Tire questions
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From: Bend, Oregon
Tire questions
I need to get some new tires for my '86 F250 4x4 and have some questions first, thought maybe someone on here could help. I live somewhere where there's often ice and light to moderate snow, not usually feet of it but starting last week our roads have been getting icy again and we've already had a couple rollovers.
I'm wondering how these things do on the snow/ice, I've always drove light trucks and would imagine that the added weight helps stabilize, until you go to stop and maybe it could work against you. The reason why I'm asking is because I can't afford both all terrain tires and studded or studless winter tires, so I've got to pick which one I need more.
As far as safety, some kind of winter tires would probably be a better idea I'm thinking. But come summer time I'm gonna really wish I had AT's on it. We'll see.. what do you guys think?
My other question is what other sizes (if any) could I safely go to? I know 235/85/r16 is recommended but wasn't sure if any others will work.
Thanks,
Zac
I'm wondering how these things do on the snow/ice, I've always drove light trucks and would imagine that the added weight helps stabilize, until you go to stop and maybe it could work against you. The reason why I'm asking is because I can't afford both all terrain tires and studded or studless winter tires, so I've got to pick which one I need more.
As far as safety, some kind of winter tires would probably be a better idea I'm thinking. But come summer time I'm gonna really wish I had AT's on it. We'll see.. what do you guys think?
My other question is what other sizes (if any) could I safely go to? I know 235/85/r16 is recommended but wasn't sure if any others will work.
Thanks,
Zac
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255/85 should also work, same as the 235-85 its a pizza cutter and will yeild good winter traction the 255 is taller. We run alot of toyos on the ranch, and the M-55 is a great all around tire, its a studdable mud/snow tire that is quiet and durable on the hwy.
a 265/75 is going to be roughly the same height as the 235/85 but is a wider profile tire, still a common size so availability and price should be comparable. 285/75 is a taller tire with the same profile, pretty much a 33-12.50
FYI most traction tires and some ATs are studdable, you could always have them studded for winter, then have the studs removed. I cant remember the price, but its not horrible.
a 265/75 is going to be roughly the same height as the 235/85 but is a wider profile tire, still a common size so availability and price should be comparable. 285/75 is a taller tire with the same profile, pretty much a 33-12.50
FYI most traction tires and some ATs are studdable, you could always have them studded for winter, then have the studs removed. I cant remember the price, but its not horrible.
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From: Foothills of cascades
If I could afford them, I would buy M55's! Awesome tire from what I hear.
Since its the high desert, and its mostly rocky soil, a skinnier tire will do better. The wide tires are good for when you get into deep mud that if you went to the bottom you would sink up to the axles, basically to try to get you to float above it. I would like to do 255's as my next tire., but they are pretty darn expensive.
I had 285 BFG T/A on mine, if there was more than like 8" of snow on the ground I had to do some fancy driving. My truck is light and has an open diff, and with the tires I didnt get much traction at all.
I miss that side of Oregon., I use to go over to La Pine all the time in the summer to go fishing in all the lakes around it. Cant wait till I"m back in Oregon!
Since its the high desert, and its mostly rocky soil, a skinnier tire will do better. The wide tires are good for when you get into deep mud that if you went to the bottom you would sink up to the axles, basically to try to get you to float above it. I would like to do 255's as my next tire., but they are pretty darn expensive.
I had 285 BFG T/A on mine, if there was more than like 8" of snow on the ground I had to do some fancy driving. My truck is light and has an open diff, and with the tires I didnt get much traction at all.
I miss that side of Oregon., I use to go over to La Pine all the time in the summer to go fishing in all the lakes around it. Cant wait till I"m back in Oregon!
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Fordguy100 probably knows better than me for the Oregon area but on my truck i used a lot of different tires and sizes on my truck from 235/85's to 285/75's with only a leveling kit. But the tires i liked the best (which they don't make anymore) were the Dayton timberline at's. Best overall tire and they lasted great.
But as to your original question I'd go with the AT's because the snow tires are a lot softer compound usually. This means they won't last as long and if money is tight that's what i would go with. You'll just have to adjust your driving in the winter more but probably not that much anyway.
But as to your original question I'd go with the AT's because the snow tires are a lot softer compound usually. This means they won't last as long and if money is tight that's what i would go with. You'll just have to adjust your driving in the winter more but probably not that much anyway.
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From: Bend, Oregon
Well that opens up my options a bit.. I'm looking for used ones right now, did a search for 285/75/r16 and found quite a few around here. There's a pair of Dean Mud Terrains studable for $450, set of Firestone Wilderness A/T's with decent tread for only $225.
Wintercat studded for $325... there's actually a lot to choose from on here. Any tips I should know when buying used tires? How much tread would I want left to get a year or two out of them? I don't drive much, maybe 2000-3000 miles a year.
Wintercat studded for $325... there's actually a lot to choose from on here. Any tips I should know when buying used tires? How much tread would I want left to get a year or two out of them? I don't drive much, maybe 2000-3000 miles a year.
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Your truck i don't even think will need a leveling kit to clear 285's IIRC because of your body style has more room.
Though tires that size will hurt your mileage because it takes more power to turn them. also 285's are 2 inches wider than stock. Normally you want to stay skinnier for winter to cut through snow better but you also gotta deal with what you can find and afford.
Used tires you want to make sure they hold air, have few cracks in the sidewall, also learn how to read tire codes(quick google search will help) to know how old the tires are which plays a big difference in how safe they are to run.
