Firestone Transforce A/T 10 plys on mom's Expy... Firm ride, and all the hauling capacity you could ever want. They bite hard as hell too... but they ain't cheap....

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but those PepBoys tires are a mud terrain tire, right? They are a good looking tire, but they may not be your best choice for snow and ice on the streets of "NYC/Suburban terrain". An aggressive off road mud terrain tread does not neccessarily translate to good traction in snow, let alone on icy streets. If you don't need the mud terrain and don't venture off road, you should really be looking at a tire that is going optimize your on-road traction in snow and on ice. As hard as it might be to pass on that tough "off-road" look, go with a tire that is going to best suit your needs.

For what it's worth, I agree with all the Michelin LTX folks on here. I have a set of Michelin LTX MS2's on my Expedition (265/75/16) that do great in all weather conditions on the road and hold their own in light duty off road conditions (rocky forest service roads). They are a 70K mile tire. I bought all four online for $700 and had a local tire dealer mount & balance them for another $60. They would be just under your $800 budget. I also have the more aggressive Michelin LTX AT2's on my F350 camping/hunting/fishing rig that do extremely well off road and are also phenomenal in town in snow and on ice. From your description of your needs, I don't think you could go wrong with either of these. Just my 2 cents....

 

BFG All-Terrain T/A KO's on the 99 EB 4WD

Michelin LTX M/S on the 05 EB 2WD

I firmily believe in you pay for what you get. Both of these tires are spendy, but if rotated promptly they will both last well over 60k.

 

I live in the NYC suburbs also...... Westchester county.

I use Goodyear Wrangler RT/s they were on there when I bought the truck and never changed to a different type. you can find them for about 130 a tire in the area. I just replaced the this past Saturday.

 

I just put a set of Bridgestone Dueler RVTs on my 2000 E.B. today. Stock 265/70R17

 

I've got the LTX M/S, E rated tires on mine. Decent tires but I won't do it again, at least not for what they cost. I think my next set of tires will be either the Firestone Destination A/T or the Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61. I was thinking about the General Grabber HTS because they got such a good rating on Consumer Reports, but I'm having a hard time not going with a all terrain. Another reason I'm thinking of the General's are because they are a low rolling resistance tire. I'm thinking I might pick up a mile or 2 if I go to them.

 

After reading great reviews here, I put on a set Bridgestone Dueler Revo's two years ago. Ride and performance were great, but after 22,000 miles (on a 50,000 mile tire) I'm getting them pro-rated and replaced this week cause they're down to the wear bars. If mileage is a high priority, do not get Revo's.

I'm switching to Firestone Destination AT's because it's the only other passenger tire in 285/70R17 that the shop I deal with carries. I figure mileage can't be worse than the Revo's. And they have a 30 day ride return, so if I don't like how they ride, I'll go back to the Revo's and eat the mileage.

 

I'm bringing this one back up.

I'm having the same issue with my Bridgestone HL Alenzas on the Expy. Just over 33,000 miles (65,000 mile warranty) and they are almost to the wear bars. By the penny test Lincolns head is visible on all 4 tires. Seems a little ridiculous. I've only had them 15 months.

I'm seriously thinking about switching to the Michelin LTX MS/2 or General Grabber HTS. Both are well reviewed on tirerack.

 

Just a quick follow up. The Firestones definitely ride better than the worn out Bridgestones, and the wife and I both think the Firestones ride better than the Bridgestones did when they were new. Bottom line, we're keeping the Firestones and would recommend them, for now. Hopefully they can come closer to the 50,000 mile mark.

 

I use nothing but Michelins, save one digression, and they are great. They will give you the mileage they say they will, and perform wonderfully during those miles.

 

I have had great results with the Michelin's that I have purchased for my trucks!

 

I'm with ExpySport on the Uniroyal Laredo Cross Country. I too was a diehard Michelin guy but for about half the price I give the Uniroyals a shot very glad I did.
I doe think they give up a bit of traction on ice, but just a bit had no problems with the 8 inches of snow earlier this week. The tread wear is as good or better than the Michelins.

 

I have Goodyear Wrangler RT/S on my Expedition, they wearing very well, very even, give good traction, no complaints.
On my F350 4x4 I have Cooper Discoverer ATR's, they are excellent tires, great traction in snow, sipped, wearing very good.
That being said, I've always been a "price" shopper when it comes to tires, and usually don't set out for a certain brand, but rather the best deal on a quality tire.
Both have been excellent in snow and rain, like the Coopers better.

 

Through several vehicles that I have owned, I have used many names of tires and sadly for some, they just tell you what you want to hear so they can make a sell. This fall I bought a set of Wild Country XTXsport and I am very impressed with them. Sure they are not your big named tire but Im getting around better than my neighbor that uses firestone (not sure of the model)

 

I put the Firestone Destination a/t on my 2004 f-150. Size 285/70/17
I was at about 12,000 miles on them when I traded it 3 weeks ago and it seemed like they were half worn down. I put a 2.5 leveling kit on it right before I had the tires put on, so 12,000 miles is only approximate. They had a nice ride, but just seemed to wear a little fast. I payed about $600 mounted and balanced with the alignment at a Firestone dealer.

My 02 EB Expy has new Kelly Safari Trex on it. Great traction on rain , snow, and ice. Thay are however loud and i can feel them in the pedal between 20 and 35 mph, after that they seem to quiet down and I don't feel them anymore.