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Have we had a tire thread lately?

My truck needs new skins. Currently 265 75 16, thinking about 235 85 16.
10 ply E rated.

Any opinions? Truck is a 3/4 ton 4x4 used to pull a boat, occasional commuting, hunting. It sees more greasy boat ramps and rocks,snow, ice than deep mud.

The 235's are a bit cheaper but will it be squirrelly with a boat behind it?

Are they the same diameter ? That would be my first concern. My second would be how do they perform where you go ? Rubber composition and tread design have much to do with tire performance. At proper air pressures, they should handle well. E

Pretty much. Both will fit my wheel and both were available on 3/4 F250's. It's had the 265's since I've owned it. Done fine with them. Just curious if I'll miss anything by saving some money and going with a 235 and taller aspect ratio tire.

How do the load ratings compare? A skinnier tire will be better in the snow and rain but not offer as much flotation in mud and sand and loose gravel....these are dependent on tread pattern too of course

I also went to a narrower tire, from 265 70R 17 to 245 75R 17. Same diameter and load rating. I like the way they handle. They also leave more room under the fenders for tire chains. Wide tires are the current fad but not necessarily the best choice.

I like my cooper ATP's from discount tire. Pretty quiet, even after 6-7k miles, and they tow well. They are on a diesel 2500.

I run E rated on both my 3/4 and 1/2 tons. I really liked the Cooper ST, but they don't carry it anymore and have been buying ST Maxxx's. Can't complain, or really help you on size. I just buy what was stock size, except my older trucks.

Are the ST maxx loud, especially after they get a few miles in them?

I've been told by others they were loud, but it never bothered me. but I'm half deaf. I just like the peace of mind having e rated tires with a halfway aggressive tread.

Take a look at these Falken's......Wild Peak AT 3

lots of good chat around about them...other choices GY Duratract.......BFG KO2's.....Cooper Maxx.......

http://www.falkentire.com/tires/light-truck-suv-cuv-tires/wildpeak/t3w-tire

Likely what I'll go with when I get tires next year.

I just put 235/75-15 Falken AT3W's on my '96 Cherokee XJ 375 miles ago. All 4 took ALOT of weight to balance them. I've got a mid speed (30-40mph) vibration in the front. Not sure whether it's a balance issue or the nature of the beast during break in. Hoping after more miles it will resolve itself.They do smooth out quickly after that. Only been up to 55mph so far. They're are quiet considering they're aggressive tread. Traction wise can't say. No inclement weather yet. We'll see how they are with another 500mi or so on them. I know of no one else who has these so I can't compare notes. Realize now these are the smallest size that are offered.

235/85/16 Cooper ST Maxx's on my Tacoma. Probably overkill for that little truck, but so far they've been great tires.

A couple months ago I put a set of Cooper A/T3's on my Dodge 2500. So far they've been great. They're pretty quiet and so far I can't complain about the traction although I haven't been in real rough stuff with them.

MIght want to consider something in the 255/85R16 size. Skinnier than your current 265's by a bit, taller by about an inch. FWIW, I run 285/75R16 on my 3/4ton Duramax. The size works well with the mass of the truck.

Falkin info reading here........

Just sooo hard to find an LT AT tire in C rated 16".......GY Duratrac has one.......

Just see no need for an E rated 58# tire on a V6 Tacoma......read away..

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/packed-with-technology-falken-wildpeak-a-t3w.419869/

Thanks all.

Tom - I looked at that size. Pickings are pretty slim. Pricey too! Looks like it'd be perfect though.

Ran Toyo Open Country A/T on my old Dodge 1/2 ton and was very happy with them.

Yeah, that's the problem with the 255 size. I'd buy Toyo Open country M/T's in that size, as they and Cooper are the only "name brand" tires available.

Discount has the Falken and the Cooper AT3 in the 235 for a good price. I'm going that route. Likely the Cooper as they are on a $70 rebate special.

Thanks all!

When I got my Coopers a couple months ago, they came with a $100 Cabelas gift card. That changes all the time.

