Another Tire Advice Thread

[subdave]

Sorry to bore you folks with another one of these...

Info:
1997 TLC 40th ed. with stock lift, wheels, etc.

I need new tires. Old ones are almost bare. Driving conditions are highway and extreme snow around the Great Lakes region.

My intent is to buy 305/70/16 size. Brands I am considering are the BFG A/T KO and the Bridgestone Dueler A/T D695. The BFG is well documented and seems like I can't go wrong. The Bridgestone is newer and found little info out there.

Just need a little reassurance here: these larger tires will definitely fit on my stock rims?

Also, anyone find better prices than TireRack?

Please post if you have experience with the Bridgestone. Thanks!

 

[wct49]

I sell both the Bridgestone and the BFG.

I think the BFG is a better tire, but it is pricey. The Bridgestone should give you better wet weather traction and a better ride. As far as off road capabilities I would think the BFG would win out.

For a more apples to apples comparison I would probably look at the Bridgestone Dueler Revo AT. I have run this size on my 80 for years and also on my Suburban. They are great wet weather tires and do well off road. I will get 50k on the set on my suburban. I moved up into the Firestone Destination MT back in September on the 80.

Good Hunting, there's plenty of info on these tires on mud.

 

[ba450]

Go BFG! Great tires. Go with what is proven...

 

[subdave]

wct49, Thanks for the info. Doesn't look like the Revos are available in the 305 size. I grew up in MS. Never saw a LC down there, though.

 

[mikedamageinc]

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.

 

[Ebag333]

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 got to play with my new tires in a longer run this past Saturday. I was extremely impressed with the way they gripped, felt significantly better than the Toyo M/T's I had on their previously.

Ran them at 20 psi with no problems, I'll probably drop it lower next time as my 315's barely had a bulge.

 

[maybe_a_80...]

If you are looking for a great tire for highway use and extreme snow, I really really really suggest checking out the Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor. The snow capability of these AT tires is ridiculous - check them out on Tirerack and compare against other AT tires.

I have run them on two vehicles and would without hesitation buy them again.

 

[Nay]

If you are looking for a great tire for highway use and extreme snow, I really really really suggest checking out the Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor. The snow capability of these AT tires is ridiculous - check them out on Tirerack and compare against other AT tires.

I have run them on two vehicles and would without hesitation buy them again.

What do you mean by extreme snow? Busting 4' drifts in an highway AT?

 

[livinoffroad]

I've had good luck with the Firestone destination A/T.

Not sure if it is available in that size, but the deep siping creates better traction on snow and ice than say, the BFG A/T KO. See my post in the "tire choices" thread.

Look closely at a good snow tire like the Nokian, and you'll see tons of siping. Siping is what creates traction on snow and ice.

All those little biting edges, which expose themselves when the tire flexes against the road, actually hold snow in the sipes, and rub it against the snow on the road which creates more friction than rubber against snow does.

There are lots of good A/T tires out there. The Bridgestone Revo is highly regarded, as is the Goodyear Silent Armor. Firestone is made by Bridgestone.

In general, as far as snow and ice is concerned, the more siping, the better.

Just my $.02

 

[Nay]

In general, as far as snow and ice is concerned, the more siping, the better.

Just my $.02

True. But in deep powder (as measured in feet, not inches), the more lug spacing the better. That is why a well siped MT is the best tire in my conditions by far if you need to get out in deep snow as well as deal with icy hardpack.

It's not a typical environment, which is why one size doesn't fit all, and why I won't run AT's. I pull my neighbors with AT's out of drifts the day after they have to abandon their trucks on the way home from work and walk the rest of the way.

Other people hate the type of tire I love for very good reasons. Learn what works best in your area for the conditions you think you'll encounter and go with it.

 

[subdave]

Thanks for all your posts.

Discounttiredirect.com actually beats tirerack on some tires. Definitely worth comparing prices.

The east end of Lake Ontario gets lake effect snow. It varies every year, but last year the area saw a range from 10 to 20 FEET of snow, much of it in a single month. The kicker, though, is that it snows some almost every day. And you cannot just wait for the plows and salt to come through. So you are often driving on snow and ice. With other people. Scary people. Dumb people. I need a bull bar...

You folks have me looking at the Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor. Mud feedback on these is good. Net searches revealed a lot of unhappy campers who bought these. Anyone else have experience to share with the Silent Armor? Also, did you get the regular or "Pro Grade?"

Thanks!

 

[maybe_a_80...]

What do you mean by extreme snow? Busting 4' drifts in an highway AT?

i was referring to "extreme snow" conditions for on-road driving, not off road driving. my "extreme snow" on road driving conditions would include regular drives between points in UT and Jackson, WY and across ID into Ketchum. These areas have 60+ mile sections of sheet ice/compacted snow during winter and if you're trying to get somewhere, driving 45mph is not an option (just takes too long). I have also used the tires extensively on I70 in Colorado on snow of the most awful driving days over the last couple of winters.

One day I also drove from Steamboat down to Walcott and across to Vail on the state highway on un-plowed road and my rear wheel drive 1/2 ton Chevy Express cargo van never got stuck and I never lost confidence that I was going to lose control of the truck.. I was definitely in snow a foot deep at times.

I don't have any experience with the tires in off-road-type snow conditions as all my experience has been on roads.

 

[maybe_a_80...]

Thanks for all your posts.

Discounttiredirect.com actually beats tirerack on some tires. Definitely worth comparing prices.

The east end of Lake Ontario gets lake effect snow. It varies every year, but last year the area saw a range from 10 to 20 FEET of snow, much of it in a single month. The kicker, though, is that it snows some almost every day. And you cannot just wait for the plows and salt to come through. So you are often driving on snow and ice. With other people. Scary people. Dumb people. I need a bull bar...

