Tire Question

bronco2454 · October 30, 2008

Ok I will admit I do not know much about tires. I am looking for a set for my 1998 gmc 1500 z71. I live in mn so I want something that is good in snow. I am looking at a set of m/ts right now they have very agressive looking tread. The guy told me they are made by interco which makes super swampers. He said they are however a radial tire so they will wear well on dry pavement as well. Is there any truth to this? Also I have heard of gas mileage loss but he also that because they are radials I will not get that as much.

2000DV4.8 · October 30, 2008

Every Interco tire I've seen, has had an extremely soft rubber compound, and wore really fast. If you do a lot of on-road driving, I'd stay away from any Interco tires.

I have the Mickey Thompson Baja MTZs, and they're a great tire (click the link in my sig to see my thread about them). Do well on the road for a mud tire, both on dry and wet pavement, they're wearing well (at this rate, I should get close approx. 40k out of them), and they are awesome in deep snow.

DofD · October 30, 2008

While I don't have any experience with those particular tires, what sort of uses are looking at for the tires? Mainly road driving, mainly off road, a mix? What sort of budget do you have for tires?

There are a number of threads on here regarding tires so a search should bring up some good info.

bronco2454 · October 30, 2008

I am looking for about 600-650. I do mainly on road but I do go off road sometimes and I need something that will get me good traction in the winter time. I do really like the look of the more aggressive tires.

2000DV4.8 · October 30, 2008

Check out the Cooper Discoverer STT, they're a very similar tire to the MTZ (the MTZs are actually made by cooper), but they should be a little cheaper.

Zembonez · October 30, 2008

I'd recommend http://www.tirerack.com

Go there and research your tires, read the reviews, and even buy right there. Their tire reviews and ratings are excellent & I've used them for many sets of tires with great results.

DofD · October 30, 2008

jhoff8487 · October 30, 2008

I second, or is it third?, the Tirerack reviews. I went through there and, dealing with Discount Tire too, found a set of tires that I'm really pretty happy with thus far. I sorted reviews and limited it only to Chevys and read through them for all the top 10 tires and then I went dealin' and came out with a set of Yokohama AT/S's for about 125 under normal cost from Discount. They've got a really nice aggressive look but will roll pretty smooth and not tank my gas mileage.

bronco2454 · October 31, 2008

Anymore information on those cooper stt tires? Can you buy those at tire rack I do not think I have ever seen tire rack have them?

bronco2454 · October 31, 2008

Cooper was a no go at tire rack. How about the cooper atr tire anyone try those. I know that they can be had for about 400-500 a set mounted and balanced around here. I had just two of them on a 90 gmc jimmy and they did good just never really tried them out in snow.

bronco2454 · November 1, 2008

Today I went to look at tires again at a different place. This guy suggested Goodyear Wrangler T/D tires for my truck. He said they are very good in snow and are 6 ply so they are what is needed for a truck. Anyone have anything to say about these tires? Also they only cost 488 and that is mounted balanced and disposal of the other tires. I do not like the tires on the truck now they are uniroyals from walmart but they do not look to be in good shape.

gm4yrs · November 2, 2008

The Goodyear Wrangler TD, were the stock GM tire, on the early 90's, Z-71's. It's only available in 265/75r16 size, the last time, I checked, and they are a great tire. In snow, it would cut right through it, and a good mileage tire too. Not alot of "siping lines" on it, so I do not know, how it would handle, on frozen icy roads. It hardly gets below 32*, where I live. Only seen snow, on mountain trips.

bronco2454 · November 3, 2008

They sound to be really good in the snow. Anyone else have experince with this tire? If it came on your gm from factory why did you take it off?

ujtruck · November 3, 2008

what about this, everyone over trierack saying its a amazing winter tire... and its cheap too.

Firestone WinterForce

http://www.tirerack.com/survey/SurveyComme...yes&place=0

I am looking for good winter tires, may be I would buy them.

95Sierra2500 · November 3, 2008

I've never seen a set of Goodyear Wranglers that were 'great' in the snow, only 'decent.'

The best tires I've ever had in the snow, hands-down, no comparison, were the 235/75/15 (range C) BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/KO's I put on my wife's Jimmy. They currently have 70,000 miles on them and look to be good for another 10-20k. They've been great in every situation I've ever been in and have never left me stuck.

When looking for tires for my truck, I wanted a similar design to the BFG's but without the price tag of 245/75-16's, load range E (would have been $650). I found the General Grabber AT 2's. Almost IDENTICAL tread pattern, about 2/3's the price (mounted/balanced came to $450), and an 80k mile treadlife warranty. So far (about 15,000 miles) they've worn pretty good, even with the alignment issues I had with the truck (basically had to rebuild the front suspension). The only concern I have with them is that, since the tread compound is a little softer than the BFG's, they will flatspot if you let them sit too long on a hard surface (concrete). However, a little driving gets them round again.

When it comes to truck tires, I believe that these two tire types are the best you can buy. Nothing I've ever driven with performs nearly as well.