I have a '97 F150 Supercab with the Off-Road / Tow package. I have the 17 x 7.5 (?) aluminum wheels, and am currently running the 265/70 R17's. Goodyear RTS I think they are; they're just terrible, especially when it's wet out. The two tires I'm looking at are the Firestone Destination A/T and the Pirelli Scorpion ATRs.

The ATRs I have had had some experience with, I've have them on my 2WD F100 for about 1500 miles, and it surprised me what it went through this last winter as far as snow and ice (the little I drove it;normally stays home do to salt). They are expensive tires, but they're heavy duty. They will also throw your head into the side window on wet or dry pavement; the traction is awesome.

The A/T's I have read they are good (from the people that have them). Been on tire rack and the A/T's are rated the best, three spots above the ATRs with a better speed and winter traction rating, but not as heavy duty as far as load, pressure or tread depth is concerned (they don't rate the ATRs, but the ones on my F100 are like 520).

What kind of experience have you guys had with ether? Normally I would go with the Pirelli because they have made me happy, but this time around the price difference is $139 for the Firestone's and $190 for the Pirelli's (a piece). I know you generally get what you pay for, but that $190 x 4 is starting to hurt a little bit.

The other question I have is I'm looking to go up to 285/70 R17s from the 265/70 R17's. I have the 5.4L, 3.55 LS gears, and no lift aside from the factory 4x4 package. What kind of reduction in fuel economy would I see by upping the tire size an inch in diameter (normally run around 18 MPG highway)?

Also, if anyone has pictures of their truck with the 285/70 R17's, feel free to post a picture...

 

My tires are 33x12.50-17, which are a hair taller and a little wider, but you get the general idea. Stock height except for cranking the front torsion bars to level it out.

Can't help you with the tire brand question, but I'm sure someone will chime in.....

 

hey dude. go with the firestones they are good as far as ride smoothness and performance, i also have the 4x4 package on my truck and use it for climbing up mountains during hunting season, even in wet mud they do pretty good. (im talking about mud about 1 to 2ft deep not deep mud)
ill post some pics as soon as i can

 

I was in the same situation a year ago, I went with the Firestone Destination AT's in LT275/70/17. They are a great tire, much better snow and mud traction than my previous Revos, and they still look new with 12k miles on them (Revos were bald at 30k).

I think 285's look great on our trucks, but I will warn you - you will lose power. I noticed a loss of power and about 1 mpg going with the 275's (they are also heavier being an LT tire). 3.55 gears suck, I'm still looking into getting 4.10s if I keep this truck.

 

That's a good looking truck.

I was thinking of possibly having the whole thing re-geared to 3.73's to basically bring it back to stock highway behavior with the 285's. I'd like to see some more trucks with the 285/70 R17... Just to get an idea. I think they put to small a tire size on the off road package trucks from the factory, but I don't want to fill up the wheel well (without lift) so much as it looks like a toy ether.

 

hah i quoted myself any way this is the truck.

101_1450 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

101_1448 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

I just got new wheels and tires for my truck... 17x9" american racing wheels with 295/70/R17 nitto terra grapplers which are just a little bit taller than a 33" tire. I love them so far. nice and quiet on the freeway and have a good looking tread pattern.

 

Have you had any type of lift put on yours?

 

Yeah it has a 4" trailmaster lift on it

although i've heard you can fit that size tire on a stock truck as well, maybe with a little bit of torsion bar crank.