What are the best tires?


Here are the criteria:


1. Must come in LT245/75R16E size for Duramax.


2. Must have "E" load rating (we haul truck campers and tow)


3. Must be very off-road capable (sand, snow, and some mud)


4. Must be very good for use on snow covered and icy roads.


5. Must be suitable for driving 90 highway miles per day, driving to work.


6. Must be American made.


7. Please base opinion on personal experience.


Thanks for the advice! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


Edited by: DuckDog

PRO-COMP ALL TERRAINS.


CHECK THEM OUT.





Thttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clown.gifNY

I'm currently running Bridgestone Dueler A/T's (not Revos). They are okay, but I won't buy them again. I had BGF AT's on before this set and they were much better on snowy/icy roads and I got great mileage out of them. I also had 3 sets of BFG AT's on other vehicles while living in northern IL (similar conditions to what you see) and loved them. Edited by: WYO_DMAX

Tony,


The Pro Comps are not available in a "E" load rating. We need the load rating for hauling truck campers and other heavy loads.


WYO_DMAX,


I had BFG TA/KO's on my last truck. They were great tires. Also, thanks for the advice on what tires not to buy.Edited by: DuckDog

Well, I can help you with everything except the "American made." I put a set of Dunlop Radial Rover A/T LT245/75R16E on in June. Been getting great wear, great traction and am very pleased with them with 6 months and nearly 20k miles on them. Also bought them at Sam's Club for $94 each!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

i run bfgoodrich AT KO's (hummer tires), load range D but rated for higher load than OEM firestone E's. look at actual rating vs relying on the range unless you just want a 10 ply tire. the KOs are said to go forever (60-70K with proper rotation), only have 1500 miles so far. only way to get the "best" tire is keep tryin em


Also, generally, your #3 and #5 contradict each other. not very many high mileage mud tires around http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gifEdited by: ski1

3 conflicts with everything including itself.(see post on the snow tires) If it does great in the mud it will suck for everything else(except maybe sand or crawling) although it might be fine in deep snow.


For sand the biggest thing is flotation not the tread really. Wide is better and airing down is a big help.


Dunlops owned by goodyear and american made right? or at least american owned I do know.


I like my dunlops in the snow and rain(I plow so snow traction is important). BFG's are owned by the french so they wernt an option last time I decided on tires. I did like my yokos in the past(geolander 2's) and perelli scorpions are pretty good at's.


Cooper line seems to be well liked in the AT type tire and I might look at them in the future.

3. Must be very off-road capable (sand, snow, and some mud)*


This means driving on unplowed snow covered or icy roads, sandy two track trails, and the ocassional mud hole in the trail. The kind of stuff you might encounter hunting and fishing on state forest land here in Michigan. I did not mean mud bogging or running sand dunes. My truck came with Bridgestone V-Steel highway tires, and they really suck in the snow. They are even worse in sand, and I would not even go in the mud with them. Even if BFG's were French owned, they have a plant in Ohio.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

Tony,


The Pro Comps are not available in a "E" load rating. We need the load rating for hauling truck campers and other heavy loads.


WYO_DMAX,


I had BFG TA/KO's on my last truck. They were great tires. Also, thanks for the advice on what tires not to buy.








They are available in a 265/75-16 in load range "E".


here at Pro Comp's (http://www.procomptires.com/allterrain1.html)


Part # 160265 rated at 3410 lbs load


Thttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gifNYEdited by: GMC-2002-Dmax

I would like to go to the 265's to get the 3410 lb. weight rating, but I'm afraid of this damn GM Duramax change your tire size and we won't do your warranty work thing. See the service bulletin here: http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=284&PN=1Edited by: DuckDog

I would like to go to the 265's to get the 3410 lb. weight rating, but I'm afraid of this damn GM Duramax change your tire size and we won't do your warranty work thing.


I would not worry about 1 tire size. They (265')s are stock on Tahoe's and Suburbans and I think maybe even the 1500 series.


They look much better with 265's anyway, plus the range fits the requirement.


GO FOR IT ..........





Thttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gifNYEdited by: GMC-2002-Dmax

Bridgestone Dueler Revo's meet all stated criteria except for the Made in America part. Where is Isuzu from?

Try the Cooper Discoverer LT. I was on my thrid set when I traded in my old 1/2 4x4 for my 04 2500HD Duramax. I got about 50,000 miles out of them and they were great in snow and off road. They are American made and come in load range E.


http://www.coopertire.com/us/en/ProductDetails.asp?ProdType=LtTruck&id=174

With globalization, mergers, etc., you cannot jump to any conclusions, and have to read sidewalls to see where anything is made. The stock Firestone Steeltex is made in Canada, and the company is now Japanese owned. BFG is owned by Michelin, which makes many tires marketed here in a South Carolina plant. Dunlop, is now owned by Sumitomo, a Japanese company.