A rough tread has a lot of sex appeal, don't forget the ratting for dry road braking however. Don't ask how I know.

I bought Kelly Safari TSR's several years ago for winter driving. I had them studded so I have to have them off during the summer. They have been a great tire. Size is 235/85R16. This will be there 5th winter and still plenty of tread.

Toyo's and Nitto's are both known as easy to balance tires, something about their manufacturing process.

I have Nitto Trail Grappler MT's on my Jeep and after a few thousand miles can say they are smoother riding than the BFG Mud terrains.

I don't go "mudding" I go through what needs going through and have not needed to try these out yet so can't comment on any amazing mud performance but can't imagine there is a terrible amount of real difference any any tire versus another. Fact is most get worn out on the roads and see occasional off road use.

Mike

Going to the narrower tire will tighten up your steering a little as the weight is less spread out. I love the BF Goodrich ATKO 2. Only downside is they throw a LOT of rocks but I run a highway tread in the summer pulling the boat.

Like Starsky and BGG, I'm running the Cooper ST Maxx (on a Dodge 2500) - they're fairly new yet so can't comment on performance in ice, snow and mud. They're a little squirrely until you get a few hundred miles on them and they do make some noise, but seem relatively quiet for a more aggressive tread. I'm liking them so far...

I had some kelly's on a tahoe for awhile and they wore down to nothing very fast, I tried a set of the Nitto Trail Grapplers on my Power Wagon, because they were supposed to last a long time from the reviews I read. They seemed louder than the Coopers, were more expensive, and didn't last a whit longer.

The tire shop or manufacturer's website can tell you the estimated mileage assuming perfect conditions, proper inflation, rotation, don't drive it like an Indy 500 car etc.

No mud tire is rated much past 45K and reality is that's talking all the way down to minimum tread depth not effective "mud tire" depth.

Worst set of tires I've ever owned was a set of Bridgestone Dueler AT's on a 2-wheel drive Ranger, everyone else in the world loves them, so go figure!!


Mike

Different strokes. So much depends on what you need a tire to do. Moderate off road conditions need more than a highway tread, and if your mileage is 95 % highway, you probably don't need a mud tire. For highway tires, Michelin rules, no contest. All Terrains and Muds, whatever tickles your fancy, in my experience. I've settled on Michelin E load range Defenders simply because I don't off road my truck anymore. I have a side by side to play in the mud with. I haven't had much opportunity to use them in snow yet, so I have no opinion on how they would do. But they are smooth, quiet and very good in the rain.

Probably of little value if any but I have Nitto Trail Grappler MT LT295-70-18 on my '11 F250 crew cab, 4x4, diesel. They are load range E, 10 ply. They work great where I drive off road. Don't have a clue how they'd be on a boat ramp.

-Coop

something that may be of interest..........

https://tiresize.com/comparison/

I drive at least 20,000 miles a year on dirt and the Cooper ST Maxx tire is all I’ll buy anymore. They are the toughest tire I’ve ever had and they wear really well. I get about 40,000 miles per set and that’s a lot of dirt roads

That's a heck of an endorsement!

Same here.I really like them for heavy loads too

Don't laugh, but I just buy mine off of ebay for $472.00 shipped (last set was $572.00 with $100.00 instant rebate). They are the 10 ply Atturo Trail Blade MT (mud tire). I've used them on my 04 gmc with excellent results, so I figured I'd buy a set for my 04 double cab taco. These tires are grippy and work well on crappy roads while out hunting or in the woods and they are surprisingly quiet on the pavement. They get excellent reviews and work as intended. For the price, they can't be beat...

Goodyear Duratrac. Just put a set of 295's on my 2017 Silverado and they are quire as can be. Several of my buds run them and they all say they are awesome in snow and mud

Another Toyo Open Country satisfied consumer here.

Tires, like most everything, are a compromise.

These have treated me to a decent, quiet hwy noise, fair and even wearing, and very capable gravel/dirt performance.