Tires tires tires... finally got them!

[TheOtherSide]

So I'm still torn as to what tires to buy for the Suburban... I'm sure Steve's heard his share of my self proclaimed "dilemma"..... so here is a list of tires I'm considering and you all can throw in your opinion for me.

Usage is as follows:
95% street use (it's my gas guzzling commuter right now)
4% towing a travel trailer (hence the Load Range E requirement)
1% light duty trail use

And the tires I'm considering in no specific order: (Priced size: 245/75/16)

Michelin LTX M/S (had them before... super quiet, wear well, lots of trucks that tow use them ... perfect reviews everywhere you see. Loved these tires for street use when I had them. Wheeled once in them with no problems. One of the best names in tires.) - $161 usd
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=LTX+M%2FS
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/michelin/mi_ltx_ms_owl_ci2_l.jpg


BF Goodrich All Terrain KO (had them before... fairly quiet, wear well, lots of construction trucks use them, don't see too many peeps towing travel trailers with them, tougher tire for mild trail use. Seems to have a dated look to me.) - $164 usd
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=All-Terrain+T%2FA+KO
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/bfg/bfg_alterr_tako_ci2_l.jpg


Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac (never had them before, but they look cool...similar to the MT-R. Nice sidewall protection & trail ability. Never heard of them till lately, new tire.) - $149 usd
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wrangler+DuraTrac
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/goodyear/gy_wranglerdt_ci2_l.jpg


Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo (heard lots of good things about these tires. See lots of trucks with them.) - $158 usd
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Dueler+A%2FT+Revo
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/bridgestone/bs_duelerat_revo_owl_ci2_l.jpg


Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ (had the MTZ's on the Jeep... loved them. Seen a few sets of these on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks around. Could do street and trail by the looks of them. Talked to a guy a while back with them and he loved them) - $149 usd
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MTT-5161/
http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/mtt-51xx-bajaatztrad_w.jpg

Things to consider:
- good fuel economy for the street (which is where it is mostly)
- tough enough to hit a trail once in a while... aired down of course
- Load Range E is a tough tire to start... so do I need aggressive in the trail
- gotta look good
- price
- I'm sticking to mainstream brand names... Mickey Thompson is the furthest I wanna go out of the big name brands.
- I'm also going to buy 5 as the spare is 13yrs old... don't want to use it while towing. (so I'll have a full replacement if they are sold out, or don't make the tire anymore etc...)

Thanks in advance for entertaining me... seems I am having a hard time making this decision....

:cheers:

[Squiggy]

I vote for wranglers for no other reason than I think they look the best.
:cheers:

[Jeremy]

I voted the Michelin LTX, my dad has them on his 2500 crew cab diesel and uses it to tow the 14,000lb 5th wheel with out problems. Cant beat Michelin for on road drivabillity and quality. He would not trust any other tire to tow with.

They were great in the snow this winter as well.

[TheOtherSide]

I voted the Michelin LTX, my dad has them on his 2500 crew cab diesel and uses it to tow the 14,000lb 5th wheel with out problems. Cant beat Michelin for on road drivabillity and quality. He would not trust any other tire to tow with.

They were great in the snow this winter as well.

Sweet... thx.

Do you think they'd do okay on a FSR or the easy part of Hale Creek?

[Sero]

I voted Goodyear just cuz they look cool and I'm sure they're good tires even though Goodyear tires would be my last choice when it comes to car/minivan tires. My second choice would be the BFG's...tried tested and true.

I agree with Jeremy on Michelins, you just can't go wrong with them. But that model just don't seem right for trail use, even the light duty stuff.

[TheOtherSide]

Just ordered 5 new Michelin LTX M/S, load range E tires for the truck today. Replacing the brand new spare tire that is 13 years old.

I ended up ordering the stock size 245/75/16 which is 3/4 inch or so shorter than what's on there now (265/75/16). I learned the final drive ratio is 3.73 which is a good highway gear... and wanted to get a bit of torque back (not much obviously) with the stock size. Will miss a bit of looks with the smaller tire, but will be the best scenario when towing.

Looking forward to not driving on old tires (current ones manufactured in 1997).... but will be selling them off for cheap if anyone wants cheapo tires that look pretty... but are hard as rocks!!

:woot:

[Jeremy]

I ended up ordering the stock size 245/75/16 which is 3/4 inch or so shorter than what's on there now (265/75/16). I learned the final drive ratio is 3.73 which is a good highway gear... and wanted to get a bit of torque back (not much obviously) with the stock size. Will miss a bit of looks with the smaller tire, but will be the best scenario when towing.

Says the guy with the 454 big block LOL!!!

What have you done with Kelly? We all want him back this practical one that down sizes tires is not him!!! I want Mr,37's or you tires are to small back!

:slap:

[TheOtherSide]

HAHAHAHAHAHA.... now that's funny.

Hey, I'm still the same guy... but I've put the desires of going big into engine size for now... and a few years down the road, I'll put together a Yukon or Tahoe with huge solid axles on mega tires with a Duramax swap in it.... :woot:

It's taking all my energy not to buy a 3" Flowmaster system for the Burb.... and a 2" lift to put 35's on it... :(

:hunter:

[Sero]

but I've put the desires of going big into engine size for now...

...along with the chi-ching sound of a big cash register at the gas station....:poke:



... and a few years down the road...

