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Time For New Tires -- Michelins Again? -- Or Something Else?

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No Michelin 285 in "E"

To my knowledge,Michelin doesn't manufacture a 285-70-17 tire in load range "E". I'd stick with 265 Michelins to maintain your fuel economy and maybe go with a more aggressive tread if you need a better rain tire.
 
I have 7500 miles on a set of Michelin LTX A/T2. When my local tire guy mounted and balanced them on the stock rims, he commented that the entire set of tires and rims only took 2 wheel weights to balance out. He doesn't sell Michelin (too expensive for our part of the country), but he was impressed. These tires are quiet, smooth riding, E rated and Michelin claims longer lasting then the A/T. They handle suberbly on dry pavement AND I had NO problems in rain or snow. In short, I love them. The ONLY other tire that I would consider is the Toyo Open Country in a 285/75.
 
My '02 came with 265 ATX Michelins. I swapped out the rears early at about 45K miles, because my truck is 2-wheel drive, and Winter was coming on - and I wanted real snow tires on the rear of the truck for best possible traction.



I bought TOYO 285's for the rear in E rating, and so far, it looks like the TOYO's are wearing poorly - already well worn at about 20K miles - meanwhile, the OEM Michelins still on the front LOOK as good at nearly 60K miles as do the TOYO's at 1/3 the mileage - and the Michelins look to be good for still another 20K miles...



Only really used the traction abilities of the TOYO's on the rear once, in about 4 inches of snow in a VERY gently sloping parking lot, and only BARELY got moving with the assistance of my brother in law pushing from the outside! :mad:



Needless to say, other than the larger tire size and the benefits that provides in RV towing in 5th gear up our steep mountain passes, I'm very UNimpressed with the TOYO's...



Next time around, I'll try again for Michelins on the rear - even in the LTX's. I know they aren't currently available in the LT variety in the 285 size and E rating - but wonder if they might be in a commercial grade? I'd gladly pay a bit more for the Michelin Commercial in my size and rating, over the TOYO's - and probably lose very little in Winter traction...
 
Update,



I just purchased the AT2's 265's they are Smooth, so Basically I have a Quiet tire on a truck that has 5Inch Straight and HTT 62/14, and stage 1 intake,



Will update when I get a few K on them. wish me luck.



... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... cArNiV aLwOrKeR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .....
 
I had LTX A/T's on a Dodge Ramcharger. Longest wearing tires I've ever, used and quiet, but brutal when it got cold. Near freezing or below, they would slide like greased steel. Any ice at all and I was screwed.

They are great hot weather tires but keep them away from ice and snow.
 
For those of you that have the Michelin AT/2s and say they are quiet... quiet as compared to a LTX M/S (highway tire), or quiet as compared to an aggressive off-road tire?



I'm on my third set of Michelins; ('99 2500 quad cab, 2WD) about to get a new set. Averaged 95,000 each, for the first three sets. 1st & 2nd sets were LTX A/S, then went to LTX M/S on the last, as they were touted as longer wearing and quieter. I didn't find them to be either! Definitely noisier than the A/S. Would buy another set of A/S, but appear they're not made any longer. (LT265-16 E)



But what about the AT/2s? They have 17/32" tread, as opposed to 14/32" tread on all the Michelin "highway" tread tires. I'd be willing to give the AT/2s a shot, but the tread spacing just looks like a lot of noise to me. Other than that, with the results I've had with Micheys, got no reason to look anywhere else!



Up close & personal AT/2 experiences relative to noise?



Thanks -
 
For those of you that have the Michelin AT/2s and say they are quiet... quiet as compared to a LTX M/S (highway tire), or quiet as compared to an aggressive off-road tire?



I'm on my third set of Michelins; ('99 2500 quad cab, 2WD) about to get a new set. Averaged 95,000 each, for the first three sets. 1st & 2nd sets were LTX A/S, then went to LTX M/S on the last, as they were touted as longer wearing and quieter. I didn't find them to be either! Definitely noisier than the A/S. Would buy another set of A/S, but appear they're not made any longer. (LT265-16 E)



But what about the AT/2s? They have 17/32" tread, as opposed to 14/32" tread on all the Michelin "highway" tread tires. I'd be willing to give the AT/2s a shot, but the tread spacing just looks like a lot of noise to me. Other than that, with the results I've had with Micheys, got no reason to look anywhere else!



Up close & personal AT/2 experiences relative to noise?



