Highway Rib Tire choices

I've had Firestone TransForce HT's on a two wheel drive dually with good results. Last a long time.

Part of that is that 4x4 are heavier in the front than comparable 2x4 and so the 2wd has more weight distribution on the rear than the same 4x4 truck in 2wd .

I am not sure that is the case in this comparison.We have weighed both trucks and there total weight is all but exactly the same.We did not weigh front and back though.The 2WD dually has a bigger motor meaning heavier.It's a moot point in my opinion and the difference if any,would not have made that much more of a difference.Tires maybe,but both were siped by the same tire store..His are 245's mine are 215's but four hitting the road instead of two.

The only reason I responded is there is an "internet" feeling that a 2WD dually is by far in superior to a 2WD single rear wheel setup in the snow or even grass, in this post.

I replied because that is not my "actual experience" using both on the same terrain on the same day or at work going to and from work logging in some nasty weather sometimes.

The op asked about summer tires for his 2WD dually not about winter tires not the pro's and con's of DRW vs SRW in 2WD in the grass(laughing)..My advice is any high mileage tire like the Cooper he pointed out or the Cooper AT-3 that I can vouch for being a good summer tire on a 2WD dually.

I am very interested in what the op finally does because I do not have a closed mind on tire choice for a 2WD dually.

jaycocreek wrote:

A empty 2wd DRW needs all the help it can get under those circumstances.

I keep hearing that over and over on the internet so I did a test this last winter with my empty 2WD dually and my sons 2500 HD 4X4 in 2WD..Solid snow floor with 10" of fresh snow on top..The 2WD dually did quite a bit better in 2WD than the Chevy 4X4 in 2WD...Mine had siped Cooper AT-3's and his had siped Toyo's..

I have had the same experiences on work duallies with stock standard tires in the mountains for work/snow/ice and mud.They did just as good or better than the 4X4's in 2WD.

We must have special mud/snow and ice in Idaho.(laughing)

Part of that is that 4x4 are heavier in the front than comparable 2x4 and so the 2wd has more weight distribution on the rear than the same 4x4 truck in 2wd .

Grit dog wrote:
^Key being siped.
Makes a huge difference and most are not familiar with it.

Let's face it,tire choice is everything when it comes to summer or winter driving or both,especially with a 2WD dually..That's the question the op asked but it was about summer tires..These Cooper AT-3's wear so good un-siped,they surely would be my choice for a summer tire with a 60K mile warranty..

I have nothing but good to report for there use in snow and ice siped but time will tell on there longevity siped.

While Cooper and even Toyo's get a bad rap on the internet because there not a Goodyear/Michelin or Firestone,there a danged good tire usually at a better price that some of us need..Just like the Torklift versus Happi jack..Torklift is a great product but the price is breath taking which makes the Happi jack an alternative at a lower price with the right truck/camper combo.

JIMNLIN wrote:

IMO you won't like the solid rib tire like the XPS Rib or better yet cost wise the Bridgestone R-250 as it has no tread lugs for traction in green grass or a muddy campsite or winter driving on snow pack or slush. A empty 2wd DRW needs all the help it can get under those circumstances.

The Cooper HT-3 or similar tread would be a perfect choice with its two solid outside ribs and a all season type tread in the center for a bit of traction. Cooper recommends this tire for commercial service.

my 2wd truck works perfect in snow. Its sits inside the heated/dehumidified garage all winter :). I might take it out for a Sunday drive if the roads are clear but I have other vehicles for daily driving.
I put Cooper SRX on my jeep liberty last fall, I hope its a good tire for the beach this summer but its been great in the snow this winter.
I had great luck with Cooper SRMII on a 98 2500 diesel.
when its time, I will probably go with the Cooper HT3 on front, and maybe a little more traction like the cooper HTP on the back.

^Key being siped.
Makes a huge difference and most are not familiar with it.

A empty 2wd DRW needs all the help it can get under those circumstances.

I keep hearing that over and over on the internet so I did a test this last winter with my empty 2WD dually and my sons 2500 HD 4X4 in 2WD..Solid snow floor with 10" of fresh snow on top..The 2WD dually did quite a bit better in 2WD than the Chevy 4X4 in 2WD...Mine had siped Cooper AT-3's and his had siped Toyo's..

I have had the same experiences on work duallies with stock standard tires in the mountains for work/snow/ice and mud.They did just as good or better than the 4X4's in 2WD.

We must have special mud/snow and ice in Idaho.(laughing)

I want tires with solid outer tread bar to help eliminate feathering. I want quiet and most of all I want them to last a long time.
when its time, I may look into the cooper discoverer HT3 (50K mile tread wear warranty)
But my new truck is 2wd, dually with cast/polished wheels that I can't rotate. fronts always wear faster, so I think once its time for front tires, I will buy 4 for the rear than I have 2 pair to install on front as time goes by

IMO you won't like the solid rib tire like the XPS Rib or better yet cost wise the Bridgestone R-250 as it has no tread lugs for traction in green grass or a muddy campsite or winter driving on snow pack or slush. A empty 2wd DRW needs all the help it can get under those circumstances.

The Cooper HT-3 or similar tread would be a perfect choice with its two solid outside ribs and a all season type tread in the center for a bit of traction. Cooper recommends this tire for commercial service.

I would have never thought of buying a Toyo tire. Not even on my radar screen, I avoid buying anything that even smells of being foriegn. (I know, I lost that battle a long time ago, but I still try) But when I bought my 93 Dodge D300 Dually, it had 6 Toyo open Country HT tires on it. I drove another 70,000 miles, fully load all the time, all over the USA, and never had 1 single tire issue. When they finally were wore down enuff that I didn't want to use them for winter driving, I bought 6 new Goodyears. (I should have known better, with all the problems I've had with Goodyear tires in the past, but they were cheap) My size is 215-85R16E. On a trip out west, one of the Goodyear steer tires started coming apart and shaking in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico. I bought a single Firestone Transforce HT, because it was all they had at that location. When I got home, I sold the 5 remaining goodyears, and put 4 new Toyos on the rear and another Firestone on the front. After 25,000 miles, I'm getting a little bit of weird wear on the edge of the Firestone front tires now, but at 190,000 miles, the front end of the truck is getting to be due for balljoints and tie rod ends, and I haven't rotated them due to the brand mismatch. I've used the Transforce before with no problems, but never kept the truck long enuff to learn how long they last.
So I would definitely and strongly recommend the Toyo Open COuntry HT for your use, and the Transforce HT would be perfect as well. I think the firestone is easier to get when traveling. They are both reasonably priced, but not the cheapest. Good luck!



TOYO TIRE

FIRESTONE TIRE

Another good smooth hard tread wear like iron highway tire is Bfg rugged trail.