Tire Recomendation (Scott1)

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I notice some discussion on tires and thought I would provide a recomendation some of you might be interested in. I like many that pull their trucks hard, was only getting 30 - 35K out of the first few sets of tires. Two sets of tire in less than 12 months (19. 5 almost seemed the solution). I then tried TOYO M55 (http://www.toyo.com/tires/m55.html) . I switched to the 235/85R16 after my first set. I rotate religiously and have always had goood even wear. I change out tires when they are on the wear bars (hopefully it is not in the winter months). I just replaced the first set of TOYO's with 2K miles short of DOUBLE what I gotton on the previous two sets (factory Goodyears, and Donlup ATs) at 58,000 miles. They are farly aggressive but are no more noisy then the stock Wranlgers.

With regard to winter traction (SCOTT1) I highly recomend having your tires siped. Most larger tire shops have a machine to do this and it costs about $8 - 10 per tire. You can do it at the time the tires are first installed or wait un till the first snow falls (that be anyday now). I have siped all four sets of tires I have run on my dodge. The difference with siped tires on ice and snow is like having studded tires without the studs. I have pulled 50 feet of trailer(s) through 4 - 10" of snow in 2WD at 65 - 70 mph numerous times. I really makes a difference!

These TOYOs At 50 - 60K miles per set with a cost of $10 - 20 more per tire makes it hard for me to justify the cost of 19. 5. They do look great though. We will see how the second set fairs.

jjw
ND

 

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Thanks for taking the time to post the tip. I was/am considering the Toyo's and I will look into the siping.
Does the siping get done before or after the tire is mounted?

SCOTT

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Lift it, flip it or...
RAMIT!

 

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JJW_ND, are you serious? "I have pulled 50 feet of trailer(s) through 4 - 10" of snow in 2WD at 65 - 70 mph numerous times. " Does any part of this quote taken from your post seem the least bit unsafe to you? I personally don't care what you do to yourself, that's your business however, isn't it rather selfish to willfully risk the life of (innocent,unsuspecting) others?

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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4, (black) SLT Sport, ISB, LWB, 3. 54 LSD, auto. , 275 hp. injectors, Glasstite Vision II "canopy", 285 BFG A/Ts on 16x8 M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares, front and rear NW Custom stainless steel/rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover and trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, VDO Vision gauges, BD exhaust brake and TorqLoc.

 

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John, I am glad SOMEONE brought that up!!

I am in the market for some tires and am looking around, any more suggestions out there? I currently have Goodfears on my truck, and they are the worst tires I have ever bought. The ones that came on my wife's Ferd are so bad, it sounds like a bearing is about to let loose, and the Goodfear dealer even changed the front bearing before realizing it was the tire. (at no charge). Of course, they would not replace the tire, so we just keep it on the back since it only has 7000 miles on it. The ones on my Dodge are already bowed funny on the sides after only 10,000 miles. I was recommended Bridgestone 8-ply by the Merchants manager (I asked him what he would put on his truck for duration, and this is what he came up with, but they are a special order, also, they are about midway on the price range so I feel he is not just telling me a story)

Dave

p. s. When I was a kid, we had to carry the family car to and from church every Sunday because we could not drive it through the 10' deep snow..... uphill!! ... . both ways!!!

 

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By the way, I have 2wd, and the truck never sees mud, so we are talking strictly street tires.

Dave

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94 3500 Dually.

 

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I have always had good luck with Michelin's (XLT 235/85R16), The last two I pulled off had gone about 119,000 miles. I bought them at Costco $114. 00 a piece. We get snow about three or four times a year and they work fine!

 

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I had a few 350 and 3500 RAMS in 4x2 running with 53ft 3 car haulers... plowing through snow at 60-75 mph... never once used chains... maybe living in Saskatchewan and Alberta all my life has conditioned me to drive in that deep snow. 10 inches is a bit deep for 65... especially since I had a heck of time even getting to that speed loaded. However, if its a blizzard, I try to get off the road asap. Takes too many years off my life fighting that stuff.

