New Truck Tires

[WAeyes]

What are your suggestions for replacement tires on a 1/2 ton GMC 4WD truck? My current tires are the originals that came with the truck, Firestone P265 75/R16. Mostly on road with alot of wet surface and occasional snow and ice and off road.

[Evergreen State Musky Guy]

I own a Blazer that I bought in 1985 and I've put over a quarter million miles on it since then. A lot of this in Seattle but I also used it for winter time commuting over Snoqualmie Pass when I was working in eastern Washington and for taking a cartop boat into fishing holes with unimproved boat launches.

It has gone through several sets of tires and I've experimented with different tires looking for good stopping ability on wet greasy pavement, no hydroplaning, and good traction in snow without having to use chains. I also wanted the tires to grab, not spin, in the mud, sand, or loose soils sometimes found at unimproved boat ramps.

A set of Michelin light truck tires was unsatisfactory. The vehicle slid on wet roads and spun its wheels uselessly in snow. I tried different versions of Goodyear's Aqua-Tread but they were not as good as a wide AT (all terrain) with a deep lug-type tread (but less than a knobby).

Besides Michelins and Goodyears I've run Coopers, which is what's on the vehicle right now. The Goodyear AT was the best tire I used and I think Goodyears grip a bit better but the main thing is tire width and tread design. Don't buy a modified AT, go with a full AT. With the ATs I pushed and pulled other vehicles out of snow banks in 4WD without studs or chains and wet pavement stopping ability and hydroplaning performance was as equal or better than a narrower Aqua-Tread.

[johnp034]

I had the same tires on my last truck, changed em over to Bridgestone 285/R75/16's. Now the truck I just got has them ugly Firestone 265/R75/16's, only this time I'm going with the Goodyear 305/R70/16's, only because Bridgestone doesn't make that size, and I want a bigger tire. I really did like the Bridgestone tires, they were good in all weather and didn't sing goin down the road.



"Fishing: It's a way of Life"

[eyeman_1]

My 1/2 ton 4X4 came with a set of Goodyear's which were very poor off road in mud or snow and did not wear for anything. Granted one tire that is good in mud most likely will not perform in snow. Since I don't often off road but during hunting season I needed replacement tires that would be a compromise and still handle wet roads while towing the boat or to and from work.

I settled on Michelin LTX/AT their all terrian tire. I have been very happy with these. I have put almost 50K on these tires and I'm sure I'll get another 15 without a problem. These tires have been decent in snow, adequate in mud and are very sure footed on wet pavement. They are also suprisingly quiet! Try them you'll like them if you are not a serious off-roader.

I've also had great success with Dunlop Radial Rovers. The wear wasn't as good but they were a superior tire off road on my last truck. Drove them all over the forest service roads in the UP and they saved my bacon a couple of times trying to get to deer camp.

[sevenmmm]

I sell used tires.

I want to think this gives me an unique perspective on what most brands of tires look like After they have been in use.

Those shiny black tires all look and smell the same before you put them on, and in general they are. Its also funny to note there are only a handful of manufacturers making hundreds of brand names. So if you do some shopping and compare the heat and treadwear rating you will be smart enough to get the top of the line tire for alot less money.

Just keep in mind that an agressive tread design will have a rougher, noisier ride. But if you go mudding, or live in the sticks up north, you may need to make this trade.

When I come acrossed someone who is blaming the tire for a certain ride, most of the time it is their vehicle's worn parts, or lack of tire pressure and rotation, or wanting the tire to perform beyond its capacity, that is to blame.

My "Profession" is used tires. And without highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of every single tire brand, I will recommend the General Tire for all around performance and low price, the Goodyear AT for traction, and the Michelin for ride and durability.

And I definetly would not own a Firestone, I am seeing the same shoulder cracking on some of the new ones that I have witnessed on the Firestone ATX recalled tires!

[Brad]

I just purchased a set of Michelin LTXs in December. My truck has 59,000 miles on it and rides and handles like new as a result of just installing the tires. They handle snow very well. They weren't cheap, but I have never been so impressed with a tire before.

[johnp034]

Rick, do you know offhand what is the largest size Michelin makes in a 16" truck tire? Got Michelins on my wifes Mazda Millenia, and the ride and wear is outstanding! Don't know id I can afford them for the big truck, but it's worth checking out.

[WAeyes]

Is there a noticeable difference in road noise between an all terrain tire and an all season highway tire? I would like the extra traction but if I don't need it very often and I have 4WD, do I really need the AT?

[Splitshot]

Go with the Michelin LTX's there is no better tire on the market. I had a set with approx. 20,000 miles on them and had the dealer take them off and put them on my new vehical and gave them the factory tires. The new truck has another 36000 miles on it and they are still a great tire. They are not the cheapest tire in the world but I've had 3 pair now and I'll own a fourth when the time comes. I've also never had to put on ounce of air in any of the three sets I've owned.

