Tire questions
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Overall outside diameter is too small. Lower profile tires are considerably smaller outside diameter, esp. at our tire sizes/widths. For example, a 265/75R16 is about the same outside diameter (within 1/10") as the OEM 235/85R16. A 65 series tire would have to be about 305 or so width to match the OEM diameter. That 265/70 suggested above would be close, but still a bit small; a 70 tire would have to be about 285. Just use the calculator at Tire size calculator to do the math for you.
Most of those smaller tires are also not Load Range E (10-ply) tires.
Most of those smaller tires are also not Load Range E (10-ply) tires.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 4
From: Terre Haute, IN
Sounds like youve got quite a bit of useful info. One thing to remember is that if there is a 'P' before the numbers, such as P265/70-R16, They are passenger vehicle tires. They' cannot handle the weight of a diesel pickup.
Make sure any tires you look at start with a 'LT'
Most commonly any LT265/75/R16 tires will either be D or E rated which is more than enough for commuting and light hauling.
Make sure any tires you look at start with a 'LT'
Most commonly any LT265/75/R16 tires will either be D or E rated which is more than enough for commuting and light hauling.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 223
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From: Bend, Oregon
Do any of you have experience with Trail Cutter tires? I can't even find out for sure who makes them, haven't gone to look yet and the guy couldn't tell me much at the time when I called.
235/85/16 studded snow Weld wheels & tires
Also going to be looking at a set of Wintercat M+S, both pairs are studded by the way.
Studded Tires and Wheels
235/85/16 studded snow Weld wheels & tires
Also going to be looking at a set of Wintercat M+S, both pairs are studded by the way.
Studded Tires and Wheels
Clueless spectator!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 6
From: Denver, CO
Where are you that you need a studded tire? With the weight of the diesel over my front tires, I have no problems with a M/S compound tire without studs. Except for Braking, I never have an issue with traction with a stock 285/85/16 mud and snow. Studs are great if you are in the snow constantly, but they give you strange handling at speed on dry roads.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 223
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From: Bend, Oregon
Studded tires are pretty common where I live.. it's Oregon but much different climate than western Oregon, more like a desert with cold winters, a decent amount of snow, and lots of ice. People hit ice and roll over all the time on the highways near town. Plus I take my truck over the pass (Cascade mountains) and depending on when I time it there's a good amount of snow and ice up there too, sometimes a LOT of snow during storms.
I thought a lot about all the advice that I got in this thread, about studded vs non studded, and decided that I'd rather be safe and get either studded tires or non studded winter tires, rather than just trying to run AT's with a good tread pattern.
I thought a lot about all the advice that I got in this thread, about studded vs non studded, and decided that I'd rather be safe and get either studded tires or non studded winter tires, rather than just trying to run AT's with a good tread pattern.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,560
Likes: 1
well, i bought myself a set of studded snow tires last fall, drove them all winter, and around april they were totally worn out. lesson learned, snow tires might have better grip in the snow, but they don't last on the highway.
i would suggest having 2 sets of tires and swapping back and forth, or just run an all season tire. a dedicated snow tire just won't last if you drive it much
i would suggest having 2 sets of tires and swapping back and forth, or just run an all season tire. a dedicated snow tire just won't last if you drive it much
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 223
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From: Bend, Oregon
Weird, last January we bought a set of Toyo Observe studless tires for my girlfriend's car, ran them all winter and summer (they're still on), and the tread doesn't look worse than when we first got them. I did the penny trick yesterday and at no point are they even close to being worn down.
Are some winter tires ok to run all year and not have them suffer? Hers have the mountain and snowflake symbol even and are great on ice and snow, made it through the summer just fine.
Do you usually put a pretty intense amount of miles on your truck? I don't use mine for long commutes or anything like that, so even 20k miles is a LOT for me.
Just when I thought I had it figured out, back to the drawing board. If you guys really think all season tires can cut it in a lot of ice and snow like we have here, then ok. I just really don't want any problems going back and forth over the mountains.
Are some winter tires ok to run all year and not have them suffer? Hers have the mountain and snowflake symbol even and are great on ice and snow, made it through the summer just fine.
Do you usually put a pretty intense amount of miles on your truck? I don't use mine for long commutes or anything like that, so even 20k miles is a LOT for me.
Just when I thought I had it figured out, back to the drawing board. If you guys really think all season tires can cut it in a lot of ice and snow like we have here, then ok. I just really don't want any problems going back and forth over the mountains.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 4
From: MI
tons of my friends CARS run winters all year long. three years and tires look great. but cars are light.
i got dakota definity m+s. chunky tread. well see how they do this winter
i got dakota definity m+s. chunky tread. well see how they do this winter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Bend, Oregon
Good point, I'm sure all around tires wear much faster on these trucks. Kind of a bummer but what can ya do!