SCOTT
Slippin' and rammin'

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LIFT IT FLIP IT OR...
RAMIT!

 

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Those of you in the upper midwest remember the 96/97 winter. That was the first winter w/ this Dodge pulling trailers (two at a time, no dolly, six axles with brakes)back from KS to ND (1500 mile round trip). I did 20K in three months that winter. Many a night, I a few "Bull racks" and I where out on the road. For those of you that don't get to drive though the Dakotas or MT, WY you have the road to yourself most nights and on most roads including Interstates. The only loss of live do to stupidity that could occur is oneself and critters that are in the wrong place. I like SCOTT1 have driven on snow and ice all my life. These dodges are the best snow trucks I have yet to drive. I rememeber the 10" night. Fresh falling snow... . no wind... . pretty soon road and ditch all look the same. I was first through for about 100 miles until I finely met a big truck. "Can you say SNOW FOG! Fresh snow in -10 is pretty fluffy. Three trips that winter upon returning the front trailer (gooseneck w/ tailgate removed) has 1/2 to 2/3 packed full of snow that was sucked in.

The siping machines works on mounted tires. I spiral shaped knife spins making a 1/2 cut every 1/4" across the face for a full revolution. Once all the way around it is quickly moved over and around the tire it goes again until the tire has cuts from one side of the face to the other ever 1/4".

It really makes a differece. And in my case has not affected the wear. I do see feathering of the sipes on the rears especially after a hard pull. If you run your hand over the tire in the oppisite direction of the feathering and you really appreciate the gripping power. The depth of cut is adjustable allowing worn tires to be siped.

Some of you might have see the advertisement were Europeon cars w/ and w/o traction control start on a hill and accelarate up the icy incline. Siped tire will let you do that in 2wp. BTW I would not be W/O my locking differentail in the winter either.

Again as compared to Goodyear At or Dunlop At driving the same and siped, I got 2X the miles on these TOYO's. If your getting 50 - 70K out of the factory tires you proably don't need anything better.

jjw
ND

 

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I lived in Missoula Mt. for 3 years and had the 35" military style tires on my F-250 4x4 siped. Before siping I could bearly move on snow due to the solid bar in the middle of the tire, after there wasn't many places I COULDN'T go! After the sipes wore down in the middle I took a Skill saw and a carbide blade and regrooved them. Most/some tire stores will NOT sipe after the tire has been run on the road due to imbedded rocks in the factory sipes. Some will, but will CHARGE EXTRA ! I put a set of tires on my wifes Vette that had BIG blocks of tred and few sipes. They were HORRIBLE in the wet, SOOOO I took a utility knife and cut a 1/4" sipe accross each block, the differance was like night and day. Just after I purchased my 96 3500 Ram the big snow storm hit Wash DC and closed the area/Govt. down for a week. The night before I had loaded about 500 lbs of firewood in the bed, and the morning of the big storm "broke trail" to take my wife to work and never spun a wheel. After dropping her off I had the rest of the day to PLAY. Having grown up in Cleveland and learning to drive without having FWD, snow is no big deal. I wanted to see how the truck went in 2WD, let me tell you, in FLAT country my truck can go almost anywhere in 2WD the same as FWD. Limited slip and 4 tires diggen is awsome!! Happy Rammin, Dave Hauser

96 3500 4x4 extended, fog lights, tow hooks, custom front reciever hitch and mount for 8000 Ramsey winch.

[This message has been edited by Dave (edited 09-29-1999). ]

 

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Got a 97 came with 245-16 tires got about 49,000 miles on them G-Y. Put on 285-16 BFG got about 10,000 on them. Sold tires about6 years. I like Michelins best could not find them in 285-16. The 285-16 make the truck look a lot better. The BFG still look like new I hope they last a long time.

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