2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Tire Mileage Question

[MAYoung]

1998. 5 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab, 4x4, NV4500 5 Speed Manual Transmission, Stock Truck; 210,000 original miles since May, 1998.



Gentlemen:



I have been reviewing the posts as to tire brands and mileage on the site and the last big post was in 2008. I have questions as to brands and mileage obtained. The mileage that I have seen indicated is all over the map.



I have been running Michelin LTX M+S tires for the last 100,000+ miles. I seem to get between 50,000 and 55,000 miles on a set of four. I rotate the tires every 6-7 thousand miles and keep the pressures correct. Wear is pretty much even from tire to tire as long as the tires are rotated. If the tires are not rotated, I will be lucky to get 35,000 miles on a set with the rears wearing out first. The stock tire that I use is 245/75/R16. The rims are original equipment stock.



Most of the driving that I do is on improved roads with modest trailer towing (5,000-6,000#). Some unimproved roads are also driven but at low speeds.



I gave up on the stock Goodyear Wrangler tires a long time ago. I usually averaged about 40,000 miles on this brand of tire but on the last set, I had two tires go bad with sidewall failures.



Question--what can I do to improve mileage? A set of four will cost nearly $950 mounted at Costco. When I see someone claim 100,000 miles with 50% tread left, I want to see the receipts and documented proof. What do they do--drive their truck while up on blocks or do they simply drive in a straight line with no turns forever? (I hear over-the-road big rigs getting 100,000 miles on rears and trailer tires but not for this truck. )



Thank you in advance.



M. Young

Fair Oaks, CA

 

[travis97cummins]

I would not complain at all about 50k on a set of tires for any pickup (im glad when i get 25K on a set of tires) i dont know what u could do differently to get more miles, and as far as getting 100K they are feeding u a bunch of BS unless they have got some 19. 5 then i could possibly see it happening.

 

[LLElliott]

I have a 2007, 2500, 4x4 with the 48RE transmission. My truck came with Michelin tires on it. I got 65k miles on the originals and replaced them with Michelins. My truck has Michelin LTX A/S, LT 265/70R17 tires on Dodge Aluminum wheels.

 

[HBarlow]

I have routinely received 110k miles of service out of six Michelin LT tires on my previous duallies. My driving is primarily highway at cruise speed with some heavy towing. My two previous duallies were primarily used in commercial service as an RV transporter averaging about 135k miles per year.

My current truck came with Generals which gave about 65k miles of service. I replaced them with Michelins and now have a little over 100k miles on the odometer.

Service life of tires depends primarily on driving style and secondarily the roads they are used on unless the roads are exceptionally winding or abrasive. Starting and stopping wears tires. Some start and stop more aggressively than others and often don't recognize or admit to their driving habits.

Whether someone else thinks I exaggerate or deceive is their problem, not mine.

 

[JCyrbok]

I think that there has alot to do with driving habits, type of driving etc. I only got about 35k out of my stock michelins. I got 58k out of the replacements which were Toyo Open County's, but when they went they went fast. Replaced them with Bridgestone Dueler AT revo 2's and only have about 12k on them and they are wearing very well, ride nice, have good wet. mud, snow traction and did not hurt my mileage.



All things that I can control are equal (pressure, rotation schdule etc).



J-

 

[Hillflyer]

I got 58,000 out of my first set of Michlens. The second pair are still out there in the driveway and still have about 25,000 left on them. For the road, I think they are about as good of tire as you can get. Off-road is a different animal entirely.

 

[CEdwards]

Used to get 45,000 to 50,000 on my first two sets of cooper discoverer htr was mostly highway driving back then. Have tried a set of atr and htr in last couple years and was lucky to get 20,000. Literally drove on them till the tread came off. Was not happy at all for the price and I used to brag on cooper but not anymore. Tried a pair chinese equalizer sports on the front of my dually. Got about 15000 and there is nothing left. Got two new general grabbers in the barn ready to swap when these go. Recently put 4 general grabber highway tread tires on rear. Have about 10000 on them now and there is no signs of the rocks and gravel chewing on them, they look to be outperforming to this point, time will tell. Plus the price is excellent. I drive on many rough, rocky, gravel oilfield and county roads. Lots of highway too. I am lucky to just make it close to a year on a set. Drive around 35,000 miles a year on my dually. I don't know if its just me but it seems like in the last few years tires of all brands just don't seam as good as they used to be.

 

[jeepit]

50,000 is good mileage. I made a tire brand switch and not real happy. I'm going back to Michelins again next time around.

 

[Crazy Horse]

I have the Michelin LTX M+S also and am on my 2nd set. I went up to a 285/75 this time around upsized from the stock 265's. I already have surpased what I got out of the 1st set which was 40,000 miles. I have about 45,000 on the 285's and they are not even 1/2 worn. I rotate and check the balance approx every 6-8,000 miles at Discount Tire. They did by the way have the best price on them when I was shopping and I did check Costco. Good Luck.

