Hi guys,

I've been on the search for tires for my F150 SCrew Lariat. I have the 20 inch wheel option from the factory and am really tired of the Scorpions, on my second set right now...They seem to be great for about 15k miles, but then seem to just go down hill in performance. I get about 48k out of them which is fine for a truck I guess.

Just curious if anyone has found any other good options. So far, I'm being quoted Cooper Discoverer H/T, Hankook Dynapro AT and BFG Long Trail T/A Touring.

My use is mostly around the county...2-lane blacktop 40mph posted type of roads. There is a fair amount of highway in there too. I do like something all-terrain simply because in the fall, it's hunting season and the cabin is 15 miles back the dirt road...plus the extra aggressive tread for mud and snow is nice when you need it.

Not looking for an LT tire...too heavy, I don't haul a full ton but a few times a year when I get wood pellets, mulch, etc.

Curious what other's have found. Tried doing some searches, but couldn't find much regarding the 20 inch tire....really seems to slim down the choices.

 

If you stay with the 275/55/20 you'll continue with the "P" rated tire. If you jump up to a 275/60/20 (like I did) you will also stay in the P-rated.

You might look past the Discover H/T and look into their their AT3 or even the sporty all terrain which is the Zeon LTZ:
Cooper Tire US - Light Truck

Toyo makes a new Open Country AT2 which is pretty nice and can be found in either the 275/55 or the 275/60, as well as the Nitto Terra Grappler. I'm personally a fan of anything Michelin makes. I run their LTX M/S2s on my 2006 Screw. I should have gone with their LTX AT2s, but at the time they only carried a 50k mile warranty...whereas the MS2s carry a 70k mile treadwear warranty. Don't knock the MS2s though, as they make look less aggressive, but I can personally attest to their strength in the snow and wet, and their ability to carry my hunting buddies and I around the fire roads in SW VA during season.

Here's a few pics of my 275/60/20 MS2s:

 

For long wear, a great ride, and surprisingly good performance in snow and mud, and good gas mileage due to low rolling resistance, I second the Michelin LTX M/S2. My van came with the LTX M/S's on it as OEM (surprisingly excellent OEM tire) and I replaced them with the same. They'll go 60-70k easy on a big van and should do the same on a pickup. Take very little weight to balance, and wear very evenly. Expensive but worth it. Consumer Reports has test ratings on a number of truck tires and as I recall the LTX M/S2 and LTX A/T2 rate highly. The Toyos also seem like good tires, but are conspicuously Asian whereas the Michelins are made in the US.

Not sure if they make the BFG Long Trail TA Tour in your size, but I have a set of those on a small SUV and they are made by Michelin and are doing very well (still half the tread there after 50k miles). I think these have a 60k mileage warranty and come in at 2/3 the price of the LTX's especially in larger rim sizes. Edit--I note you mentioned them and I will recommend them after 50k miles and Michigan winters....also, the BFG's that I have are made in the US. (Taking note of Cofcmsc's post that his LTX's are Canadian...still better than made in Japan, Korea, or China IMO)

Good luck, George

 

Ditto on the LTX M/S 2s. I just bought my 4th set of the m/s and 2nd of the m/s2 two months ago. Work great on my 06' scab 2wd. I paid $1120.00 with alignment and with out any road hazard. BTW mine were made in Canada.

 

Awesome feedback guys, much appreciated!

I was leaning towards the BFG's since I had a set on my '04 F250 die-eezl a few years back. I think they were a slightly different model though...I think they were Long Trail's still.

I am going to get a price on the Michelin's. If they are too much money to bother with, I will probably go the BFG route. I never ran Cooper's or Hankooks in my life of truck ownership and didn't really want to start. Not sure why, but they strike me as Pep Boys/cheap-ish tires.

Never even though about Michelin...thanks again!

 

McDavis - sharp looking truck. I like the step bars, too. That combined with the blacksidewall on the tires looks good.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Michelins...going to get a price tomorrow.

Any rubbing with the jump to 275/60 ? Just a tad larger diamater I guess...roughly 14mm if my math is right.

 

Hey FZ: the old Long Trail radial wore for a long time, but reviewers seem to like the Long Trail T/A TOUR (I think introduced in '08 or '09) much better. I actually bought them because I perceived them to be a "poor man's LTX M/S".

For my van in the 15" size, seems like there is only a $20 per tire price premium for the Michelin over the BFG (so I buy Michelins), but for my Subaru with 16" wheels, the BFG's were like $110 per tire instead of $160 for the Michelin, and I'm guessing in a 20" size the Michelin might be $300 per tire and the BFG $200ish.

Again, I have not had them on a big truck, but on my Subaru, the T/A Tours are wearing like iron (literally half the tread is still there after 51k miles), they are quiet and very well mannered, track nicely on the road, and work great in the snow (although my Forester has excellent AWD as well). And very much like you, I think of the Coopers and definitely the Korean/Chinese Hankooks as "second string" tires. Michelin and BFG are the same company and my BFG's were made in the US.

Good luck for many safe miles with your choice,
George

 

I think I'm really leaning toward the BFG or Michelin. I think I'll see how the dollars work out and then make the choice. Doesn't sound like I can go wrong either way.

Thanks for your feedback on how they wear.

 

Thanks for the compliment on the truck. I got rid of all the chrome last year. Long expensive battle.
The 275/60/20s don't rub at all. Its roughly a 0.9" increase in tire size over the 275/55/20 and the speedo is dead on through 80mph. It read higher than actual speed with stock size.

I paid $272 per tire a little over 2 years ago from a local chain through TireRack. 25k miles later and they don't show much wear to the untrained eye. In my opinion they are worth every penny. I've had them in some nasty East Coast wet snow storms and they performed flawlessly.


EDIT: I did nearly get the Cooper Zeon LTZ at the time and I probably would have had they been in stock. They are a sweet looking tread with great reviews. Cooper is USA made as well. I would strongly recommend them if you want something that looks slightly aggressive but is quiet and well mannered.