Time For New Tires Guys...

[welscher08]

Been reading this forum alot and getting some good and beneficial information and its time for new tires for my truck. Its a 2003 Reg. Cab Shortbox, with the 5.3 and Z-71 package, 265-75-16.

 

I had been wanting to go with Nitto Terra Grapplers, but have recently decided i would go with the Toyo AT's if a as good if not better deal was found. But last night was doing some looking and noticed the Goodyear DuraTracs. I know many don't like Goodyear as much on here, but for the price of them i assume they are a quality tired. The only thing i noticed about them though was you can get them in Load C range, i would rather prefer the D range, but didnt do to much searching wanted your opinions first.

 

I live 4 miles from town on gravel roads, in Minnesota, so i get a good mix of snow and soft sloppy roads in the spring, and then its a 7 mile drive to work on pavement. I am not so much concerned about tire noise, i dont want them to load but am not expecting super quiet tires either, i am willing to give that up for the AT tire.

 

So give me your opinions and comments from what you have seen a appreciated and then i will be shopping around for the best deal and getting the tires ordered and mounted and start enjoying them! Thanks for everything as you guys are all great.

 

Nitto Terra Grapplers, Toyo Open Country A/T, or the Goodyear DuraTrac. Thanks Ryan

[urway2slow]

Been reading this forum alot and getting some good and beneficial information and its time for new tires for my truck. Its a 2003 Reg. Cab Shortbox, with the 5.3 and Z-71 package, 265-75-16.

 

I had been wanting to go with Nitto Terra Grapplers, but have recently decided i would go with the Toyo AT's if a as good if not better deal was found. But last night was doing some looking and noticed the Goodyear DuraTracs. I know many don't like Goodyear as much on here, but for the price of them i assume they are a quality tired. The only thing i noticed about them though was you can get them in Load C range, i would rather prefer the D range, but didnt do to much searching wanted your opinions first.

 

I live 4 miles from town on gravel roads, in Minnesota, so i get a good mix of snow and soft sloppy roads in the spring, and then its a 7 mile drive to work on pavement. I am not so much concerned about tire noise, i dont want them to load but am not expecting super quiet tires either, i am willing to give that up for the AT tire.

 

So give me your opinions and comments from what you have seen a appreciated and then i will be shopping around for the best deal and getting the tires ordered and mounted and start enjoying them! Thanks for everything as you guys are all great.

 

Nitto Terra Grapplers, Toyo Open Country A/T, or the Goodyear DuraTrac. Thanks Ryan

 

I just put a set of 265/75/16 Toyo Open Country A/T's on my 2000 silverado on Friday and so far love them! They have tons of tread and meat to them but are super quiet. I went with the Load range D since my truck is just a 1/2 ton z71. I say go for it.. They were cheaper then the Nitto's around my area.

[66nova]

Cooper Zeon LTZ's

 

 

LINK

[Matt_]

Nitto Terra Grapplers, Toyo Open Country A/T, or the Goodyear DuraTrac.

 

Terra Grapplers: I hate the "hotwheels" lightning bolts on the sidewall. Without those, i'd consider them.

 

Toyo AT's: Great tires. I installed them on our county plow trucks and received great feedback. I put them on my dads expedition and they have 70,000 miles on them when he traded the truck in and still had tread left. And i ran them on my 2005 Silverado... awesome traction, quiet, and even performed well in the mud when wheeling.

 

No experience with the DuraTracs...

[Matt_]

Cooper Zeon LTZ's

 

 

LINK

 

+1.... i didn't mention those because I didn't think they made them in his size... looks like they do!

[welscher08]

Cooper Zeon LTZ's

 

 

LINK

 

I do like Cooper's and I can get them pretty easily around here in my area, so i could get a few different tire shops to quote me prices. I will check them out.

[welscher08]

Nitto Terra Grapplers, Toyo Open Country A/T, or the Goodyear DuraTrac.

 

Terra Grapplers: I hate the "hotwheels" lightning bolts on the sidewall. Without those, i'd consider them.

 

Toyo AT's: Great tires. I installed them on our county plow trucks and received great feedback. I put them on my dads expedition and they have 70,000 miles on them when he traded the truck in and still had tread left. And i ran them on my 2005 Silverado... awesome traction, quiet, and even performed well in the mud when wheeling.

 

No experience with the DuraTracs...

 

 

 

Yeah I am a little mixed on the Lighting Bolts myself, i dont think i would mind them though, but if they were full of mud, dust from gravel roads, they might look bad.

 

The only thing holding me against the Toyo's some is the sidewalls, i was going to go with blackwalls, but i dont like them in the Toyo's so if i got the Toyo's i would have to find some white lettered ones i think.

