Tires

[Charlie_D_]

Taking a trip next week and need new tires. OEM is Firestone Transforce HT 245/75R17 tires are at the wear bars after 21,000 miles.

I was a loyal BFG customer for 40 years but last year had a bad experience with them and they would not warrant the ones on my RV so I don't believe I will buy them again. Many LT tires do not carry a mileage warranty so I am looking for a set with mileage warranty. I have read some good comments about Cooper but recently I have read some posts on here or another forum about Cooper having some difficulties and may not be in business much longer. Possible internet rumors but I don't know. Anyone have recommendations? There are no Costco stores in this area.

All highway driving. No off road.

[APT]

I am a big fan of Tirerack's surveys. The audience is far larger than any singular forum, even as diverse as RV.net. The only issue is it only covers brands they sell, so no Nitto or Cooper for example. This one seems appropriate for your needs.

We went with the Michelin LTX M/S2 in December for our Suburban. They only complaint I have is it is the most humble looking tire I think I have ever owned. The LTX M/S line has lots of owners with 80k+ miles.

If they fit, I recommend 265/70R17 which is about the same overall size (0.4% larger). It should provide a little more stability on dry/wet roads than your current size.

[tegu69]

Charlie D. wrote:

wandering1 wrote:
If the OEM tires came on the vehicle new they are low bid, low quality, low cost tires that all manufactures put on new vehicles. The same tire from discount tire or SAMs will be a higher quality tire and get much better mileage.

Local Firestone dealer told me they use a different compound and they often hear complaints about OEM mileage. Maybe it helps the CAFE on vehicles but the customers pocket book for $800-$1,000 is dented.

Oh yeah, that would make me want to buy the same brand. If that is true, its a dumb company decision to get a bad reputation on a product, unless they figure they made their money on the original sale.

[winehead]

I will never buy Cooper again had two of four go bad on my burb the last one coming apart and taking out fender, fender liner and destroying wiring to the point we had to cancel our trip and return home due to no tail light and no brake lights. Dealer was worthless as was Cooper. I have had good luck with Michelan and Toyos .

[JIMNLIN]

wandering1 wrote:
If the OEM tires came on the vehicle new they are low bid, low quality, low cost tires that all manufactures put on new vehicles. The same tire from discount tire or SAMs will be a higher quality tire and get much better mileage.

My new '01 and the next new '03 Dodge/Cummins came OEM with 16" Michelin LTX AS
Ran the '01 85k+ miles on those tires till the new '03 Dodges came out with the HPCR "quiet" engine.
Swapped it off for the '03 and ran those same line of OEM 17" LTX AS Michelins for 114k miles.

Sure wished I knew Sams had those supposedly better Michelin LTX AS ...I might have ran them for 175k-200k miles :R.

I've had worse luck with Goodyear tires but I wouldn't be afraid to buy a set that others have good service from.

[Tystevens]

Can't really help ya, since I've only bought Michelin or BFG tires for the last 10 years!

My MS/2s are great tires, though. ATs will be noisier -- I've used BFG ATs many times in the past, and they do make a bit of noise.

My Suburban has Firestone Destination tires that the dealership put on before we bought it. Ok tires, I suppose -- they've given us about 40k miles, and will need to be replaced before the winter.

Good luck!

[Charlie_D_]

wandering1 wrote:
If the OEM tires came on the vehicle new they are low bid, low quality, low cost tires that all manufactures put on new vehicles. The same tire from discount tire or SAMs will be a higher quality tire and get much better mileage.

Local Firestone dealer told me they use a different compound and they often hear complaints about OEM mileage. Maybe it helps the CAFE on vehicles but the customers pocket book for $800-$1,000 is dented.

[rhagfo]

hbillsmith wrote:
Michelin X2. Price yikes!

I thought I was getting a good price. :h

I paid just over $900 for a set of four 265/75-16E In greater Portland area mounted and balanced, 70,000 mile tread wear, and AWESOME traction.
These tires run circles around the Toyo Open Country M&S I had before, and the replacement price for those was going to be $1,200!! The Michelin perform far better.
I believe that quality has a price.

Charlie D. wrote:

For those who have and will respond I am looking for a tire that is a highway tire. Seems to me that a AT tire would be noisier.

The Michelin LTX M/S2+ has the look of a highway tire but lots of sipping built into the tread, I ran these all winter without needing any weight in the bed of the truck for wet weather traction.

[wandering1]

If the OEM tires came on the vehicle new they are low bid, low quality, low cost tires that all manufactures put on new vehicles. The same tire from discount tire or SAMs will be a higher quality tire and get much better mileage.

[Charlie_D_]

azdryheat wrote:
I'm curious what tire pressures you run in your Firestones. My Michelin LTX AT2, with 32,000 miles, still have lots of tread on them. I have them at the pressure listed in the door jam, 70 front and 65 rear. And the truck is only used when towing my toy hauler.

80/65 when towing. About 20 % is towing. Tread wear is even across the face. About half the time I run 50 rear and 60-65 front. Am I correct in thinking that if the wear is even across the front then that is an indicator that tire pressures are not a factor in wear? Regardless, 21,000 miles is poor mileage. I have read some reviews of the Transforce and it appears that it is a poor mileage tire. I am aware that higher pressures result in a rougher ride when not towing.

For those who have and will respond I am looking for a tire that is a highway tire. Seems to me that a AT tire would be noisier.

[Charlie_D_]

Michelin owns BFG. Same issue.

[azdryheat]

I'm curious what tire pressures you run in your Firestones. My Michelin LTX AT2, with 32,000 miles, still have lots of tread on them. I have them at the pressure listed in the door jam, 70 front and 65 rear. And the truck is only used when towing my toy hauler.

[hbillsmith]

Michelin X2. Price yikes!

[The_Texan]

I think that tale about Cooper going to India was an internet thing, nothing more. IMO, Cooper and Hankook are about the best tire on the road, for the money.

[rhagfo]

Michelin LTX MS2+ great tire with great traction!