Need to start a Tire war

[MHowell]

First, I use my truck as a daily driver, on roads and highways. Occasionally (maybe twice a year) I'll venture out on a light dirt trail or something just for fun. I'd like to keep the stock tire size 265/70/17.



I'd love to have the Michelin LTX AT/2, but at about $1000 installed... ... dang.



What are some of the other tires that people are using that are reasonably priced and have decent treadwear, etc.



Or if someone knows how to get the Michelins for about half the price... .

 

[AH64ID]

Tires for HD pickups are not cheap... .

But I have been running Toyo's. . mainly because they carry a 50K mile warranty.

 

[jgillott]

I am still running the original BFG Rugged Trails on my '07. They have right around 32K on them and I will certainly replace them before winter. I have no complaints about the wear, but the sidewalls are checked and scuffed through in multiple locations. That truck has been on the logging roads on our farm almost daily since it was new, so I'll definately be going for something with a much heavier sidewall construction next time around.



My brother in law runs the Michelin LTX A/S on his truck and has seen upwards of 80K per set. Now, that truck spends much more time on road than off, but on the few times it has been at the farm with those tires, it is helpless if there is even the slightest hint of rain or mud. In other words, great on road tire and maybe some light off pavement stuff as long as you are not going to see any mud or soft ground.



I just bought a cheap set of Firestone AT's for our Silverado yesterday. I 've never owned a Firestone tire, but the way that lousy truck goes through tires, I didn't want to get in to anything expensive again. They have a real nice heavy tread and sidewall. Again, I don't expect great things out of them just because of the truck they are on. I'll report back as time goes on if they turn out to be OK.

 

[seafish]

I am now running the Michelin AT2 265/70/17 E on my truck. They cost about $250 each locally. They have been an excellent tire--quiet, well balanced, extremely well handling in dry, wet and snow-- and are just about wore out after 21k miles. I have always run Michelin tires on all my vehicles, and these have actually lasted LONGER then any of the others that I have run on my truck.



After reading much here on TDR, I will be buying a set of Toyo Open Country AT 285/75/17 E tires. They will also cost about $250 each locally. They are a very well liked tire here on TDR, with a load rating of 3750#, which is greater then the Michelins because they are a larger E rated tire, which means they hold more air at the same PSI, so they carry more load. I also want the larger size to lower my engine RPM's at highway speeds, as right now with stock tire size, my G56 with 3. 73 gearing run me at 2200 at 70 mph. It is generally agreed that they are a quiet and good handling tire, too!!



Some people on TDR have complained about the mileage that the Toyo AT last. In fact one member here has just bought the Michelin AT2 after complaining about the mileage he got from his Toyo AT, and I am buying the Toyo AT, after complaining about the mileage from my AT2's. Go figure!!! HOWEVER, the Toyos DO come with a 40,000 mile treadwear warranty from Toyo in LT sizes 17" and smaller. Some places like Les Scwhab offer a 50k warranty with the Toyo, but my local tire guy will only honor the factory warranty which is fine by me!!



Speaking of my local tire guy, he is selling many of the Hankook RF10 in a 265/70/17 E. Some people here on TDR also like them. He quoted me $189 each, so they are a less expensive alternative if that is only what you are looking for.



Personally, my feeling is you get what you pay for in handling and safety, which is why I am willing to buy the more expensice tires. That said, I DO hope the Toyos last longer, and I feel comfortable that at least Toyo will honor their teadwear warranty, which Michelin and others do not even offer on a LT tire.



Good Luck. Let us know what you do. Search here under TDR for AT2 or Toyo and you will find lotsa info!!!

 

[seafish]

Tires for HD pickups are not cheap... .



But I have been running Toyo's. . mainly because they carry a 50K mile warranty.

AH64ID, which Toyo/sizes have you been running and what mileage have you been getting out of them?

 

[jelag]

Bridgestone Rib 19. 5 Commercial on the front, Bandag recaps in an all weather design on the rear... .

Usually a 100K per set... the Bridgestone is a 275 something tire and the Bandag is 135 or so... .

We've been doing this for years... and put 500K on a truck before we sell it... . for us its been the most cost effective tire value we've found... We've never had a blowout...

I'm now trying to figure out how to get a set of wheels for my 5er and mount them on it... .

 

[JDubien]

I just bought another set of BFG KO's in a 285/65 18E for my truck, yesterday actually. They are pricey at 279. 00 however, I got 56k out of my last set. My truck sees a fair amount of offroad driving and plenty of towing as well (38' Fifth wheel toy box). The load rating is 3640 at 80psi. Great product in my opinion.

Good luck with your choice!

 

[Jefff929]

***

Some people on TDR have complained about the mileage that the Toyo AT last. In fact one member here has just bought the Michelin AT2 after complaining about the mileage he got from his Toyo AT, and I am buying the Toyo AT, after complaining about the mileage from my AT2's. Go figure!!! HOWEVER, the Toyos DO come with a 40,000 mile treadwear warranty from Toyo in LT sizes 17" and smaller. Some places like Les Scwhab offer a 50k warranty with the Toyo, but my local tire guy will only honor the factory warranty which is fine by me!!

***

My last set of Toyo's was in fact my last set.

