Better tires for towing and light off roading?

Mickey_D · October 15, 2014

I am really not impressed with the stock Goodyear All Terrains that came on my 14" GMC 1500 Z71 CC with a 6.5 foot bed. They ride OK, but pulling out into traffic almost always gives a good dose of tire squeal, and taking off in the rain in 2WD gives lots of axle hop and bad behavior. Unless I am driving on a highway road trip, I just leave it in automatic 4WD. Wet braking also does not give a lot of confidence. I have tried running them between 32 psi (hunting lease trips) to 42psi loaded on the highway, so I don't think it is an inflation problem.

I have Michelin LT2s on our Tahoe and had them on my previous Sierra (the regular ones) and they are great tires, but we just bought a rather porky travel trailer and I was thinking about moving up to the heavier duty load range E Michelin LTX AT2 285-65-18's on the stock rims. I know that I can't take advantage of the extra load capacity, but the stiffer sidewalls and extra plies should help with towing and light off roading at the hunting lease. Anyone have a better option or opinion?

johnhankel · October 15, 2014

I went with the Toyo Open Country AT2's on mine... I got the 6 ply 275/65R18 size. I figured with the medium amount of towing I do, the 6 ply was a good compromise between the 4 ply and 10 ply....

Spurshot · October 15, 2014

I think your choice of the Michelin is a good one for street use. If you plan on towing a 5th wheel with people occupying it, I'd go with a LR E tire for safety. I like LR E tires for off-road use to reduce the odds of a puncture from rocks and roots. I use LR E tires on all my trucks. Some people think they ride rougher. I never noticed. Tires are always a compromise. Some are good for rain on the street and some are good for wear, some for off-road, etc.. There is no one tire that is the best at everything. Be realistic about what you actually use the truck for and buy tires for that application.

kstruckcountry · October 15, 2014

I really like the wet traction of the Michelins. If that's your main concern they're definitely your tire. There are better options for off road but they will be plenty I bet.

EXSlider400 · October 15, 2014

Cooper AT3

Has XL load rating in P series, m+s rated, and 500 wear

Mickey_D · October 15, 2014

I don't really do a lot of offroading anymore, just go out to the hunting lease or check some wells sometimes. The last truck was a 2wd and it did OK, only stuck it a couple of times before I got a 4 wheeler for the serious stuff. 4 wheel drive and offroading normally means you get stuck twice as far from the road... The last couple of tires that I have ruined have been from sidewall damage, so the LR E tires are an advantage there too.

kstruckcountry · October 15, 2014

The Michelins sound like the tire for you then. A 10 ply will hold up well. And as you know the wet traction is really good. I would have bought them if they were just a little more aggressive.

Just so you know though, the guys who say that about a 4x4 are either the guys with a 2wd, or the guys who don't know how to drive a 4x4. I've found either way you get to pull them out.

HondaHawkGT · October 15, 2014

I pulled the Conti eco tires mine came with a month ago. Upgraded to E rated Cooper ST Maxx tires. Slight change in how they ride stiffness-wise but well worth it. P rated tires don't belong on a truck.

Mickey_D · October 16, 2014

The Michelins sound like the tire for you then. A 10 ply will hold up well. And as you know the wet traction is really good. I would have bought them if they were just a little more aggressive.

Just so you know though, the guys who say that about a 4x4 are either the guys with a 2wd, or the guys who don't know how to drive a 4x4. I've found either way you get to pull them out.

I used to raise cows in East Texas gumbo mud and duck hunted for the last 30 years in the riverbottoms, so I am just tired of getting heavy stuff stuck and tearing trucks up. 4 wheelers and mules are good to take into the mud, trucks are good for getting you there and back home at the end of the day. Now if the mud actually has a bottom to it thats another story.

Spurshot · October 16, 2014

Sometimes there's really no good way to get around in the bogs. Best just stay out of them. Hunting is a recreation. I never found much recreation in getting stuck.