Thanks -



The last time I drove an aggressive tire was when I bought my 86 F. O. R. D used and it came with some BMF BMG's--I got rid of them as soon as I could afford to because of the roar even at low speeds. Since then, I only drive highway tread tires and Michelins on all my vehicles, and these things are QUIET. I love the AT/2's because they DO have a slightly agressive looking/working tread, they handle great in the rain AND snow so far, and they ARE quiet. If you read my earlier posts, you will see that the entire set of 4 AT/2's balanced with only 2 wheel weights on the OEM forged alum rims. Only 9,000 miles on them so far, but I would do them again in a hearbeat.
 
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Coming down a hill with the truck just idleing, you can not hear ther tires.

I would never even riden in a vehicle that has Mudders Swampers, BFG's.

I love it the way it is, im gonna put a muffler on it too.



JoeLee
 
Can anyone comment on the off-road capability of the AT2's? The tread pattern is not very aggressive looking.
 
With 265's I dont go off road. They pick up rocks and work better then the highway version my truck came with. Very quiet. I dont have to put it in 4hi on slick grass now.
 
OK, opjohnny, cfish & carnivalworker. Exactly the kind of input I'm looking for (and makes TDR worthwhile!).



Thanks guys. I'll give a solid look at the AT2s. Maybe the extra 3/32 or tread depth will add a few miles to boot!
 
How are you getting 80k+ on the stock michlens?? i had to replace mine after 17K is there a difference between 2wd and 4wd or something???:confused:
 
OK, opjohnny, cfish & carnivalworker. Exactly the kind of input I'm looking for (and makes TDR worthwhile!).



Thanks guys. I'll give a solid look at the AT2s. Maybe the extra 3/32 or tread depth will add a few miles to boot!



That's what I was hoping, AND what Michelin claims, but only time will tell.
 
How are you getting 80k+ on the stock michlens?? i had to replace mine after 17K is there a difference between 2wd and 4wd or something???:confused:



Yeah, so far I've never done better then 35k miles on my truck michelins and I was pleased to get that. I think road conditoins and load conditions and driving styles have alot to do with it. Maybe also the extra weight of 4wd. I drive alot of poorly maintained county roads, also my driveway is 3/4 mile of 1 1/2" minus base rock. Still, I hope that these AT/2's do even a little better then the stockers which I replaced at 30k with still a little tread left, but didn't want to go through the winter with them.
 
Short answer to 95K average is stock truck, fiberglass camper shell, usually empty, tow only occasionally (6000 lb) maybe a total of three weeks a year. All on paved roads, and it gets babied!



I also keep the tires at 45-50 lbs, (except when loaded or towing) and check them frequently. Rotate when needed usually 12-15K miles, watch the tire wear, and have the stock chrome wheels. And it's California and our weather never changes? Also probably 80% is freeway miles. For me, can't beat Micheys!
 
If I change from 265 to 285, will mileage go up or down -- increase or decrease? Less tire revolutions per mile, so less engine RPM at a given speed. But, more rolling resistance. So, will mileage go up or down?



JW,



If you switch your mileage will APPEAR to decrease, but it may not actually decrease.



The 285's will turn fewer revolutions in a mile than your old 265's, so your odometer will register something less than a mile with every true mile you drive. This will appear to you as a decrease in fuel mileage.



The only way to be sure is to calibrate your odometer (both before and after the switch). Doing that is not as easy as it sounds. For example, you can't use the mileage markers on freeways. Surveys are done in horizontal miles, but you drive up and down all those hills, so you will drive farther than the measured mile. Also, are those mileage markers for the center of the freeway or what? One thing's for sure: They're not for the lane you're in.



I like to calibrate my speedometer (rather than the odometer). I use the temporary radar signs that the cops put up -- the ones that say, "Speed limit 45. Your speed is 62. " It's usually hard to find one of those signs on a low-traffic road, but when I do, I check my speedometer.



I've been told, but haven't been able to confirm, that if the speedometer is correct the odometer will be also. The new trucks use electronic instruments, so this sound right to me. If that statement is true, then if the odometer is right, the speedometer will be too.



The other way to calibrate your speedometer (or maybe it's the odometer) is with a GPS. I don't have one, so I haven't used this method. I like the idea, though. Those things are really accurate.



That's the long answer as to why your mileage will appear to decrease, but may in fact increase (due to higher gearing).



By the way, where did you get the idea that larger tires have more rolling resistance? I haven't heard that before and am not sure it's true.



Good luck with whichever decision you make.



Loren
 
I got 70k out of my orig tires but you would not have liked them in the winter or rain on the last 10k before I bought new. I find it interesting the at2 has a narrower tread width then the as in the same size. I still like them.



John
 
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