BFG's or Michelins?

[lightmup]

My truck is ready for a new set of tires. I only got 24,000 miles on the original Michelins and they are about shot!! They are Michelin LTX M/S 265s.

My question is for those who have BFG K/Os and if I should go to the bigger 285's. I if went to 285s would my fuel mileage decrease and would the speedometer have to be reset. The only reason I would stay with the Michelins is because the spare is brand new and I would only have to buy 3 new Michelins as opposed to 4 BFGs. Need insight to the two tires, especially size comparison between 265 and 285.

 

[GFoley]

If you are concerned about load ratings you should stay with a 265. They are max rated at 3415 lbs @ 80 psi. You seem to have worn them faster that most other drivers. I agree that 24K is not a lot.



My 99 came with 245 Michelin LTX MS and I wade 55K before I was forced to replace beacue I could not repair a damaged tire. I really think I could have made 65K. I am running a BFG 245 AT now and have half tread depth at 28k on these. The BFG compound seems softer than the Michelin. I think my traction is better also.

 

[BK]

fyi,

Michelin owns BFG.

The BFG are a bit stickier in MHO.

Most of my mileage on my truck is towing and offroad. If not towing, around town mileage.

I'm at 25K on my stock 245 Michelin and I'm 3/4 the way through them. I've had the bfg's on other trucks and felt they were better in the rain than the Michelin that came on my truck. I think they are both great tires.

If you look at the BFG's, some of the sizes have great load ratings numbers at 50 or 60 psi. I think the 285 or so..... had about 3400 lbs.



BFG AT KO

I took alook on line. . XXX/75R16

285 are 3305lbs @65psi

295 are 3415lbs @ 65psi

315 are 3195 @ 50 psi

All are load range D



Where the 245 are load range E, but only 3042lbs @ 80psi !



I think the Michelin tread design is better for on road towing... but for all round use, the AT are great. I've had excellent luck with the MT's, but they wear really quick when towing and on the heavy CTD RAM.

 

[racebeeper68]

I found the best deal on Bridgestone Dueler A/T ABOUT $120. EA.

285'S Load D, 3305LB AT 65psi, I was also real happy at how quiet they are.

 

[Tardog]

not to bad mouth the Duelers(285's) but I had 3 go out on me 2 weeks ago in 3 hours traveling a gravel road loaded. 2 were throw aways. The 2 throw aways had holes in the tread face that broke the cords. They are worn but still at 20-30% tread left so needless to say I haven't been very please with them and have had other past poor experiances with. I too am in the market for new rubber and have narrowed it down to the BFG AT KO's or maybe the Cooper AT's which have a 265 with 3400lb loading.

 

[PBayer]

The dayton timberline were rated number one in consumer reports. tread design was a bit more aggressive then stock but not excessive. Thats my pick of what its worth.

 

[BK]

I've had two sets of the Bridgestone desert Dueler...

Sorry to say racebeeper68 , I had the worst luck with them.

Both on 15" rims on light "trucks"... A pathfinder and a Bronco II.

Yes they were very quiet. Both sets had one blow out (on road) and both sets loved to get flats. Both wore out in 20K miles.

When I went to BFG's on both... I got 25K and you still couldnt tell they were wearing.



Sounds as if I had the same bad luck with them as Tardog did.



racebeeper68 , I wish you much better luck with them than I had.



The two sets were nearly 10 years apart, new on a 88 bronco II, and new on a 97 pathfinder.

But same terrible luck.

 

[BLACKRAM]

I have had three sets of Bridgestone AT's. The first set lasted over 60,000 mi on a full size Bronco. Set #2 lasted 58,000 on my Dodge. I just put set #3 on two weeks ago, and am looking forward to several years of trouble free driving.



Regardless of what brand you choose, the 285's will cause your speedometer to read less than actual speed. Since it will also cause your gearing to be higher (numerically lower), you should expect a minor change in fuel economy. If your vehicle is still under warranty, this will give you approximately 8-10% increase in the number of miles driven before expiration. Bigger tires extend your warranty!Oo.

 

[Pit Bull]

I have the BFG AT/KO's on a Toyota Landcruiser and the Michelin LTX M/S on the CTD. Michelins are harder and should wear longer, the BFG's have better traction in the rain and snow. I have had the BFG's on my LC for 40K miles and they still look like new. Of course my LC only weighs 4800 lbs and the weight is evenly balanced. Plus the stock BFG tires for the LC are 275's. I would go with the 285's and the BFG's if traction is a concern. Both are great tires and top quality.