...you'll want a fuel efficient Jeep again....:D:tongue:

[Jeremy]

How much dose it cost to fill? :eek:

[TheOtherSide]

159 litre tank x 1.05/litre = $167

I filled it last week with $150... didn't fill it up!! :rant:

[BigWhiteFord]

159 litre tank x 1.05/litre = $167

I filled it last week with $150... didn't fill it up!! :rant:

You know, that actually makes me feel warm and fuzzy :poke:

Of course that's only because diesel is cheaper than gas right now...:crazy:

[TheOtherSide]

BAhh.... back to the drawing board. Turns out my new tires (which I haven't installed yet) don't have the Snowflake rating... which is what I was told they have. I want something that can handle it and is legally okay in the snow if we ever do a long trip in the winter time etc... don't want to be caught with M/S tires that aren't actually snow rated. I'm shocked that Michelin would do that.

Anyhow, the tire supplier we deal with at work is cool to take them back and put me into something else.

So... here we go again!

The Fountain Tire guy I talk to often wants me to get the Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armour... sounds kinda corny, but may be a good one.

Fun fun fun...

[TheOtherSide]

Wow, this is getting really tough to figure out now.

One of my main requirements for a tire is getting the Mountain/Snowflake logo on the tire for a full snow rating. If we head over to Kelowna or do any winter trips, I don't want to get a 2nd set of tires.

General makes a tire with that rating, but the tire doesn't have very good reviews.

BF Goodrich AT KO's have changed their rubber compound to be a bit harder to last longer.... so unless I find old stock, they no longer have the snow rating.

Goodyear Duratrak has it, but it's way too aggressive for what I want (tire looks cool in person)

Goodyear Wrangler Silient Armor seems to be a great choice, but after reading many many reviews, everyone with a 1/2 ton truck or smaller loves them and has nothing bad to say, but EVERYONE with a 3/4 ton or larger claims they wear out in 18,000-22,000 miles. So they seem to be too soft for the larger trucks (I have a 3/4 ton)

None of the Michelin's have the rating....

So, I think I'm going to try and search out a set of old inventory BFG AT KO's... I'm not really left with much choice. If I can't find any, I may have no choice but to go to the Silent Armor and follow their recommendations to the letter and try and get their 50,000k warranty to cover the early wear. (people have been saying that goodyear has said their tire inflation has caused their wear etc... but lots of people have been saying they have used the tire pressure recommended at Goodyear).

Why is it so hard to find any good tires with my rating?? :confused:

[BigWhiteFord]

Why is it so hard to find any good tires with my rating?? :confused:

Because you're picky! :poke:

On a serious note I think some old-stock BFG's would be the best bet. You've owned them, many others have owned them. They're easy to find replacements. Good all around tread pattern. Minimal noise. Good tread life.

[TheOtherSide]

They're not easy to find with the Mountain/Snowflake rating anymore... that's the thing. They're replaced with a tire that looks the same, but doesn't have the rating. So if I am able to find a set now, that's cool... just don't blow one out (buying 5 anyhow).

Picky eh? :slap:


:headspin:

[ChrisR]

Now if I may add my 2 cents worth here? I used to own a set of Traction King A/T. These were 10 ply Winter Snowflake rated tires. These tires are used almost exclusivley among all the loggers and Timber cruisers up here. I had them on my Grand Cherokee and got over 70,000 k out of them. They were fantastic in the snow and great in the summer on the fire roads. They were a bit noisy on the pavement, but I guess we can't get it all. Now may I ask why you are looking at Brand names so to speak. There are a ton of not so known tires out there, like these, that are great tires and not so much $$$$. LIke I said just my 2 cents but, but may be worth a chat with the Fountain Tire guy you know.
Here is link to the exact ones I had and I tell ya I loved em.
Chris
http://www.tireteam.com/item_detail?sku=2657516CAV67038&ref=ZILLA

[TheOtherSide]

Thx for the info Chris...

But for me... towing up to 7500lbs and the family, I'll be sticking with something brand name that I know.... just for some peace of mind. Not saying that the tires you've suggested aren't good... just gonna stick with something more mainstream. I'd also get better support if I was down in the states on a Goodyear or BF Goodrich etc...

[JaredS]

What about bridgestone duellers?

[ChrisR]

Thx for the info Chris...

But for me... towing up to 7500lbs and the family, I'll be sticking with something brand name that I know.... just for some peace of mind. Not saying that the tires you've suggested aren't good... just gonna stick with something more mainstream. I'd also get better support if I was down in the states on a Goodyear or BF Goodrich etc...

Ya I suppose that is some good peace of mind. If it was just for around the lower mainland and a few trips here and there I suppose the less mainstream brands would be a good alternative. Happy hunting :)

[TheOtherSide]

What about bridgestone duellers?

Not snow rated.

[TheOtherSide]

Okay... finally got the tries. Figured I'd tie up this thread with my abundance of photos....

Got 5 new 265/75/16 BFG All Terrain KO's with the Mountain/Snowflake rating. They are load range D at 3042lbs... which is the same as 245's with load range E. So I'm good.

http://pics.overlandcanada.com/burb/tires1.jpg

http://pics.overlandcanada.com/burb/tires2.jpg

http://pics.overlandcanada.com/burb/tires3.jpg
Piled up in the basement (no room in the garage) until I can find time to mount and balance them all.

:vnice:

[ChrisR]

Should look real nice when they are all on. I like the square look of the BFG's.
I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

[Jeremy]

You are going to be so down on TQ with the 265's.........:eek: good thing you have a big block 454 "ar ar ar ar" (Tim Allan voice)

I just passed a truck today with the Wranglers on it the new Duratrack, very aggressive looking tire. I may look at those for my next pair.

Pictures mounted?

p.s. have a new member in the family yet?