Time for new TIRES on the Tahoe...

KMeloney · October 14, 2005

Hey all,

Time for new tires on the Z71 (17" wheels). I guess I could always just go with the stock GY's, but I can't imagine that's the best route to go.

Looking for something as aggressive as the GY AT/Ss, but with good road manners, too. Gotta be able to get through the snow that we get here in PA, too!

A local shop here recommends Cooper Discoverers... But I know nothing about them. Any thoughts on these, as well as other brands?

Thanks, folks!

-Kirk

kevin02tahoe · October 14, 2005

I am very happy with BFG AT's. I have a good friend with the Cooper Discover AT's on a Jeep, he is very happy with them.

2004GMC1500CC · October 14, 2005

I am very happy with BFG AT's. I have a good friend with the Cooper Discover AT's on a Jeep, he is very happy with them.

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BRZ71 · October 14, 2005

Not an attempt to hijack you post, but I was going to give a report on my new Cooper Discoverer ATR after a 3000 mile trip from Baton Rouge to Manhattan and back. I don't feel like looking for my post, so since you want to know about them this would be an appropriate place to post this.

285/75/16 Cooper Discoverer ATR

AWESOME.

I did not notice any mileage decrease at all. I was still getting about 400 miles per tank, less in the hilly states but that was expected. Three tank fulls to get up there and three tank fulls to get back. As for the tires. Well everyone knows that it has been raining for over a week up there so I can really give a good report on the wet traction, it is very very good. I had very little slippage, and then it was only when I got on it a little too much at a stop sign. I had to do a crazy emergency avoidance in Maryland, because of a UPS guy on the interstate, How the UPS truck did not flip is beyond me. Slammed on the brakes and made an abrupt left on the interstate. Tires along with the ABS kept me in control and got me out of the way of the UPS guy. For a second there I thought we were going to flip, but the truck performed perfectly. My wife said it was my quick actions, but I credit the truck and the new tires for 95% of that. I have had several close calls like this with my other tires and this would have been a tragedy had I not gotten the new ones before we left!!!!!

Ride was great, the tire shop put 35 all around and I rode about 1/4 ofthe way there on that, but decided to bump up the front to 40. That made all the difference in the world. You could obviously tell the front was riding on the outer part of the tires too much before the increase. The ride is a little firmer than the other tires, but the stiffer sidewall of the LT tires make handling crisper. Makes the truck feel a little more nimble, and you don't feel like the sidewalls fo the tires are folding over in a turn.

Traction in mud was good, but I didn't really get to check that out. I had to turn around in a field on one of the interstate detours b/c I missed the turn. I made sure I hit every mud hole I could in the part of the field I used. No 4wd used and very little slippage, now these are not mudders but I was impressed. I will get in the mud around here later this month.

Overall I am in love with these tires. I have always been a Cooper fan, and my last set of AT on my other truck lasted 3 years. I plan on getting that out of these 700 mounted balanced road hazard, and aligned. No rubbing with a slight T bar crank, but I think it would have fit w/o the crank.

I would recommend these tires to anyone, not to mention how cool it was to look at the side wall and see that each tire is rated for something like 3000 pounds of weight per tire!!!!! I would definatly run at least 40 maybe 45 PSI per tire in the front and between 35 and 40 in the rear.

If you get the Cooper Discoverers do not get the AT model, they wear down too fast in the middle, the ATR was a redisgn to prevent that. What ever you do, do not get the AST they are the P tire, they wear down in a year and make you truck feel like you are steering an elephant!!! I had the hard steering problem in parking lots even after a steering box change, that disappeard with the new tires, and these are even wider than the others I had.

Get the Cooper Discoverers you will pay less and enjoy them just as much!

2003yukonxl2500 · October 14, 2005

My vote would be for 285/70/17's Toyo Open Country's from Les Schwab

redvett · October 14, 2005

I look at new tires as if it does not give me as good a mileage as the OEM then they are not very good tires. The MFR's put a real neutral tire on our vehicles and probably 98% of the owners dont need anything better.

sgiangregorio · October 14, 2005

So you got the Cooper Discoverer ATRs in a LT rating then, load range E? I am considering these for my Tahoe Z71. Either these or the Bridgestone Revos, but I think you confirmed my assumptions, that a P rating tire will roll more than an LT, which has a harder sidewall.

BRZ71 · October 15, 2005

Trust me, do not get the P tires. It is like I am driving a whole new truck. The P tires were way too mushy feeling, not to mention the load rating on them is far to low if you tow anything. I towed a fully loaded U haul trailer, plus the back of my truck loaded with stuff from my family's beach house in Pensacola before Ivan. Knowing what I know now, I shouldn't have put that much weight on those tires!!!

Load Range D 3305 lbs per tire (Per Cooper)

But I do see that the 17" are Load Range E for the 265 and D for the 285

OUMike · October 15, 2005

I actually gotta set of BFG Land Terrains. They are great tires. I got about 35k on mine and the wear is really even. They are a street tire with a more aggressive look to them. I spend virtually zero time off pavement so I couldn't really justfiy the ATs just for looks. You can get a set of Land Terrains in LT range for like 75-80 a pop at Walmart.

EDIT- I did some looking and it seems these tires are only found at Walmart. Apparently its popular for tire companies to rebadge tires with different names for different vendors. Anyhow..I been very happy with mine.

facn8me · October 15, 2005

I look at new tires as if it does not give me as good a mileage as the OEM then they are not very good tires. The MFR's put a real neutral tire on our vehicles and probably 98% of the owners dont need anything better.

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I'll kinda agree redvett but. The firestone's that came on my truck new were DANGEROUS. I don't care if they got 1 million miles. Scary scary scary in the wet. Barely move the truck in the snow. But hey they got good milage.

I went with nitto terra grapplers. great in the wet. Quiet on the highway. Work in sand. Look like a truck tire also. No snow yet. Seem to be wearing well but too new to tell. I expect 40-50k but we'll see.

Z71GUY · October 15, 2005

Well, I gotta recommend Bridgestone A/T Revo's.... I bought a set a few months ago. By far the best tire I've put on this truck to date. If I get the mileage that everyone seems to be getting, I'll never buy another tire.

JamesB · October 16, 2005

Well, I gotta recommend Bridgestone A/T Revo's.... I bought a set a few months ago. By far the best tire I've put on this truck to date. If I get the mileage that everyone seems to be getting, I'll never buy another tire.

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We will be replacing the factory Goodyears on my Wife's Tahoe with Revos in the next month or so... Love them on my truck and can't think of anything better for the 'hoe...

James.