Tire recommendations

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Nov 10, 2008 | 10:47 AM

Ford79

Thread Starter

Lead Driver

Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 9,359

Likes: 1

From: Hampstead, NC

Tire recommendations

I'm looking for some real world opinions on a good all season(mostly winter) tire for my truck. Obviously, I need an "E" rated tire that has great snow/ice traction. I'm looking for tires sized 285/75/16 and 305/70/16. My truck won't be driven every day(unless it snows every day) and will be used for plowing snow. Cost isn't really an issue since the tires will be used sparingly, they will most likely last 2,3 or maybe even 4 winters.

Nov 10, 2008 | 12:10 PM

swinehart07

Junior User

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 63

Likes: 0

Currently Im running some more highway friendly tires that were on my truck when i bought it. But im waiting for them to ware out so i can put on the Goodyear Workhorse tires that i ran on my old truck. My father also runs these and puts alot of highway miles on them. But they work great offroad and in the snow(Im from Ohio) Just my suggestion but i would definately say check them out. You won't have a problem finding them in load range E, they are made for heavy duty use. Thats the load range my last set was in.

Nov 10, 2008 | 02:49 PM

WeWonIt

Elder User

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 818

Likes: 0

From: Mobile, AL

I normally don't stray too far from the norm, but I put a set of Jetzon Trailcutter M/T's on a vehicle and was suprised at their on and off road performance. They have a D or E rating so they were load rated for work, not comfort. Despite their rugged mud tread, they were supprisengly quiet. If you can't find them in your area, stick with the classics; BFG, or even the Goodyears that Swinehart07 mentioned.

Nov 10, 2008 | 03:31 PM

Stone Mathews

Senior User

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 215

Likes: 0

From: Allegheny Mountains, VA

BFG AT T/A KOs make an "E" in 285/75/16.

I love the ones on my truck.

Stone

Nov 10, 2008 | 04:31 PM

DCSpecial

Post Fiend

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 6,245

Likes: 1

From: IL, USA

I've been happy snow plowing with Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor tires.

May try the Mickey Thompson MTZ next time around for something with more bite since occasionally I'm in mud during the rest of the year or deep snow during the winter.

Nov 10, 2008 | 09:17 PM

superdutyconst

Junior User

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 99

Likes: 0

From: Goin' around you!

I don't know if they make them in the 285's , but I'm running Firestone Destinations which replaced the Transforce A/T. The transforce yielded me 74k and hoping much of the same with the destinations. Mine are 265 though. Good grip, quiet and wearing exceptionally well on their 3rd season. cost me around $850 US mounted in the winter of 2006.

Nov 10, 2008 | 09:52 PM

Saleenguy

Postmaster

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 3,938

Likes: 2

From: BC Canada

My job requires me to drive in some hellish conditions, and put on a fair amount of miles.

I sure do like my Toyo open country A/T tires.
Mine are a different size than yours, but great tires.

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Verdad Gallardo

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Joe Kucinski

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Brett Foote

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Michael S. Palmer

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Joe Kucinski

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Brett Foote

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Joe Kucinski

Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Joe Kucinski

Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Michael S. Palmer

The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Joe Kucinski

Nov 15, 2008 | 10:01 AM

TraceMoi

New User

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

Think Hercules NOT Goodyear !!!

Here's my take from a previous post:
****** http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">****** name="ProgId" content="Word.Document">****** name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12">****** name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDaddy%27O%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5C msohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDaddy%27O%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5C msohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDaddy%27O%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5C msohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml">< !--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w

ontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w

ontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w

ontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format

ther; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority

9; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> I don't usually post however after I couldn't find much information on Hercules Terra Trac AT tires, I thought I'd help out the community. I just bought new LT285 70 17's for my '04 F-150, XLT SuperCab (suicide rear passenger doors) 4X4; here's my take. First off, there is zero rub even with the steering locked. These tires are about the maximum that you'll likely want to go on this vehicle model as any wider and some tread would likely go beyond the wheel wells. I replaced my Goodyear Silent Armor tires; these tires stink; run as fast as you can if someone ever recommends buying GY Silent Armor's! They became useless (worn out) with very few miles driven. Even with a 4-wheel alignment having been performed just before installing these Badyear's they still wore unevenly and cause vibration at highway speeds. BTW; I'm generally NOT hard on my tires; now for the good news. The Terra Trac AT's are far more superior! On my long drive home from the tire shop I was amazed at how smooth my ride had become. It reminded me of when I first bought my 150. They give a quiet ride and are able to take rough road surfaces with ease, (bloody government does little to maintain country roads around here). 3/4's of the way home I realized that small adjustments to my steering were not required in order to keep the truck in a straight line. Let me stress here that there was nothing physically wrong with the Goodyear's and my truck is in meticulous condition, it's just that the Terra Trac's track far better. Wet driving conditions proved no problem at all for the Terra's either. The Goodyear's would always seem to spin a bit when starting off, even when I was trying to consciously avoid it; the Terra's have yet to spin. Long term, I hope the Terra's aren't too soft of a compound, but I suspect it's their better engineered tread design that gives them better footing in the wet. Winter is fast approaching so regrettably, I'll likely have the opportunity to see how they handle the snow soon. As for dirt roads, the Terra's handled them well too; pulling my bass boat out of the river was easy as well. Hope this info proves helpful; I'll report back once we receive another dumping of snow here in the Great White North. Drive safe everyone and keep it sunny side up ; )

Nov 15, 2008 | 10:02 AM

#10

TraceMoi

New User

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

Think Hercules NOT Goodyear !!!

Here's my take from a previous post:
<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDaddy%27O%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5C msohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDaddy%27O%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5C msohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDaddy%27O%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5C msohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml">< !--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w

ontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w

ontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w

Nov 15, 2008 | 01:11 PM

#11

Eng1Driver

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 366

Likes: 0

From: Rhode Island

In response to Tracemoi's post I want to add something that some people are not aware of regarding Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armors. That is Goodyear makes two variants of the Wrangler Silent Armor. First is the regular Silent Armor and second is the ProGrade Silent Armor. The ProGrade was introduced after the regular SA and is taylored for heavy duty trucks. It has a different rubber compound and other attributes that the regular SA does not have. I think many people who ran the SA and found poor tread life or other issues may not have had the ProGrade version.

TraceMoi, please post if you had the ProGrades or not as I'm curious.

Nov 15, 2008 | 01:21 PM

#12

DCSpecial

Post Fiend

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 6,245

Likes: 1

From: IL, USA

For the record my 325/60R18s are Silent Armor Pro Grades. Load Range E, rated at 3525lbs per tire. Currently have 36,000 miles on them....slightly under half tread (using 2/32" as the "no tread baseline" since that's what Goodyear uses). Great in the snow. Will be seeing snow plow duty from here on out.
I do drive the truck hard when there isn't snow on the ground. Often have 3000lbs in the bed or tow 9000-12,500lbs with the truck. Tires get spun every once in a while when the truck is empty as well

The ones on my 99 F-150 (275/70R17s I think) are the standard Silent Amors. Load Range C. They have 45,000 miles on them and tons of tread left. I've plowed with this truck for the last few years with these tires, no issues.

Both trucks are aligned at least once a year and tires are rotated every 5000-6000 miles.