Need new tires

[Herman8r]

The time has come to replace the Firestone tires on my '21 3500 SRW truck. 33000 miles.
Truck is stock with stock auto air suspension. I would like to go with a taller tire for a bit more clearance. Not looking to go wider really. Concerns are rubbing while turning, road noise and wear.

Recently moved to Michigan from So Cal so snow will be an issue.

Thanks in advance for your advise.

 

[Topzide]

I put Laufenns on mine back in Dec. Been very pleased with the ride, noise and handling! Got mine online from simpletire.com. They can ship to installer if needed and offer a discount if you prepay for the install. They're under the Hankook umbrella. Just another choice to look at. Have both an AT and HT flavorings.

 

[AH64ID]

You didn’t mention what wheels you have.

285/65R20 is a popular upgrade for the 20’s, some minor reports of rubbing on the control arms for some folks.

285/75R18 is the a good upgrade for the 18’s. They are slightly wider than the OEM 275’s, but not much. Same minor rubbing may occur on the control arm.

If snow is a concern do you need the ability to run chains? If so, stick with the OE size.

As far as rubbing goes I run 275/70R18’s with HD chains and have only had minor rubbing on the anti-sway bar, so I’m not sure that either of those sizes would rub.. but I’ve read reports of it. I don’t get any rubbing with chains and the Thuren anti-sway bar.

Cooper AT3 XLT’s and Falken Wildpeak AT3’s would be the top two tires I’d look into.

 

[bcbender]

The time has come to replace the Firestone tires on my '21 3500 SRW truck. 33000 miles.

Wow.. how ironic, I am kicking down 33k and mine are toast as well... Ima wait and watch this one, not sure what I'll get and have no need for the truck until after new year's so maybe save some coin till then.

 

[Cummins2014]

I put Laufenns on mine back in Dec. Been very pleased with the ride, noise and handling! Got mine online from simpletire.com. They can ship to installer if needed and offer a discount if you prepay for the install. They're under the Hankook umbrella. Just another choice to look at. Have both an AT and HT flavorings.

Those Laufenns will be my next consideration, just depends on how well my present Cooper AT3 XLT's do , so far has been the best riding ,and handling tire I have run on my 2014 Ram 3500 , and are as quiet as any AT tire I have run . Another tire that gets good reviews is the Falken Wildpeak's .

 

[Herman8r]

You didn’t mention what wheels you have.

285/65R20 is a popular upgrade for the 20’s, some minor reports of rubbing on the control arms for some folks.

285/75R18 is the a good upgrade for the 18’s. They are slightly wider than the OEM 275’s, but not much. Same minor rubbing may occur on the control arm.

If snow is a concern do you need the ability to run chains? If so, stick with the OE size.

As far as rubbing goes I run 275/70R18’s with HD chains and have only had minor rubbing on the anti-sway bar, so I’m not sure that either of those sizes would rub.. but I’ve read reports of it. I don’t get any rubbing with chains and the Thuren anti-sway bar.

Cooper AT3 XLT’s and Falken Wildpeak AT3’s would be the top two tires I’d look into.

Sorry, I forgot to mention---18" wheels---LT275/70R18E tires.
I had good luck with BFG KO-2 on my 2006. Looking for other options.

Thanks for the good info!!

 

[bcbender]

I have had great luck over the years with BFG K0 and K02s but on my last 3500 they only went about 40k.. I had good tire wear on the Nitto Ridge Grapplers and sold the truck so who knows how far those went. Been looking into the Nitto Recon Grappler (65k warranty), Id like a little more off pavement traction on the next set of tires if Im going to lighten my wallet 2k.

 

[Herman8r]

You didn’t mention what wheels you have.

285/65R20 is a popular upgrade for the 20’s, some minor reports of rubbing on the control arms for some folks.

285/75R18 is the a good upgrade for the 18’s. They are slightly wider than the OEM 275’s, but not much. Same minor rubbing may occur on the control arm.

If snow is a concern do you need the ability to run chains? If so, stick with the OE size.

As far as rubbing goes I run 275/70R18’s with HD chains and have only had minor rubbing on the anti-sway bar, so I’m not sure that either of those sizes would rub.. but I’ve read reports of it. I don’t get any rubbing with chains and the Thuren anti-sway bar.

Cooper AT3 XLT’s and Falken Wildpeak AT3’s would be the top two tires I’d look into.

AH64ID,
Didn't think about the chains. Great point. I always carry them when in Wyoming and Colorado!

