Hd Trucks And Tires

Kodiak450 · October 23, 2009

I always run BFG AT's on my HD trucks cause I love their aggressive bite and traction in the snow and ice, but never have had a set last past 30,000 miles. I could of pushed them further and gone to 40,000 but would be in a dangerous zone according to staying in safe measurements. The BFG AT's new are at a 12 and when they get done to a 5 it is recommended you replace them. Bought a set in Feb 07 and had to get two new tires Feb 08 because of a blow out on the highway and other rear tire was badly worn and only had 14,687 miles on them too! I always kept them at 65 psi and was told that was too high, so I started running them at 50-55 psi. So yesterday I got a set of timbrens put on in the front and the tires looked worn. They were at a 5. I did however manage to go 20 months this time with those two and 21,000 miles. They still looked as if they could go another 10,000 but I like to have aggressive traction going into the winter season. I run 265's and get them in a load range of D because they don't have an E in a 265 75r 16.

The HD trucks love to eat tires, I use BFG AT's on non HD trucks and have gotten many many years out of them. I think my Blazer is going on year 3 now with them and they are still looking really good tread wise. The rear tires I got back in Dec 08 are at an 8 now on my 2500 and seem to be holding up better thanks to that added spring and keeping them at 50 psi. I'm hoping the fronts will hold up better now that I installed a set of timbrens to help with the heavy plow's weight.

Rat4go · October 23, 2009

Wonder if the plow work you do is harder on 'em or if you have an alignment issue, etc?

My '03 Dmax 2500 HD has 95K on it. I put BFG tires on it at 200 miles. They lasted 'til about 55K or so, and the Goodyear MTRs are at 40K and will probably get to near 50K before they're done. BFG's were mostly highway miles with some 5W towing in the summer. MTR's are mostly city driving (job changes) with a similar amount of 5W towing in the summer.

Kodiak450 · October 23, 2009

I'm sure the plow's weight has something to do with it. Also using 4wd as well. The passenger side tire was a little more worn out then the drivers side and I believe the passenger side is the drive tire when 4wd is engaged.

MarkD · October 24, 2009

My BFG A/Ts just passed 80k miles on my 1500 GMT-800. The are really worn and need replacing (but still servicable). I am about to make the switch to a D-Max though. I am thinking of putting the BFG M/T's on it to solve clay cloging issues. Any input? I thing the HD's use tiresz quicker due to the fact that they are working the tires harder with extra weight, payload, urgency.

BRW, any input on the new M/T's?

bersh · October 24, 2009

I'm sure the plow's weight has something to do with it. Also using 4wd as well. The passenger side tire was a little more worn out then the drivers side and I believe the passenger side is the drive tire when 4wd is engaged.

How often do you rotate them? BFG AT are really picky about being rotated every 5-6K miles.

Kodiak450 · October 25, 2009

Well every since I broke the buy 4 at a time rule and am buying only 2 tires, I'm not rotating them. I'm keeping the better tread (newer) tires in the rear. However I am going to start to rotate the fronts from DS-PS cause of 4WD drive tire. So seeing how the rears are brand new and the fronts are not (but are still in decent shape- very good condition) I will always keep the newer on the rears.

With BFG Mud-Terrains, unless you really plan on doing lots of off roading and limit highway driving considerably, I would get them. I had a set before and did like them alot, especially the tread, but they wore fast from highway driving. Mainly because of tread design being spaced further apart, I did think they performed well in the snow. I had the tall skinny 85r size BTW.

