Which non-wheeling tires for my '06 TLC?

[1point4]

Tell me you aren't asking those questions seriously.....

yes i am. i'm sorry if i haven't spent my life worrying about tire sizes, sidewalls and tire section heights. it is all greek to me. hence, i'm asking for a non-wheeling tire advice, i'm not a rock-crawler. i'm just trying to understand the very basics so I can buy new tires.

no need to be rude to newbies IMO.

 

[SWUtah]

It seems like the only Michelins available from Costco that meets the requirements are the Latitude Tour HP > $253 +$14 installation each. They come in 3rd in the tests for highway all year around Consumer Survey Results By Category

#1 in that test are the General Grabber HTS at $143/each + installation.

I'm obviously inexperience in bying new tires for a LC so please help my understand one thing. OEM size for my rig is 275/60R/18. When I go to check ou the on/off terrain group at
Consumer Survey Results By Category none of them are available in 275/60R/18. Do I have to buy that exact spec? My neighberhood Tire place said they would only install tires that meets that very spec.

If you want on/off road you can install 275/65/18's, tirerack will ship to a local shop that will install them. Make sure you don't get a "E" rated tire it will be too heavy and stiff. Call the tirerack guys and they will walk you through your decision. I am going to get the 275/65/18 Michelin AT2's when my OEM Michelin LTX M/S's finally wearout which I think will be at around 70K miles. I would not go with 16's too much rubber not enough wheel. JMHO

 

[Hicaira]

You can also go to a 285/60/18 and get a broader choice of tires from which to choose. It is only 1/2 inch taller than stock (31.46" vs 31") and you'd barely notice the difference. Might even make your speedo more accurate since it probably reads a wee bit high.

 

[CrusrDug]

yes i am. i'm sorry if i haven't spent my life worrying about tire sizes, sidewalls and tire section heights. it is all greek to me. hence, i'm asking for a non-wheeling tire advice, i'm not a rock-crawler. i'm just trying to understand the very basics so I can buy new tires.

no need to be rude to newbies IMO.

After 10 posts you aren't a newb anymore and you do have a rock crawlin' avatar

Seriously though, xxx/xx/16 and xxx/xx/18 can be the same size tire except one goes on a .......wait.......wait.....16 in wheel and the other goes on a ......wait......wait.....18 in wheel. If you don't know the difference, that's fine - but, if you don't know the difference there is probably no reason to get anything other than something that fits a stock size wheel. Maybe upsize the tire for looks or future off road, but leave the wheel alone (sorry Loud).

People like to go down to a 16 because they can get an increase in sidewall. I like the 18's personally and there are more and more tires coming out that fit the wheel and give you an increase in sidewall. Again, if you don't need it or want it, why bother?

If you want to know the tire size take the first number and divide by 25.4- then multiply by the second number as a decimal to get your sidewall. Multiply the sidewall by 2 and finally add the third number.

275/60/18

275/25.4 = 10.82 x .60 = 6.5(rounded) x 2 = 13 + 18 = 31 inch tire

That's my Karma post for the day.

 

[1point4]

Thanks for all the input. I finally had a chance to call Tirerack for 15 min while commuting and get most of my newbie questions out of the way. The rep (sales rep?) was 100% focused on getting me a pair of Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza - best thread wear, lowest noise etc, etc according to him, even if a bunch of other tires were rated hired...

I wouldn't mind something like a Michelin LTX A/T 2 as we get pretty big rains around here, I drive up to the mountains with the kids to ski during winter time etc, but I just want to make sure they don't make to up road-noise during my daily commute.

 

[1point4]

After 10 posts you aren't a newb anymore and you do have a rock crawlin' avatar

Seriously though, xxx/xx/16 and xxx/xx/18 can be the same size tire except one goes on a .......wait.......wait.....16 in wheel and the other goes on a ......wait......wait.....18 in wheel. If you don't know the difference, that's fine - but, if you don't know the difference there is probably no reason to get anything other than something that fits a stock size wheel. Maybe upsize the tire for looks or future off road, but leave the wheel alone (sorry Loud).

People like to go down to a 16 because they can get an increase in sidewall. I like the 18's personally and there are more and more tires coming out that fit the wheel and give you an increase in sidewall. Again, if you don't need it or want it, why bother?

If you want to know the tire size take the first number and divide by 25.4- then multiply by the second number as a decimal to get your sidewall. Multiply the sidewall by 2 and finally add the third number.

275/60/18

275/25.4 = 10.82 x .60 = 6.5(rounded) x 2 = 13 + 18 = 31 inch tire

That's my Karma post for the day.

thanks bro, perfect and kind newbie-explanation

I'm not saying I've never rock-crawled - just not in my own rig and I only drive, no building/fixing so I know cr-p about tires, shocks or anything (that should be painfully obvious by now...)

 

[SWUtah]

Thanks for all the input. I finally had a chance to call Tirerack for 15 min while commuting and get most of my newbie questions out of the way. The rep (sales rep?) was 100% focused on getting me a pair of Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza - best thread wear, lowest noise etc, etc according to him, even if a bunch of other tires were rated hired...