 

[McCRam]

Another variable that needs to be considered is your location. Different geographical locations use different recipes when they make their concrete or asphalt, due to different climate and terrain. This will have an effect on tires. Here in MT, im thrilled when I get over 35,000 on a set.

 

[Hillflyer]

If your running a lot of gravel and multi-terrain (off-road) over the years BF Goodrich lasted 40,000 for me and gave good traction snow or mud or pavement. I haven't used them for ten years though and with today's 'rush to the bottom' in quality that may not be true today.

Off-road I go superswampers hands down.

 

[GAmes]

I use Michelin LTX M/S tires exclusively. I never rotate them, too much trouble. I just replaced the rears with over 95,500 miles on them. They were not worn down to the wear bars yet, but didn't have enough tread for the snow I was hitting while in Alberta a few weeks ago. The fronts currently have over 101,000 miles on them and have enough tread to hide the top of the presidents head on a quarter. Roughly 75% of my mileage is towing something. I encounter all types of pavement, including the crappy highways of CA, OK and AR.



MAYoung wrote "I want to see the receipts and documented proof. " Come on down to TX and I'll be more than happy to show you my records.

 

[GAmes]

The Carriage is what I was towing just before buying the new rear tires, the stack was after.

 

[CEdwards]

Well I have seen enough responses on here to at least be willing to try a pair of michelins next time and test them for my kind of driving conditions. It's been years since I had michelins, used to be good back then. I have experimented with a few premium tires but I started changing brands and going with cheaper ones, and I just didn't have any good experiences, I always felt like the premiums were not worth the money. There seems to be a pretty good consensus on here about the michelins so I don't doubt my fellow members experiences. This is why I subscribe, it saves me years and dollars experimenting to learn what someone else already has. That being said I would be thrilled with 50,000 miles on any kind of tire. Thanks to you guys I won't give up the dream of finding a better tire.

 

[SFPADGETT]

We use the Firestone Transforce A/T for our fleet of vehicles. They work great for us with at least a 50k mileage from them. These are heavy service body trucks that are used at new construction jobsites. Just the right amount of A/T tread for our needs. We have tried almost every brand of tire (no-name and name brands) and found these about 3 years ago and have been Very Pleased with the price, road manners, off-road manners and life of the tread. 245/75-16 Load Range E. We run 75 in the fronts and 80 in the rears and rotate every 5k miles.



Be sure you get a load range E, our trucks are heavy and need the stronger tire.

 

[mfburns]

I had a set of Michelin 265 75R16 A/T on my truck and got over 160,000 on them. I replaced them with the M&S to get a little better wet road traction, more sipes in the tread. I have about 40,000 on them. Mostly light travel on highways. Very little towing. I now have them on both my trucks.

 

[Grizzly]

I've always been sold on Michelin for my cars and truck. Michelin XPS Rib LT are also the best tire for the 5th wheel.

 

[MAYoung]

Gentlemen:



Thank you for your responses. Although there is a great deal of variability, a picture is beginning to emerge: Many members report getting about 50-60,000miles on a set of 4 tires in from a number of different manufacturers with Michelin and B. F. Goodrich named most frequently, but not exclusively.



GAmes reports getting over 100,000 miles on a set of tires and I believe him. But he appears to be fortunate in the type of driving that he does, namely long distance driving towing loads within the limit of his truck. As I indicated in my first post, I was aware that long distance truckers over-the-road vehicles often obtain in excess of 100,000 miles at weights of 80-100,000 pounds for their loads. Weights do not seem to limit their mileage but the ability to drive long distances in relatively "straight" lines on improved roads does.



I think that the mileage profile that I have obtained reflects both my driving style and the road conditions that I drive upon. First, I am not always loaded and have a fair amount of stop-and-go driving. I can feel the rears starting to slip at every start from a even with the most careful of starts. I can also feel my truck bouncing up and down on the rears without a load given the road conditions of California roads (even on interstate highways). I am sure that this has an effect upon the mileage life of my tires. (The rears always wear out first if not rotated even though the fronts have the weight of the engine and the effects of steering. ) I may be completely wrong but I do not think so.



In my post, I was looking for some type of secret that other owners use to get better mileage. I am discovering that I am not atypical and the only secrets employed are the basics of maintaining tire pressure, tire rotation and careful stops and starts.



Again, thank you all for your inputs.



M. A. Young

Fair Oaks, CA

 

[Cummins12V98]

Michelins on stock steel wheels 100K with more than legal tread, 70 front 45 rear, towing 75 front 80 rear, rotate 15-20K. 98 12V 4X4 auto. BFG's on 3rd gen wheels 100k no problem. You can come see my receipts also. I think too many people run their pressure too low.