tires/snow rating / not worry? / chains are solution?

[LosAngeles]

Hello all you nice people. 🙂

I'm about to custom order a 2020 F350 4 x 4 and according to Ford the tires included are: LT275/70Rx18E BSW A/T. These are to get the E load rating on the tires needed to get 11,500 GVWR.

I am told I don’t have any choice in what tire is used by Ford - that this is what will arrive. I’m also told that Ford will use any brand of tires. No way to tell or select in advance.

The question is - what are the odds that these tires will be snow rated?

More to the point - should I actually care if they are snow rated?

I have encountered places where the tires needed to be snow rated, or you have to carry chains, IIRC.

So should I just buy a set of chains and call it good? Thanks. Just asking to learn. I will be encountering snow.

[valhalla360]

bpounds wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
...if it's important, it's a simple solution...

I don't believe it is a viable solution.

What is a done-every-day solution is to just buy the truck. Swap tires to whatever you want, and there is a pretty good market for take-off tires, so you'll get a portion of the cost back. Probably come out better than how a dealer would mark it up.

I actually inquired about the dealer changing out tires prior to delivery of a truck. They told me Ford does not allow them to do that. Now, I'm not saying I believe that. Just repeating what they told me. I didn't press him on it, but I'm sure they had trucks sitting there with all kinds of dealer added lifts and lights and bling. Calling a seller a liar usually doesn't help ones negotiating position.

That is an option to just buy a new set after you get home but then you just paid for 8 tires when you only need 4. Even though they are brand new, selling them you will be lucky to get 25% of the value.

The dealer can likely do a swap that costs him zero if he has another truck with the specified tires on the lot. It may technically be wrong per their ford dealership agreement but as most people aren't paying attention, as long as they aren't an incorrect size/load rating, it's unlikely to ever be an issue. Dealer can up-charge 50% of the cost of the tires and that's pure profit.

[blt2ski]

If towing you trailer in the snow, at minimum a link style chain for the rest of truck, cables for trailer.
With this said, I prefer the diamond style on truck, and links on trailer. Cables on front drive axle if conditions are that bad. I've only needed cables once towing purposely a trailer to local ski areas in Washington state.
Reality is, you 350 probably has a paid for gvw license at or above 10,000 lbs. Technically speaking, empty in 4wd, you could be required to put chains on when the "if over 10,000 GVW, must have chains on" sign is up. At least here in Way St that is the case.
Another to add, diamond chains are probably the easiest to put on of any style chain that I've used in 40 something years of chaining a rig up one to two minimum times a year I've headed to local ski areas 20-30 times a winter. Includes 4x, rwd and fwd, with and without snowflake or studded tires.
If it's that bad, do yourself a favor, put on the chains, at least you now know, you can stop, won't slide, be the idiot in 4wd that knocks out the rwd rig, which is 90+%0of accidents on local mountain passes.
Marty

[Thermoguy]

cummins2014 wrote:

JAC1982 wrote:
The Hankook's that came on my Explorer (purchased brand new) barely made it 30 as well. I mean I could have driven them a little longer but since I do drive in snow and I got a flat tire in one of them in November, I didn't want to mess around with borderline tires.

I hear more OEM's wear terrible more often then nought.

I thought I would add to this. I have a 2016 Explorer SUV that came with Hancook tires. They were aweful in the snow, even with All Wheel Drive. Had to buy snow tires the first winter just to get around and be safe in the chance that I drove in snow. I also carry chains just in case but haven't needed them. They lasted about 70K miles and were good summer tires.

As for a full size truck, I have a Chev that came with Goodyear Wranglers. Great for all weather. Especially when new, lots of tread and great in snow. Drove it to Idaho the first winter and other ski trips with no issues. I have ran in to snow when hauling and never though about chains, just switched to 4wd and kept going, albeit slow. Now with over 50K miles, it's time to look at new tires, probably next summer however.

I would look to carry chains if you need to. Some states might require even with 4wd like Oregon. Best to just pull over and wait for the weather to change and the roads to clear if the snow gets that heavy.

I believe any full size truck is going to come with capable M&S tires that should get you a few years without thinking about it.

[bpounds]

Our heavy SFA trucks are never going to be great on tires. Just the price we pay for good 4WD. That and not so great ride quality. A lot of things go into tire life. Compromising performance is a huge one.

I personally don't believe OEM tires are any less quality than some of the other brands that don't get selected for OEM delivery. Said another way, there aren't any OEM tires that are not also good sellers as replacements.

