Tires - any recommendations

tfpary · February 12, 2002

:baa: Here in a couple months looks like it might be time to get some new shoes for the Suburban. Its the old style, 97, k1500. Mostly hiway, but we (usually) get a lot of snow. I drive it to work, use it to pull boats all summer, use it for hunting in the fall, and ice fishing in the winter. Wife drives it on trips and the proverbial "fill it to the brim" shopping trips. In the past I have used Uniroyal Laredos on other trucks, and had good success. On my cars, I have always used Goodyears, with equally good success. Everytime I have tried an "offbrand", I have taken it in the shorts. I would rather spend the money upfront and save on the hassle.

Any of you experts out there have any recommendations, stock tire size is 245r17, and I would probably stay there. Would you recommend a LT tire, or stay with the P tire?

Thanks!

Kansas Kid · February 12, 2002

Would you recommend a LT tire, or stay with the P tire?

Don't even think about getting a P-rated tire, especially since you tow a boat during the summer. While it probably came stock with P-rated tires, those are only on there to provide a soft ride. They are generally pretty poor when put into regular towing service. I would go with atleast a load range "C" truck tire, and maybe even a load range "D". The higher up you go in load range, the better the tire will be in handling towing loads and crosswinds. It might result in a slightly rougher ride, but nothing real noticeable.

As for brand and type recommendations, I think I will stay out of that. Nearly everyone on these truck forums recommends BFG tires, but I have had a few very poor experiences with them. As you can imagine, I don't get a very good reception because I don't like them. And since I don't want this thread to get all heated, I will let others make brand and type picks.

96 Vortec · February 12, 2002

I'm on my second truck with a set of BFG 285's. I absolutely love them. I have 55,000 on my current set and won't need to replace them for at least another year. I plan to switch to a slightly larger size and to a Mud Terrain. I'm not worried about the tire wear because BFG makes the MT and the AT out of the same tire compound.

Just speaking through 7 years of driving on 2 sets of BFG AT's.

Oh yeah, the first set didn't need to be replaced, someone hit me and totaled the truck.

Just out of curiousity, what 17" wheel was available that year or did you switch to a 17?

tfpary · February 12, 2002

Caught me on that one 96 Vortec, they are really 16 inchers. My mistake. Thanks for the info on the BFG's. Kansas Kid, thanks for the tips on the rating, I am definetely going to get the LT's.

GreenRado · February 12, 2002

Kinda late on this one too, but I'll add my $.02 as well.

Definitely get the LT rated tires - with that much weight in general, even if you don't tow, I think they are safer.

I also don't want to bog down into tire wars, but as an example, I replaced the Firestone Wilderness ATs w/ Bridgestone Duelers, and even being LTs, they improved my ride and handling! over the Firestone Ps. Plus I know I'll be OK if I tow, haul, and go off-road some. All of which I do occasionally.

Good luck on tire selection.

Robinhood · February 12, 2002

Definitely go with the Lt's (what is GM thinking with the P-metric tires on these full size vehicles) I'll sacrifice ride for safety anyday.

Friend has 99 Burb. and replaced his BFGoodrich Long Trails with Michelin LTX MS load range E last year. The ride will definitely suffer somewhat ( I would opt for the D load range). This is a good tire for dry/wet conditions and pretty good on snow and ice. If you see sloppy conditions off-raod you might opt for the BFG TA KO's. Very good tire also.

BIG BLUE · February 12, 2002

Ok, here is my 1/50th of a buck on this subject;

First off, stay with an LT rated tire on a Suburban. Having owned 4 Subs (one is a 97 like yours) and using them similar to the way you describe (towing, off roading, boat ramps, two-tracks, and highway too) I'll tell ya you don't want a P rated tire on your truck for the purposes you intend to use. Why they ever went to a P rated tire on the Denali still makes me wonder, but then again, I don't see too many of them crossing a rocky path or trenching thru a mud hole when I'm looking for a good place to fly fish.

As for brand, well I'm a Michelin fan myself, particularly the LTX A/T version. I have owned the BFG A/Ts, Goodyear Wranglers, Dunlop Radial Rovers and Uniroyal Laraedo's and none of them are as good as the Michelin's except maybe the BFG's but the road hum is more noticable than the Michelins.

I've had 4 sets of the LTX A/T 265's on my plow truck (280,000+ miles) and will not buy anything else for it. I've had both the M/S and A/T version on a couple of Subs and I like the characteristics of the A/T just a bit better. I've found that between these two I like the aggressive look of the A/T better, the tread pattern is better designed and lasted longer than the M/S's I had, and they are better in the snow. That being said, it's hard to beat the M/S for how it handles in the rain, not that the A/T doesn't do a great job, but the M/S is just a bit better there, and only there, IMHO.

As for load range; if your towing anything more than 5,500+ lbs. (even though your Sub is not rated much beyond that) then I'd opt for the D or E range. Anything less then that weight and the C range should do fine. In the Michelin series the LTX A/T 265's only come in range C but the M/S can be had in C or E.

By the way, I have the 265's and like the way they handle vs. the stock 245's that originally came on your Sub. So, bottom line, there are lots of good brands of tires out there and price is always a factor. I go by my own experience in having owned many sets of tires and by the experiences of others that have had good/bad luck in certain brands. Both the BFG's and the Michelins will run you about $150+ each so they are not cheap, but are well worth the $$ and safety they will provide you and your family.

Regards,

BIG BLUE

P.S. Ok, so my 1/50th of a buck was more like a quarter!

THE BIGPUNN · February 12, 2002

goodyear rt/s seems to be real popular in 265's. right now goodyear is running a deal $50.00 off the total price if you open a goodyear account.

colosilverado · February 13, 2002

And I'll give an endorsement for the Bridgestone Dueler AT/s and do about the same type of things with my truck as you do. It depends on if you want any kind of aggressive "look" to them, or want them to look fairly tame...........

tyrod212 · February 15, 2002

I strong recomend BF Goodrich all terrains..I had a set of 30x9.50's on an S-10 and now on my new silverado 1500 i've got 285/75/r16's and i wouldn't trade them for anything.