I've got a 2002 F350 crew cab dully that I've been doing a bunch of upgrades on the last 1.5 years. I've only been able to put on 200 miles when I first bought it and it's been in the garage undergoing the transformation. I'm getting close now and hope to have it driveable at the end of May. My plans for the truck is when I retire is to pull a 5th wheel camper during the winter months down south and out west. So it will be my daily driver when camping and pulling. I'll say 12k pounds around the states. So I'm going to have to replace all the tires including the spare as the current tires are a mess and the spare wheel is a rusty mess. In fact I can't even get it down from under the truck.
So I need a good tire that is going to be able to handle the weight in all weather conditions, have good traction, not brake the bank and most of all reliability. I was hoping to wait a couple of years but now with this rubber shortage I'm concerned that the costs will go out of control. Which is already starting. So interested in what your guys recommendations are.
I have this on another tread too. Thanks in advance!

 

Falken Wildpeak A/T's.

 

I run trucks heavy and towing often on lots of gravel roads, back roads and little highway. Basically never get past 22-25k on any tire, usually 18k or so. The best of all I have found are cooper st maxx and toyo open country ct.
the ct hold up great ride nice and quiet, I plan to get a set again this summer, the cooper st maxx are my go to heavy work tire, they are a tad more aggressive and hold up well. My coopers are starting to get noisy, but are down to about 7-8/32, which is when I generally get new and donate them to a local person in need of tires but cant afford em. Anything lower tread then that and I spend time stuck on jobsites, which for a 10k lb tryck and a 10k lb trailer generally costs more then the new tires in lost time and anger. Both tires are good in snow, wet grass, and all terrain types. I suppose they would be good in mud, but at my weight, I avoid that as it just sinks no matter what tread is on em :-)

 

Michelin Defender LTX MS and no doubt soon to be a lot more added to your request.
Long lasting good quality ain’t cheap but tires that haul family (I’m guessing) and a 12k plus 5th wheel might not be the items to go look in the “bargain basement” for.
Did I just date myself.

 

In ether case it's just the wife and I now. Grand kids for short trips. Did I just date myself! On another tread one guy has had Michelins for 16 years with good tread but sidewalls starting to show their age. I believe after 10 years ties become suspect. Anyway looking at Coopers and Goodyear for now. I'll look into your Defenders and Falkens.

 

cooper ST or the AT 4 is what I like to run. excellent tow tire, great in mud and snow and puncture resistance is high.

 

We spend 7 months a year traveling south west and east in the fall winter spring pulling a 16K trailer with our DRW. Coppers and Goodyear would be in the bottom of my list from first hand experience for heavey trailer towing. I run Firestone Transforce HT tires after the OEM tires are done for, the price is right, they are quite, good traction and will go 50K mikes easly this is also from first hand experience from many pulling miles and even more miles running them on my heavey work trucks in my past life. I will add that Goodyear are on the very bottom of list.

Denny

 

You know my thoughts from your other thread in the 7.3L sub-forum, but I will summarize here.

I tow at 18,000 - 20,000 lbs cross country. Been running Cooper ST MAXX for ~45,000 miles and am on track to get 70,000 miles out of them. 90% of the time the truck is moving the 5th wheel is on it.

We travel on Forestry Service roads in the east and BLM land in the west. I live in the country and need good traction for off road situations. The ST MAXX inspires confidence on and off the road.

Cooper has impressed me so much with this tire that I have been changing our 3 other vehicles to Cooper tires.

Tires are like oil choices... A lot to choose from and everyone has an opinion. Go with your gut feeling and be happy with the choice.

 

I'm with you Sous. Most of the feedback I've received is for the Coopers. I'm going back to my customer Friday and show him the Discoverer line part and maybe we can find them at his supplier.

 

I love mine Coopers Discovery A/T's III XLT, I might give Falken WildPeak A/T's III next the dealer are selling them for buy three get one for $1.

 

5 years on tires.
I second Michelin. I had Conti's... Did not like them. Seems sidewalls were less stout than Michelin.
A couple folks at the regular campground I go to like the Cooper Discoverer HT3. Goodyear just acquired Cooper, so I hope they don't change the line to be a sub par brand to them.

 

Those of us that like Cooper tires hope they maintain a high level of quality that we have grown accustomed too. Maybe Goodyear will leave well enough alone.

If they do go down in quality, we will know fairly quickly.

Hopefully they learned a valuable lesson with the G614 and Marathon before moving to the Endurance in the ST world.

 

Ya that would be a shame if Goodyear lessons the quality. Almost concerns me and maybe I should consider the Falken WildPeak A/T's III instead. Interesting that Sous is considering trying them after being so devoted to the Coopers. No final decisions been made yet although I got a quote back for the Cooper ST MAXX $251. Discoverers AT lll $201. The Falken WildPeak AT lll $203.
Getting close to getting it on the road. Got my EGT and Trans Temp gauges in this weekend. Hopefully I can get the cooling system cleaned out next weekend and switch over to the Rotella ELC. Then install the seats and should be ready to put some miles on it.

 

I am not brand loyal, I am quality and reliability loyal. That goes for everything I purchase. From vehicles, to electronics, to knives. If Cooper goes downhill (I hope it does not) I will be one of the first to jump ship to another manufacturer. That manufacturer would receive the same level of scrutiny and analysis that Cooper received years ago when I went with ST MAXX for the truck, then H/T Plus for the Subaru. Price is a factor, but when considering tires, price is less of a factor than reliability and quality.

Perhaps the Falken Wild Peak A/T III would win my business if the Coopers go down, that is difficult to say at this point as I have done zero, zilch research into them. Forum advice is worthy of digesting and pondering, but it is your money, your time, your life in some situations that may be in the balance of what some stranger on a truck forum says.

Go with your gut feeling sir. Do not select something because I or someone else said so, go with your gut.

 

Looks like I'm the only Yokohama Geolandar A/T guy, I even run Geolandar HT on my 14k 5W. Long wearing, made in America in Salem, Virginia, and in West Point, Mississippi.
Have to admit I have a set of Michelins off a 2020 Ford F350 on the OEM rims in my shop, about 1000 miles on them, I couldn't turn down for $600.

(some guys have too much money, these are take offs from a new F350 used until it was put in a shop for a lift & big tires. No they are not stolen I saw his shop and his restored vehicles. He even has the patrol car from Mayberry RFD and that will age many of us)