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Looking at load range E 285 75 16 on stock wheels.
Michelan LTX AT2 vs the Silent Armor from Goodyear.
I know lots of folks are running the Goodyears with positive results.
Not a lot of input on the new Michelan.
Any impressions?
I live above 7500 feet in the Colorado Rockies. I have a set of dedicated snows so these will be for the warmer months. Lots of highway miles but some very rough mountain unpaved roads and trails as well.
I haul some utility trailers and gear that runs about 7000k once a week for about 50 miles as well.
I recently bought LTX AT2s in the factory size. They look very small on the truck. I almost went with the 285s, but when we rolled them up beside the factory tires they appeared so much taller I got scared and chickened out. Wish I had gone with them now as speedometer is off according to two GPS navigation devices I have checked it with (tires are small, speedo reading fast)
They are very quiet on the highway.
Have not had them on mud, but the tread pattern is more aggressive than it appears. No big lugs, but lots of deep biting edges.
Ride is comfortable at 60-65 psi.
Not going to comment on handling (it is a huge truck)
I like every Michelin tire I have ever owned. They are my first choice.
Had a set of LTX Michelins, and they were some pricey tires. I expected to get 50k at least out of them. Well I was pretty disappointed when they were history at around 30k miles!! I could have pushed them 5-10k more but with towing I don't wear them bald!! I only run the Toyo Open Country MT's now, great tires with stiff sidewalls and good for towing. They are a very quiet MT too! I would not spend the extra $$$ for the Michelin tires, I'd go with Toyo's! Michelin really hasn't impressed me at all! Firestone tires will always have that reputation of the tires that had all those probs a couple years back, wouldn't touch them either!!
I have run two set of BFG's 285 D load AT KO's got over 50 k out of them. They are awsome in the snow ! They do make them in the E load also,but no white letter.
I've put about 6000 miles on my Mich. AT2's in that size. I would highly recommend them. Drove to Colorado and back with all sorts of different conditions and the truck drove like a dream.
I've had the Michelin LTX's for 5 years now. I've put 55k on them and estimate that there's another 30k left. I would definitely buy them again. Purchased from Tire Rack online and even with shipping, were better priced and higher quality than anything else. And for what it's worth, my familys lives are worth more than trying to put a "D" load rated tire on a truck that requires an "E" load rated tire. I've pulled fully loaded (with tools & equipment) E350 Vans and State Police Crown Vics out of deep mud and snow, no problem- and I do mean NO PROBLEM- with this truck, with these tires.
Living in Utah we have pretty similar driving conditions as you do. I'm running the BFG AT TKO 285 75R16 E's and love them. I've had them on for over a year now and still can't see any visible wear. I tow a 24' boat with them, drive off road in the mountains, drive in the snow and various other yuck without the first problem. They handle well on dry pavement too. I've driven Michellin and Goodyear and they are fine tires...I just prefer the BFG's for my big rigs.
I will Second and Third the BFG AT / KO's... we have run two sets to over 100,000 miles and they still had a reasonalbe amount of tread left. We also run them at 65 psi and pull a trailer over 75% of the time. We actually rin the 295/75/16's on stock rims without any rubbing (except for full lock on an angle). They fill out the wheel well really nicely.
shadowdd ... I can only fine the 295/75/16s in load range D ... I would like to go to this size tire but am uncomfortable with the D rated tire for the X especially given that I trailer horses occassionally ... have you found this tire in load range E?
Postman... they are load range D. If you compare the specs from the stock 265/75/16 E tire to the 295/75/16 D, the Max Load lbs/psi are exactly the same:
265/75/16 E = 3415 @ 80
295/75/16 D = 3413 @ 65
Like I have said.... I run over 100,000 per set of tires and have not run into any problems. I check the temps on the truck tires, and the trailer tires / hubs every gas stop I make. I'm just portraying my experience with my tires since I have had such good results with them.
I have good luck with the Toyo 285/75/16 Mud Terrain, aggresive, but surprisely quiet! I live in the Pacific Northwest and a lot of Ford guys run them. They are also E rated. I have ran two set of BFG's All-Terrain......first set was great, 2nd not so great. We couldn't get them to balance, I guess a defect.
2002 Ford Excursion Limited, 7.3 PSD, 89,000 miles
mcallister
shadowdd - tks for pointing me towards the BFGs AT KO 295/75/16 on the stock 16x7 wheel. My local 4WD shop did a nice job of fitting them .. there was some rub on the front rear fender wells that was quickly resolved in the way mentioned in this forum many times, that is using a heat gun to make the plastic fender well pliable and bow it back a bit ... no rub at all at full tilt ..
The 295s really fill out the wheel well much nicer and ride nice .. I haven't been on the highway yet .. will do tomorrow .. so I know how they feel at 80mph .. so far so good ..