Which tire to buy??

[calamaridog]

Also Goodyear has a new A/T tire coming out called the Wrangler SilentArmor.
It has two steel belts and one kevlar belt and the same sidewall material at the MT/R's. Sounds interesting (though it's a dorky name). Anyone have more info?


That is the Wrangler which has been redesigned. They do not offer larger, off road sizes.

 

[ELLTEE]

P- metric CrossTerrains versus LT- rated tires

I was on the BFG website and plugged in my "ride" as they call it -- 99 TLC. The website then says BFG does not make a tire that will fit my vehicle, and directs me to the Michelin site.

Because the OEM is a P-metric tire, the BFG web site is not allowed to specify an LT-metric like the All Terrain.

Has anybody had any trouble with Costco or Sams or Toyota unwilling to install an OEM size but LT-rated tire? Any trouble with warranty claims on the tires or the truck?

I'll be replacing the new Michelin Cross-Terrains in another month or so, with only about 12k miles. They are a P-metric tire warranted for 65k, so I'll be getting a lot of money from Michelin to put toward new tires, and have been following this poll with keen interest.

My truck is almost 100 percent on-road, but some of the roads are dirt, mud, and a few are little more than fire trails. The Michelins have been nice, very quiet on the interstate, good on the dirt and actually very good in the snow this winter. But they sure are soft, rubbing off 80 percent of the tread in just 11K miles!

LT

The "P" tires of any brand or size have absolutely no business on any Land Cruiser and should never leave the pavement

An "LT" tire of any sort will have a stronger sidewall.

The sidewalls of the LT rated REVOS should be about as strong as the BFG AT's or the NTG's.

 

[lexs470]

why not just the michelins ? what's wrong with the stock tires ? i hear a lot of threads that have mentioned moving away from michelins, and i would like to know what particular reasons are there to justify that. i'm about to change the tires as well and therefore would like to know the details...

 

[calamaridog]

There is nothing wrong with the Michelin LTX tires in my opinion. They are so nice that I am going to give my very low mile set to my father for his 4runner when I get some new rubber. These tires perform admirably on the hwy in rain, snow, etc. and are great for what 95% of the owners of these vehicles use them for.

The issue here is OFF ROAD ability. This forum is mostly about OFF ROAD improvements to vehicles which are being used in the dirt. The single biggest improvement you can make to your Land Cruiser for such use is to replace the tires with All Terrain or Mud Terrain tires, depending upon the type of use and individual needs.

This is not to say that you should run out and buy new rubber if you don't need such tires.

 

[NMuzj100]

Even if you want to stay with an all-season tire the Michelin LTX is probably not a great choice. In Consumer Reports' November 2004 All-Season Light-Truck Tire Test the Michelin LTX was rated 17th out of 22 tires and was the second most expensive tested. What was the best tire in 1998 is only middle of the pack in 2005. The Michelin LTX was one of only three tires in the test to score poorly in dry braking. The Michelin may have been originally chosen more for the wide spread availablity of Michelin tire dealers worldwide for service than any real performance advantages.

I am looking forward to their AT Tire test coming this summer. Hopefully objective tests will show my Revos to be a good choice.

Some of us would rather buy Japanese than French.

 

[ELLTEE]

The LTX was quiet on highway, and the tread lasted a long time, but they really stank on dirt and were really kind of dangerous on mud. I was frankly scared of them on snow, which is why I "upgraded" last summer to Michelin's new Cross Terrain, which were rated really high for snow.

The Cross Terrains were designed specifically for SUVs and were great tires for the winter, but when I had the truck off the ground last week to fit new brake pads and repack the front wheel bearings, I saw that the wear bars were almost exposed on all four tires! I stopped by the tire shop and they agreed that I would be needing new tires in less than 1000 miles, and would get all but 12/65s of my money back -- they have a 65k miles tread life warranty!

LT

 

[mainecruiser]

Those new Goodyear Wrangler's look pretty sweet! I will definitely be considering them when I replace the Michelin’s this fall. I like really like the looks and the fact they are rated for severe winter conditions (“The Wrangler featuring SilentArmor Technology meets the industry’s severe snow service requirements and is branded with the snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol.”). Tire Rack has them available in a 285 75 16 and a 305 70 16. Look forward to any on and off-road reviews.
This looks to be Goodyear's latest attempt to compete with the BFG AT’s. In my opinion, you can keep the BFG’s. I had a set on my 97 4-Runner and could never get the f*&%^&g things balanced. I also thought they wore down pretty quickly. They look good and perform well off-road, but their on-road characteristics were just average, IMHO.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/BigPi...Model=Wrangler+SilentArmor&sidewall=Blackwall

 

[KINA]

Dunlops

 

[Greg B]

In my opinion, you can keep the BFG’s. I had a set on my 97 4-Runner and could never get the f*&%^&g things balanced. I also thought they wore down pretty quickly. They look good and perform well off-road, but their on-road characteristics were just average, IMHO.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/BigPi...Model=Wrangler+SilentArmor&sidewall=Blackwall

It is so wierd how people have different experiences with tires. I have had one set of BFG AT's and my Dad has had 2 sets of BFG AT's and all 3 sets got at least 50K miles. They balanced well and I loved their looks and their performance. Keep in mind though, I used them mostly on road and light trails. I had a seperate set of BFG MT's for the hard trails and rocks.

On my last vehicle, I decided to go with one set of tires for all conditions. So, I went with GY MTR's and I hated them. I didn't really like them in any situation. I couldn't get them to stay balanced worth a damn. On road they rode like any other MT even though they were "supposed" to be more quiet (they weren't). They didn't do nearly as well as an AT. Off road, they were fine on rock and dry dirt, but they were pitifull in mud. The BFG MT's I had before smoked them.

