Tire Recommendations?

Blackwater · February 15

2006 Silverado LT 4WD Automatic Z71. My truck had a decent set of General Grabber APT tires When I bought it.They've gone for 50,000 miles which isn't terrible, but I plan to look around at some other options.

This is my first truck. My usage is mostly in town and highway driving, but I do drive on gravel back roads a few times every month to camp and float rivers, as well as visiting friends in the country. No real off-roading except for driving around pastures on a friend's farm occasionally. Not much towing, and any I do would be fairly light. My annual mileage isn't high, about 15,000 miles/yr. I do plan to keep this truck for several years, perhaps 5-10 years.

So I'm contemplating sticking with an all terrain tire vs switching to an all weather highway tire such as the Michelin Defender LTX or similar. The $289 price including installation at Sam's Club is a little more than I wanted to pay. I'd prefer something closer to $200 or so, but I can live with the higher price if the value is there.

Reasons for a possible switch: smoother ride on paved roads, better gas mileage, quieter (maybe), better wear.

Cons: I'm mainly concerned about being tough enough for the portion of driving I do on gravel and rougher roads. I don't want a nice set of highway tires to get ripped up on a gravel road

Any recommendations on best options in these two categories? I'm looking at Michelin, Falken, General, Continental, BF Goodrich, Nitto, etc, but pretty open minded as long as it's not Chinese crap.

PS: I'll leave this up for additional discussion if anyone is interested. Tires are usually an active lively topic. I ordered the Toyo Toyo Open Country A/T III - 265/70R17 115T from Sam's an made an appointment for installation in a few days. I'll post a review after I've put some miles on them.

Edited February 16 by Blackwater
Change in status

Jworks · February 15

I currently have Continentals on my GMC 4x4. Like you, 99% of my driving is on the road. I've only engaged 4WD once in 6 years and the tires did fine. But I'm not a mud-hogger and it sounds like you aren't either. For me, buying an all terrain tire and listening to the humming isnt desirable "just because I have a 4x4". I recommend a highway tire.

I just put Toyo tires on my Honda car. I was a bit cautious knowing nothing about them but my dealer I've dealt with for 25 years recommended them. Its my first departure from the Continental, General and other "known" names. They are a Japanese company so that alone gave me confidence to try them, made in Georgia USA. I've been well satisfied too. And, the price was very reasonable. I'll probably put them on my truck next time.

Edited February 15 by Jworks

Blackwater · February 16

Thank you, Jworks! I'm looking pretty hard at both the Toyos and the Continental. And I'm leaning more towards a good solid highway tire.

Though I am concerned how my driving on gravel roads a few times a month will affect them. I haven't been able to determine that yet.

Is it the Continental Terrain Contact H/T on your GMC and the Toyo Open Country H/T on your Honda?

Edited February 16 by Blackwater

CamGTP · February 16

I work in the tire business, here is my suggestions.

Nitto Terra Grappler G3's

Toyo Open Country AT3's

Hankook Dynapro AT's

Also just a fun fact, Discount tire sells that same exact Hankook tire under the name Pathfinder AT I believe as their house brand. It will save you some money and it's the same tire made by Hankook for discount. Google the pictures if you want to see it.

Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail AT

Cooper Discoverer SRX

There are plenty of other tires out there too, the BFG's and Michelins will cost more and do exactly what you need them to do as well. And don't disregard many of the offbrand tires that may have weird names. Tons of them are made by the largest tire companies in the world.

Like for example. Sumitomo owns Falken tire but you don't hear many people talk about Sumitomo. Then there is a Tire brand called National Tires, many of those are made by Sumitomo but are a way cheaper option for tires. Sure they may not last 60,000 miles on some vehicles but when they cost half the price and still go 45-50k miles, the price can really be worth it.

asilverblazer · February 16

The only "brand" tire I've had consistent, reliable, long life, good tread wear, good balancing, no punctures, no blow-outs, no road hazards, good traction - have all been BFGoodrich.

All Terrain TA KO (2 sets)

All Terrain TA KO2 (2 sets)

Advantage TA (4 sets)

Long Trail TA (3 sets)

Trail Terrain TA (1 set)

Every other brand has had one issue or another.

Michelin - wouldn't stand behind warranty (3 sets)

Pirelli - couldn't survive my gravel driveway (1 set)

General - couldn't keep air in them for all the punctures and poor tread wear (1 set)

Goodyear - mediocre performance by every metric (2 sets)

Continental - mediocre performance (1 set)

Bridgestone - mediocre performance, the only other brand I've had that I would re-consider (1 set)

Observations

All the Nitto tires I see have weird tread wear on them

As already noted, no telling who owns what anymore, or if it even matters. Who did the R&D, who specified the compounds, who manufactured it, what warranty does it come with, what price point, dealer, and the list goes on... All to get to my point, which is, internet recommendations I think are pretty worthless.

I am going to buy what I've had good success with and will have to have a very compelling reason to switch.

For example, on our Yukon Denali, we had to make some rush decisions on tires due to some other circumstances that included a wheel size change. The tires I WANTED were no longer in production (KO2) and the KO3 was REALLY expensive with a long lead time. Ended up with a set of Ironman something or others - supposedly made by Cooper. They were a fraction of the cost, and I haven't had any major complaints given they were $700.00 for all four. (They have a slight vibration at high speeds 85+)