I'll just keep checkin Craigslist and something will come up eventually.
I'll just keep checkin Craigslist and something will come up eventually.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 223
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From: Bend, Oregon
Breaking is pretty important to me. I am getting used to engine breaking as much as possible, but if I needed to use the breaks in an emergency situation I'd feel better about being able to use them.
How bad are you talking anyways? This is just kind of a tough decision for me because it's my first year driving a truck this size and I'm not sure whether it will be an issue or not. Last year in my small truck, even though I had great A/T tires and 4x4, it was sliding around like crazy and there wasn't even all that much snow.
We are definitely a mountain city here, most people have studded or at the very least winter tires, you'd be foolish not to. Unless trucks of this size are a completely different game. I really have no idea that's why I'm asking here.
Found a set of Hankook Dynamic MT's for sale, seems like they've gotten good reviews for ice and snow even though they're a mud tire, but I have no idea. They have been studded but didn't come that way I don't believe:
http://bend.craigslist.org/pts/3453912847.html
How bad are you talking anyways? This is just kind of a tough decision for me because it's my first year driving a truck this size and I'm not sure whether it will be an issue or not. Last year in my small truck, even though I had great A/T tires and 4x4, it was sliding around like crazy and there wasn't even all that much snow.
We are definitely a mountain city here, most people have studded or at the very least winter tires, you'd be foolish not to. Unless trucks of this size are a completely different game. I really have no idea that's why I'm asking here.
Found a set of Hankook Dynamic MT's for sale, seems like they've gotten good reviews for ice and snow even though they're a mud tire, but I have no idea. They have been studded but didn't come that way I don't believe:
http://bend.craigslist.org/pts/3453912847.html
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 223
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From: Bend, Oregon
I know, you're right it is. But realistically 20k miles would last me many winters, probably longer than I will have the truck for. I'm young and my life is always changing, always needing different vehicles for whatever I'm doing at the time. Get me a job 60 miles away and you can bet I'd be trading this thing in for a Geo Metro. LOL
What do you guys think of the studded Hankook Dynapro MT's? Seems like they've got decent tread, are supposed to do ok in snow and ice (even unstudded), plus they're already mounted on the right wheels.. saves me $50.
What do you guys think of the studded Hankook Dynapro MT's? Seems like they've got decent tread, are supposed to do ok in snow and ice (even unstudded), plus they're already mounted on the right wheels.. saves me $50.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,061
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i have 265/75/16 firestone transforce a/t's on the back of my truck. i have driven on roads where you couldn't see the lanes at all and they did just fine. my truck is 2wd. i also carry around 450lbs of concrete in the bed during the snowy months. never had an issue with braking. my truck has 235/85/16 kelly highway treads on the front. never had an issue with steering either. they need replacing though from bad shocks and loose tie rods.
my mom has(on her Durango 4x4) the f-stone destination a/t's iirc and those do GREAT in the winter. she hardly ever had to put it in 4x4 last winter.
my mom has(on her Durango 4x4) the f-stone destination a/t's iirc and those do GREAT in the winter. she hardly ever had to put it in 4x4 last winter.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 223
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From: Bend, Oregon
Thanks for your input, '94. Do you drive in a lot of ice as well? It's more ice than snow I have to worry about, we never really get a lot of deep snow and the main streets are plowed. But we do get a ton of ice.
Never realized you can run both those sizes at the same time, makes sense though since they are almost the exact same height.
Most my opposition to getting AT tires are from my experience with them last year. A set of Michelin LTX A/Ts were on my last truck when I got it, first real snow/ice I drove it in ended up doing a 360 and later on almost sliding into a parked truck. I'm not sure if all AT tires are that bad but these were awful, had good tread on them too but it seems like maybe the ice would get between the deep crevices in the tread and then pack and freeze there. Decided that day never to drive AT tires in the winter around here, but maybe they were just a bad design and maybe having an 8,000 pound truck will make them unnecessary (my last truck was a Dodge D-50 4-cyl).
Never realized you can run both those sizes at the same time, makes sense though since they are almost the exact same height.
Most my opposition to getting AT tires are from my experience with them last year. A set of Michelin LTX A/Ts were on my last truck when I got it, first real snow/ice I drove it in ended up doing a 360 and later on almost sliding into a parked truck. I'm not sure if all AT tires are that bad but these were awful, had good tread on them too but it seems like maybe the ice would get between the deep crevices in the tread and then pack and freeze there. Decided that day never to drive AT tires in the winter around here, but maybe they were just a bad design and maybe having an 8,000 pound truck will make them unnecessary (my last truck was a Dodge D-50 4-cyl).