Yes, I am probably opening up a can of worms, but what I know about tires will fit in a lug nut and rattle around.I have 40K miles on the factory tires and the tread is getting a bit thin. So I wanted to start looking around and see what I want to do. The current tires are:LT235/80R17 120/117Rload range ENow the weights: Front RearWith TC* 5060 7600 Factory GVWR 5500 9350 * includes passengers, dogs, food, water, propane and beer. The only thing I definitely want to do is to replace the floppy rubber valve stems with metal stems so I dont have to chase them around on the duallys when I check the air pressure.Optionally - I am seriously thinking about getting a set of Centramatics. Last truck I had (3/4 ton) had a terrible time getting the wheels properly balanced. Hoping by getting this it would extend the life of the tires and my patience (as I would not be making multiple trips back to the tire store) Not to mention all the good reviews about the product I have read here.I have no particular desire to buy larger wheels or other items unless I can see a decent ROI on that. I am primarily looking for new tires, and the above two items. The only other questions I have are: which manufacturer?should I get different size or rating of tire? If so, which?More aggressive tread? I dont look to go "off road" however, most of the places I go are unimproved and can get very sloppy when there is rain or snow.I look forward to a good education!

Hey, I have the same truck as you and a year and a half ago I put on BFG TAKOs for around $1300, but I purchased those on a Navy base and didn't have to pay any tax. They are holding up very well and have gone though 2 winters on them at the ski area I work at, although it wasn't much of a winter this year. I like the tires, but my mileage went down 1-2 mpg and the tires just might be a bit too aggressive for what I do. No complaints other than the mpg issue.BFG just recently updated that tire and I have only read good things about them. Look on Tire Rack you might find a good tire there.

My truck is similar to yours. I had good service with Cooper Discoverer AT3 tires (over 55K miles with tread left). I recently had Michelin LTX MS2s installed. Very smooth and quiet with good traction.

Judging by the numbers and you description of use just a mild all terrain from a major manufacture with the same or better load index should be fine.

X2 on the Michelin LTX MS2I change them out in the winter for a true winter tireFor an all weather tire the Good year Silent Armour Pros are excellent for traction all year round, but do reduce fuel economy and wear faster in hot weather.

jmckelvy wrote:My truck is similar to yours. I had good service with Cooper Discoverer AT3 tires (over 55K miles with tread left). I recently had Michelin LTX MS2s installed. Very smooth and quiet with good traction.Any comments on gas mileage on those two tires? I only get 12mpg and I dont want that number to go lower

Tire Advise | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

AH64ID
Explorer
May 14, 2015
Stick with 235/80R17 in LRE, you already have more tire than AWR both front and rear.

Nitto makes some nice tread patterns as does Bridgestone, Michelign, and Toyo.

As far as the centramatic I would highly consider them or balance beads over traitional balancing anyday.

I intalled centramatics on my 05 SRW Dodge two winters ago for a short time frame. They smotthed the already smooth ride and also also made the KM2 (mud tires) noticably quieter

I had to take them off after a couple hundred miles because I got my 19.5's insalled, main reason I bought the Centramatics, and Les Schwab wouldnt install them as they consider the 0.060 steel a spacer...grrrr!!! Anyhow I sold them, still have a set on the TT, and have counteract balance beads in the 19.5's. The balance beads are VERY smooth on a LRG tire all the way up thru its speed rating of 75.

Balance beads only work on some tires thou. Look at the construction of the inside of the tire. If it is mostly smooth and "BB's" could roll freey then they would work and I would go that route. If the tire has high ridges then go centramatic.

Each tire is different. Beads work well on my dads 285/75R17 Nitto Durra Grapplers but not on my buddies 285/70R17 Nitto Durra Grapplers as the ridges are slightly different.

