Tire option

[DanDee]

Wondering what the differences are between the standard 3500 DRW tires and the optional (TP9) LT-235/80R17E OWL on/off road tires? ($100 option)



I've read that the tires are now General Ameri-trac's, went to their web site & can't find a description. (Site says to go to a page thats not available)



One dealer told me that I don't need to order them as they are standard on the Laramie package & refused to put them on the order, the other dealer said to get them if I wanted a more aggressive tire.



As it would be an expensive addition after I accept the truck, I would appreciate any first hand info on what to expect... .



Thanks, Dan

 

[Sixpac2]

I just got my new 04. 5 3500 DRW 2 weeks ago and I paid for the extra tires. They are not standard on Larime. Mine are ameritrac and a white letering and a nice tread pattern. Get them for $100 is $88 invoice cost. Nice tires and a great ride. You can PM or e-mail me I can send you a picture. Marv

 

[SSage]

Here is the web site: General Tire



The Dodge DRW size is listed, but the tread is a bit mild for a 4X4 IMHO.

 

[DanDee]

Sixpac2, thanks... sent you a PM.

(Nice truck by the way, of course I'm a little prejudiced cause I ordered a silver dually also!)



I tried the General Tire web site again, but it just says to reference pages 30-34 of the OE specs to see more info on Dodge tires... which seems to be something not available on the web.



(It does show a picture of two treads on the main page, not much different, but you have to access the OE specs to see what comes with the standard tire or the optional tire... or maybe they both are the same tread pattern and just one is white lettered!)



Thanks, Dan

 

[DanDee]

tire options

Thanks to some great pictures from Sixpac2, I think I've got a pretty good idea of whats shipping now.

(Amazing how hard it is to find out information about an option that's worth big bucks if you want to change it later!)



After comparing pictures with General's web site, it appears to be the following:



The TP9 option on the DRW are General AmeriTrac TR's... ... (General Tire dosen't even list a 17" TR on their web site!) a more aggressive tread design than the standard Ameritrac's.



General Tire does list two LT235/80R17's as Dodge OE on their web site under standard Ameritracs... . however they don't provide any further information, other than one is black sidewall & one raised white letters.



So, for me it looks like the $88 TP9 option is money well spent!



And thanks again to the folks involved with TDR for providing such a great source of information!



Dan

 

[SSage]

They do list the specs in pdf: link



I couldn't find an actual weight rating, but the other info like revs per mile, actual size and stuff is all there on the Ameritrac page.



Hope they do as well as the GSA's, I like mine so far.

 

[DanDee]

Well my truck came in yesterday If anybody is interested or trying to decide which tire to order on the dually, here is what I've found;



The stock dually tire is a black letter General "Ameritrac".



However the tread pattern dosen't match the tire listed on General's web site as an "Ameritrac", but instead appears to be a more aggressive style. (Must be something spec'd by Dodge for a OEM tire. )



As per Sixpac2's pictures he sent me, the optional dually tires are a General "Ameritrac TR" with raised white letters. The tread pattern DOES appear to match General's web site for the "TR".



I compared Sixpac2's "TR" photo's with my stock tires tread & I think they are fairly close... but clearly not the same. Close enough that I didn't hassle the dealer about it.



(I had wanted the On/Off road optional tires (TP9 I think) but thru a dealer order "mishap", they never got ordered. )



Anyhow if anyone cares, I''l attach a photo of the stock tire & maybe Sixpac2 will post his or give me permission to post it, and you can compare what you get for the extra $88...



Of course this could all change tomorrow if Chrysler gets a better tire deal somewhere else!!!



Dan

 

[DanDee]

My stock dually tire tread;

 

[DanDee]

Stock dually sidewall showing "Ameritrac"

 

[KCJackson]

That's not a bad looking base tread. My 96 has actually done better with Michelin LTX M/S tread than the all-terrains I used to run (GY Wrangler AT, Cooper Discoverer LT, Bridgestone M773). I actually did better in snow with the Michelins.



The spec sheet lists the 235/80R17 AmeriTrac as having 15/32" depth, deepest of any AmeriTrac, and pretty close to some others' all-terrains.



Interesting that DC pulled away from GY mid year - I guess those Wrangler GS/As got too expensive.



Don't know if I'll shoot for the TRs on my 2005... that will be a tough call. I have had decent luck with Generals in the past - both my F150s (90 and 93) had Grabber AP and they lasted quite a while.

 

[gsbrockman]

I've never been a huge fan of General passenger tires, but their light truck tires hold up well. I was the circulation manager at Auto Trader magazines once and we had a '97 Chev 3500 DRW 14' box van we used to deliver magazines to the route drivers. It was equipped with LT225/75R16 General Ameri*550 AS's We got 60K+ miles out of the OE set and and even a few more out of the replacement set (they were rotated relatively frequently). The TR's are also used OE on the DRW Fords, but due to the fact that most DRW Fords have alloy wheels, it makes it quite cost prohibitive to dismount and remount for rotation purposes... my personal observations of why they don't last as long on a Ford.

I think you Dodge 3500 DRW guys will be quite happy with the Generals personally. I sold a set to a guy with an '03 Dodge 3500 DRW Friday and saved him about $400 on a set of six over the Goodyears. I'm still waiting on Bridgestone to come out with the LT285/70R17 and LT235/80R17 in the A/T REVO's. I've harassed our Bridgestone rep to no end. (I work at S&S Tire in Lexington, KY)

Greg

 

[Sixpac2]

Originally posted by DanDee



Hi go ahead and post my pics. I don't know how. Thanks

marv

 

[DanDee]

Marv, This is all new to me also, I lost my first try yesterday that took me 20 minutes to write, because the picture was too large. (in-fact it just happened again with your picture!)



Anyhow, needless to say my second try was MUCH shorter & therefore probably much better!!!



Here is Sixpac2's most excellent picture of the optional dually tire (TP9); (sorry, I really compressed it!)

 

[DanDee]

And here is the tread shot of the "TR";

 

[JRMora]

Looking at these photos and I see that the Generals are directional tires like the Goodyear GSA's that came with my dually. When you get them rotated, make sure they are put on correctly. I had to show the service techs at my dealership which way they were supposed to go (they had the rears on reversed). They claimed to not know (the tech was sure he did it right - I had to show him the markings on the sidewalls ("this side faces out") as well as the owners manual. Didn't believe it at first, then they finally clicked, rolled the truck back in the bay, and fixed them.



Needless to say, I'll be rotating them myself from now on!



Juan

 

[JRMora]

:--)



Oops!



Never mind - They aren't directional, are they!



Wake up, Juan!