Tire recomendations

[EricBu12]

Hey guys,

Shoving around some ideas for replacement tires when they come due. (not for awhile yet)



This is what I have now



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Right now I have an AT tire that is sold by discount tire. It is a 285/75-16 tire and has a little aggressive outside lugs. Sorta like half-way between a AT and a MT. This is a D rate tire but enough for my trailer.



I am looking more for mileage when towing and now with these **** Fuel prices... ... ,



I see my TT has 235/85-16 E rate tires. Is this about the same diameter as my 285's but skinnier? Would I have to get skinnier rims for those tires? Any other sizes work well? I am looking to be at or around the same size I am at right now.



I am looking for a tire that has great Load (E rate) and M & S ability for mileage and will work well on easy off-road trails.

TIA for any replies

Eric

 

[Duluth Diesel]

My personal favorite tire is the Cooper Discoverer S/T-C. I've been running these for years and will continue to buy more.

http://www.coopertire.com/us/en/ProductDetails.asp?ProdType=LtTruck&id=3

 

[RHARVEY]

We just put a set of the Cooper A/T on my wifes 2k last Friday and then Saturday we headed to the mountains. We went up just for a day of paintballing with the kids on a friends cattle ranch. It had been raining earlier that morning so everything was wet. The old road that we used was clay and grass and had a number of ruts because of the rain over the past years.

It started to rain again so we figured that it was time to pack it up and get out of that hole before things got slicker that they already were. So up the hill I went in 2 wheel drive for the first half of the hill. I was impressed with how these A/T pull in the mud and wet grass.

I didn't kick in the 4wd until the back end wanted to pass on the right which was the side with a real deep ditch:--) :--) :--) . . So I figured it was time to use one of the reasons we bought this truck. . 4wd... .

I really like these tires... They dont sing going down the road and they pull when you need them to. .



Rick

 

[Froadin]

I put the Bridgestone Revo's on my truck and I love them!

No road noise, they ride great, and as I tested, they can handle serious amount of water on the road!

Here are some in the size you are thinking about.



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...h=true&partnum=385R6ATREVOWL&fromCompare1=yes

 

[DaveN]

I just went to BFG AT's (285's) and I wish I would have stuck with my stock michelin 265's. I lost 3~4 mpg the day I put them on. Now I like the looks, but the road performance has been poor. I never got stuck with the michelins, but you use 4wd more than you do with the AT's, since the tail is so light.



Personally there's a pretty good chance that my next tires will be the michelin's or something comparable. I just wish they didn't look so cheesy... .

 

[BNH4221]

On my fourth set of Uniroyal Laredo AWP's from BJ's wholesale club.

Load range E, good performance in snow and rain. I like 'em



Steve

98 QC 12v 4x4

161000 happy miles

 

[Chipstien]

Originally posted by DaveN

I just went to BFG AT's (285's) and I wish I would have stuck with my stock michelin 265's. I lost 3~4 mpg the day I put them on. Now I like the looks, but the road performance has been poor. I never got stuck with the michelins, but you use 4wd more than you do with the AT's, since the tail is so light.



Personally there's a pretty good chance that my next tires will be the michelin's or something comparable. I just wish they didn't look so cheesy... .

You lost the mileage because you went to a larger tire. When you have 3. 55 and you go to that big of a tire you will lose mileage. My biggest complaint of the BFG AT were that they picked up every little rock and sandblasted the rocker panel. :{ I know, I know, what did I expect.

 

[GiesJ]

EricBu12 - I have the Coopers Duluth metioned and love em. I've got the 285/75 R 16 and before this had two sets of BFG RATs. I think I like the coopers more.



DaveN - are you accounting for your Speedo being off? You should see a 7-10% lower speed registered than actual - and when your trip reads 70 miles you actaully have got ~77.

 

[DaveN]

Yeah - I did the math on that one. MPG's quoted take that into account.



The thing is that the michelin 265's are not really that much smaller than the BFG 285's (diameter wise). So the speedometer correction factor is even less than what you would calculate using the theoretical tire diameter.



I think the difference is rolling resistance like Dl5treez said. I noticed a big difference when I let off the gas (er fuel), I used to coast alot better with the michelins, but with the BFG's I slow down at a pretty good clip. Probably a difference in tread pattern and compound.

 

[Tcolesanti]

I just wanted to say that the speedometer's on both my father's truck ('95 CTD) and mine read fast with stock tires. I switched to 285/75/16's and the speedometer (according to numerous radar trailers) was dead on. But now that I've switched to 315's my speedo is way off and hav'nt found a radar trailer yet. -figures.

 

[DaveN]

Hey Tcolsanti - how do the 315's fit on yours? I wanted to go a little bigger but I was worried about turning clearance - do you have the BFG at's?

