Tire choice
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
From: Davis, Ca.
Tire choice
I looking to get new tires. Have always run BFG 265/75 R 16. Don't use the truck a whole lot now. When I do it's about 80% highway. I do tow an 8k lb trailer on occasion and my biggest use is probably when I go hunting, still most miles are on highway. Only drive a couple thousand miles a year. Any recommendations? 2001 F250 4x4 xcab
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,573
Likes: 4
From: Seattle
Being that we run Michelin on all our vehicles I went with the LTX M/S2's. I could not be happier with the way they ride in almost all conditions. Great traction on wet roads, due to a lot of siping, and decent on ice and packed snow. With our camper in the back, they give me plenty of confidence when we're winding up and down mountain passes at freeway speeds. They ride great and one of the best things I noticed about Michelins is when they get past half tread depth, they continue to ride and perform well, unlike so many other brands I've experienced. I went with load range E in a 285/75-16 on the Lariat rims. More money, but worth every penny, in my opinion.
Last edited by binuya; May 16, 2016 at 09:07 AM. Reason: typed incorrect load range
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
From: Davis, Ca.
Being that we run Michelin on all our vehicles I went with the LTX M/S2's. I could not be happier with the way they ride in almost all conditions. Great traction on wet roads, due to a lot of siping, and decent on ice and packed snow. With our camper in the back, they give me plenty of confidence when we're winding up and down mountain passes at freeway speeds. They ride great and one of the best things I noticed about Michelins is when they get past half tread depth, they continue to ride and perform well, unlike so many other brands I've experienced. I went with load range D in a 285/75-16 on the Lariat rims. More money, but worth every penny, in my opinion.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 861
Likes: 7
From: AZ
Another vote for the Michelins.
If not those my #2 choice would be the Nitto Dura Grapplers
Dura Grappler Highway Terrain Light Truck Tire
.
If not those my #2 choice would be the Nitto Dura Grapplers
Dura Grappler Highway Terrain Light Truck Tire
.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 120
From: Mcdonough, GA
Can't recommend Cooper Discover AT3s
Can't recommend Cooper Discover AT3s, they have worn fairly evenly but have had issues with cupping and balancing. Suspension is tight with low mileage Bilstiens on all 4 corners. Rotate and balance on a pretty regular schedule. Won't buy them again.
Probably try the LTX A/T 2's or Toyo Open country AT next time around
Probably try the LTX A/T 2's or Toyo Open country AT next time around
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,455
Likes: 5,526
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i have been running the 285/75/16 cooper AT3's on all my trucks for a few years now. average mileage is 60,000 before they get replaced. and we run heavy loads.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 7,666
From: Chino Valley, Arizona
Michelin is an awesome tire Toyo is a awesome tire.
BUT you only drive 2,000 miles a year! 60,000 mile tire deviled by 2,000 is 30 years of tread life. they won't last 30 years.
buy the cheapest tire you can find it will still dry rot or separate before any of the tread is gone.
local tire shops here won't touch a tire that is 5 years old to repair, ballance or even put air in it.
BUT you only drive 2,000 miles a year! 60,000 mile tire deviled by 2,000 is 30 years of tread life. they won't last 30 years.
buy the cheapest tire you can find it will still dry rot or separate before any of the tread is gone.
local tire shops here won't touch a tire that is 5 years old to repair, ballance or even put air in it.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 120
From: Mcdonough, GA
I have run other Coopers in the past with good results and really had high hopes for these. Maybe I got some from a bad batch. If cupping had only happened in one position on the truck i would suspect a suspension issue but not on all 4. oh well
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 13,011
Likes: 742
From: Here in No. Calif
This is what I`m running on my truck and Exc with no issues. I have not replaced them yet so avg mileage tbd
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,455
Likes: 5,526
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i have never had any luck with michelins on cars or trucks.
i have taken off and thrown away 6 sets of almost new tires due to severe dry rot.
i had a set on the 04 when i got it that were 14 months old and had 1/4 inch deep dry rot cracks in the sidewalls near the beads, and the treads were full of dry rot spider cracks.
same thing with the 4 sets i took off the crown vics and grand marquis cars. less than two years old, and so dry rot i would not drive the cars until the tires were removed.
