I know it has been discussed a bunch, but just looking for feed-back on 4 models I am looking at getting for the X. Trying to keep budget down, which is tough after just ordering Powerslot Cryo's & Hawk pads, and considering Rancho 9000's.

Any opinions or votes for the following I am considering?

265/75/16's Load E:
- Cooper Discoverer ATR: $855 out the door (not sure about alignment)
- Mastercraft Course AT2: $798 OTD (including front end alignment)
- Toyo Open country AT: $884 OTD (w/ F.E. align)
- Michelin LTX MS2: $1,024 OTD (including 4 wheel alignment)

all prices include MA 6.5% sales tax.

Also, w/ no lift & standard Eddie Bauer '04 wheels, should I be considering 285's?

Thanks

 

I just bought Michelin AT2's in 285/75/16's, I like the look but my driver tire touches my Husky mudflap on a near full lock left turn. Keep in mind my truck has 100k on the original suspension. Next year I plan a spring upgrade which should take car of the rubbing. I think the new tires cost approximately 0.5 reduction in mpg. Even though they rub occassionaly, I'm still glad I did the 285's. Oh, these tires have a little noise to them, not obnoxious but there. I had the stock size on my old EX w/ M/S LTX's and I don't recall those making any noise. HTH

 

Thanks, Rob. I was looking at the AT2's as well, but it sounded like people were seeing good grip w/ the MS. They are on the top end of my price range, so not sure, but I do like what I hear about them. I'm going to see if anyone will give me the Michelin $70 rebate that start Oct 1 a couple weeks early.

I don't have mud flaps - do you think the 285's would hit any where in the standard wheel well on an eddie bauer X?

 

Can't say for sure but I have about 2 fingers between the spring and the jounce bumper, I can measure in the am for you. Measure your clearance and we'll compare tomorrow. I had my tires put on at the Ford dealer and they also changed the revs/mile so my speedo is correct. The old tires were 657 revs/mi, new ones are 634, the pcm has 635 programmed in.

 

I measured my clearance from the spring to the jounce bumper, it's about 1.25" on the driver side (the 285 touches the mudflap at near full lock left turn). HTH

 

i'm a cooper guy so my vote is for the ATR. they are awsome tires you also may want to look at the cooper zeon LTZ.

 

Take a look at Yokohama Geolandar AT/S. The tire impressed me with its wear, toughness, and ride. It is also in the lower end of your stated price range.

 

My vote is for the Toyo Open Country. Excellent traction and long tread life - for a good price.

The traction from the Michelin LTX sucks - but you can get 80k miles from a set...

The Mastercaft's suck all the way around and I cannot speak for Cooper.

I've run (2) sets of Yokohama Geolandar AT's on my dually - among the best tires I've ever owned.

I'm surprised how economical Nitto Dura Grapplers are and they seem to have excellent tread life - I know the HUGE Terra Grapplers on my X have waaaaay exceeded my expectations at well over 50k miles!!

I'm considering General Grapplers for my Excursion this next time around, but they are pretty aggressive looking - we'll see!!

Dunno what ya use your X for, but used leaf spring upgrade is only around $200 and new 22210 springs aren't much more. Front-end shop should install them for around 2hrs labor. I would seriously do this even if you decide to get 265's again. The change in ride quality and control w/F250 springs was amazing for me - and I haven't even installed the new shocks (Pro-Comp MX6's) yet!!! Personally, I think an Excursion that sits slightly higher than stock with 285's on stock wheels looks RIGHT! 265's look toooo small to me!

Post some pics of whatever ya get - mmmmkay???

 

Thanks, guys. Rob - I will check my clearance today.

I use the X for a mix of uses - daily driver in MA, some hwy, live on a small farm so not always on road, & we do tow trailers (horse & boat) up to @ 7,500 lbs. The BFG Rugged trail T/A's on there now have been fine for most uses (not great in the snow though). The tread has held up great @ 70k miles, but the sidewalls are all peeling & look aweful. Hwy noise isn't bad.

I've had Discoverers on my previous suburban 2500, and they were good. Something I like about a smaller (relatively) american company as well. Mastercrafts are made by Cooper, but i really don't know much about them beyond that, and a local tire place (town fair tire) sells alot of them.

I thought the Zeon's were more of a hwy/lower profile type of tire? Will check them out.

Good feedback on the Toyo's - I have heard good things about them in general as well. I will look into the Geolanders too.

Are the 22210 springs just slightly higher, or are they also stiffer?

In a perfect world, I would like to add a couple inches of lift to fit 18" wheels & bigger tires (& some nice American Racing Teflon's...). I don't need a full on lift, but do like the look slightly raised & bigger wheels.

That's going to have to be another project though, as my budget is tight right now, and I am already dropping for rotors, pads, shocks, and tires. That and I have 2.5 weeks to get it done before we drive 1,500 miles...

 

22210 springs are reportedly about 3" taller than saggy Excursion springs and are delightfully a little stiffer. The F250 springs I used (don't know what code they are) decreased undesirable body roll 50% all by themselves. The ride is no more 'harsh' either, I can see a little 'stiffer' yet would be even better.

I have 325/60/18's (33x12.50ish) on my X and they still rub the inner fender wells w/F250 springs. I love the look of that size tire, its fat but fits under the fenders (barely) and not much taller than 265's.

I run O'Rielly lifetime warranty rotors and EBC brake pads. For the difference in price on those fancy shmancy rotors you could buy springs or shocks... My first set of rotors went 80k miles and when they got a little shimmy, I swapped'em with NEW ones at next tire rotation - no questions asked! Maybe its not tooo late?

 

Another member listed this website for tires a while back. Just something to think about as you could get all four tires for $355 plus shipping, mounting, and balancing.

265/75R16 WARDEN A/T (E) - Retread Tires from TreadWright, Inc.

I spent right at $1,000 for some BFG AT KOs in 285/75/16 size recently and kind of wish I had known about these before I spent that much money.

 

i just posted some pics of my Ex with the Procomp 22210/22415 spring swap.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...15-w-pics.html

i think it's one of the best upgrades you could save up for. i ran across a lucky deal on the springs, but the tires were a bigger hit on the pocketbook than the springs.

 

Believe it or not, try pricing tires are you local Ford dealer. Ford has been working with the tire manufacturers and trying to help the dealers gain more business, my 285 AT2's were about $800 out the door including the rebate but I need a pin #for that price. I'll call the hotline and see how the pin applies, hopefully like an X plan (friends and neighbors program).

My truck had BFG Long Trails and the sidewalls cracked, looked bad, lucky they never blew. The previous owner installed these they were load range D.

I bought my Powerslot and Hawk pads from summit. Summit matched internet prices so I bought my rotors for about the same as a Motorcraft replacement, they were about $116 each. I don't care for the Hawk pads, they need to get hot before they grab like they should and I did bed them per Hawk's instructions.

HTH

 

i tried our local dealer for some "Fierce" tires, but they drug their feet to long, and "their sales rep was not getting back to them", so i went to a local wholesaler for some hankook tires. mine were just over $700 after taxes, couldn't pass it up.

 

gr8scott - interesting link. Anyone know what shops typically charge for mounting & balancing? Do you get any rubbing w/ your 285's (I see you added springs)?

skyski - yep, too late. Already ordered the Powerslot Cryo's, but thanks for the info - they sound good.

Teammud - your new springs & (& block pull) looks awesome - thanks for posting your link. That is something I can see doing later on. Sounds like you made out on the Hankooks too.

Rob - maybe I will check w/ my local dealership - I just have a hard time thinking they will be competitive. Which Hawks pads did you get - HD or LTS?