I need to get a replacement set of mud and snow tires for my truck before winter. I don't want all seasons- IMO they're just useless on a pick up, especially when it's RWD like mine.

I have an idea of what to avoid- thin treads, sidewall and/or bead cracking, etc.

I have stock tires for my truck- 75R15/P235. My rims are 7.5" across.

Just thought I'd get some opinions before I hit up craigslist.

 

You pretty much said it..

You want to make sure they have tread.
Cracking, tearings, bulging (or weak spots if tire is not mounted)

Tires also have date codes on them, and although 5 years is usually the life of them.. Itll just keep you from getting something thats pretty old.

 

Yep, check the date code. The last 4 digits of the DOT# will be something like 2510... the 25th week of 2010. 5 years old isnt so bad, but if you see one 10+, I'd pass.
The older ones are only 3 digit, so if it is say, 068, that would be the 6th week of 88, 98, or 2008... or maybe 2008 would be 0608 instead of 068... not 100% sure.

 

age is usually the biggest issue, while the ones on mine are 9 years old and run ok, ive seen some blow apart as well. get as new as you can, 2008 would be a safe bet. dry rot, cuts, patches, lumps also matter. look for name brand used ones, Michelin, bfgoodrich, goodyear, firestone, Nitto, you get the point.

 

What conditions are you planning on driving in? Aggressive mud tires are not good in any snow except deep stuff, which if you are staying on the state roads, you won't encounter.

 

https://www.treadwright.com/c-5-235-75r15.aspx

and

Green Diamond Tire


Might be something to consider as well.

 

I have done a lot of research and reading on Treadwright including chatting with quite a few people that have used their tires. I am going to be ordering 6 for my dually this winter ( 315/75/16) I have heard nothing but good things about them.

 

Thanks for the input, guys.

I'm not planning on doing any really aggressive driving. It's just that I like having a more aggressive tread, again, because my truck is just RWD. I have chains for when it's really bad out (Iowa weather, so not the worst, but it can get really ugly), and I take my time, but the tires I have now are just worn out, and far beyond recommended age limits.

The tires I have now are BF Goodrich All Terrain TA's. I bought them brand new when I was 15 years old and have had them on my previous truck and now this one. 15 years later, there's actually still tread on them, but it's well under 2/32" (also known as 1/16" so I don't know why they don't just say that)

Thanks for the info about the dates- I had no idea they did that. I just look for sizes and recommended inflation pressures.

So anyway, I'd like to find something comparable to the BFG's, like in the treadwright link.

Thanks again.

 

had treadwright's on my old jeep,was very happy for the price I paid for them.

 

I'm a few days late on this, but I'll jump in...Good luck on finding those tires. Getting two matching may not be TOO bad, but finding four is really hard. Private sellers usually don't have any GOOD used tires. They run 'em until they are useless...ie, your 15 year old tires! ( I do the same thing, though). I've had the best luck by hitting up junkyards and pull-a-parts. I walk around looking at tires until I find something useful. I think the problem is that all the new trucks come with 17 and 18 inch tires.

 

keep in mind, putting larger tires on the rear than you have on the front is counterproductive. . .aggressive oversize tires on the rear only decreases traction, as it further increases the already front favored weight distribution to the front. I know you said you currently had the same size all the way around, but the temptation might be there to snag some oversize aggressive tires you see. you could, however, run oversized with a bunch of weight in the rear (lots)

also, in 2wd snowy conditions, the optimal setup for the front would be "tractor-esque", meaning those big balloonish tires that have no tread, just deep grooves to dig into mud and snow while steering. of course, this isn't exactly a practical option, but keeping this in mind would help you with overall tread selection.

 

I live in the south so please understand I don't know jack about driving in the snow!!! When you say your truck is rear wheel drive it may just be one wheel drive. Meaning your rear gear is not limited slip. Something to consider is a locker. I put a Spartan locker in my red/grey truck and it made a whale of a difference. In a straight line both rear tires are 100% locked which means it really is a 2-wheel drive truck. In a turn the outer wheel turns faster and the castle-design of the locker allows it to over drive and I hear a click click click when it does this.

 

Thanks for the tip about the junkyards. I always overlook them when it comes to tire selection. I don't need all 4 though- I have a good pair of tires on the front that I salvaged from a friend's '87 4.9 when he junked it.

Thanks for the info- I'll keep it in mind. But I'm not looking for oversize tires to put on, just something with a more aggressive tread than your run of the mill tire. As I said, something comparable to my BFG's when I bought them new.

I doubt my diff is limited slip. I'm not sure of the gear ratio, but it's a stock axle. How difficult is the locker to install?