I wouldn't mind something like a Michelin LTX A/T 2 as we get pretty big rains around here, I drive up to the mountains with the kids to ski during winter time etc, but I just want to make sure they don't make to up road-noise during my daily commute.

The AT2's are the top rated on/off road tire and I understand they are not that noisy. The Alenza's are great tires and would be better on the highway. The A/T2's look badass and would get you anywhere they would also wear for a good 70K miles. Good luck but you sound like you are now informed.

 

[NMuzj100]

For on road I don't think changing to a 16" wheel makes any sense.

 

[1point4]

The AT2's are the top rated on/off road tire and I understand they are not that noisy. The Alenza's are great tires and would be better on the highway. The A/T2's look badass and would get you anywhere they would also wear for a good 70K miles. Good luck but you sound like you are now informed.

I wouldn't quite call it enlighten but at least I've got a basic understanding!

I should be able to make an informed decision by now! What threw me off a bit along the way was the OEM size 275/60R/18. It turns out that many of the tires recommended here are not available in that specific config. Going 285 doesn't help much either, so I can't get the Mich LTX A/T 2's for instance...

Many thanks!

 

[SWUtah]

I wouldn't quite call it enlighten but at least I've got a basic understanding!

I should be able to make an informed decision by now! What threw me off a bit along the way was the OEM size 275/60R/18. It turns out that many of the tires recommended here are not available in that specific config. Going 285 doesn't help much either, so I can't get the Mich LTX A/T 2's for instance...

Many thanks!

Get the Michelin A/T2's in 275/65/18 size.

 

[1point4]

this is like the freakin' never ending story...

i've talked to 3 diff persons at Tirerack - the only tire the recommend me/want to sell me is the Dueler Alenza. They don't recommend getting any on/off road, don't want to sell me a 275/65R instead of 60R because they say it don't fit etc.

Costo can only offer some Michelin Latitude HP for $275/tire installed. The NTB/Tire Merchant sale doesn't have much of anything in my size accept a very good deal on those General highway ones, which are straight up road tires.

The local Mr. Tire wants to get me on a pair of Yok Geolander HT/S or B-stone Dueler Alenzas.

Have someone put the Mich A/T2's in 275/65/18 on a stock '06 LC with AHC? Do they fit? Any issues?

 

[Hicaira]

Tire Rack is not the be-all, end-all online tire store. Onlinetires.com shows 33 tires in the 285/60-18 size, 10 in the stock 275/60, and 58 in the 275/65's. Tires-easy.com has 38, 17 and 78, respectively.

I know that is a lot of tires to search through, but the internet is your friend. It brought you here, did it not?

All will fit on your stock rims, BTW, no matter what the tire-experts at Tire Rack say (and another BTW, when you call a tire-rack expert, you are talking to a tire-rack salesperson. Not to say they would mislead you, but I suspect they will push whichever tire is a) in stock size only, and b) provides the highest profit margin).

 

[hoser]

Comfort? Go stock.

If you want an AT.

Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 2 275/65R18

 

[SWUtah]

Tire Size Comparison

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
275/60-18 6.5in 15.5in 31.0in 97.4in 651 0.0%
275/65-18 7.0in 16.0in 32.1in 100.8in 629 3.5%


They will fit fine just order them and have a local tirerack partner shop install.

 

[Hicaira]

You forgot the 285/60-18.

sidewall - 6.73"
Diameter - 31.46
Difference from stock: about 1.5% taller

 

[Sandroad]

I have about 10.000 miles on a set of Michelin LTX AT2 in the P275/65-18 size. They are great in the winter, deep sand, mud, and on the highway. A bit of muted road noise on rough pavement at 70 mph, but nothing bothersome. The nav unit on my '04 has a tire size compensation program that automatically adjusts for the slightly oversize tire. I bought 5, including the spare because of the size difference from OEM. Details of what size changes means can be calculated at:

Tire size calculator

 

[CrusrDug]

The nav unit on my '04 has a tire size compensation program that automatically adjusts for the slightly oversize tire.

What are you referring to here?

 

[Hicaira]

I have about 10.000 miles on a set of Michelin LTX AT2 in the P275/65-18 size. They are great in the winter, deep sand, mud, and on the highway. A bit of muted road noise on rough pavement at 70 mph, but nothing bothersome. The nav unit on my '04 has a tire size compensation program that automatically adjusts for the slightly oversize tire. I bought 5, including the spare because of the size difference from OEM. Details of what size changes means can be calculated at:

Tire size calculator

The Nav unit uses GPS for time/distance/speed calcs. Why would it care or need to know your tire size?

 

[1loudLX]

The nav unit on my '04 has a tire size compensation program that automatically adjusts for the slightly oversize tire.http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

ya but your odometer and speedo will still be off.

 

[NMuzj100]

The Nav unit uses GPS for time/distance/speed calcs. Why would it care or need to know your tire size?

The NAV can also serve as the gateway to ECU settings/programming.

ya but your odometer and speedo will still be off.

Sandroad ? Can you explain what you mean by the NAV tire size compensation program ?