Need your feedback on correct tires for Dually

[Matthew2]

I need feedback on what tires I should purchase for my 2001 Dodge 3500 DRW 2 wheel drive with 48,500 miles air bags and a diesel engine. I currently have original factory Michelin LTX M/S 235/85/R16 E load tires which I need to replace due to age of tire. I have a 10.5 foot slide in camper. I use truck 85% of time for slide in truck camping thus low mileage.
Happy with current Michelin tires with camper or empty except in winter when empty.
The truck spins out with even light snow.
I'm thinking of getting Michelin XPS Traction Tires but also considering the Michelin Defender LTX M/S tire, which replaces the previous models now being discontinued.
Anyone have experience with the Michelin XPS Traction tire or with new Defender. Defender could likely cover 90% of my driving needs except winter.
I am not going to be going down muddy trails with a 2 wheel drive dually have jeep for that. I don't want to change tire size either.
Your feedback is appreciated.
Matt

[Matthew2]

Thank you for the feedback on tires for my one ton pickup truck. Yes my current tires are from 2001 so its way past time to change them.They still have lots of tread as measured by a guage but rubber deteriorates with time. I have learned from your comments and further online research and what I have come to realize is that there is no one tire that can do it all, despite manufactures claims. In the past there was summer tires and then winter or off road tires. Now they sell "all season" tires which attempt to be both summer and winter tire, but one tire can't do it all when on a heavy duty pickup.
I am willing to pay more for a tire that is up to the task of carrying a payload.
I haven't made my final choice but my research from online websites and talking to several tire dealers is that you get what you pay for in tires and Michelin is the highest rated time over time.
Any more feedback especially any real world experience from truck camper folks is appreciated.
Matt

[Grit_dog]

Pauljdav wrote:
Get your tires siped Makes a huge difference for pretty low price.

^This. While siped tires will wear down somewhat faster under heavy loads, having a dually will alleviate, well, half of the additional wear compared to my experience with a srw hauling heavy on siped tires.
Besides,unless the use changes, the op will age out tires before wearing them out.
Side note, Les Schwabs out here does "lifetime" siping. For deep lug tires, like truck tires, they will sipe the tread half depth. This helps with tread wear as the tread doesn't squirm as much. When the tires are getting half worn, they will re -sipe them the remainder of the tread depth, no additional charge.

Being a 2wd and apparently being used in winter as well, get the most aggressive tires you can stand to hear rolling down the road and then get them siped for the best possible traction in all conditions....except sand.

On a 2wd dually, my ultimate choice would be mud terrain tires, siped, on the rear and all terrains wiped on the front.

XPS tractions look like they would not like snow very much. High mile tire means harder compounds and the tread patten is still a pavement pounder pattern.

[Grit_dog]

deserteagle56 wrote:

NMDriver wrote:
If the tires still have tread keep them and get a rear end. For the price of 6 micheleins you can get a limited slip rear end installed. $1200 at the dealer and likely less at a local transmission shop, that was on a Chevy but the Dodge should not be much different.

If I'm reading the OP's post correctly these are the original tires that came on the truck in 2001. That makes them at least 16 years old.....

You would be correct. Keeping those tires is not a good reccomendation.

[deserteagle56]

NMDriver wrote:
If the tires still have tread keep them and get a rear end. For the price of 6 micheleins you can get a limited slip rear end installed. $1200 at the dealer and likely less at a local transmission shop, that was on a Chevy but the Dodge should not be much different.

If I'm reading the OP's post correctly these are the original tires that came on the truck in 2001. That makes them at least 16 years old.....

[Pauljdav]

Get your tires siped Makes a huge difference for pretty low price.

[Hemi_Joel]

Toyo open country. I got 70,000+ miles out of a last set. They were on the truck when I purchased it. This is hauling the camper and or a trailer 95% of the time, so I can't really comment on the empty traction. When they finally wore out I bought a set of good years. They were so horrible compared to the toyos I sold them off and bought another set of Toyo Open Country. Now I am happy

[Kayteg1]

I've been Michelins fan in the years when I drove a lot with 1 exception.
They always suck on ski trips, even with no ice on the road.
Lately - driving much less I don't need tires that last 60 or 100,000 as they will age and don't hesitate to buy Chinese tires.
Those don't last very long, but give better traction.
Unfortunately tire choice is always sacrificing one benefit for the other.

[jmtandem]

Toyos work very well on my Ram 3500 dually. 50,000 plus miles to a set. I did go with one set of Michelins and was not impressed.

[Matthew2]

I did order what I believe was called posi traction when ordered truck new.
The Michelin XPS Traction tire seems to have more steel belt especially on the sidewall when I look at spec online. The Michelin Defender tire weighs 43 lbs while the XPS traction weighs 56 lbs.
But the XPS traction tire is rated higher on mud and gravel but not higher rated in snow.
I would think XPS Traction tire would perform better in snow.

[NMDriver]

If the tires still have tread keep them and get a rear end. For the price of 6 micheleins you can get a limited slip rear end installed. $1200 at the dealer and likely less at a local transmission shop, that was on a Chevy but the Dodge should not be much different.

[NRALIFR]

I had XPS Traction tires on my 1995 F350 and loved them.

They are an excellent choice for hauling a heavy TC because of their all steel construction. The steel belts extend up into the side walls, and make them much stiffer than regular radial tires. This helps minimize side to side sway, and improves handling while hauling the TC. I had about 50K miles on the tires when I sold the truck, and there was a lot of tread left. They weren't noisy at all. I also was able to balance them using only Dynabeads ( ceramic balancing beads inside the tires).

I wish Michelin made the XPS Traction tires in more than just two or three sizes.

:):)

[languiduck]

It's a 2wd dually. Anything other than a snow tire is going to be like that in light snow. Just get an all season tire you like best. I'm sure Michelins are great tires. My favorite brand is BFG. I'm not convinced the Michelins are worth twice the price.

[pastorbillv]

JMHO - I love Michelins. Have a lot of vehicles and always use them. Used to Road Race Superbikes and was sponsored by them. Great R&D, design, etc.

Bill

[Old-Biscuit]

I ran Michelins (AT2s) for past 10 yrs on my 2007 3500

Just replaced them with Cooper Discoverer (ATPs)

Ran Coopers for many years on other vehicles. Liked them, got great service from them so went back to them.
Time will tell-----so far very pleased

Cooper Discoverer