BFG at's were almost as bad, within 4 years they had to be removed due to blowouts at the dry rot cracks while still looking like new tread.
the coopers seem to be a softer compound tire so they do not dry rot as quickly.
i have taken off and thrown away 6 sets of almost new tires due to severe dry rot.
i had a set on the 04 when i got it that were 14 months old and had 1/4 inch deep dry rot cracks in the sidewalls near the beads, and the treads were full of dry rot spider cracks.
same thing with the 4 sets i took off the crown vics and grand marquis cars. less than two years old, and so dry rot i would not drive the cars until the tires were removed.
BFG at's were almost as bad, within 4 years they had to be removed due to blowouts at the dry rot cracks while still looking like new tread.
the coopers seem to be a softer compound tire so they do not dry rot as quickly.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Asheville-where weird is
Another vote for Michelin LTX MS2's in load range E. Awesome tires! As they age they do not do quite as well in mud; however, when we had the ice storm in NC a few months ago I had to drive across the state and I was very impressed. Only studded tires would have been better. I am not aware of any dry rot issues on the ones we have been using for 18 years on a fleet. If you drive it every month then you should be fine.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
i have never had any luck with michelins on cars or trucks.
i have taken off and thrown away 6 sets of almost new tires due to severe dry rot.
i had a set on the 04 when i got it that were 14 months old and had 1/4 inch deep dry rot cracks in the sidewalls near the beads, and the treads were full of dry rot spider cracks.
same thing with the 4 sets i took off the crown vics and grand marquis cars. less than two years old, and so dry rot i would not drive the cars until the tires were removed.
BFG at's were almost as bad, within 4 years they had to be removed due to blowouts at the dry rot cracks while still looking like new tread.
the coopers seem to be a softer compound tire so they do not dry rot as quickly.
i have taken off and thrown away 6 sets of almost new tires due to severe dry rot.
i had a set on the 04 when i got it that were 14 months old and had 1/4 inch deep dry rot cracks in the sidewalls near the beads, and the treads were full of dry rot spider cracks.
same thing with the 4 sets i took off the crown vics and grand marquis cars. less than two years old, and so dry rot i would not drive the cars until the tires were removed.
BFG at's were almost as bad, within 4 years they had to be removed due to blowouts at the dry rot cracks while still looking like new tread.
the coopers seem to be a softer compound tire so they do not dry rot as quickly.
I have the Michelin LTX MS2 as well, after burning through different tires that either failed prematurely or had no serious traction in the snow. With those few miles, if you drive in the snow at all - I'd go for the tire with the mountain snowflake logo. They wear terribly because they are so soft, but as mentioned before - dry rot will get you before wear will. The mountain snowflake tires handle wet roads very well, just make sure you choose a quiet one.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 29
If I am going to put mileage on the tires, the Micheline LTX MS2's have done well for me on both the 250 and my 7,200# SUV (both running OE sizes, Load E, and towing 6 - 7K#'s). I once ran Michelin Silent Armor's on the 250 and while they towed well, I pulled them off as the AT design was just too soft for me and my mostly on-road use.
Have seen were others are running Coopers on similar rigs to ours and are getting good results.
Agree that the current generation of tires are not aging as well as ones from decades past. Case in point is that my 8 year old Michelin trailer tires are trash (sidewall cracking and tread separation) where my brother's boat trailer tires from the 90's are still reliable enough to travel 2 miles a year. (And, Yes, I realize that 8 year old tires are *way* past their life. I just did not use that trailer for a while and now I need it.)
Have seen were others are running Coopers on similar rigs to ours and are getting good results.
Agree that the current generation of tires are not aging as well as ones from decades past. Case in point is that my 8 year old Michelin trailer tires are trash (sidewall cracking and tread separation) where my brother's boat trailer tires from the 90's are still reliable enough to travel 2 miles a year. (And, Yes, I realize that 8 year old tires are *way* past their life. I just did not use that trailer for a while and now I need it.)