Another Tire Advice Thread

[maybe_a_80...]

good thoughts Ebag.

Oregon winters are easier with studs. I just got back from a winter in New Zealand and I learned how to put chains on for the same reasons studs make sense in the Pacific NW. Those Grabbers sound like they fit your bill really well, studable to boot. And yes tires can be like politics and religion.

Ironically I plan to go a different direction for my next set of treads, because I have something different in mind for FZJ than all those Detroit trucks of the past. And to a certain extent, as you mentioned, it does come down to looks sometimes. Before winter 2009/2010 (at which time I will have moved permanently to Keystone, Colorado) I plan to purchase those 255/85R16 Cooper Discoverer STs for my FZJ. In large part cause I think they'll look very very cool on my rig and complete the look I am working on. Can't wait to share pictures!

And now we're hijacking subdave's thread about his tire selection!

 

[little_joe]

Be sure to add the Nitto Terra Grappler AT to your list, they are fantastic all-around tires with plenty of siping.

When I lived on the east side of Cleveland in the snow belt, BFG AT's IMHO sucked dong in that wet heavy lake effect snow, but that's just me........

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

Be sure to add the Nitto Terra Grappler AT to your list, they are fantastic all-around tires with plenty of siping.

X2. 295 and 305 are basically the same size of tire. So why not consider the 295x75R16 nitto terra grapplers.


https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/190148-295-75r16-nitto-terra-grapplers.html

 

[hoch]

What's the tread life been like for the General Grabbers? And how are they in the wet?

 

[Ebag333]

X2. 295 and 305 are basically the same size of tire. So why not consider the 295x75R16 nitto terra grapplers.

The Nitto's look nice, but also are a more road design rather than M/T.

Plus they don't come in a 315, which is a deal breaker for me.

What's the tread life been like for the General Grabbers? And how are they in the wet?

I haven't run the Grabber's on the freeway in any sort of serious rain (that might change this weekend), but I've done several water crossings, both a sandy/silt creek bed and a rock filled one.

The sandy one I think any tire short of bald would have done just fine. For the rock filled one (wet rocks covered with moss/algae = VERY slippery) I was amazed at how well they handled. I didn't air down at all, and got through the creek with almost no slipping (but lots of complaints of "BORING!" ).

The guy in front of me was running Toyo M/T's, and had LOTS of slipping.

Granted part of that is probably because he took a different line, and they were different trucks (FJC VS FZJ80), but I believe a big chunk of it is from the tire. (We both did it in low range but without front/rear locked, so he actually has a slight advantage with ATRAC.)

I was never really impressed with the Toyo's handling in slick conditions, I noticed they tended to slip on dust covered rocks (which is a pretty slick surface).



I haven't had the Grabbers yet to definitively state anything on the tread life. They appear to be wearing better (less) than the Toyo's do on the truck. We both DD ours, and she does put a bit more miles on hers, but we're pretty close.

The Grabbers were also the only A/T I could find on TireRacks site that had a 60k mile warantee on them. The Yokohama Geolanders have 40k for them, and the rest have none. (And the Geolanders are more of a road style tire.)

 

[Nay]

Nay likes big lugs. But for the rest of us with NORMAL snow, I think something more designed for ice rather than 6 foot deep powder would probably work better. ;p

As Nay's said before, it's all going to depend on where you live. Around here we get lots of "wet" snow, which means you get lots of ice (and layers of snow/ice/snow/ice/snow/ice) and slush.

That's right - you have to keep in mind that it literally does not rain here in the winter. So what you have is powder that will pack down into what can be an icy hardpack, but smooth ice, and particularly snow that then gets rained on and freezes again, is unheard of.

Well, we can get some smooth ice around neighborhood intersections on those days were it snows 2-3" right around dawn and then people drive on it in 25-30 degree temps. We had a day like this mid-month and it was nasty out. Lots of people in ditches. But that stuff melts around here by midday, so you don't really have to design your rig around it, you just don't want a tire that simply can't handle those conditions. My new Toyos were very good, definitely better than BFG AT's.

So here you need "bite" and well as "paddling" - that's the siped MT.

In rain/snow/ice mixes it's a totally different story.

The grabber has long been a BFG AT knockoff, and this latest version looks to sipe the hell out of it and give you studdable option. I have no doubt that this makes for a great winter tire and a good all around wet climate tire.

In a semi-arid to arid climate, you just really don't have to care for those issues, so I stopped. Kind of like having moved here from Virginia 10 years ago I stopped carrying an umbrella. There's just no point.

 

[Nay]

i was referring to "extreme snow" conditions for on-road driving, not off road driving.

Got it - my neighborhood can be like extreme offroad winter driving, that's why I asked. I don't like having to wait for snowplows

Of course it's been 60's and sunny for weeks, no snow in sight, we usually have a good October storm and it's been virtually nothing yet

 

[hoch]

Thanks, Ebag. I have been contemplating on the AT2's and KO's. The price difference between the two will probably tip the scale to AT2's. I'll also be getting 235/86/16's. The winters around here is like slush world. They dump a generous amount of salt everywhere, so hopefully the 235's will cut through all of that. (This is on a Tacoma, BTW).

 

[Beowulf]

My intent is to buy 305/70/16 size.... Just need a little reassurance here: these larger tires will definitely fit on my stock rims?

Yes.

-B-

 

[subdave]

Yes.

-B-

Thanks.

And thanks to all who posted. I plan to try the Silent Armor as it had the best snow and ice traction ratings on TireRack.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

BFG's AT are great tires. I'm looking at those and the General grabber AT2s. The Generals got better all around reviews in several different tests and are cheaper so I'm going with those.

I like www.discounttiredirect.com they have good prices, free shipping and they are quick and friendly (but do not carry General) I have bought several tire sets from them and always good service.

I need new tires for the 80 and wanted the BFG AT. Thanks for the discount tire tip!

Just ordered 5 delivered in 285-75R16 for $970. That was over $100 cheaper than Tire Rack (where I had them in the shopping cart the other day and didn't pull the trigger).

PS: I always buy tires locally but the best price my friend (who owns a shop) could get on 5 of these was just South of $1300.

 

[Ebag333]

PS: I always buy tires locally but the best price my friend (who owns a shop) could get on 5 of these was just South of $1300.

I know that TireRack will sell to shops for less than their listed price.

Not sure if the other places will do the same.