We have an 02 F350, single cab, two wheel drive, DRW with a V-10 and a flatbed. When we bought the truck a couple of months ago it had a set of Goodyear Wrangler HTs on it that were in need of replacement. I checked at the local dealers and one recommended Michelin LTXs but said they had a Yokohama Geolander that they also recommended that performed as well as the LTX at $120 a tire. Yesterday we bought a set of them and when I drove the truck home once I got about 50 mph the truck felt very unstable. Turning the wheel at all results in the backend feeling like it's on ice and beginning to fishtail. I checked the air pressure and they were at 70 psi, the tire dealer said to lower them to 60 psi and that should take care of the problem. The problem did not change and now they are telling me to put 150 miles or more on the tires to wear off the first 1/32 of tread and that should fix the problem. It's really not safe to drive the way it is and they are willing to take these tires back and apply my purchase price towards another set of tires. The question is what should I get. They also carry Multimile and want to sell me a Courser AT model but that's an economy model and I'd like a better tire since we will be using the truck to tow / haul heavy loads. They can get a BF Goodrich Commercial Traction model but from looking at the BFG site it looks like it might not work for our needs but I'm not sure. The majority of our driving is on the highway but our road and drive is a gravel road that gets in bad shape when it rains or when it snows (we live in Southern Kentucky so we don't get much more than a few inches at a time usually). Also we pull a dump trailer with the truck and need some traction when unloading it in the grass or dirt so we need an all terrain type tire that will do well on the road too. The dealer carries the Michelin LTX A/S and M/S but I was hoping to spend a little less than their price, although they do sound like great tires. Tire size is LT 235/85-16. I've got to call the tire dealer Monday morning and let him know what I want these Yokohamas replaced with. John

 

Yokos are pretty low end on the quality scale. Sorry if that irks anyone. Ask a semi driver if they'd ever buy yokos willingly.
Michy makes great tires. The BFG AT's are also good.
I've been trying to find out as much as I can about tires on gravel lately and the short answer is its rough on all of them. Those with a road tread radial seem to think it chips out less because there's less nubs to grab on to, but the only tire out there that I've seen advertised as good on gravel is the Toyo M55 and its certainly got an AT tread to it.
Odd, they market it as a LT traction radial. You don't often see drive axle or traction used that way unless you're looking at commercial sizes.
I'd throw out a plug for Rickson wheels. I know you started by trying to save a buck and that option wouldn't immediately, but in the long run it would. They're a sponsor and advertiser here and I jumped on commercial treads a few months ago and I'm pretty tickled thus far.
You want sidewalls, you can get some serious sidewall with a commercial. Mine are 16 ply. And I do a ton of trailering. I went over my tags the other day at close to 25K for weight and the truck did fine. No side sway or sagging down. Kind of nice.

 

Been happy with my Firestone Transforce AT's so I bought a second set. I run them at 55psi unless I am carrying a load or towing. Then I jump up to 70psi.

 

Thanks for the info so far. The Bridgestone tires they are wanting to sell me are called a Commercial T/A Traction. I've had BFG Allterrains before but have never seen the "Commercial" model so I don't know anything about it. Here's a link to the specs http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/overv...action/48.html The other tires they are wanting to sell me are as I mentioned above a Mastercraft Cursor model but they seem to be pretty low on the quality side from what I can tell. I've had good luck with The Revo Duelers on my E350 but need to try to keep it around the $150.00 pr tire price for now on this F350 although we might consider the Michelins LTXs if we can't find anything else decent down in this price range. John

 

Right now I am doing little towing and have been running 40 psi in my rear duals it rides and drives nice I'm going to replace them soon they are pretty well worn Michelins. I am thinking of getting BFG AT'S

 

What load range tires are you looking at? c,d, or e? the truck should have had e as std equipment.

 

I need load range E for it.
John

 

I just put a set of E-rated Michelins on my 2002 F-250 crewcab, 7.3, 4x4; great tires! I run Michelins or B.F. Goodrich on all my vehicles and my daughters' cars; you cannot beat safety on the road, tires are what's keeping you right-side up! If you can afford a little more, get good tires.

 

Gangster, what model Michelins are you running on your F250?

 

I am running the "X Radial LT"; LT265/75R16E XRADLT. This is not a very aggresive tred. I occasionally use the truck for commuting on the highway (no road noise) and I take it up the mountains in W.Virginia. Where I go there are only logging roads; wet leaves and snow in the winter. I have not had a problem as yet. I find them to be good all-around tires, a good highway ride with above average traction in all conditions. I do not do extreme stuff with my truck; but, it is a truck and I use it as such!

 

GoodYear Silent Armor

Pricy but great tire!

 

Problems fixed for the most part! Today I traded thee Yokohamas in on a set of Michelin LTX Mud / Snow tires. They've corrected about 85% of the handling problems with the truck. It's still just a little squirrelly but I suspect that is probably from a little too much air pressure put in the tires. It was late when I got home so I'll try adjusting the air pressure tomorrow and see how it does. Also picked up my new 25' gooseneck flatbed today but that was before I swapped the tires out so I didn't get a chance to see how it tows with the new tires yet. John

 

Good luck with the Michelins, I think you'll find they will do a good job for you.
Hank