2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission time for tires,,,any suggestions?

[Hootguy]

Well,it's time for tires again,,,235/85 16's,,,i have been running michelins but they are getting crazy high money these days,,,about 200 a piece,,anyone have any ideas on good tires for the money???,,keep in mind i'm in snow country,,but i dont travel to work,,,i'm around home most of the winter,,

 

[HBarlow]

The purchase price of Michelins is indeed high but Michelins are still cheaper to run than other tires when cost per mile is calculated out over the life of the tires.

 

[jgillott]

I have been extremely happy with the Firestone Transforce AT. We had previously been running Michelin tires exclusively, but don't seem to be getting the wear out of them that we used to. We just had a set of Michelin LTX AT 2's on our 04. 5. At 35K, the Michelins are now sitting in the scrap pile behind the garage completely worn out. The Firestones are still on the '07 with about 50% tread left with around 30K on them. We used to get closer to 80K out of a set of Michelin tires, but the last couple sets have not made it to 40K.



I can't comment on how the Firestones will hold up in 235/85/16, but in 265/70/17, they have been impressive so far.

 

[CCiatteo]

I have been extremely happy with the Firestone Transforce AT. We had previously been running Michelin tires exclusively, but don't seem to be getting the wear out of them that we used to. We just had a set of Michelin LTX AT 2's on our 04. 5. At 35K, the Michelins are now sitting in the scrap pile behind the garage completely worn out. The Firestones are still on the '07 with about 50% tread left with around 30K on them. We used to get closer to 80K out of a set of Michelin tires, but the last couple sets have not made it to 40K.



I can't comment on how the Firestones will hold up in 235/85/16, but in 265/70/17, they have been impressive so far.

I run the Firestone Transforce in the 265/75/16 size (I think?) and am on my second set. First set were AT's and I got about 55,000 out of them. This set are HT's so I expect similiar or slightly better mileage out of them. Before these, I ran the Firestone Steeltex with similiar results. I think the Transforce is at a very good price/longevity/performance point. If snow is a regular occurence, the AT's are the obvious choice. Good tire in my experience.

 

[CCahill]

One thing about taking others thoughts on tire... OK 2 things. . consider where they live and how they drive.

That being said, I have gone thru a few sets myself... I live in the Sierra Nevada foothills. ... . we have very few straight aways... . mostly turns and hills, and my truck is turned up a bit and I'm not afraid to use it !! So far my favorite tire, even considering the price, are the Michelin AT2's.

Way good in the rain, somewhat acceptable in light snow and I can't wear 'em out. At least double the miles from the next best tire I've had.

I just last week picked up a set of 2012 Laramie wheels w/Michelins on them, OE type tires in an AS... not an m/s rating but I don't care... These will be my dry tires... I have a set of ProComps aggressive tread pattern mounted on Gen 3 wheels, that I will mount up when I hear the word snow.

See if you can buy a set of take off's from the dealer... or next time you see some guy with a new truck with big wheels/tires, see if you can buy his take offs... .

 

[GaryOwen]

I have been extremely happy with the Firestone Transforce AT. We had previously been running Michelin tires exclusively, but don't seem to be getting the wear out of them that we used to. We just had a set of Michelin LTX AT 2's on our 04. 5. At 35K, the Michelins are now sitting in the scrap pile behind the garage completely worn out. The Firestones are still on the '07 with about 50% tread left with around 30K on them. We used to get closer to 80K out of a set of Michelin tires, but the last couple sets have not made it to 40K.

Jgillot - I've always gotten at least 80k out of Michelin LTX M/S tires, but only got about 40 out of the LTX AT 2's. Were you using the LTX M/S when you were getting 80k miles on a set? I won't buy another set of the AT's, but was considering the M/S's next.



I currently am running a cheap set of Nexen's which have good traction, but will only last about 20k miles. I definitely will not buy Nexen tires again. I found out after purchasing the Nexen's that they were made in Korea - my tire guy had assured me they were made in USA.

 

[jgillott]

Jgillot - I've always gotten at least 80k out of Michelin LTX M/S tires, but only got about 40 out of the LTX AT 2's. Were you using the LTX M/S when you were getting 80k miles on a set? I won't buy another set of the AT's, but was considering the M/S's next.