I deicded to try and see if it is possible to have the tires last longer on my HD trucks by adding an extra spring in the rear. Not only for that reason, but to eliminate any sagging when 2000lbs is on the bed. I did notice my last set of tires wear less because of the added spring because more weight is placed on suspension and does not cause tires to squat like it did with stock suspension set up. Even though it takes alot more effort to spin the rear wheels with BFG AT's cause of it being a much heavier, aggressivie tire..I do try to keep the wheels from spinning on wet pavement and gravel roads to help make the tire last longer. I have to admit, I do love how a BFG AT will tear up say a grassy soaked surface and throw the mud out, they'll also dig into rock gravel roads with ease. The astock tires that came with the truck were very easy to get them to spin, they were nothing but a common looking SUV tire IMO and were horrible performers in the snow and ice. The BFG AT's in snow is like the difference between night and day compared to stock tires, also will not hydroplain when you hit a moderate puddle going 50 mph or faster. The BFG MT's were the same with puddles.

I think I'm gonna get these wheels by Spring 2010.. http://www.discounttiredirect.com/product/...lhos.mbm.xl.jpg

And either these tires with it... http://www.discounttiredirect.com/product/...s/nitva1.xl.jpg

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/product/...s/gdyvl6.xl.jpg

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/product/...s/copvl3.xl.jpg

And use my stock wheels with the BFG AT's for winter season. I wouldn't mine going with an 18" wheel, however that would mean putting on bigger brakes and if I put bigger brakes on I wouldn't be able to use my 16"' wheels any longer. So I will go with 17" wheels. The wheel and tire set up should cost about $1500 tops (depending on what tires I go with) which includes the tires mounted, balanced and valve steems.

MarkD · October 25, 2009

Most of my usage is on-road/hwy. I think that is why I have gotten such mileage out of my BFG A/T's. I am pretty easy on them, but haven't rotated them very often. I think that since my usage is >80% straight line, and <20% turning, the rotation hasn't been such an issue.

The reason for the more aggressive tread...The A/T's (especially new) chew up a lot of turf, and load up with mud. This is a bad thing on a jobsite because it destroys yards, removes fill from graded lots, and really dirtys the roadway to/from a job. Ideas?

From your pics, I am also considering the Coopers and the new Nittos. I haven't heard good things about Nitto durability, but maybe the new compound will hold up. Have you heard anything?

Kodiak450 · October 25, 2009

I remember my other trucks that had BFG AT's and no rear mud flaps, coming off a muddy off road area and throwing chunks of mud all over the place. Made a nice rooster tail of mud for a few seconds. The only thing you can really do is hose the tires down before going on the road if it concernd you that much, those tires bite into turf really well, especailly when new. I opted to keep my mud flaps on this tis truck because in the winter the tires will discharge snow, slat and slush up into inner rear fender and front tires will throw more salt all over outside of body. I do prefer having them off because the BFG AT's make some nice rooster tails in the snow, but I rather protect my truck with the flaps.

fcknmaw · October 25, 2009

I just ordered General Grabber AT2's. The 285/75-16 flavor. Nice aggressive tread pattern, and a 60,000 mile warranty. I'll post pics next week, and wear reports periodically. Can't beat the price either.

98silvz71 · October 28, 2009

While in Louisiana this summer, with all the heat I encountered. I could see the tires leave their mark with just turning a corner. I love my BFGs for their strong core and aggressive tread and look, but they wear horrible. I have been rotating them about everytime I change the oil in the truck. Hell right now, I have about 3 nails in these things and they haven't leaked any air. The only other tire I was looking into getting was the Dueler REVO but I hear they get about the same treadlife as the BFGs and cost more. I got a guy that swears by some Hankook tires, says they are better than my BFGs but I am reluctant to try them.

Shaners · October 28, 2009

I had Michelen LTX M/S 265/75/16 E on my old truck. They lasted 65K hard miles. I have Dueler REVOS also same size and load rating on my Dmax and with 20K miles on them, I am wishing I had put the Michelins on this truck too...

Kodiak450 · October 28, 2009

I had Michelen LTX M/S 265/75/16 E on my old truck. They lasted 65K hard miles. I have Dueler REVOS also same size and load rating on my Dmax and with 20K miles on them, I am wishing I had put the Michelins on this truck too...

