Thoughts for new Tire FAQ

[Romer]

Note: The below first post is OBE. There is now a stickey thread where I have incorporated most of the comments below, but still would like your input. Please post to this thread and I will incorporate them into the stickey thread. For example, several have suggested a section on non dot or milspec tires. I am happy to make that section, I just don't know of any.


In reading lots of old posts, it seems when recommendations for tires come in they are mixed between ATs, MTs and more aggresive. Someone will be looking for an AT and they get a recommendation to go with a Mickey Thompson MT.

So, I am thinking of developing Four (Edit was three - changed my mind) catagories and want to place the kinds of tires in that catagory.

Next, I will create a thread for each catagory with the listed tires seeking reviews and comments from forum members.

Example (Please comment and help me beef this up)

AT (All Terrain) tires area combination tire designed for on road and offroad use. They are less aggressive off road, but what they give up in aggressiveness they gain in on road handling. This is the tire for you if your primary concern is Highway performance and still want the ability to go offroad.

General advantages:
1) Tend to wear longer
2) Quiet on road
3) Better ride (not as bumpy)
4) Good traction in snow and rain (vs better in MT??)

General Disadvantages:
1) Not as good as an MT in snow or mud (Not sure of diff in rain)
2) less offroad traction than an MT
3) ???

Tires in this catagory:
1) BFG AT KO's
2) Geolander AT
3) Revo
4) ???? (Post up some in this catagory)




Ok, I am thinking the four catagories would be:

AT
Hybrid
MT
More agrresive (What do I call this)


So you are probably thinking, "what is this Hybrid?" Give me a better name. That's the impression I get with the Cooper SST's which I am going to be buyng in the next few weeks in a 315 size. They seem to be a lot more than an AT, but not quite a MT. However, they seem a lot like the Toyot MT's. So should I get rid of the Hybrid catagory?

This is our FAQ, so I am looking for your opinions.

 

[photogod]

Just looked on the Cooper sight and the SST is said to be discontinued?! Looks like a killer tire.

 

[Grench]

So, I am thinking of developing three catagories and want to place the kinds of tires in that catagory.

Ok, I am thinking the four catagories would be:
AT
Hybrid
MT
More agrresive (What do I call this)

I wouldn't expect this kind of spanish inquisition.

I put the stock Michelines one step under the ATs on that scale. So, I would break it more like...

1. Road/City Tires (stock Michelines, whatever LX_extreme has on his truck and the like)
2. AT/Expedition (Goodyear AT/ATS, Pirelli Scorpions, Nitto Dune Grapplers, etc...)
3. MudTerrain/DOT offroad (BFG MTs, GY MTRs, Revos, Super Swampers, etc...)
4. Mil Spec & Non-DOT (Centipedes, 9.00R16 XMLs, farm tires, etc...)

I know each category has a lot in it. That is intentional. We can't forget that a lot of the questions in the forrums deal with what road tire to put on the wife's cruiser and on-road use too.

 

[Romer]

Just looked on the Cooper sight and the SST is said to be discontinued?! Looks like a killer tire.

Damn, just when I finally make up my mind. Guess I'll see if i can still get them at a local dealer.

 

[firetruck41]

Damn, just when I finally make up my mind. Guess I'll see if i can still get them at a local dealer.

You want the Discoverer STT , not the SST.

 

[Romer]

You want the Discoverer STT Radial , not the SST.

Thanks Ben, typo on my part.

Still looking for inputs. I am working on this new FAQ in a private section and will move it here when it's in pretty good shape. Any thoughts or threads you want to add, post them here.

 

[BPMOU]

Ken,

I don't think you want the STT Radial. I am running the STT with Armor Tek 3. If you are going to the shop I referred to in my PM, make sure that you clarify that it is the tire with the Armor Tek 3. When I got my tires, they put on the radial by accident as they thought that was the tire that I wanted. When I went to pick up the truck you can imagine my suprise. They let me keep them for a couple of days while they ordered the correct tires. There was a huge diffrence between the two. The STT radial is similar to a MT, were the STT is the hybrid. Also, if use that shop off of Arapahoe and Quebec there is a 10% coupon on their site, so I would negotiate the price and then give them the coupon.