My truck came OEM with BFG Rugged Trail tires, if I'm remembering the model name correctly. I know I bought one set of replacements of the exact same thing. Then when it came time for the 3rd set, BFG had discontinued that tire model, and the BFG Rugged Terrain was the designated replacement. It was a beautiful looking tire to my off-road experience eye. I ran them long enough to blow one up, which tore up the bed of my truck pretty badly, and then barely caught a second one separating and ready to do the same stunt. I told my tire dealer I wanted those gone, and never wanted to see them again. We negotiated a buy-back and I purchased Michelin replacements. Yeah, I know, same company. But these have been very good to me thus far, and I'm sure they are going to age out before I wear them out. This Michelin is also an OEM on Ford trucks.

[time2roll]

cummins2014 wrote:

time2roll wrote:
My OEM Goodyear Wrangler AT/S lasted just short of 90,000 miles.

Might be the 1/2 ton ,towing a lightweight trailer . No idea. My 1 ton SRW trucks have never been that great on tires .

My truck was built in the aftermath of the big Firestone recall. I think Ford sourced the Goodyear off the shelf as they were quitting with Firestone. Did not get a chance to get some low ball special build. And yes I am in southern CA where it about never even rains so you can wear them pretty thin. My last set aged out but still replaced with top line Goodyear All Terrain with Kevlar. Going to have almost new tread exploring off pavement next month in DVNP.

[cummins2014]

JAC1982 wrote:
The Hankook's that came on my Explorer (purchased brand new) barely made it 30 as well. I mean I could have driven them a little longer but since I do drive in snow and I got a flat tire in one of them in November, I didn't want to mess around with borderline tires.

I hear more OEM's wear terrible more often then nought.

[JAC1982]

The Hankook's that came on my Explorer (purchased brand new) barely made it 30 as well. I mean I could have driven them a little longer but since I do drive in snow and I got a flat tire in one of them in November, I didn't want to mess around with borderline tires.

[cummins2014]

time2roll wrote:
My OEM Goodyear Wrangler AT/S lasted just short of 90,000 miles.

Might be the 1/2 ton ,towing a lightweight trailer . No idea. My 1 ton SRW trucks have never been that great on tires .

[cummins2014]

bpounds wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:
...wonderful OE tires that are worn out in less then 30K...

You've mentioned that a couple of times, so I guess you've had very bad luck with OEM tires. That has not been my experience at all. In fact, as often as not, I replace the original tires with the exact same tire, and I've done that for cars as well as trucks.

I might expect that if the truck/car I bought had the base trim level tires, which often are the smallest rated tire the designers anticipated. I never buy that version of a vehicle, so maybe that's why my tires do better??? :@

Both sets were firestone that lasted less then 30K. This last set were the Firestone Transforce, and have read where many have experienced the same results, not uncommon. Truck is far from the base trim , Ram 3500 Megacab Laramie.

I tow a 13K fifth wheel around 30 percent of the miles. Rotated every 5K , replaced them at 28K, present tire is the Toyo AT2 , looks like they will go around 45K. Next I will give the Sailun Terramax a shot .

[bpounds]

cummins2014 wrote:
...wonderful OE tires that are worn out in less then 30K...

You've mentioned that a couple of times, so I guess you've had very bad luck with OEM tires. That has not been my experience at all. In fact, as often as not, I replace the original tires with the exact same tire, and I've done that for cars as well as trucks.

I might expect that if the truck/car I bought had the base trim level tires, which often are the smallest rated tire the designers anticipated. I never buy that version of a vehicle, so maybe that's why my tires do better??? :@

[LosAngeles]

time2roll wrote:
My OEM Goodyear Wrangler AT/S lasted just short of 90,000 miles.

Impressive!

I have decided to not sweat it... and roll with the OEM shoes 'till they are used up.

I dont drive super off road... so as long as they are E rated (I know they will be) I'll be good.

great thoughts all, though.

[time2roll]

My OEM Goodyear Wrangler AT/S lasted just short of 90,000 miles.

[cummins2014]

Grit dog wrote:
^ Well you actually agreed with me, but my point was why be so fickle as to try to specify the brand, model and born on date for the tires on a BRAND NEW truck?
That's just weird bro.

If you have experienced these wonderful OE tires that are worn out in less then 30K, why not negotiate a better tire?? Yes I would specify a brand ,and model, would that not be the purpose in the first place.

Who knows what kind of deal you could make , I have no idea ,never tried it, but would it hurt to try ?? As far as born on date, do you not look at a tires DOT code or at least ask about it when purchasing new tires, I sure do .

[LosAngeles]

Really fun and lively discussion here. Great stuff!