Tread depth for two years is hard to put a blanket number on due to differing compounds of rubber(harder/softer)
Though tires that size will hurt your mileage because it takes more power to turn them. also 285's are 2 inches wider than stock. Normally you want to stay skinnier for winter to cut through snow better but you also gotta deal with what you can find and afford.
Used tires you want to make sure they hold air, have few cracks in the sidewall, also learn how to read tire codes(quick google search will help) to know how old the tires are which plays a big difference in how safe they are to run.
Tread depth for two years is hard to put a blanket number on due to differing compounds of rubber(harder/softer)
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From: Bend, Oregon
Is that a tread measurement? I'm thinking there's a tool I should probably pick up to measure, I've always just used a penny!
Edit: this was a response to the post about 5/32" being useless in winter
Edit: this was a response to the post about 5/32" being useless in winter
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From: Bend, Oregon
Mileage is definitely an issue for me, I'm already breaking the bank driving this thing around town. So I should stick with around the stock size for best mileage, correct? Can I go over/under a bit? I'm just trying to get a list together of what sizes will work (without sacrificing safety or mpg), so that I know what to search for on craigslist.
What about 225/70/R16? Found some studded ones on 16X6.5 5-100/115 41B rims. Not sure if the rims will work but the tires sound pretty good.
What about 225/70/R16? Found some studded ones on 16X6.5 5-100/115 41B rims. Not sure if the rims will work but the tires sound pretty good.
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Taller tires in my experience usually add to mileage, depends on gearing. When i went from 30's to 35s my mileage went from 14.5ish to 18+. Have to remember youre going farther/faster than you odometer/speedo think, so take that into consideration. There is a tool for measuring tires, any reputable tire store will base the price off of tread depth and will tell you if you ask them. most new tires range from 20-28 / 32's of tread depth, traction tires having more and typically AT's and HT's having less. Taller / narrower tires perform better in slick conditions than wide tires, as they have a smaller contact patch, less flotation, more digging.
shoot for 10/32s, 2/32's is illegal make sure the wear on the tire is even, not cupped out or wore to one side. If they have a lot of patches in em stay away from them. cracks in the sidewall can be okay as long as theyre not deep, cracks in tread and by the bead stay away from.
If youre planning on studding, the tires have to have at least half tread or the studs will come out
shoot for 10/32s, 2/32's is illegal make sure the wear on the tire is even, not cupped out or wore to one side. If they have a lot of patches in em stay away from them. cracks in the sidewall can be okay as long as theyre not deep, cracks in tread and by the bead stay away from.
If youre planning on studding, the tires have to have at least half tread or the studs will come out
Laughing Gas
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From: Surrey, BC, Canada
You can run different size tires, and yes they make to truck look cooler, but most won't improve your snow/ice traction at all, some might even make it worse.
Stick with the 235/85/16's for winter, and if you want something to look cool run it during spring/summer/fall. Your gearing is set up for it, and it's how it was built to be run.
I swear by Goodyear tires up north here. Duratrac's are not cheap but they have one of the best snow/ice ratings out there of any tire. Also just keep a set of chains/cables in your bed/back seat and your should never really have an issue. I run similar tires and spent months living up in a remote camp site in the mountains seeing weather like this every day and the Goodyear's performed like a champ and are still on my rig nearly 2 years later and I off road with them all the time.
My driveway up there.
General snow level, that is the bottom of my door.
Stick with the 235/85/16's for winter, and if you want something to look cool run it during spring/summer/fall. Your gearing is set up for it, and it's how it was built to be run.
I swear by Goodyear tires up north here. Duratrac's are not cheap but they have one of the best snow/ice ratings out there of any tire. Also just keep a set of chains/cables in your bed/back seat and your should never really have an issue. I run similar tires and spent months living up in a remote camp site in the mountains seeing weather like this every day and the Goodyear's performed like a champ and are still on my rig nearly 2 years later and I off road with them all the time.
My driveway up there.
General snow level, that is the bottom of my door.
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yeah tread depth. you can get a depth gauge at any auto parts store.
Laughing Gas
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From: Surrey, BC, Canada
Or you could just get a ruler, steal your child's/nephew or niece/neighbors child/random child you mug on the street's protractor set and do it that way.
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rofl... thats funny
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From: Bend, Oregon
I'll be picking up a gauge soon then, before looking at any used tires.
SnuffthePunkz, I'm definitely not looking at bigger tires so that they look cool or anything like that. Never even thought oversized tires or lifts are that great, all I can think of when I see them is "sucks to be you at the pump".
The reason why I'm wondering is that in the month and a half I've been looking, only a couple pairs of 235/85/16's have come onto Craigslist around here, one brand new and the other not enough tread. So I'm wanting to start looking for other sizes. Definitely found some similar ones but I don't want to sacrifice too much mpg or safety by switching so now I don't know.
That looks like a lot more snow than we ever get here.. I'm driving on the streets usually and they're plowed, but the ice is what you have to worry about here.
SnuffthePunkz, I'm definitely not looking at bigger tires so that they look cool or anything like that. Never even thought oversized tires or lifts are that great, all I can think of when I see them is "sucks to be you at the pump".
The reason why I'm wondering is that in the month and a half I've been looking, only a couple pairs of 235/85/16's have come onto Craigslist around here, one brand new and the other not enough tread. So I'm wanting to start looking for other sizes. Definitely found some similar ones but I don't want to sacrifice too much mpg or safety by switching so now I don't know.
That looks like a lot more snow than we ever get here.. I'm driving on the streets usually and they're plowed, but the ice is what you have to worry about here.