 

[CoastyAV8R]

I'm running the Falken Wildpeak AT3's because they have the snowflake rating for winter driving. They ride great and are quiet. I put the 295/75-18 (35x11.5) on mine but I have a 2" leveling kit.

 

[Tuesdak]

I had good luck with BFG KO-2 on my 2006. Looking for other options.

BFG's wear fast now. Wrong climate for me to comment if they would help in the nasty cold weather...

Where you live affects tire life as I got 20K out of the OEM rough riding trash tires and fought em (radial pull) the entire time. I use the pro-rate on tires a lot.

I have been running Coopers awhile now. I have the Cooper ATPII from Discount tire on my 2018 3500 now. They are a better ride, don't squirm (say like Michelin are known to do), and are lasting longer than the OEM tires IF trash on the road would quit taking em out. Construction and going by the dump on the Beeline Highway has it's risks to tires...

 

[Ozymandias]

BFG are horrible winter tires. Been there done that.

Edit: MT and AT

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have a lot of miles on my NITTO RidgeGrapplers and lots of tread left. Quiet for how aggressive they are. VERY happy with them.

 

[Ozymandias]

I have a lot of miles on my NITTO RidgeGrapplers and lots of tread left. Quiet for how aggressive they are. VERY happy with them.

Great tires yes, until I had a blow-out at 20k Miles.
Single event I know.

 

[Herman8r]

I just looked up the Cooper AT3 4S. Looks like a great all season option. There is a Discount Tire store close by that offers them them.
Is "Road Force" mounting the best way to go? I know very little about it.

 

[AH64ID]

I just looked up the Cooper AT3 4S. Looks like a great all season option. There is a Discount Tire store close by that offers them them.
Is "Road Force" mounting the best way to go? I know very little about it.

The AT3 4S is the light duty version for SUV’s and 1/2 tons.

The AT3 XLT is the tire that will come in your size.

 

[Topzide]

@Herman8r, For what it's worth about balancing, I added a set of the Centramatic balancers. Was worth the money spent for the add ride quality with vibrations in the truck. Added them when I still had the Transforce tire still on the truck. Took out most of the "shakes" that the truck had. When I upgraded to the Launfenns, what a difference! This past trip, no shake till +85! I know, why? Had some open road to blow the cob webs out running through the hills! The current ride reminds me of the day I test drove my 1500! Might be worth looking at the Centramatics, I'm happy with them.

 

[AH64ID]

@Herman8r, For what it's worth about balancing, I added a set of the Centramatic balancers. Was worth the money spent for the add ride quality with vibrations in the truck. Added them when I still had the Transforce tire still on the truck. Took out most of the "shakes" that the truck had. When I upgraded to the Launfenns, what a difference! This past trip, no shake till +85! I know, why? Had some open road to blow the cob webs out running through the hills! The current ride reminds me of the day I test drove my 1500! Might be worth looking at the Centramatics, I'm happy with them.

I use them on my trailer and like them. I had them on the 05 for a short period of time, but the tire shop I was using at the time (free rotations, etc) wouldn’t install them because they considered them a spacer, yes really.

I ended up using counteract balance beads with great results.

 

[Herman8r]

I use them on my trailer and like them. I had them on the 05 for a short period of time, but the tire shop I was using at the time (free rotations, etc) wouldn’t install them because they considered them a spacer, yes really.

I ended up using counteract balance beads with great results.

Thanks for all the great info.
I researched the Centramatics. Great reviews.

 

[Ozymandias]

They are awesome.

 

[MichaelD86]

You didn’t mention what wheels you have.

285/65R20 is a popular upgrade for the 20’s, some minor reports of rubbing on the control arms for some folks.

285/75R18 is the a good upgrade for the 18’s. They are slightly wider than the OEM 275’s, but not much. Same minor rubbing may occur on the control arm.

If snow is a concern do you need the ability to run chains? If so, stick with the OE size.

As far as rubbing goes I run 275/70R18’s with HD chains and have only had minor rubbing on the anti-sway bar, so I’m not sure that either of those sizes would rub.. but I’ve read reports of it. I don’t get any rubbing with chains and the Thuren anti-sway bar.

Cooper AT3 XLT’s and Falken Wildpeak AT3’s would be the top two tires I’d look into.

I’m also in the market for new tires and looking to go a bit bigger. I have the 20’s. Do you have the 285/65/20 on your truck and have a picture?