 

[Hants]

AT
Hybrid
MT
More agrresive (What do I call this)

1. Road/City Tires (stock Michelines, whatever LX_extreme has on his truck and the like)
2. AT/Expedition (Goodyear AT/ATS, Pirelli Scorpions, Nitto Dune Grapplers, etc...)
3. MudTerrain/DOT offroad (BFG MTs, GY MTRs, Revos, Super Swampers, etc...)
4. Mil Spec & Non-DOT (Centipedes, 9.00R16 XMLs, farm tires, etc...)

Romer, the writeups (advantages, disadvantages, examples) are great.

Grench, good idea on the road/city tires. I've seen a few people ask about them, and they many times get pointed to AT's.

To me, there's a distinction to be made between relatively road-friendly MT's (BFG MT, GY MTR), and less road-friendly swampers, pitbulls, etc.

Non-DOT should in their own category - if for no other reason than you can't legally drive them on the road.

I'd be inclined to put individual "hybrids" into either AT or MT categories -- I think we'll get too many shades of grey otherwise.

 

[cary]

I would break them into the following categories to be consistant:

1) All Season
2) All Terrain
3) Mud/Max Traction
4) Non-Dot Legal MT
5) Dedicated Snow

I would also suggest that the faq include background information. A brief outline in my mind would include:

1) OEM Tire requirements including speed rating, minimum weight capacity, and other items that people may think of.

2) Differences between P-metric Tires and LT tires, including adjustments in inflation pressures when switching types.

3) The tradeoffs of all season, AT, MT.

4) Specific tire recommendations.

 

[firetruck41]

Ken,

I don't think you want the STT Radial. I am running the STT with Armor Tek 3. If you are going to the shop I referred to in my PM, make sure that you clarify that it is the tire with the Armor Tek 3. When I got my tires, they put on the radial by accident as they thought that was the tire that I wanted. When I went to pick up the truck you can imagine my suprise. They let me keep them for a couple of days while they ordered the correct tires. There was a huge diffrence between the two. The STT radial is similar to a MT, were the STT is the hybrid. Also, if use that shop off of Arapahoe and Quebec there is a 10% coupon on their site, so I would negotiate the price and then give them the coupon.

You are correct and I will edit my previous post in this thread. The "Discoverer STT" is the agressive tire with 3 ply sidewall, very similar tread pattern to the Toyo MT. The "Discoverer Radial STT" looks like it is bsically an older M/T style tire with no siping...

 

[Romer]

Awesome. I was looking in the wrong spot on the cooper site. These tires are not discontinued. Interesting that the STT's are in the light truck, but the radial STT's are in the SUV section.

 

[Romer]

Of the tires I have placed in the FAQ, None were non DOT. I think I will move what I am working on over here. It will be a closed thread so that I can keep it clean. It will be a stickey at the top for a bit.


Please posts all comments here.

What I would like is tire additions, suggestion on formats, generic technical info, etc.

Thanks

 

[MaddBaggins]

I like Grench's breakdown better than what you proposed in post #1.

My .02

 

[Romer]

I like Grench's breakdown better than what you proposed in post #1.

My .02

Did you look at the sticky thread. I did pretty much that, BUT i didn't have any non dot tires to list for the 80.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Did you look at the sticky thread. I did pretty much that, BUT i didn't have any non dot tires to list for the 80.

I just read some and skimmed some of that thread. Nice work Ken!
I'll do another write up on my new tires after the Glitter Gulch Gambol in a couple weeks.

 

[Grench]

Did you look at the sticky thread. I did pretty much that, BUT i didn't have any non dot tires to list for the 80.

I classified those as milspec/non-DOT to include farm tires, XMLs and Centipedes.

You said you had some problems finding examples of these... I'll help do some searching for you as I researched these a bit before deciding that they wouldn't work too hot for me.

milspec Micheline XML tires:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=111168&highlight=XML
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=89147&highlight=XML
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=71516&highlight=XML
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=5057&highlight=XML
I understand ClownMidget ran these for a while.


Centipedes / Non-DOT
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=85950&highlight=centipedes
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=102426&highlight=tires
The only reference I remember of someone using these has been from Australia guys. One of them had their truck LineX'd orange or something? Does anyone know who this is for a solid reference?


Worthy of reference:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=96743&highlight=tall+narrow+tires
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=103521&highlight=tall+narrow+tires
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=109093&highlight=tall+narrow+tires
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=102426&highlight=tires
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=105135&highlight=tall+narrow+tires
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=31382&highlight=tall+narrow+tires
Lots of threads over multiple areas (not all in the 80's seciton) dealing with the wide/skinny debate.