When you say they lasted that long, did you measure them with the tire depth guage? Or just have them on until they got bald? mine aren't going bald on me, many people would take my old tires and consider using them if they wanted to save some money. I like having more tread on hand for the aggressive bite in winter. Some of my residential driveways I plow are extremely steep driveways, and having worn down tires is not safe. To give you an idea of how steep this one customers driveway is, during one snow storm he had parked his suv on the hill, and we had a mix bag of precip turing to all snow. The mixed stuff froze up under the snow and then out of nowhere his suv slide down the steep driveway, across the lawn and into a tree. The insurance Co. totaled the suv. Right before I changed two BFG's that weren't biting anymore, I was doing his driveway and all of the sudden starting sliding backwards after hitting a patch of black ice. Luckily I reacted fast and dropped the blade and it aided in slowing me down enough to be able to safely stop without slidding. After gettinbg two new tires, I didn't have anymore slidding out issues that winter on that driveway.

Rat4go · October 28, 2009

I had Michelen LTX M/S 265/75/16 E on my old truck. They lasted 65K hard miles. I have Dueler REVOS also same size and load rating on my Dmax and with 20K miles on them, I am wishing I had put the Michelins on this truck too...

When you say they lasted that long, did you measure them with the tire depth guage? Or just have them on until they got bald? mine aren't going bald on me, many people would take my old tires and consider using them if they wanted to save some money. I like having more tread on hand for the aggressive bite in winter. Some of my residential driveways I plow are extremely steep driveways, and having worn down tires is not safe. To give you an idea of how steep this one customers driveway is, during one snow storm he had parked his suv on the hill, and we had a mix bag of precip turing to all snow. The mixed stuff froze up under the snow and then out of nowhere his suv slide down the steep driveway, across the lawn and into a tree. The insurance Co. totaled the suv. Right before I changed two BFG's that weren't biting anymore, I was doing his driveway and all of the sudden starting sliding backwards after hitting a patch of black ice. Luckily I reacted fast and dropped the blade and it aided in slowing me down enough to be able to safely stop without slidding. After gettinbg two new tires, I didn't have anymore slidding out issues that winter on that driveway.

My experience with the BFG's is sorta similar. Even if you have a long way to go to the wear-bars, they seem to not bite as well in rain or wet snow after ~40k or so. My theory has always been that the lugs are rounded enough at this mileage that traction suffers in these conditions. I still went past the 40K for a while on every set when it made sense (summer time) and even went so far as to have my MTR's mounted on different rims to get me thru the winter, then finished off the BFG's when the snow went away as I wanted to get my moneys worth out of the BFG's because dropping $1000 for tires is painful! I've owned a total of 5 sets of BFG's on 3 different trucks (all 285/75-16D) and all seem to do the same thing. This winter will be the test for the MTR's as I'm about to the same mileage point as when the BFG's started 'going away'. I haven't noticed the MTR's being challenged in the wet like 'used' BFG's yet, so I'm optimistic that this winter won't be too much of a tap-dance every time it snows.

Shaners · October 28, 2009

I had Michelen LTX M/S 265/75/16 E on my old truck. They lasted 65K hard miles. I have Dueler REVOS also same size and load rating on my Dmax and with 20K miles on them, I am wishing I had put the Michelins on this truck too...

When you say they lasted that long, did you measure them with the tire depth guage? Or just have them on until they got bald?

There was enough tread to pass State Inspection but not enough to feel good about driving through the winter.

kurt1993 · October 18, 2010

I just ordered General Grabber AT2's. The 285/75-16 flavor. Nice aggressive tread pattern, and a 60,000 mile warranty. I'll post pics next week, and wear reports periodically. Can't beat the price either.

do you need a lift for those 285s i love the way they look with no lift i just hear they can rub....i like a tire that actually fits in the wheel well i use to like a lifted look but for some reason the larger 315s or 35" tires that require a lift are just too FAT/wide looking and the tread just doesnt look as tough as it does on a 285 that actually sits in the wheel well rather than under it.