Bought at Les Schwab, lasted 23k 40,000 or 50,000 nothing... they blamed the wear on the alignment they did and said I must have jumped a curb, hit a pot hole or something. Bla bla bla... BS.

That was 6 years ago, I had the truck aligned at another shop and haven't had unusual wear since.

If Toyo's actually do have a warranty, I think you would be hard pressed to see any action from a dealer in this economy, they would snake out of it somehow.

Since Les died, many Schwab stores have taken a dive service wise for sure, probably in areas we can't see as well. The one thing that they did do, the last time I needed tires, was meet Costco's sale price for the Michelin tires.

 

[HBarlow]

First, I use my truck as a daily driver, on roads and highways. Occasionally (maybe twice a year) I'll venture out on a light dirt trail or something just for fun. I'd like to keep the stock tire size 265/70/17.

I'd love to have the Michelin LTX AT/2, but at about $1000 installed... ... dang.

What are some of the other tires that people are using that are reasonably priced and have decent treadwear, etc.

Or if someone knows how to get the Michelins for about half the price... .

I can't tell you how to buy Michelins for 1/2 price, but I can point out to you that Michelins may be the lowest cost tire you can actually buy.

Six Michelin tires on a 2wd highway-driven Dodge Ram dually cost just slightly over $0. 01/mile. That's just over one penny per mile. I think it calculated out to $0. 013/mile on my last set of six. Prices have increased since I bought my last set so you might estimate the current price at around two cents per mile. When I was transporting and putting 135,000 miles per year on a truck I used nothing but Michelins purchased from SAM's Club. COSTCO pricing is identical. At the time I was paying just over $1200 for a set of six, mounted, balanced, and w/road hazard warranty and free rotate and balance. The tires lasted me a little over 100,000 miles. I think I actually pulled them off a little early because treads were becoming shallow and winter was approaching.

I have never experienced an uneven wear problem, a tire failure, a cord or tread separation, a blowout, or even a nail puncture using a Michelin tire.

 

[seafish]

My last set of Toyo's was in fact my last set.

Bought at Les Schwab, lasted 23k 40,000 or 50,000 nothing... they blamed the wear on the alignment they did and said I must have jumped a curb, hit a pot hole or something.

Hey Jeff, which Toyo/size were you running that wore so quickly?? While I am not surprised that Les Schwab did nothing for you, I am surprised that

Toyo did not.

 

[Jefff929]

the stocky 265/75/16 in the AT

 

[DHuffman]

If you are sticking with the OEM size, look on ebay or craigslist for a set of take-off tires. There are good deals out there, and the stock BFG's and Michelins wear very well. The BFG Rugged Trails on my '07 still had plenty of tread on them after 45,000 miles.

 

[AWise]

So do most of you (except for dually owners) only buy 4 tires at a time? When ever i buy a set of tires it is 5 at a time, to include the spare. I just put on a set of Toyo MTs and it cost me about $1700 for 5 tires, shipping, M & B, and alignment. $1000 sounds like 1/2 price to me! :-laf

 

[Regcabguy]

My Toyo 285-75-17 AT's will probably net me about 35,000 miles and have carried two cabover campers from day one 24/7 with one rebalance,no alignment and no rotation. (I bought them used from a friend). Mostly highway usage.

 

[KParsons]

blizzak

how do you guys like the blizzak, for a snow tire only. kp

 

[MHowell]

Thanks for the advice guys. Lots of good info.

I really don't want to get too off topic, but other than style and off-road purposes... . is there any advantage to getting the 285 (as opposed to the OEM 265) that a lot of people around here do? Is the mileage better? I would assume it would be a wash on mileage, but I don't know.

 

[EArp]

I'm running the Michelin AT2's in the 285 size and really like them. They have performed exceptionally in all situations, on-road and off. They have about 13,000 miles on them as of now and still show no visible wear. I will definitely be buying these again when they finally do wear out.



Thanks



Eric

 

[JDamron]

I'm a long time Michelin fan and have them on my other three vehicles. But I went with Nitto Dura Grapplers on my 2WD truck this time and have not been dissappointed. Very quiet, good in the wet, and less than A2s.

 

[AWise]

Thanks for the advice guys. Lots of good info.

I really don't want to get too off topic, but other than style and off-road purposes... . is there any advantage to getting the 285 (as opposed to the OEM 265) that a lot of people around here do? Is the mileage better? I would assume it would be a wash on mileage, but I don't know.

I assumed that when i went to the 285s my mileage would either stay about the same or improve slightly on the highway... WRONG. I lost 2 MPG at the same highway speed. Its worse if I cruise at the same RPM that I did previously (1950), I did pick up about 5mph at that RPM but it sure didnt help mileage. I bought the smarty jr at the same time to adjust the speedo, and after 2 fillups I went from the stock software to the econo tune to see if it would help... nope no difference. These tires are heavy, but I didnt think they were that heavy. Maybe they filled them with sand instead of air when I had them installed. :-laf

I do like the look though, they fill the opening perfect.

 

[seafish]

My Toyo 285-75-17 AT's will probably net me about 35,000 miles and have carried two cabover campers from day one 24/7 with one rebalance,no alignment and no rotation. (I bought them used from a friend). Mostly highway usage.

35k sounds good to me... was that what you put on after you bought them from your freind?? How many miles d'ya think he put on them first??