Replacing Hankook with Michelin LTX A/T2 LT245/75 R16

I have a 2005 PW Excel that came with Hancrook Dynapro tires. They lasted about 27,000 miles and then each one started separating at the belts. The size of tires for this vehicle is Ford specific and so very few tire dealers carry them. They have to order them and it takes days to get especially when you're on the road somewhere in Utah. Ford dealerships carry them but don't want to deal with you if you have a warranty issue and certainly not for one lousy tire.How do I know??? You can guess.

Okay, so one says they haven't had any problems with their Hancrook tires yet. Well be prepared if you do for endless frustration with the Hancrook warranty rep who won't call you back. That office is located in Long Beach Ca. How do I know??? You can Guess. Can you afford all this when you're on the road??

I will add that the Goodyear Adventures come in Load Range E, and at that size have 2 layers of Kevlar on the side walls.

Although there has been Hankook tire failures on the PW Excel, saying a "high number" is a bit if a stretch, particularly considering the number of units on the road. No matter which tire brand you select, the Excel is heavy in the rear so the tire will be loaded close to its maximum rating (unless you do some modifications to use tires with a higher load rating). This situation can get worse if the load is not properly distributed or if one adds a load to the rear (such as a cargo box). Proper prevention includes getting a measurement of the weight on each tire with the van fully loaded for travel to make sure they are within their rating, keeping the required pressure (80 psi cold in the rear) and regular visual inspection.

If you make the switch to a different tire, please keep us posted on its performance.

FWIW, there were several handling complaints about the old design Michelin LTX, both in A/S & M/S. It spans this B forum and the C forum. It seemed to center on overly soft sidewalls on tall heavy vehicles. I was probably the first to post a serious gripe, but quite a few other followed.

I never remotely suspected the then-new LTX's that I put on the Dodge B that never drove right. But when replacing Firestones with LTX's spoiled the easy-driving, straight-tracking habits of my next Chevy B, I was PO'd to the extreme, and I knew _exactly_ where the fault lay.

I really have no idea if this is part of what was 'cured' in the LTX2 redesign or not, but would very strongly suggest looking for a handling guarantee or trial period. BTW, IMO the old LTX was a fine tire, on lower or lighter vehicles. Recommendations from pickup truck drivers mean nothing in this context.

Jim, "Deja Fu: The feeling that somehow, somewhere, you've been kicked in the head like this before."

As for the safety concerns The stock tires that came with our 2103 PW Excell are Hankook DynaPro AS. This are the standard tires put on the Ford E350 Super Duty vans. PW does not upgrade them when they do the van conversion. I have read on many of the PW sites that there has been a high number of sidewall blow outs.

I'm curious... What Hankooks do you have, and what safety concerns do you have? I have the Hankooks (DynaPro ATM RF10) on our tow vehicle for several years and they have been the best tires I've had on our truck; grip, handling, and mileage are great. The reviews I've read about them from others have been very good as well.

I've had the Yokohama Geolanders (which were OK but too soft with or without a load), Big-O tires, and Goodyear. I've been very happy with them. The Hankooks are a little stiffer than the other tires, but am very happy with them. When it comes time to get new tires, I think they will be these Hankooks again. I've had them in mud, grass and snow, and they've done very well in each case.

We have the Yokohama Geolanders on our B and they seem to do fine. Our roads are not that good with lots of ruts and frost heaves. We travel lots of gravel roads up here and many times they are muddy. Highway speeds are about 60mph at best most of the time so cant help you with road noise or gas mileage, but our spare is a Michelin. I know I didn't answer your question but wanted to rave about the Geo's.

You might consider the Goodyear Wrangler A/T Adventure with Kevlar side walls.
We just put a set on our Pathfinder, and are very happy with them. They ride as good as many passenger tires.
They will definitely give you the added traction you want without sacrificing comfort.
Not cheap, but a few dollars less than the Michelins.
Goodyear A/T Adventure

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