Bottom line is dynamic balancing will be better than static balancing, espeically if your air pressure, load, and speed change often.
portscanner
Explorer
May 13, 2015
Buzzcut1 wrote:
Just remember E rated tires vary in load rating from 3100 to 3900 pounds make sure you get one high enough for your rigs rear axle weight

I have 7600 on the rear axle, so 3100lbs x 4 tires = 12400. So I should be good on that...right?
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
May 13, 2015
Just remember E rated tires vary in load rating from 3100 to 3900 pounds make sure you get one high enough for your rigs rear axle weight
portscanner
Explorer
May 13, 2015
Grit dog wrote:
portscanner wrote:
The local Dodge dealer offered Michelin, 70,000 mile rated, 7 tires - total $1252.53

Michelin AT tires, 60,000 mile rated - 7 tires - $1345.53

(the above includes mounting balancing and road hazzard)

Great but what model Michelin? Presume the 2nd ones are LTX AT.
Why 7? You rotated the spare thru the mix?
And as said above Load rating?
Good luck getting 60-70k hauling the camper.
Seems cheap at les than 200 a tire out the door.

All of them load range E

They are doing a buy 3 get one for $1 - so I figured I cant go wrong replacing the spare (it is 4 years old)

I understand the mileage rating, however, in my experience I have gotten more miles out of a 60K rated tire than a 40K rated tire.

My wife called the dealership for me and did not get the exact model of the tire. I hope to have time to do that today.
Grit_dog
Navigator III
May 13, 2015
portscanner wrote:
The local Dodge dealer offered Michelin, 70,000 mile rated, 7 tires - total $1252.53

Michelin AT tires, 60,000 mile rated - 7 tires - $1345.53

(the above includes mounting balancing and road hazzard)

Great but what model Michelin? Presume the 2nd ones are LTX AT.
Why 7? You rotated the spare thru the mix?
And as said above Load rating?
Good luck getting 60-70k hauling the camper.
Seems cheap at les than 200 a tire out the door.
twodownzero
Explorer
May 13, 2015
Mile rating is meaningless. Tell me what the load rating is! A mileage warranty isn't going to help you when you get a blowout.
portscanner
Explorer
May 12, 2015
The local Dodge dealer offered Michelin, 70,000 mile rated, 7 tires - total $1252.53

Michelin AT tires, 60,000 mile rated - 7 tires - $1345.53

(the above includes mounting balancing and road hazzard)
twodownzero
Explorer
May 12, 2015
I'm really happy with my Nitto Terra Grapplers, but I can't help but wonder if a highway tire would have done me just fine. I have gone to the beach and on the sand, I was thankful for the A/Ts, but 90% of the time, I'm on the highway, cruising to our next campsite on the highway. Other than extreme snow that is possible in the mountains, a highway tread is quieter and lasts longer. Maybe I'm getting old--A/Ts are a good idea, but a mild A/T vs. a more aggressive one is probably a better fit. The Terra Grapplers are a good compromise for me, plus the increased weight capacity is a plus.
Grit_dog
Navigator III
May 08, 2015
MS2 and the AT3 are both good quiet AT tires.
IMO you're not going to see much if any mpg loss over ht tires if that's what you have now.
Toyo ATs are good, as are silent armor and Pro comp at.
If going with the same size, even mudders will only cost you about 1/2 mpg.
Get whichever is on sale or new takeoffs off of Craigslist IMO. Tires are too expensive anyway and tire warranty like most warranties is overrated. On the off chance you kill a tire you bought used, you've already saved enough on buying them to buy 1 or 2 new ones anyway.
And I'd probably jump to 265 75s. Those will still dual up without rubbing and are a much more common size. And it'll look a little better with bigger meats.
Nautique200
Explorer
May 08, 2015
I just put a set of BFGs ATs on my truck. I needed more traction. These tires have been great so far. There is no added noise over the stock tires and yet the traction off in the dirt is 10x better. They also ride better than the stock tires. I have not had a opportunity yet to haul my camper yet. That is coming up very soon.

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