Tire Characteristics?

[ladyjaine]

Newbie question. I know what I like on a car tire, but for my new truck, I don't know what the options are. I'm an on-road driver with minimum off-road, mostly campsite parking and unloading. Living in VA, we don't get consistent deep snow. We have rain, more rain and the annual ice storm. I've never had to deal before with road noise so I don't know if it will bother me. Tossing rocks will bother me. I might tow once a year in the summer.



What am I looking for in a truck tire? Width? Tread pattern? Wear expectancy? If I hate the stock tires, I'll change them before they wear out. But if I don't know what's good, how can I tell if I should swap them? I would prefer not to have two sets of tires for winter and summer.





Jean

 

[Dane]

Jean,

I would go with a 285/75/16 for mostly street work. Pick something rated for M+S but not an all terrain. Pick something that can channel the water out from under the tire and has sipes for snow. Maybe some of the folks from your part of the country can chime in on that one?



Why?

The stock 265s are too skinny for decent traction in an emergency stop.



285's will ride softer than 265s



Going over 285s will kill fuel mileage fast.



Lots of choices in a 285 size.

 

[Pit Bull]

Jean with the 2003 you get the 17 inch tires, I would think that you would want a mud/snow rated highway tire. Michelin makes the best tires from a quality standpoint, but I don't know if that is a option for the 03's. I have had the Michelin LTX/MS tires and they are great in all weather conditions and not a noisy tire on the road. I would suggest you call your dealer and see what tires will be coming on your truck. Then go to tirerack.com and look at the tire survey information on that tire and any other tire choices the dealer might give you. If none of the options the dealer gives you are what you want based on the survey information then I would negotiate with the dealer for the tires you decide you would like to have. You can also talk to some local tire shops and they will sometimes trade for new truck tires. Good luck and check out tirerack.com great information on many brands and types of tires.

 

[jsnyder]

With very little towing and not much gravel, you should get a lot more wear out of your tires. Also, if you don't have to be concerned with deep snow and mud, you can stay away from the more aggressive tires. This will help your mileage and tire life also.



I don't think 265's are too skinny. I run them now, and for dry pavement or rain they have served me fine. I think they are a little wide for deep snow and mud.



I see some of the new 03's on the lot here in town have BFG tires on them, a little less aggressive than their All Terrain TA's. If it were me, I'd run whatever they came with. Mine came with Michelin LTX A/S, and I ran them for 20k before they were wearing down and then put them on my horse trailer.



If you have lots of rain, remember that the wider the tire, the more likely you will hydroplane with it. I'd look at a 265 width, mud and snow rated, all season with good rain channels.



Jason

 

[Pit Bull]

Go here and click on "survey results" for the tires you are interested in.



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compa...h&manufacturer=Goodyear&manufacturer=Michelin