I currently am running a cheap set of Nexen's which have good traction, but will only last about 20k miles. I definitely will not buy Nexen tires again. I found out after purchasing the Nexen's that they were made in Korea - my tire guy had assured me they were made in USA.

We actually got 80K out of the first set of AT2's. Subsequent sets have been drastically less. I'm guessing that they changed compounds at some point in production but I don't have any evidence to support that. The best mileage out of a Michelin was the original LTX AS. I've seen as high as 110K out of those. Doing a lot of work off road has taken those out of the question at this point, but if I was still primarily on the highway, I would still be running them.

 

[Hootguy]

same story here,,,my first set of Michelins LTX AT went 100,000km's,,,,the next set went about 70,000 km's,,the last 2 sets maybe 50,000km's,,,it seems Michelin tires about steadily going down in quality the las t 6 or 7 years... my cousin who works in a shop that sell and installs a lot of truck tires was telling me the same thing,,,his customers are complaining more and more about Michelin quality,,,most every one has also noticed that by half tread wear,,the ride quality goes down a lot and the rubber turns hard as a brick,,,so i'm pretty much done with Michelins,,,seems like a another big tire manufacturer who seems to be engineering there product to last less and less so they can sell more tires,,,

I keep hearing great things about the Firestone Transforce,,,i may try them next,,

 

[HBarlow]

From January 2005 through September 2007 I was transporting - pulling RV trailers for hire. I put a total of 400k miles on two Dodge Rams. I was getting 110k miles out of each set of Michelins I used during that period.

I have about 50k on the replacement set of Michelins (the second set of tires on this truck) now and they are still in excellent shape. I don't know that I'll get 110k miles on these tires because my usage has included more street driving around town and I have not been as careful about inflation and rotation with these tires as I was when transporting and running 600 miles almost every day, but I don't see any decline in Michelin quality.

 

[Jim Brewer]

Boy, I thought I was the only one chewing through my M/S2's.



I'd been through 3 sets of the M/S (265/75-16 LR-E) and was pretty happy with their performance. I was thinking about doing more off road driving so I tried some A/T2's but my 5th wheel pushed the truck around so badly I thought I was going into the ditch. Seriously badly.



So I swapped those (thanks Discount Tire) for a set of M/S2's. I think I have about 18K miles on them and sipes on the outside tread blocks is completely gone. I'm eating these up at what seems to be about 2x the rate of the previous M/Ss with the identical same driving conditions and pressures.



So, I'd agree that it seems Michelin has gone to a faster wearing compound. Kinda sucks.

 

[HBarlow]

Boy, I thought I was the only one chewing through my M/S2's.

I'd been through 3 sets of the M/S (265/75-16 LR-E) and was pretty happy with their performance. I was thinking about doing more off road driving so I tried some A/T2's but my 5th wheel pushed the truck around so badly I thought I was going into the ditch. Seriously badly.

So I swapped those (thanks Discount Tire) for a set of M/S2's. I think I have about 18K miles on them and sipes on the outside tread blocks is completely gone. I'm eating these up at what seems to be about 2x the rate of the previous M/Ss with the identical same driving conditions and pressures.

So, I'd agree that it seems Michelin has gone to a faster wearing compound. Kinda sucks.

You changed from one style of Michelin tires to another and began doing more off-road driving and the second style wears faster so you conclude that Michelin has changed all their tires? Wouldn't it be more logical to conclude that the different style tire combined with more off-road driving is the cause of increased tread wear?

 

[mwilson]

Boy, I thought I was the only one chewing through my M/S2's.



I'd been through 3 sets of the M/S (265/75-16 LR-E) and was pretty happy with their performance. I was thinking about doing more off road driving so I tried some A/T2's but my 5th wheel pushed the truck around so badly I thought I was going into the ditch. Seriously badly.



So I swapped those (thanks Discount Tire) for a set of M/S2's. I think I have about 18K miles on them and sipes on the outside tread blocks is completely gone. I'm eating these up at what seems to be about 2x the rate of the previous M/Ss with the identical same driving conditions and pressures.



So, I'd agree that it seems Michelin has gone to a faster wearing compound. Kinda sucks.

Jim,

Did you rotate the M/S 2 tires at all during the 18,000 miles???

