My Goodyear Wranglers are finally shot at 60K. I'm looking for your experiences with various tire brands with regard to towing. I want to avoid tires with soft sidewalls and/or squirmy tread. Thought I would post here hoping to avoid recommendations based on looks or non-towing usage (and the oversize tire crowd).

* I do not off-road but do live on a gravel road. 99% paved road mileage.
* I have dedicated snow tires on another set of rims
* I tow a 6K loaded bumper pull RV trailer (LONG distances, through mountains, in heavy winds)

You input, experiences, and opinions are appreciated. Mostly looking for tires to avoid. Thanks.

 

I only use Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2 on my pickup. I am about the cheapest person here, but when it comes to towing and tires, I don't cheap out. Not when I have a 10k 5th wheel behind me.

 

I ran (oversized) Nitto Dura Grappler Highway Terrain tires on my old tow rig Excursion, the rib style tread pattern provided great tracking manners, improved mileage and they were the quietest truck tire that I have ever used. Mine were 305/70R18s (35.25”x12.8”) which should have had more noise, not less and should have reduced the MPGs, not increased them. I can only assume that running them in a stock size would provide even better characteristics.
Towed a 12/13K TT for 80K miles with those tires (2 sets) with zero issues.

 

Wow, I got rid of my GY Wranglers at 30k... those things were horrible! I couldn't keep traction in any sort of wet conditions, and it honestly freaked me out a little. They still had decent tread life, but I was done with them. I ended up selling them for about $100 IIRC. Anyway, I went with the Falken WildPeak AT4W's. These have been redesigned from the super popular AT3's. They introduced HD sizes that are aimed at improved towing performance and they have a 3 ply sidewall. I have put a little over 30k on the ones I have now and I love them. I will admit, my first ever towing trip with them, I did experience some squirm, however, I believe that was my fault. They were still pretty new, and I forgot to air them up before heading out... I was around 50 psi but on the return trip I bumped up to 60 psi and I have never had issues again. I have about 8k miles of towing on these since putting them on and I love them. They have a 60k mile warranty on them and I am around 13/32 on mine, so I have no doubt they will easily go out to 60k, even towing and under the 6.7. They mounted well and they ride super smooth (I do also have Centramatics). They are quiet and the traction in wet conditions has been solid. They look pretty dang good too! I highly recommend a set of these if you are interested in an AT style tires.

I can't recommend any to avoid, but I will point out that there has been several folks having issues with mounting and balancing the new K03's... They looked to be a pretty promising tire and upgrade form the K02's, but not sure I would want to chance the hassle that some have experienced with them.

 

Totally agree that the Wrangler has horrible traction. Thanks for the "HD" information. I see on their website that my size 275/70/18 is labeled HD.

I looked at the HT version of the Falken (HD). There were reviews citing rough ride and squirmy tread.

 

I have been running the Toyo Open Country RT's and love them. Sidewalls are bullet proof and wet traction has never been an issue. current set has 9/32 left at 46K miles...... I may try the TOYO AT's next time but then am also leaning towards the why make a change from what I like and works attitude,

I plan to take a look at the wildpeaks as well. BFG's are a hard NO for me. Ran them forever as a kid but they changed something in the compound years ago and suck now.

On edit: I have a tremor model and do fine myself off road on occasion. When I d, the toyos are n8ce to have. They tow very well too so a good blend for me.

 

I really like my Michelin Agillis LT's... Stock 265/75r/16

Designed to be loaded heavy most of the time, so they claim. Good manners loaded or empty.
I do not like the current version of the highway tire (Defenders), but the older LTX/MS were good to and for me. Defenders tend to not like dry and definitely wet grass. I do not off-road the truck, not what it is for but the Defenders were horrible if not on pavement.

I do have other vehicles if off pavement.

 

I also bought Michelin Defenders, tightened up my rear end even towing my modest 5.5k travel trailer. Nice interstate tire and is quiet. Not very cool tread pattern, (basic old man tires) so depends on what you want most.

 

Thanks for that. We have a hobby farm and wet grass (with hills) definitely happens.

 

Swapped the factory Bridgestone Duellers out for Michelin Defender Platinums. All highway towing for me, no off road so don't mind the plain looking tread pattern. Much better ride and stability with the 5th wheel hooked up.

 

I'm running the Toyo Open Country AT3's on 3 of my rigs and have been super duper pleased with their all around performance, 2nd set of them on my 02 F350 7.3/4x granted they aren't going to be a mud tire so don't expect great mud traction, but in everything else, superb IMHO. I got almost 42k out of the first set, they changed the tread pattern a little bit, my 2000 Ex is 2wd with a Trutrac and 5.13's in the rear, and I went most anywhere I needed to go last winter in it with the Toyo's, on my dually, (which normally they suck in just wet grass with a slight incline) I can drive down to my lower property and hook up my trailer and drive out in 2wd with them. They are quiet, even in the 35's I have on my F350 DRW and my Ex, I do run the balancing beads in all my rigs and have been pleased with them as well in the Toyo's.

I was tempted to try the new BFG AT's, but I really couldn't find a reason to not run the Toyo's, my SIL needed new tires on his Toyota, he had the BFG's, I suggested the Toyo's so he went with them and said he was literally amazed last winter at how good they were, he also has a Subaru AWD something which he usually drove in the winter because his Yota felt to loose and squirrelly, after putting on the Toyo's he said it drives great in the snow and feels really planted/solid.

As with all opinions, take'em for what ya pay for'em, as tires/traction and vehicles are all different in their handling and everyone has different driving styles, I can't really say how they compare to other AT's, but what I can say with extreme confidence, is that I personally am impressed with them for an all-around all-season tire, more so than any other tires I've had on any of my trucks/"fleet".

 

35,000 miles and still looking good on my factory Michelin LTX AT/2. Probably 10 to 15K of that was towing, and no complaints at all. Fairly quiet, no hydroplaning, and they may very well time out before they wear out. I got her stuck in mud once, but that was my fault because I forgot to put her in 4WD before I had already dug a hole. I'll shop, but they'll be my default choice when I go to replace.

Good luck, and let us know what you end up getting!

 

I recently put on a set of Michelin LTX AT/2 tires on my F-350. Non-towing they're fine. Towing, they're scary as hell. They wiggle all over the place. Turn the steering wheel and wait for them to respond. I tried them at the factory 60/80 PSI initially and they sucked. Changed to 70/80 and they're a little better, but still suck. The more they warm up, the worse they get. Rebalancing (using road force balancing) didn't help. This is the second set of these tires that I've tried and they both behave the same way. The Wranglers never behaved like this. I swapped from a new set of the Michelins back to the Wranglers in the middle of a trip and the difference was day and night.

I've heard that the problem I'm having is unique to the 18" tires. Those with 20" tires won't see this because the sidewall is so much shorter with the 20" tires.

I'm pulling a bumper pull toy hauler with a 12,800 GVWR. I doubt the trailer has ever been over 12,000 lbs as I try to travel with as little water in the tanks as possible.

 

Interesting, I do have 20" rims and I don't notice any of the issues you describe, but I also don't have any experience with other tires as a comparison either. My F-250 says 60 front, 65 rear and that's what I use when towing. When I'm not I go with 55 front, 60 rear just to keep the truck from "launching" off potholes. Maybe ignorance is bliss but my setup feels planted and stable pulling my dinky 9,000# fiver.

 

I can't comment to the HT's as I have the AT4W's. And as I mentioned, the first time I towed on them I did have some squirm with these, but that was due to low pressure. Once I bumped it up to 60 psi they towed great, and have ever since. And FWIW, my camper is only 6000 lbs.