You folks have me looking at the Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor. Mud feedback on these is good. Net searches revealed a lot of unhappy campers who bought these. Anyone else have experience to share with the Silent Armor? Also, did you get the regular or "Pro Grade?"

Thanks!

I looked at people's complaints as well - and had a dealer tell me I was going to "hate" the Silent Armors. I mounted them up anyway without a second thought due to their purported capability in snow. People's complaints come from the fact that the Silent Armor is basically a lot of Kevlar in the tire, which rides somewhat rougher that non-kevlar belted tires. So, they ride a little rough (that's what people are saying). If you put them on a little 3,000lb Tacoma, you're going to possibly hate them. Especially if they are not balanced correctly. Recheck what those people prefer and you'll get a better idea of where their complaints arise.

A friend of mine just put 265/75R16 Silent Armors on his Emu-lifted (6"), ARB-epuipped Tacoma at my suggestion and loves them.

I have run both regular and Pro Grade and I liked the Pro-Grade more because they made my 7,000lb GMC Sierra feel rock solid and because they have a deeper tread than the regulars (more life). Were I to buy Silent Armors for my FZJ, I would spring for the load-rated version (Pro Grade), but I will always buy load-rated tires after my positive experience with the Silent Armor Pro Grade.

Another note about the Silent Armors - they are not only rated M+S, they are also rated with the snowflake/mountain symbol. The snowflake/mountain symbol only gets put on the best of best M+S rated tires. I am not sure there are any other AT tires that have earned this symbol.

Just a little word of qualification on my tire preferences: my FJZ has stock Michelin tires on it and I think they ride like car tires as opposed to truck tires. I like truck tires on my trucks, not velvety-feeling pillows that absorb almost all road feel. If I wanted a cushy car feel I would have bought a Crown Vic instead of a FZJ.

Hope that helps!

 

[Ebag333]

Another note about the Silent Armors - they are not only rated M+S, they are also rated with the snowflake/mountain symbol. The snowflake/mountain symbol only gets put on the best of best M+S rated tires. I am not sure there are any other AT tires that have earned this symbol.

The General Grabber AT2's have this symbol on them.


I can tell right now I wouldn't like the Silent Armors. The lugs are way too close together, more of a road design than a M/T. That and they have zero sidewall tread.

Silent Armor:

Grabbers:

In comparison, here's the BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM2:

 

[maybe_a_80...]

Those Grabbers look pretty nice! Note the similar amount of "siping" type cuts in the Silent Armors and Grabbers. That is what makes the Silent Armors so good on ice and snow in road conditions and I imagine the Grabbers work just as well - especially since, as Ebag notes, they also have that mountain/snowflake symbol.

Another great option in my opinion! Thanks for the pic I had never heard of General Grabbers before.

I think the lugs are too large on those BFGs for good ice traction. They would work very well in deep, untracked snow I imagine...Nay might know for sure on this...

 

[Ebag333]

Those Grabbers look pretty nice! Note the similar amount of "siping" type cuts in the Silent Armors and Grabbers. That is what makes the Silent Armors so good on ice and snow in road conditions and I imagine the Grabbers work just as well - especially since, as Ebag notes, they also have that mountain/snowflake symbol.

Another great option in my opinion! Thanks for the pic I had never heard of General Grabbers before.

I think the lugs are too large on those BFGs for good ice traction. They would work very well in deep, untracked snow I imagine...Nay might know for sure on this...

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.


I think that the Silent Armor tires would work great on road (probably a bit better than the Grabbers), but for my wants/needs I preferred something with acceptable road performance while keeping a more M/T style tread--and don't let the picture deceive you, the gap between the treads is big, my biggest complaint is that the Grabbers like to grab (pun intended) rocks and throw them. You do *NOT* want to be behind me on a gravel road.

That and the Grabber's are studable, which is fairly uncommon.

But to each their own. Tire's are a lot like politics and religion.

 

[jasonmt]

Another note about the Silent Armors - they are not only rated M+S, they are also rated with the snowflake/mountain symbol. The snowflake/mountain symbol only gets put on the best of best M+S rated tires. I am not sure there are any other AT tires that have earned this symbol.

Dunlop Radial Rover RVXT

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO

General Grabber AT 2

Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor

Goodyear Fortera TripleTred



Are all "Severe Snow Rated"



http://www.1010tires.com/tire.asp?tirebrand=Goodyear&tiremodel=Fortera+TripleTred

 

[Ebag333]

Dunlop Radial Rover RVXT

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO

General Grabber AT 2

Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor

Goodyear Fortera TripleTred



Are all "Severe Snow Rated"

And out of all of those only the Grabber's can be studded.

Just sayin'! ;p

 

[jasonmt]

And out of all of those only the Grabber's can be studded.

Just sayin'! ;p

So you like lipstick on your pigs?

 

[Ebag333]

So you like lipstick on your pigs?

Make you squeal, boy!


Around here (as I previously mentioned) we get lots of snow/ice/slush mixes. What seems to be especially common is iced over slush/snow. It can get thick enough that non-studded tires don't break through it well, and you lose your grip.

The worst is ice/slush/ice, because even if you break through the top layer you're sitting on wet ice.

Most people who live in the hills have studded (or studable) tires (or two sets, winter and year round). I've driven without them plenty of times, and while I've never been in an accident I've come close far more times than I'd like to think about.


The Green Diamond Tires are the same idea, an off road tire with extra traction abilities for snow/ice. Only I won't have the extra traction (and wear and tear) year round since I can add/remove them.