Is the front or the back that is showing the wear??



I have noticed that the A/S series that I use on the '06 will wear fairly rapidly until they are about 1/2 worn down, then they go a long way with no further wear.



I have a new set of M/S Michelins for the '97 waiting for me in the tire department at work, plan on installing the first of December.

Michelin does not make the A/S tire in the size that I wanted for the '97 so I settled for the M/S series.

The truck had the M/S tires on it when I bought it in January and they were about 2/3 gone.

I will have gone 25,000 miles on that remaining 1/3 of tread when I take them off in a month for replacement.



I did NOT rotate them because I never figured they would last as long as they have so the fronts have eaten the outside edge off.



The A/S is the best wearing tire made for a 4X4 CTD in my opinion.

I will know soon if the new M/S tires are made from softer stuff.



Mike.

 

[budnate]

another Transforce fan, rain, snow no problem and wearing good.



B.

 

[Jim Brewer]

You changed from one style of Michelin tires to another and began doing more off-road driving and the second style wears faster so you conclude that Michelin has changed all their tires?

No, I went from the M/S's to the M/S2's (I had the A/T2's on for only 100 miles before taking them back) and didn't do any more off roading this year because I separated my shoulder rather badly in April.



So, to repeat . . I'm eating these up at what seems to be about 2x the rate of the previous M/Ss with the identical same driving conditions and pressures.

 

[Jim Brewer]

Did you rotate the M/S 2 tires at all during the 18,000 miles???

Yep, I rotated them at about 10K. Probably a little late...

Is the front or the back that is showing the wear??

Mostly the front - the guy @ Discount Tire told me it was from cornering but I know I'm driving the same as with my previous M/Ss (maybe even with a little less "spirit" than before).

I have noticed that the A/S series that I use on the '06 will wear fairly rapidly until they are about 1/2 worn down, then they go a long way with no further wear.

Now that you mention it, it seems to be the case with these M/S2s. If I'd been more fastidious about wear, I would have measured it at regular intervals - but I didn't.

I have a new set of M/S Michelins for the '97 waiting for me in the tire department at work, plan on installing the first of December.

That's great . . I would swap out my M/S2s for a set of the old M/Ss in a heartbeat. I was really happy with all the sets of those I used over about 9 years.

 

[fest3er]

I saw the same degradation in tire life through several sets of tires. I thought it was the tires I was buying. Turns out it was mostly the suspension bushings; everything else was fairly solid. Dodge suspension bushings are well known for wearing out by 90K miles. The truck was all over the road before the change; after replacement, the truck tracked rather straight. The replacement tires have been holding up fairly well (even though I hardly drive any more).

So if you have more than 90K miles on your OEM(-ish) suspension bushings, just replace them because they are shot. You'll likely find premature tire wear is greatly decreased.

 

[Joe Mc]

Just picked these up

LTX M/S2 - OnlineTires.com



Best price total out of pocket I could find. My first set of Michelins and loving them. Ah Looks like the price went up since I got mine like $35 each



I just received them like two weeks ago . . . guess I got lucky this time?

 

[MLee]

As tires wear they will get better and give better life. When new, the rubber is fresh, and as they are used and heated up, this helps to cure the rubber better. Remember in the old days( some of will remember this) that the new tires was to be run about 500 miles with no quick starts and no panick stops, just broken in. this helped to break in the tires for longevity.

I also read this same thing on the Goodyear site not to long ago, and it seem to make sense. And as tires get down to 50% and to the wear indicators you get better milage. Ever notice that?

 

[mwilson]

That's great . . I would swap out my M/S2s for a set of the old M/Ss in a heartbeat. I was really happy with all the sets of those I used over about 9 years.

Well, I just checked the hold ticket for my tires here and guess what??



They are not the M/S Michelin, they are the M/S 2 Michelin so I am getting the same thing that you have.



We will see how they do.



I will put about 2500 miles per month on them but am starting out during cold weather so it may slow the wear for a while. Next spring will really tell the tale. Going on the truck the 1st of December.



Mike.

 

[RAton]

Installed LTX M/S2 on my truck 2 weeks ago. Am loving them so far. All vibration from front end gone, quiter, and steering easier. Had big meaty A/Ts before.