Should I replace my TRUCK tires before Alaska trip?

Hi folks. May I please have some opinions about whether I should replace my existing tires before going to Alaska? I'll do my own homework and the decision is mine, but help would be great.

Facts on existing tires, truck and trailer:
•2011 Ford F350 Lariat 4WD, DRW
•Existing tires: BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A LT 245/75R17 121/118R
•Manufactured August 2010
•Tires have 1/4" tread depth and have been rotated, so wear is uniform
•Tires don't seem to have evident cracking and seem to help pressure well over long time periods
•Tires have 30,000 miles, about 50% towing 18,000# CarriLite 36XTRM5, balance around town not towing
•My camper weights 18,000#, so I'm at about 27,000# all-in (truck + trailer) as to GVWR on truck
•Truck spare is full sized same tire
•Camper spare is a smaller wheel G614 Goodyear manufactured in 2010 (what it had before I bought G114s and upsized the wheels)

Trip
•Trip is to Alaska leaving May 2016. I'd stay over Winter (not in the RV), then leave Alaska October 2017 back to Seattle
•Trip is all driving, no ferry. Up shortest round: Cassier, Back: no telling. Probably drive everywhere in Alaska; gravel roads don't worry me
•All-in, Tampa back down to Seattle: 13,000 miles or more. Gravel and snow won't be unusual
•If snow, I'd throw chains or socks on

Thoughts
•If I replace the tires now, I'd try to sell the used tires. If selling them was a hassle, then I'd either store them in my warehouse or discard them. I know absolutely zero about used tires and not much about new ones either
•If I roll with what I have, I'd be at 43,000 miles when I get back to Seattle
•I have no idea what tread will be left when I return after towing on this journey
•I can afford to replace them, if this is prudent, but don't want to waste money
•I have new Goodyear G114s on my camper

Questions
•What should I do on the tires?
•What tires should I buy? (all season seems to make sense + chains or socks for snow)?
•Is my existing G614 Goodyear camper spare sufficient?
•Is having only 1 truck spare sufficient, or should I carry a second?

Sorry the long post. I hope all are well.

tonymull
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
You're better off to replace them in the lower 48 than in Alaska, for sure. And you will definitely need to replace them before your return trip. You'll save money and have more peace of mind.
gbopp
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
You're obviously concerned about the tires or you would not have asked.
Replace them now, it will make your trip more enjoyable with one less worry.
Enjoy your trip.
icanon
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
Change them, stuck on a long stretch of road can be costly ex: getting to a tire shop and getting back to replace wheel, not only that, may have to leave TT and/or TV along side of road wouldn't want that.
outwestbound
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
enblethen wrote:
1/4 inch tread is not much.
I would be looking at replacing them before your trip. Maybe carry one of the old tires as an un-mounted spare.
I would get some thing like the Toyo Trail Cat II LTs.
A single spare should be no problem.
Your trailer tires could be more of an issue along with a spare or two for it. Seems we saw more trailer flats then TVs and MHs this past spring.
There is many tire stores in the major cities in Canada and Alaska.

Thanks. Just to make sure I understand, I take my existing mounted truck spare + an uncounted tire for the truck?

On the camper, I'm kind of stuck to moderate distances with the spare G614 because its on a smaller 16" wheel, which is very close, but not the same diameter as the 17" wheels and G114s I upgraded to.

I wonder if I should take an unmounted G114 in the event I destroy a trailer tire?
Trackrig
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2016
Yes, change your tires before you leave. If you only have 1/4" of tread now, they'll be wore out before you get home meaning you'll have to replace them along the way which will cost more money. And by changing them at home, you can leave them at home and put them back on during the summer if you want to finish using up the tread when you get back.

I'm not a fan of all season tires at all. They work OK, but not great on ice, with their small tread that's like sipping. But get that small tread in some snow, the small tread fills up with snow and is useless. To me all season tires are like trying to find a pair sandals that work in all seasons or a coat that's comfortable in all seasons. It's great marketing, but they don't really work well when you need them.

When we go out for a weekend of snowmachine riding, you don't always find a good plowed place to park and or it always seems to snow while you were out at a cabin. When you come back, the people you find stuck are the newbies with all season tires on that can't get traction to get out of the snow berm. They're fine for around town.

It's great that you have a 4X4, but you need to put decent tires on it with both more than 1/4" of tread and not an all season tread.

I have two sets of tires, five of each, all mounted on matching rims. They get changed from winter to summer tires depending on the snow and ice. When the winter tires are getting a little worn on the tread, I'll then run them a summer or two to finish using up the tread.

The Cooper Discoverer M&S tire, unstudded, is a popular tire up here for those that run them year around and don't change tires for the season.

Bill
lanerd
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2016
1/4" leaves only 1/8" of usable tread (according to most mfg'ers). I'd buy before if for no other reason than for peace of mind. If you don't, you're gonna be worrying about it constantly taking away from the enjoyment of the trip.

I've had excellent luck with Rugged Trails on my Tundra and wouldn't hesitate to purchase again. Yes, a set of chains would be a necessity up there in the winter.

When we went on long trips with the truck/trailer, I always had two spares for the truck and two spares for the trailer. That alone guaranteed me to never have a flat! :B

Ron
Walaby
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2016
I'd probably change 'em. That's a long drive, and probably some barren stretches, so last thing I'd want to worry about is my tires.
Tire Rack's advice is that if rain and wet roads are a concern, you should consider replacing your tires when they reach approximately 4/32" of remaining tread depth. 4/32" is an 1/8th inch, and you're at a 1/4" so, kinda close in my mind for a long trip.

I'd probably pack two spares for the TT.

Mike
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 18, 2016
1/4 inch tread is not much.
I would be looking at replacing them before your trip. Maybe carry one of the old tires as an un-mounted spare.
I would get some thing like the Toyo Trail Cat II LTs.
A single spare should be no problem.
Your trailer tires could be more of an issue along with a spare or two for it. Seems we saw more trailer flats then TVs and MHs this past spring.
There is many tire stores in the major cities in Canada and Alaska.

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