Hope this helps. I'm sure there are more out there. Use whatever works for you.

Thanks for putting this up! I especially like the bit about tire size. So many people don't get the whole aspect ratio bit and assume a 305 is automatically a tall tire when they could actually be wide rubber bands.

Thanks again!

 

[-XXX-]

I recommend siping for your trail rigs, I have some Krawlers and some Goodyear MTRs and the goodyears are siped and it is an AWSOME improvement in traction on rocks and almost all other surfaces.

FWIW here is a sight that explains the siping history


http://www.4x4review.com/tech/siping.asp

(he actually worked at a Slaughter house if I am correct, and the floors were slippery from the meat and fat and he was busting his ass )


Here is another site that provides siping service,

http://www.sipers.com/sipers/history.asp



Very good idea for a thread Romer, I would really recommend a tid bit or 2 about Siping it is a old timers trick for traction and you will feel an improvement.

Even in that Missouri crap you were in last week!!



FWIW it will give you an "edge" in competetion................Pun intended

 

[Romer]

Thanks for your inputs. I have added them to the thread. Will clean them up better later.

 

[Hants]

Centipedes / Non-DOT
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=85950&highlight=centipedes
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=102426&highlight=tires
The only reference I remember of someone using these has been from Australia guys. One of them had their truck LineX'd orange or something? Does anyone know who this is for a solid reference?

IIRC, Mckldo runs 35x10.5 Centipedes at times.

 

[cary]

I wanted to add a few things, note corrections for the FAQ:

1) Summary of Tire Pressure- The Stock 80 uses a P-metric tire (designated by the use of a P in the size i.e. P275/70/16), with a recommended inflation pressure of 32psi. When converting to a light truck tire (LT) which most A/T and Max Traction tires are (LT is designated on the sidewall next to the size i.e. LT275/70/16), you should add approximately 10psi to the factory recommended pressures. Based on the load charts (and this doesn't matter whether you are running a C, D, or E rated tire) you should adjust your base pressure to be as follows when changing to an LT tire:

275/70/16, 265/75/16 - 42-45psi,
285/75/16, 305/70/16 - 40-42 psi,
295/75/16- 38-40psi,
315/75/16- 36-40 psi.

You should not go below the minimum pressures above. If you have a truck that has a lot of extra weight (i.e. sliders, bull bar, winch, bumpers, etc.) add 5-8psi to the above.

2) All- Season Tires. All season tires will often perform BETTER than All-Terrain tires in the snow and ice, as well as in rain. All Seasons have softer compounding, more siping, and better tread patterns for rain channeling.

3) BFG All Terrain & Dunlop RXVT carry the RMA's severe snow rating.

3) Yokohama AT+II is being replaced by a new tire called the A/T-S (picture attached).

4) Tire sizes - We should be a little more accurate in our sizing for the faq, at least have the information out there. The actual sizes of various tires are as follows:

275/70/16- 31.2"
265/75/16- 31.8"
285/75/16- 32.8"
305/70/16- 33.0"
295/75/16- 33.2"
315/75/16- 34.6"

Note these are BFG A/T sizes, various manufactures will vary by up to .2" but are generally at the same size.

For reference traditional inch size tires measure as follows:

31x10.5 - 30.7"
32x 11.5- 31.7"
33x 12.5- 32.7"
35x 12.5- 34.7"

So when computing tire sizes, keep in mind the OEM tire is really what would be 31.5" tire under traditional sizing.

5) 265/75/16 the tire size nobody talks about. The 265/75 gives you a split between the stock size and stepping up to a 285/75 tire. They are 1/2" taller than stock and are available in more choices than the stock size. After careful thought I have stuck with this size rather than go to 285/75 as I am unwilling to take the accleration and gas mileage penalty.

6) Nokian Vatiiva- This a tire that is a split between a A/S and A/T. Nokian is a Finnish manufacture that is well known for their snow tires. The Vatiiva is their SUV tire and is supposed to have the RMA Severe Snow rating soon. From the information I found, everyone that has run them, loves them. They are available in sizes up to 315/75/16 for those that want a less agressive road tire in a large size.

7) The Michelin LTX M&S (which is supposed to be good in the rain and snow) is available in a 285/75/16.