JJBodean, I guess what I'm saying is, take all of these opinions and experiences with a grain of salt, because they are usually based on individual experience and can be very subjective. Mainecruiser and I have completely opposite experiences with the same brands of tires. I say get what you think will work best for you and hope you get a set that balance well and last a long time. Now, go buy some tires and post lots of pics!

 

[jjbodean1970]

yeah, i talked to my tire guy about the revos and he had nothing but bad things to say about them. he put a set on a customer's truck and they were cupped out within 10k miles. he said go with the regular bridgestones. i will give an update once i decide what the hell to do. this poll has me more confused than ever!

 

[calamaridog]

yeah, i talked to my tire guy about the revos and he had nothing but bad things to say about them. he put a set on a customer's truck and they were cupped out within 10k miles. he said go with the regular bridgestones. i will give an update once i decide what the hell to do. this poll has me more confused than ever!

Funny, I talked to the guy two doors down who managed a Bridgestone store for over 20+ years. He tells me the REVOS are MUCH better than the regular Bridgestone AT's. He has a set on his Heep in CO which have 20,000 mi. on them.

He admits he used to run BFG AT's on his Heep

If the tires were cupped after 10,000 mi. then they must not have been used with proper air pressure.

 

[Brentbba]

yeah, i talked to my tire guy about the revos and he had nothing but bad things to say about them. he put a set on a customer's truck and they were cupped out within 10k miles. he said go with the regular bridgestones. i will give an update once i decide what the hell to do. this poll has me more confused than ever!

Well......I've got almost 10K already on my Revo's and they look like they were put on yesterday. Maybe my 80 is easier on them or they were balanced properly compared to your tire guy's customers truck. Just a thought. I don't think I drive like a at all, but they've seen only freeways and surface streets so far.

 

[hank14]

I LOVE my Revo's! They were great on the snow and ice this winter, quiet on the highway and great traction for the limited off-road I've done.

Question - In a reply above, it was mentioned Bridgestone may credit you for existing tires. The PO installed these Revo's in a 275/70R16 and I really want to step up to 33's, would a Bridgestone dealer give me a credit on tires in great shape with only about 10k on them? I thought I was going to have to ride these out, but if I could upgrade now that would be sweet!

The Revo's have a 30 day money back guarantee, and a 3 year Platinum Warranty, thet allows full credit for them, probably to the original purchaser, if they are found to be defective.

Mine have about 18,000 miles on them, they don't show much wear, and they allowed me to get way back in this snowy canyon before I got stuck this winter.

 

[NMuzj100]

they allowed me to get way back in this snowy canyon before I got stuck this winter.

We need some pics of this. I love to see the 100s in action on the board since I can't get out as much as I would like.

 

[hank14]

I would have liked to take pictures, but it was after dark, we were trying to see if we could make it to the mouth of a canyon where we were going to elk hunt the next morning. I had my Black Rat revovery hand winch and an off road recovery kit, which worked very well to get us turned around and out of there. The snow on the trail was 14-18" deep, and it was drifted on the curve where we got stuck. We were the first ones up there in a while. I think chains would have helped, but we weren't to the high spot yet and may have gotten really stuck with them.

I've also been in some deep ruts on slick clay mixed soil and had a hard time climbing out, but other than that, no real problems.

 

[DMX84]

Hank14, it’s funny that you mentioned the “C” word (chains). I’ve seen a few posts that basically said chains are not needed for a Cruiser. But when I go hunting I think a set of chains is good insurance for getting out if needed. Usually it’s just my wife and I and it could be a while before someone passes by.
So here is a question that I was afraid to post.
Can one set of chains be used without harming the VC, or do I need a set of four? Any advice would be appreciated.
Dean

 

[Greg B]

All four is best, but if you only have one set of chains you would want them both on the front or the back with the cdl locked (I would put them on the back). When I was at Mammoth last month, I saw a guy driving a stock Ford Expedition with one chain on the back left and one on the front right tire. Jackass!

 

[hank14]

I guess he was wanting to be able to stop?

I would figure locking the center and rear, rear chains would get you in or out of most spots. I would like some kind of a modified plow for the front to clear the snow to about 6-8 inches, which wouldn't be any problem 99% of the time.

 

[stuck in GA]

BFgoodrich is the way to go. They are just the best tire all around. Go with the A/T's you will love them.

 

[tabraha]

Funny, I talked to the guy two doors down who managed a Bridgestone store for over 20+ years. He tells me the REVOS are MUCH better than the regular Bridgestone AT's. He has a set on his Heep in CO which have 20,000 mi. on them.

He admits he used to run BFG AT's on his Heep

If the tires were cupped after 10,000 mi. then they must not have been used with proper air pressure.

Exactly. The REVO's are anything but a step backwards compared to the regular dueler at's. Call other bridgestone dealers and get their input on the revo as well.

Bodean you are so right; it is mostly subjective but I can give you at least a couple of numbers from personal experience:

I've got OVER 37,000 miles on my Revos and they have MORE tread depth than my BFG's on my flyweight Tacoma at 15,000 miles. As a matter of fact they had more tread at 30,000 than my BFG's had when NEW!!! To me there is no excuse why a tire with 22,000 more miles on a vehicle that weighs over a 1000 #'s more and is full-time 4wd should have more tread depth than a tire that is virtually new on a lightweight part-time 4wd truck.

I still think BFG is a great tire but my personal set of revo's smokes my personal set of BFG's in longevity. They aren't interchangeable between the 2 vehicles (5 lug vs 6 lug) so I can't directly compare performance characteristics.

Tad Abraham