BajaNomad

Tires Again

Diver - 7-21-2007 at 09:22 PM

I have delayed enough; my Toyo's are almost bald !!
I have been running 285/75-16 AT's on my '04 F350 Crew.
I am considering just going to another set of Toyos but am open to opinions. Is there something taller I could go to that would still fit on my stock alloy rims !! Anyone have any other favorites without breaking the bank (I love Michelins but they cost toooo much). I drive 80% on highway or other asphalt but when in Baja we do about 5-600 miles of washboard each year. Anything to make those miles easier would be greatly appreciated.

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Hook - 7-21-2007 at 09:42 PM

Michelins do NOT cost too much when you figure the cost per mile driven. That's the true cost of a tire. But if the only way you can purchase them is to finance them, then I understand. You probably know I love the LTX-MS as a great, all-around tire. Three steel belts..........who else has that?

I'm convinced that if you dont have a large camper on the back like I do that an F350 just might get around 60k on a set, maybe more. This assumes pretty close to full inflation on LR E tires (70-80psi).

I think 285-75 is about it on stock rims.

Now, I'll step aside and let the BFG guys plead their case.

Alan - 7-21-2007 at 11:50 PM

I fully agree with Hook. You really do need to consider cost/miles. Then consider the quality of those miles. Yes they are more expensive initially (Check out Costco prices for them) but they offer a superior ride as well as high mileage.

I also found that when I put them on my emergency response vehicle the difference in high speed handling was significantly improved.

[Edited on 7-22-2007 by Alan]

[Edited on 7-22-2007 by Alan]

Hook - 7-22-2007 at 06:40 AM

Just got out my receipt for my purchase of 4 Michelin 265-75-16 tires at Costco in May. They were 189.99 each but at the time, Costco was giving a 15.00/tire rebate in the form of a Costco cash card. Costco and/or Michelin seems to offer a similar rebate rather frequently.

I got just under 49k on my last set, driving about 80% of the time with a 2500# Lance on the back. The wear bars were still not showing but my summer vacation schedule dictated buying the new set earlier than I had wanted. Probably would have gotten about 51-53k before the wear bars showed. But I now have a LR E Michelin spare instead of an old, cracked sidewall tire.

805gregg - 7-22-2007 at 07:04 AM

I've got 315/75/17 BFG's on my Dodge 3500, they work well.

Norm - 7-22-2007 at 07:08 AM

YES ~~ THE MICHELIN ARE THE ONLY WAY TO GO !!! GOT THEM ON EVERY THING WE OWN , TRUCKS ,JEEPS, PICKUPS !!!!
LOOK AROUND & YOU WILL FIND A DEAL..

Diver - 7-22-2007 at 07:10 AM

Hmmm... maybe I'll have to check out Costco.

When I checked locally, the Michelins were about $250 vs $200 for the Toyos. Last set of Michelins I had on an F250 lasted over 50k; my current bald Toyos have 45k.

Anyone else awake out there ?
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Hook - 7-22-2007 at 07:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by 805gregg
I've got 315/75/17 BFG's on my Dodge 3500, they work well.


You'll have to share what shoehorn you're using, Gregg, to get those onto stock rims.

The other tires that many people are happy with on these trucks are the BFGs and the Bridgestone AT Revos. But I think both of those are close enough to Michelins in price that they will be considered too pricey for you, too.

805gregg - 7-22-2007 at 07:25 AM

I must be getting old I just checked and they are 315/70/17, one thing I will recommend is getting the tires filled with nitrogen, almost no pressure change for 1 year. Those BFG's do fit on my stock rims and they are big, but look about right on a huge truck. I'll be going with some 245/75/16 BFG's on my Jeep Liberty.

Hook - 7-22-2007 at 09:53 AM

Greg, Your truck must be a newer one. All the mfgrs seem to be going to 17 inch rims or greater.

I have a couple guys on our block who have bought new trucks in the last two years and they have rims larger than 16 inch. When I heard what their tires cost to replace, I didnt feel bad about my 16 inch Michelins.

Roberto - 7-22-2007 at 10:00 AM

YMMV - truer words were never spoken. In another thread, Bruce mentioned that Bilstein shocks are nothing but trouble off-road. Never had an issue with Bilsteins, in many different models.

In the same vein, I have had nothing but trouble with Michelin LTX M/S. Three flats in three months. One shredded (and I do mean shredded) tire on the road BACK from San Borja to Rosarito (that's the smooth, sandy one), and two flats on San Diego highways. Did fine with BFG A/T, then switched to BFG M/T for increased traction on dirt (and got it), then switched to Toyo M/T, mostly to reduce highway noise, and I needed to replace to of my BFG. That worked as well. Extremely happy with these, going to stick with them for the near future.

Norm - 7-23-2007 at 07:28 AM

YOU ALL MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THE MICKEY THOMPSON TIRES , AFTER ALL HE WAS A GOOD RACER!!!!!
I MY TRY A SET ON OUR BLAZER. 16X36..

Diver - 7-23-2007 at 07:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by whistler
Not sure about the other manufacturers but Dodge went to 17's because of the size of the rear disc brakes.16's won't clear.



Same for Ford.
In '05 they went to 17" for the larger brakes front and rear.
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jorgie - 7-23-2007 at 02:48 PM

the streering tires on the 'ol rig were stripped off and checked in Yuma after the Baja run.......Diver , you know the make, they were perfect after 13 years........the big M......only way to go.

Ken Cooke - 7-23-2007 at 04:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Diver

Anyone else awake out there ?
.


For about $155 per tire, you can get the Interco TrXus MT tire which is durable, and great sidewalls, works well on wet pavement and granite, and runs smoothly on the street. I have run these tires, and am on my 2nd set now. When these wear out, I am buying a set of 34"x12.5r15s. You could probably get away with stuffing a set of 34"x12.5r16s on your pickup for right around $200.00 per tire. The one thing, you need to rotate these between 2,500 to 4,000 miles in order to get the best balance and mileage.