[Matt_]

I liked the blackwalls of the Toyos

 

 

 

EDIT: Let me rephrase that... I like the sidewalls of the LT Toyo ATs... the P-Rated version is more rounded and not as aggressive looking where it meets the tread. Your size, 265/75/16 comes in either the P-Rated OR a 6-ply LT (Load C) tire... I'd recommend getting the LT version Tread depth of the P265/75/16 is 13/32 and the tread depth of the LT265/75/16 is 16/32.

[welscher08]

I would be getting the LT for sure...all i would consider. So we are good there.

 

Just got done looking at the Cooper Zeon and notice they only come in Load Range E! They don't make them in a D range? Do the E's ride much stiffer in the Coopers?

 

You really got me thinking about the Coopers now, i have always ran them on my car. So i think i will be making a call tomorrow and go off of that, see if he has them in stock at least.

 

Then do some comparing on the sidewalls...In your pic you posted the Toyo's do look good. I think I just don't like the striping inside of the lettering on the Toyo's, almost like how the one side of the Nitto's have that too. Thats where i preferred the solid full block lettering on the Nitto's.

 

Decisions....

[Matt_]

The good thing about tires is that they wear out... so regardless of what you choose now, you'll get to try another set in a few years

[welscher08]

The good thing about tires is that they wear out... so regardless of what you choose now, you'll get to try another set in a few years

 

 

This is true...and driving on gravel i don't expect to get the life outta them like most people get. But trying to make the right choice...i enjoy researching and deciding...either way i think they are all pretty good quality tires. Its down to the Toyo's and Coopers now....Nitto's though? haha...i like the tread...sidewall is 50/50.

 

any comment on the load range E sk1er18? since thats what you run? There are some pretty rough pavement roads here in SE MN. but i dont mind a stiff ride, i love how my work truck (2003 HD) has a firm ride, and like that about my truck as well with the Z-71 package.

[Matt_]

I haven't ever had an issue running E-rated tires. I think most of the complaints of them riding "stiff" is a result of people over-inflating them. Keep the PSI around 35-40 and you'll be fine.

 

Edit: yes the sidewall is "stiffer"... but think about what's actually holding up your truck. If you let all of the air out of an E-rated tire i guarantee that the sidewall looks just as flat as a D, or C or even P rated tire. They are heavier though, but that's the trade off for a stronger tire.

[welscher08]

Alright i did a little pricing tonight, and will be calling the local tire shop i am going to have mount them, and see if he has Cooper Zeon's in stock or the Cooper Discover S/T's.

 

Here is what i came up with though.

 

Nitto's - Ebay - 156. 21

 

discounttiresdirect - 155

 

Toyo's - Discounttires2go.com = 173.01

 

Cooper Discover S/T - Treadepot.com = 175.56 (10 ply)

 

Cooper Zeon Ltz - Treadepot.com = 163.05 (10 ply)

 

Goodyear DuraTrac - Free Shipping for 184 a tire, 10 ply to I believe.

 

I have Mastercraft At/2's on my work truck and they seem to be a nice tire, 10 ply. Surprised to find the Nitto's where cheaper then the Toyo's since they are made by the same brand company right? I would probably go with the Toyo's but be nice to find them competitively priced. The Zeon's would be the tire to go with but after shipping can't match the Nitto's price. Maybe the local tire shop with have the Zeon's in stock and then I will get a great deal on them, less the shipping. Anyone run the Cooper S/T's? The Goodyear Duratracs got great reviews from what i could find. Thank for the help again. Ryan

[wurgs]

Might want to look at the Cooper Discoverer ATRs. We run them on our 2500HDs at work and have been really happy with them. The are really good in snow and muddy or softer roads and we always get at least 55000 out of them. Looking at the prices you list they would be similar.

[woyster_00z71]

I just went though the new tire game and settled on the Cooper Discoverer ATR. I was wanting the Zeon LTZ but really didn't need/want a load range E tire. I was also considering the Nitto TG's but from past experience (fast wear) I decided against them.

 

So far, I really like the Coopers. Discount Tire aired them up to 30psi per the door sticker and they seem a little mushy. I was running the stockers between 33 and 35psi and didn't have any wear issues so first chance I get I will air them up. Other than that, they run smooth and are very quiet for an AT tire. The dry grip is far superior to the stockers but isn't amazing. Wet grip however is like I have suction cups for tires...very good. At this point I would recommend the ATRs and unless they offer the Zeons in a non-E-Rated tire I will replace them with the same in a few years.

 

Other tires I considered...Toyo Open Country, Nitto TG, Kumo Mohave AT, Pirelli Scorpion ATR, Hankook DynaPro ATM.