to improve that truck would have been an '02 Superduty crewcab longbed with the 6-speed. Make it white. With Toyo MT's.

How did I do?

 

[mbryson]

What dont you like about your dodge???

(shortbed, electric shift 4wd, auto, black, etc.)

Let me try: That it's not his '99 Superduty crewcab short bed auto with an edge. The only way to improve that truck would have been an '02 Superduty crewcab longbed with the 6-speed. Make it white. With Toyo MT's.

How did I do?

Meh, not bad Brett. The Dodge has been the most expensive truck I've ever owned and it follows in the footsteps of one of the best bang for the $ vehicles I've ever owned (which is odd as I put quite a bit of $ in the Super Duty Brett is talking about--rear leaf springs, multiple CPS sensors, electrical crap in the cab, etc.--had the truck for four years). The good thing is that it's got a BUNCH of expensive, new/rebuilt stuff for whomever buys it (front axle, trans--had this truck for two years). The rest of the discussion would definitely fall outside (far outside) the parameters of a tire thread. I've wondered overnight if I had had different tires on this truck if I'd feel differently about the Dodge? The tire issues have just added to the overall frustration with the truck as a whole and might not be the truck's fault (other things are the truck's fault, but with miles come issues in all vehicles--The Dodge pulls harder than the Ford, gets better mileage, drives nicer, can turn into a parking spot but I compromised on a few things (shortbed, electric shift 4wd, auto, black, etc.) to get into the Dodge that I shouldn't have)

 

[skippy]

I was gonna say I wouldnt change one thing about my dodge, but its a long bed one ton with the NV5600 and manual shift 4wd and its white so On the other hand though I have never owned anything but dodge Diesels so I cant comment on the ford truck. I bought my dodge strictly because of mileage, longevity and power and in about that order also other than the ball joints and track bar issues I love my truck

 

[LT.]

It is a shame you have such a bad taste in your mouth about the dodge. I have owned all of the big three in a turbo diesel flavor. All have their shortt comings but, I still believe the dodge is superior to either chevy or ford. The ford I owned left me walking twice in seven days. When I took it back to the dealer for what I thought should have been taken care of on their dime, I ended up paying. The last one was a cam sensor which should have been covered under the engine or the drive train or even the bumper to bumper but, nope. I ditched that miserable truck two days later. The ford was only a year old also. The chevy I had was a first gen duramax. It ate injectors like they were out of style. For the dodge I have yet to be walking, stuck, or stranded. I have changed dodges because my needs have changed but, overall I will put my dodge against anyone rig. I may not win every time but, I suspect my last two dodges will out pull, give me more mpg, won't leave me walkingmore and are stable while hauling. I can't really ask for more.

LT.

 

[LT.]

I just re read this thread again and I am reminded of the latest issue of Four Wheeler Magazine. The April 2012 issue has a good assortment of tires and impressions on them as well. I was looking at the rear four tires on my dually and they don't look real good. I may have to replace them before my trip to California this summer. The black Dodge 1500 will probably get the Goodyear Silent Armors because it is just a street truck that has to deal with snow and ice. According to MBryson they should be okay with that duty as long as I don't expect them to do well off road. (He had bad luck with them there) The dually is another case all together. I am thinking of running a 285/75/17's from Toyo in the Open Country AT flavor. The article in Four Wheeler is well worth the read and I would recommend it to everyone.

On a side note I currently have the Falken High Country All Terrains and they are not doing well. I have them on a little 2005 Ford Escape and it has had an alignment twice and they have been rotated once and we only have 15,000 miles on them and I don't think they will make it to 30,000 miles. I even went as far as to have the alignment checked again and it is still within specs.

LT.

 

[Maverick]

I think you'll be happy with the Toyo AT's, I sure am on the supercrew. I need to get them rotated though, it's been 7,000 miles.

2-3 trips to the cabin now on the Nitto's...and they are ok. Not as grippy as the BFG AT's, but pretty good. Planning on heading up tomorrow during the snow. I think I'd like them more if they were more aggressive looking, honestly I was planning on a different look and somewhat settled on those tires.

 

[Caleb]

Just wait till you get some miles in the nittos Brett. Mine got ridiculously loud. For as non-aggressive as they are, I was not too happy.

 

[Maverick]

WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU! WHAT?

 

[Spork]

So anyone had experience with the Cooper Discoverer A/T3?
http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Light-Truck/DISCOVERER-A-T3.aspx

 

[LT.]

I have spent considerable time lately looking for tires for my dually. Three times in the last three months has had me cursing at my tires. In January I almost got stuck pulling my goose neck out of the snow and mud. February I almost got stuck in my brothers yard turning around. And now in March I was in the snow storm y'all had in Utah. Every time I was cursing my tires on the truck I had to stop and reevaluate what the truck gets used for the most. TOWING! Not, off roading, not driving in the mud, not driving in the snow just flat hauling. Lately I have been looking at Nitto and their Dura Grappler. It is mostly a highway tread that has quite a bit of siping in the tread lugs. It has very square tread that should translate to a very flat tread wear. Load ratings are where they should be and from the reviews I have read everyone is impressed with the longevity of them. Again, my rig is strictly for hauling my off road toys and I need to keep that in mind. Has anyone else used these tires?

LT.

 

[Maverick]

I can relate to those cursings. However, my tow rig is not just for hauling.

My tow rig has 3-4 specific purposes which it has to do well. Generally, haul the fam (and toys) on family adventures. Specifically, 1 - haul folks to the cabin (sometimes snowy/muddy), 2 - tow the jeep, 3 - Family trips (which may or may not include towing or backcountry/off-road driving). And it does pretty well. Finding the right tire for that was driving me nuts. Not convinced the Nitto Terra is the one...but so far it's ok. Definitely not as good as the BFG AT in the recent snow.

To your tires: Dura Grappler looks like the right tire but I haven't run them. Michelin LTX and Discoverer HT also come up when I look for a light truck road tire. My X had LTX's on it when I bought it. They rode great but weren't aggressive enough for me. Going away from them dropped my mpg though.

 

[LT.]

I can relate to those cursings. However, my tow rig is not just for hauling.

My tow rig has 3-4 specific purposes which it has to do well. Generally, haul the fam (and toys) on family adventures. Specifically, 1 - haul folks to the cabin (sometimes snowy/muddy), 2 - tow the jeep, 3 - Family trips (which may or may not include towing or backcountry/off-road driving). And it does pretty well. Finding the right tire for that was driving me nuts. Not convinced the Nitto Terra is the one...but so far it's ok. Definitely not as good as the BFG AT in the recent snow.

To your tires: Dura Grappler looks like the right tire but I haven't run them. Michelin LTX and Discoverer HT also come up when I look for a light truck road tire. My X had LTX's on it when I bought it. They rode great but weren't aggressive enough for me. Going away from them dropped my mpg though.

Good ideas. I am interested in gaining some MPG's while driving the tow rig. Aren't we all? I was looking at the Michelin's but, was turned off a little by the price of them. I have to buy six instead of just four like most folks. The Dura Grapplers were still a little pricey but, I think I can still find them cheaper than the Michelin's. I have read good reviews on the Michelin's for longevity. They seem to wear well and are also quiet on the road. Both are big selling points for me. I had also heard great reviews of the Dura Grapplers as well. Both seem to be getting long life and are quiet on the road. Although the grapplers seem to have a touch more siping in the tread area.

LT.