Good luck

[Ohio fisherman]

Here is my free advice. Here in Ohio, we drive on lots of wet roads. Quite a bit of snow and some ice. On my vehicles, I have tried Goodyear, Uniroyal, Firestone, Bridgestone, and B.F. Goodrich. By far, the best for is B.F. Goodrich all-terrain t/a. It is great for lack of noise, traction in reasonable mud, traction on snow and ice. They do a great job on highway, and in mud they are much more self-cleaning that all the others, except true large open lug mud tires. The best mud tires are B.F. Goodrich mud terrains. My new Expedition came with Goodyear wrangler tires which are absolutely lousy for traction. They load up with a tiny amount of mud and become slicks. They are ok on the highway. Good luck, Ohio Fisherman

[sevenmmm]

Well.. I am not very versed on new tires. But the largest in the Michelin I have seen is LT265 R75 16".

Another funny thing about the Michelin, is it is always taller and wider and thicker than the other brands in the same size. Especially if compared to the cheapest tires.

Another poster had good things to say about BF Goodrich tires. I will agree with him when considering LT Type tires. But if you are considering a passenger or a Light Duty Pmetric tire, put the palm of your hand on the shoulder of the tire, then with the other grab the bead and flex the tire's sidewall. You will be amazed at how thin the sidewall is.

[Das Boot 3]

My last truck had B.F Goodrich LongTrail LT265s on it and my current truck has Goodyear RT/S on it and OOOOOO how I miss the B.F. Goodies the 98 was wearing. My current tires have 25K on them and they are skinned. I admit that I tend to abuse my tires and have a posi rear end but these tires tread disappears by the day. It is also my totally unqualified opinion that the Goodies are better on snow/ice.

[Evergreen State Musky Guy]

Maybe I should try Goodrich next time, as everyone here who used them likes them.

[Mech]

I sell tires for a living and the only two that I would ever put on my truck are the Lt265/75r/16 Lt stands for light truck and are at least a 6ply rating, where the p265 the p stands for passenger and is only a four ply, mainly for ride comfort. As far as brands if you do your research you will find that for the most part Bridgestone Dueler A/T's and Yokohama Geolander A/T plus II are highest in all around ratings, for traction, treadlife, and noise.

I have run both and have happily converted many BFG and Goodyear guys that had no Idea what a good tire was.:-)

[WAeyes]

You must have been reading the same reviews and test results that I have. It is a pretty cool site huh?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Dueler+A%2FT+Revo&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=675R6ATREVOWL6

[Husky]

Heres my personal experience with Bridgestone Duelers.

Had a set sepecial ordered after reading many testamonies like that cited above. When they were installed, it took only 3 miles of driving for me to find the sidewalls flexed more than I was accustomed to. This led to lack of perceived control in situations where you had to change lanes suddenly, or when taking turns on entrance/exit ranps with large circular radii. I had them take them off and bought BF Goodrick All Terrains. Although I ate some $$ in the switch, I have been very happy with the All Terrains. (Now over 60,000 miles on them with no problems, and still have about 30% of tread life left) Traction is nothing but fantastic in rain and snow.

I had a set of Michelin's on a Yukon (XL's) They were a hard composition rubber, and were downright dangerous i the rain. Hopefully the newer LTX's have improved on this.

[Grey Wolf]

Pretty much sounds like most of us are ageeeing on two brands of tires. I have run several sets of the BFG AT's and was very happy with them. 65,000 miles and more. Then I started getting the Bridgestone Dueller At, and was even ore impressed wtih this. The tread pattern appeared to be qa little less agressive than the BFG',s and a little less road noise, but the traction was just as good if not better than the BFG's. On three sets of these tires I got not less than 70,000 miles of hard use. These were all on 1/2 tons. I now have a one ton with 40,000 miles on a set of Firestone (Can't think of the model), but it is what ever came on the Ford, they 265,75,16, and I have been extremlyt happy with these as well.

[Marble Eyes]

Cooper Discover tires I have had real good luck with.

With over 300,000 miles of Field testing :) I have had one tire go bad and it was replaced. They run quiet, and smooth. I have experienced atleast 70,000 on a set out of all of them that I have had, All on Ford 4 wheel drive pickups.

[John B]

On my old ford ranger I put 30,000 miles on the original Firestones, and then put 90,000 miles on a set of BF Goodrich All Terrain's....

I could have squeezed more miles out of them, but I did not rotate them regularly, so they wore out unevenly.

I replaced those BF's with another set, and when I traded my truck in w/ 170,000 miles, there was still plenty of tread on them...

They can be pretty noisy, but the will last a very long time...

[SUPERTROLLER]

I put a set of Kumho tires on my truck last spring. After almost a full year of use, I am very pleased. They are Venture AT's and have handled well in the rain, snow and ice of Mi. Also ran a little off-road in the U.P. on some two tracks that were a little muddy and I have no complaints. They didn't clog with mud and seem to self clean the slushy snow pretty good too. Very little road noise for a tread pattern that looks a little on the aggressive side. They were only $72 bucks a piece. Check'em out, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set.

[walleyevision]

Go with the BFGoodrich all terain, then have them siped. You,ll be glad you did. Ive had many different brands and I have to go back to the BFGs. . The sipe helps with noise, traction, stopping and the rear doesnt brake loose on snow and ice in high winds. Ohh and your tires last longer siped too, theyre always cool to the touch.