Hi,
I'm in the market for some new tires, I currently have the stock tire size(235/75/15).
I'm aware that the biggest size you can go up to without a lift is 31x10.5x15.
My question is and also that I've been told by tire shops that with that size I will loose some power in the low end and loose some gas mileage also, they tell me that the majority of people usually go to this size for looks in their trucks, any feedback on this?
I've been leaning more towards purchasing some 30X9.5x15, does anyone have any experience with this size?

Also, what's the difference between a highway tire and an all terrain?
Does one last longer than the other, better ride?
I don't go off-roading, the most I would do is go over a grass field and gravel roads.
Any input would be great to help me choose some tires, Thanks!

1990 F150 XLT Lariat,302

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 30-Jul-02 AT 08:49 PM (EST)]I take it you have a 2wd, If so i would go with the 30x9.5 They look good but seem to be pretty Skinny looking but for a 2wd they should be fine.

I put 30x9.5 M/T's on my 4x4 and it looks stupid....There way too skinny, I shouldnt have anything less than 32x11.5 or maby 33x12.5...Thats my next step, Bigger tires so it looks like a truck.

O yea and the tires, For street i would look at the BFG or Pro Comp A/T's

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 30-Jul-02 AT 09:02 PM (EST)]Hey "The Man"
Thanks for your reply!
Yes, my truck is a 2wd, Do you know if there is much difference on a street tire vs. an all terrain?

 

go with the 31x10.5 you will thank yourself later, bfg allterrains have very good wear and have great highway characteristics but you can hear them hum which i think sounds cool. i felt really no difference between a 32x11.5 and my stock tires but i have a 351. i dont think 31's will give you any trouble at all.

 

It is true that bigger tires will make you lose power, but the differnece between your 235/75/15's (approx 29") and the 31s are barely noticeable. It will lower the RPMs by about 150 or so on the highway. You will probably not notice a power loss. They will INCREASE you're gas mileage a little bit because the RPMs are lower. You should also re-program your speedometer, it will be off by a couple mph and if you have an automatic it might make the shifts a little little bit. Both fixable by re-programming the speedo. As far as tires, i'm a huge fan of BFG. The all terrain is a good tire and averages about 55-60k miles. Might want to look at some posts in this forum for ideas on tires. Michelin makes some good ones too.


Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds .

Check out my Gallery for a look-see.


Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Superduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Top speed is 65mph, Go Baby Go!

 

If you have two wheel drive and you do not see much snow, then I would go with a narrow highway tire with a A(->) heat and A (->) traction rating. With 2x4, going with a wider tire gives you less traction, not more, because you have less pounds per square inch on the tread. On a wet/icy street you want more pounds per inch of tread, not less. So you spin the tire less, assuming you do not always lead foot it away from stop lights.

When you go off highway where you might get stuck, deflate your rear tires down to 15-20 psi.

If you are worried about getting stuck in grassy/slightly muddy areas a limited slip rearend upgrade will be money better spent then wasting it on more expensive All-terrain tires which you do not really need. Plus, all terrain tires tend to wear faster and not ride or handle as nice as highway tires.

My experiences with commonly available tires:

I have had good luck with Michelin highway tires, they wear nice and handle nice. I did have one blow out with 75K on it, though it still had 6/32 left on the tread. I do not think it was really the tire's fault, it was subject to more abuse than normal. Good value for the money.

I dislike Firestone Wilderness AT tires. They are good at nothing and average or worse at everything. I hate these tires off-road and in snow. ACK!

Goodyear Wrangler tires are okay for ATs and are okay off road, good in snow and rain, good on highway, and okay on wet grass. Not a good mud tire and packs up easily. A good AT compromise tire.

BFG KOs - excellent traction on ice, snow, wet surfaces. Very expensive.

I am buying within the next week or so retread tires from Hi-tech Tire Retreading that advertises in the 4x4 magazines. I am pretty sure I am getting the green diamond tires if my e-mail ever gets answered.

I am buying these because sticking a hole through a side of a retread and plugging it is less painful then doing it to a $140 tire. Plus, the green diamond tread intrigues me.

 

Did you ever get the Green Diamonds? I, too am intrigued by them. Which model did you get?

 

Hi,
I just joined this forum, and have the same question as IES. I just got a 1973 F100 2X4 with AT and a 390 engine. Right now, I have fairly new Goodyear Regatta P235 75R15 tires. I hope to "up"grade to something that will raise my truck off the ground a little bit without buying lifts. I'm also looking for some nice wheels/rims (I have the original Ford Motor Company hubcaps right now).
You guys mentioned a 31x10.5 and a 30x9.5 . Which do you recommend for driving in an area with some heavy snow, and mostly just for street use? Thanks! :-)
BTW- I'd like to go with Goodyear or BFG.

 

>Hi,
>I just joined this forum, and have the same question as IES.
>I just got a 1973 F100 2X4 with AT and a 390 engine. Right
>now, I have fairly new Goodyear Regatta P235 75R15 tires. I
>hope to "up"grade to something that will raise my truck off
>the ground a little bit without buying lifts. I'm also
>looking for some nice wheels/rims (I have the original Ford
>Motor Company hubcaps right now).
>You guys mentioned a 31x10.5 and a 30x9.5 . Which do you
>recommend for driving in an area with some heavy snow, and
>mostly just for street use? Thanks! :-)
>BTW- I'd like to go with Goodyear or BFG.


lose the P rated car tires and go with a 30x9.50r15 BFG radial long trail ta available at your local SAM's club or Walmart.

Oh yeah some sand bags might not be a bad idea on that truck.

super

 

Thanks Super.
About how much do these run ($$$)? I (actually, my parents- I just turned 16!) just put about $1300 into my truck (new paint and some parts), so I don't want to spend 'too' much...

 

>Thanks Super.
>About how much do these run ($$$)? I (actually, my parents-
>I just turned 16!) just put about $1300 into my truck (new
>paint and some parts), so I don't want to spend 'too'
>much...

30x9.5r15 BFG radial long trail ta's are 80.20 a tire at my local Sam's club, any where esle expect to pay 90-100 bucks per tire for the same tire (you really gotta watch the service packages, Sam's club usually offers the best).

super