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Rons05z71

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Rons05z71 Enthusiast

Rons05z71

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So the week started off with a trip to the dump, I got there and there was a truck parked at the gate, probably paying or something but I have a sticker, so like a million times before I went around, well this time something went wrong and I sideswiped the other side of the fence, punctured the rear tire and scraped up the right rear fender flare. Well I am glad that I lowered the spare down a few months ago and lubricated the release locks because the spare came right down and I got the tire changed; off loaded the garbage and went home dejected. The tire was not repairable since it was a sidewall puncture and since it was a supposed discontinued tire, (Dunlop radial rover AT) I knew that I was going to have to get some new rubber. (which didnt bother me too much since the dunlops are basically crap) Made a few phone calls and decided that I was going to go to firestone and get tires (based on funds). I was looking at some Mastercraft, Yokahammas or the revo's, but based on price and some other stuff I went with the firestone Destination AT's. So far I have been thrilled with them. I then went home and removed the fender flare and went to the workshop to fix the gouges and scratches, Duplicolor has a brand of perfect match paint in a spray can, Just use your paint codes, I am going to say that the color match is perfect. It took about 3-4 hours of work with painting and clear coating it. It went on the smoothest I have seen a spray can go on. I am still working on getting the gloss up but I made some progress today with just using a cleaner wax and a buffer,I learned alot about the buffer and sometimes a lighter pressure got better. Gotta go back to the polishing compound or maybe a wetsand. I finished out the weekend doing a roll in bed liner to replace the plastic one due to being bored. I used the dupli-color armor one and it came out pretty good, I did alot of research on this and for what I wanted it was this or Herculiner or leave the plastic one, which I didnt mind because mine was a really thick one and didnt do too much bucking or bending. Its actually in the backyard and still is holding its shape and I have shoved the wheel barrow and garden trailer in it.

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Rons05z71 Enthusiast

Rons05z71

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Some pics of the fender flare and new tires, The gloss is really starting to show through on the top, the foward and back part still needs some more polishing.

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Chris Senior Enthusiast

Chris

Posted
Posted

i have the destination a/t's on my 04. worked out fine in snow/sleet/mud of utah. love them

Rons05z71 Enthusiast

Rons05z71

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I am hoping the tires work out good in the winter, That was the main reason I went with 4 new ones instead of trying to find a matching dunlop somewhere. The tires still had over 5/32 of tread left but they were starting to really lack in the snow last winter; and when trying to pull a tree limb down off the big tree in my front yard after Irene I was barking the front tires in 4 low, so I wanted something a little better. I saved 2 of the best of the old tires maybe I can sell them off to someone who just needs a tire.

I am hoping the bed works out good, It seems they are all the same, but the duplicolor kit was slightly cheaper than the herculiner. The only thing is the roller they give is crap, the paint brush is really the best way to go. I had thoughts of a very thin nap on a another roller maybe would work, because a thick nap didnt work.

  • 1 year later...
Rons05z71 Enthusiast

Rons05z71

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Well I know this an old topic but I only got 40,000 miles on the firestones and had to have them replaced, I was below the wear bars. Very disappointed overall and disappointed in firestone for a couple of crappy alighnments. which was a contributing factor, but one good tire maybe had another 5000 miles and it would have been done. So I got a set of Cooper Discoverer AT3 and they seem great. I also went somewhere else for an alighnment (Monro) and I feel very happy, the guy doing it was great and got this truck and all the specs right.. Just wanted to give a review

STINSAN3 Senior Enthusiast

STINSAN3

Posted
Posted

How you liking em? I need new tires for my Jeep Cherokee, use it primary for the winter & times like this when my truck is down.
Tires currently on it are Cooper ATR, older tires but they were damn good. Just bald as hell now.
Looking at the Cooper AT3 or Toyo AT2, such a hard decision.

KMGZ400 Senior Enthusiast

KMGZ400

Posted
Posted

Well I know this an old topic but I only got 40,000 miles on the firestones and had to have them replaced, I was below the wear bars. Very disappointed overall and disappointed in firestone for a couple of crappy alighnments. which was a contributing factor, but one good tire maybe had another 5000 miles and it would have been done. So I got a set of Cooper Discoverer AT3 and they seem great. I also went somewhere else for an alighnment (Monro) and I feel very happy, the guy doing it was great and got this truck and all the specs right.. Just wanted to give a review

i also got less then 40k out of my 285 desti's on my 03 silverado

Rons05z71 Enthusiast

Rons05z71

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I have gone about 140 miles on the cooper's and so far so good. I kind of had my sights set on these for a while

  • 5 weeks later...
Rons05z71 Enthusiast

Rons05z71

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So after about 3,000 miles I find that the coopers are a good tire, They grip great in the rain, actually rain or puddles, lakes and ponds should be no problem. Good grip on dry pavement, I dont term them as a noisy tire at all. Rocks do get stuck in the tread and then do the click click thing going down the road, but they eventually come out. They do make the fuel economy suck a little bit, no more than an average on a 1/2 a mile (15.5 mpg to 15).

Highway driving is very smooth and i like the increased load rating to the tire over stock, The truck feels much more stable while towing or having a load in the truck bed.

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