Well, I finally gave up on finding a reasonably priced replacement tire for my F350 FX4 CC Shortiebed. I had a set of the stock TR Conti's mounted. I also had them siped to improve the performance in icy and wet conditions. Here is what I found today after buying, inspecting and test driving:

1)The siping may have improved the ride a little. Wont know about the ice traction until I hit some ice. Bound to happen soon since it is December. (Wow what dry weather we are having out here in the west.)
2)Right now Continental has a sale going on where they only came to $80 per tire. By far the best price out there for an E rated tire regardless of the traction.
3)Here's the biggest news to post. There is a different tread design on the new Conti's. Out of the five rows of rubber on the tread, the two just outside the center row are a lugged tread, rather than the continuous row as the original tires had. I wouldn't call it an "all terrain" but what looks to be a huge difference in my expectations of what the traction will actually be.
I think Continental must have been listening to the consumer complaints. Not sure when this change occurred but it looks like a definate improvement.
I have been one of the biggest whiners about the Continental Tires so this is a big turn around in my attitude toward Continental Tires. Not a total solution but one that works for me for a while. Who knows, maybe I'll even stick with Conti's if they keep improving and keep the price down.
Just thought you all might be interested in what might be a deal to take advantage of while we await more choices.
Tim

 

I go to work tomorrow for two full shifts (48 hours) and on the second day, we are expecting a snow storm. Sometime on the first part of this next week I will have results as to the performance of the new conti's. Got my fingures crossed. I'm sure there will be a difference for the better, based on new tread design and siping, but not sure if it will be enough to warrant my two thumbs up entirely. Or even one thumb up. If you don't hear back, don't buy 'em! Wish me luck, T

 

Looking forward to your impressions!

 

Not sure if mine fall into that or not. TRs are 275-70/R18. DOT date code (only on inside of tires) is 3505 which is week 35 of 05. I only know this because there is a recall set for Dec 21, 2005 for these tires produced during week 23.

If they are code 2305 you may be getting another new set!

 

Definitely looking forward to hearing your opinions after the snow. The Conti's have been great on dry pavement, but we lack that a lot in Northern Illinois during the winter!

 

Okay, here is my preliminary assessment. I am still at work, but managed to take a drive around the local area to test the tires out in some nasty wet snow. From what I can tell so far, the tires do have better traction than the old tread design. I'm sure that some agressive tires like BFG All Terrain would be much better but for $80 per tire, I can definately live with these. The broken lugs design on the two rows seems to have afforded better gripping. When climbing a paved grade (under snow) here on the base in two wheel drive, I managed to get quite a distance before having to shift into 4x4. Even at that, while the tires were starting to spin, I was still climbing. With the old Conti design, I would have stopped dead flat at a point before where I shifted to 4x4.
I'll know more tomorrow morning when I drive home from work. There is a winter storm warning issued through today, into 11:00 pm tonight, so it should be a good test.
Tim

 

I wish you the best of luck with your new tires. I wouldn't put those tires on if they were free! I have never in my life had the problem with tires like I do with the Continentals on my F-350. The latest problem is they won't hold the correct air pressure. I have to put air in every couple of days. My truck has 12000 miles and there is nothing visibilly wrong with the tires. I wouldn't even reccomend those tires for dry pavement.

 

George, check the valve stems. Sometimes they will fail and slowly leak. I agree that Continental are not the best tire. Totally agree. Just getting another perspective out there. They do have a purpose for some people. Like me with little $$$ to spare right now. Personally, I can live with them until more choices are out there that are more affordable.
Oh yeah, and thank you for your kind wish for good luck. I can use all I can get these days, Tim

 

Well, it rained before I got to test the traction on the way home from work. Oh well, It'll be the next storm. There is a difference for the better but just how much, well, I guess I'll find out eventually.

 

I ordered a 250 2 weeks ago, started to get the goodyear 20" but too expensive so I settled for the continentals. Are the new treads only in the retail stores or do you think they are now used by the factory.

 

any answer to above question