Here in Vermont, it is widely accepted that the best snow tire is a Nokian, a brand from Finland. I bought a set, and the sidewall says made in USA. I suspect they are made under contract to Nokian specs in a Firestone-Bridgestone plant.


I know somebody who bought a Dodge Ram 2500 because he wanted to buy American. His truck was made in Mexico. I told him he should have bought a Nissan, made in Mississippi. Boy, did he get mad.

Well Stated!

Well, if you want to upgrade to a 265 the Nitto Terra Grapplers comes in an E rating for that size. And I can personally attest to the fact that they are great tires.

I run the Toyo Open Country A/T in 285/75/16. Do very very nicely in all the aspects you have asked. I believe they are 8 ply. I drive 70-80 miles round trip work. Tires have done exceptionally well.

i run bfgoodrich AT KO's (hummer tires), load range D but rated for higher load than OEM firestone E's. look at actual rating vs relying on the range unless you just want a 10 ply tire. the KOs are said to go forever (60-70K with proper rotation


Will these fit on a stock 2WD truck? I'm thinking of going to these and would like to hear what's required. Also, will one fit in the spare compartment? TIA

You can NOT get everything you want in one tire package, especially as you get into the extremes of each category you listed. You'll have to decide what's more important to you, and comprimise on others. With that said, I like Cooper MT's! But they wear out fast if you drive hard(pavement), but I love'em in the mud and snow(alot of my drivinghttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif). I'm actually NOT sure if they make that tire for a 2004 HD. I had them on a 2000(old body style) HD.


So far i'm happy with the factory all terrains.


Good luck!





Edit: They changed the name to discoverer STT. Here is the link.


http://www.coopertire.com/us/en/selectorVehicle3.asp


http://www.coopertire.com/us/en/ProductDetails.asp?ProdType=SUV&id=28Edited by: 338_

i have had a set of cooper s/'s for winter and did great in the mud too. since i got a new truck i have cooper stt's now. great in the mud and deep snow but suck in ice. if i had to get a set just for winter months i would get cooper s/t's again. cheap and last a long time..


patrick

You could also get a mud/snow tire, and have it SIPED to improve control during icey driving conditions. The only downfall i've found, is that the tire doesn't last as long. Especially if you offroad alot in rocky terrain. It actually will rip little chunks of tread off your tire. But other than that it can make a mud/snow tire great for icey driving to.


I had SIPING done once, but never did it again. I went offroading to much, and also plowed snow. So the tires got torn up real fast. It did make a difference in handling, but the cost of buying new tires frequently shyed me away from doing it again.Edited by: 338_

I really liked the TRXUS M/T's on the old K2500. They are great in the snow, great in the mud , great in the sand and they look damned cool to boot. They aren't the quietest tyres on the market but compared to the Birdgestone duellers I had, anything was an up grade,.They howled unmercifuly in the rain with the trailer on the back!


ROB

I reccomend Goodyear Ats or BFG At ko, for running in snow, sand, and some mud, and still driving daily, you will have to have an All terrain tire. Dunlop is owned by Goodyear, as is Summit Tires, Hercules tires, and Kelley tires.

I had Goodyear AT/S on my old truck, wish I could have switched them to my new truck... I'm not sure the load rating, but I do know they are good enough to make snow want to melt and mud want to dry... up in Michigan I was running at 95 and had only a slight tire whine. they were 245/75/16 size.


Dan

I would recommend what I just bought. General All Terrain LT tires. They come in load range E for the 245 and 265 size. The tread is comparable to a BFG AT/KO. However, they do come with a 50,000 mile tread warranty. Price is $102 for the 245 and $104 for the 265 at Sears.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

I WILL NOT RUN ANYTING BUT A BFG A/T KO 285/75/16....BEEN THE BEST TIRES I EVER SEEN........3 SETS NOW IN A ROW.....

Yokohama Geolander AT+


Well these meet all your criteria, except the name is not an American name but I don't know if they are made in America or not. Regaurdless they are awsome tires. 245/75/16's "E" rated are available. I have 285's on my HD and they are great in snow, wet, mud, sand (I would assume), they have an aggressive AT tread design, they are quiet, they are wearing very nice, great looks, and I picked my 285's up for about $130 ea mounted and raod hazzard warranty. You can always put the letters in!


http://www.yokohamatire.com/TireIntro.asp?TireID=11


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/2E3_03GMC_2.JPGEdited by: 03GMC2500HD

I have bridgestones (h2) and they show almost NO wear after 15k. I think they will go 60+k.

Im happy with that.