 

[Rob Thomas]

I have the BFG AT KO's, I'm on my second set on this truck, I got 42,000 + miles on the first set, I love 'em! Mine are the 315's,and I have had over 4500#'s in the bed at times and they're fine. They're a great tire and do not howl as they wear,I've had BFG's on my last 4 trucks. Also up here in MI we get some nasty winters,and they're great in snow!



Later, Rob

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Simply stated: as a prior Michelin owner, Hello BFG A/T KO's, good by white knuckling, wet weather driving!!! The BFG's may wear faster, but I think they're easier to replace than the paint left on a guard rail!!!!

 

[CCahill]

Tires...HMMMMMPH!!

I too, am on my yearly tire purchase. . original Michlien 265's 25K, then a set of Les Schwab, 285's, supposedly made by Cooper, 23K... Now I'm either going to the new KO's in a 255-85, or ricksons... . Ouch!!!



Colin

 

[PRout]

BFG 285's are worth the money, and are about as good as youll find (all the way around).

 

[rubberneck]

mud or at

All right, since were talking tires, im about to buy some, want some input. I am trying to decide between the BFG AT's or the mud terrains, i love the way the muds look, but do you think they last as long as the AT's, I will be getting 33,12. 5,16. 5 on 9. 75x 16. 5 weld super singles. Just cant decide which tire.

 

[AlK]

On my 92 4x4 I run the Michelin XPS traction tires, Load Range E and have over 90,000 km on them and they are good for at least another 10,000 Km. When the time comes to replace them I will replace them with the same tire.

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: mud or at

Originally posted by rubberneck

All right, since were talking tires, im about to buy some, want some input. I am trying to decide between the BFG AT's or the mud terrains, i love the way the muds look, but do you think they last as long as the AT's, I will be getting 33,12. 5,16. 5 on 9. 75x 16. 5 weld super singles. Just cant decide which tire.

The muds will not last as long and they will lengthen your stopping distance. But they do look good!!!

 

[Tardog]

Rubber neck,



If you want a 33 in the AT you will have to get the 285, or ? not sure they make a 33 in the AT unless you go wide . No 255, please correct me if I am wrong

 

[duaneparks]

Re: mud or at

Originally posted by rubberneck

All right, since were talking tires, im about to buy some, want some input. I am trying to decide between the BFG AT's or the mud terrains, i love the way the muds look, but do you think they last as long as the AT's, I will be getting 33,12. 5,16. 5 on 9. 75x 16. 5 weld super singles. Just cant decide which tire.

As cool as the MT's look, they will wear out quicker. These heavy trucks of ours kill tires like that.



The AT's will last longer and still have a semi-aggressive look to them.



Hope this helps.



Duane

 

[Rob Thomas]

Rubberneck,



Like stated above, the MT's will wear much faster,I had them once before,they only lasted 32,000 miles on a 5,000# truck I had,and they were rotated every 5,000 miles.

Not only do they wear faster, they wear real goofy and eventually start pulling all over the road, and yea my front end was in good shape, and lastly they s@ck in the snow.

I have AT's now and love'em!



Later,Rob



Edit, one more thing,they're get really noisey as they wear!!

 

[PRout]

I went back to Mud tires this time around.



They dont track as straight at freeway speeds as the a/t's do, but they sure do climb hills better in the desert. Can climb stuff that we wouldnt have tried w/ the a/t's, or turned around because it was too hairy. W/ the mudders its a different story, alot more solid off road traction, and climbed the stuff we avoided w/ a/t's.



They arent that loud compared to the noise of the motor, but they always get louder & steer worse after they wear. Dont know yet on miles, but they definitely wont make the 68k I got on the bfg a/t's. Will probably be lucky to get 40k.



One thing that Ive paid more attention to lately is tire temps, and these tires do run hotter, which may be an issue towing in the summer.



It boils down to how much value do you put on your off-road experiences. W/ mud tires you will lose some street handling, and they wont last near as long. For me so far, mudders have been worth it.



Also, Ive noticed that Im alot easier on the go pedal since these tires are softer, which might be easier on the motor.



Also, 285's work out very nice w/ 3. 54's. Next time I might go to 295's.