 

[EricBu12]

Thanks for the replies guys,



I think that when the time comes, I'll get the Bridgestone Desert Dueler Revo.

On the comparison charts and stuff, it is far superior than all others. 50K tread warr. a 8 or 9 on the charts makes me want to get the set.



I have a box that I can adjust to correct the spedo so any size I get I can dial it in.



Oh, another thing I asked before, What size is the rims on our trucks? (width) is it 7 or 8"?



The 235/85-16 says to use 6 to 7" rims... . Can these fit on our stock rims?

 

[Got Smoke?]

Your 01 Alloys are 16x8, they fit anything from a 265 on up to 315 perfectly.

 

[msussman]

I've had the Revos for about 15K - since last fall. They worked great when brand spanking new in the snow. Got up my driveway in 2WD -- the stock Michelins required 4WD. With 15K of tread gone -- they lost traction in the snow -- now back to 4WD up the driveway. I may try something different with an E rating the next go around.

 

[RHARVEY]

Here is the tires that we put on my wifes truck...

 

[Tomscreek]

I have Goodrich 285 AT's on now and am pretty satisfied. The stock Michelins were total junk in my opinion. Absolutely NO traction and they wore out fast too. There's no comparison in traction between the two.

 

[Muleskinner]

Eric:



I put Micky Thompson Baja 305X70 LT 16's on my 2001 4X4. They just barely hit the lower suspension arm on a lock to lock turn in a parking situation. Not enough to worry about. I don't know how some guys get 315's on a stock, non raised, truck.



Great tires. No noise, smoother ride than the stock Michelin's due to 35LBS of air instead of the 50LBS the stock tires needed to wear right.



The only problem is I have 3:54 gears and it took a bit of low end torque away. So I fixed that with and Edge EZ and a 4" exhaust.



If I had to do it again, I would down size to a 285 or 295X75 LT 16 tire. I hated the way the stock tires looked and the M/T tires look awesome on the truck, but after all is said, I will down size when I replace again. I think the larger tires effect the way the truck handles. Maybe it's just me, but I think the truck handled better with the stock tires.

 

[Trizae]

i think the 255/85R16 is the best thing going,,,, i had a set of 285 bfg a/t but went to 255/85's in bfg Muds and i wouldnt give them up for the world,,,,,, they look a little skinny but they just plain kick a$$,,,,,,,, probally going to by some really cheap 255 all season to run in the summer but I'll never go another winter with out my BFG Mud's

 

[y-knot]

I use the 255-85-16 size on my 3500, I think they are almost the perfect size. They are about 10% larger then the stock size tires, and about the largest you can saftly go on the stock 6" wide rims. I run a 1-1/4" spacer in the rear, it gives me plenty of clearance, I have ran the same spacer since 2001. I have 4:10 gears, the larger tires might be to much for the 3:73's esspecialy if you tow. I pull a large goose neck trailer at weighs about 15,000lbs, with a hitch weight of 3200lbs.

I have BFG MT's on the stock wheels, they are a great long wearing tire that has high traction and moderate noise. It is a stiff tire with ridgid side walls. I also have a set of Trxus M/T's on alcoa Hotshots, they are a very smooth riding tire. The rubber compound is much softer and allows the sidewalls to flex and soak up most of the road illregularities. Noise is almost non existant and i love the ride they give. They won't last as long as the BFG's, but to me the the ride quality more then makes up for the loss in wear. Both tires look great on the Dodge, and get alot of attention. There are many tires available for you to choose from, these are just two of many. Good luck with your purchase, and let everyone know how it works out.



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[Duluth Diesel]

Muleskinner wrote: "I don't know how some guys get 315's on a stock, non raised, truck. "





>>> I am running 315/75R16 D rated Cooper Discover S/T tires on my stock rims with no lift. They rub on the upper track bar only when at full steering lock, otherwise I've had zero rubbing issues. Not all trucks can clear 315 rubber without a lift. I think that having a 2500HD with the camper and plow packages gives me the factory height necessary to clear these tires. I researched tire measurements for months and measured every possible area in my wheel wells that would be a rub point. I knew that these tires would probably rub on the upper track bar at full steering lock, and they do. I live with that because I love how the tires look and traction I've gained. It is also my personal opinion that 2500 non HD trucks or truck without the plow package MAY have clearance issues with tires this large. But, I'm no expert. All I know is that they fit on my particular truck very nicely.



All that being said, I think my next set of tires will be the same Cooper S/T tires, but I'll go back to stock (265 75 16) size. My needs have changed a bit, and I need to get under my gooseneck better, and the increased (E) load rating and sidewall stiffness will be beneficial when towing. I guess I'll call it my 315 experiment.