Buying New Tires

[Champy]

Ok - I've got 35k miles on my original General Ameritrac tires...P245/70R/17. I've shopped around and read the reviews and am looking to buy some new Firestone Destination AT's since I need the traction when driving through corn fields each weekend. Also I haul a 25' travel trailer occasionally (~4500lbs). Called the local tire shop for prices and the manager says I need to run LT245/70R/17 Transforce AT's.......which don't have the aggressive tread I wanted and cost another $200.

 

FYI - Set of 4 tires mounted = Destination AT $642; Transforce AT $842

 

Can I install the Destinations and safely use them? Thanks

 

 

PS

> 2007 GMC Sierra Crew Cab; 2WD; Short Bed

[jrrod2004]

Ok - I've got 35k miles on my original General Ameritrac tires...P245/70R/17. I've shopped around and read the reviews and am looking to buy some new Firestone Destination AT's since I need the traction when driving through corn fields each weekend. Also I haul a 25' travel trailer occasionally (~4500lbs). Called the local tire shop for prices and the manager says I need to run LT245/70R/17 Transforce AT's.......which don't have the aggressive tread I wanted and cost another $200.

 

FYI - Set of 4 tires mounted = Destination AT $642; Transforce AT $842

 

Can I install the Destinations and safely use them? Thanks

 

 

PS

> 2007 GMC Sierra Crew Cab; 2WD; Short Bed

 

yeah.

[hatfishr]

Ok - I've got 35k miles on my original General Ameritrac tires...P245/70R/17. I've shopped around and read the reviews and am looking to buy some new Firestone Destination AT's since I need the traction when driving through corn fields each weekend. Also I haul a 25' travel trailer occasionally (~4500lbs). Called the local tire shop for prices and the manager says I need to run LT245/70R/17 Transforce AT's.......which don't have the aggressive tread I wanted and cost another $200.

 

FYI - Set of 4 tires mounted = Destination AT $642; Transforce AT $842

 

Can I install the Destinations and safely use them? Thanks

 

 

PS

> 2007 GMC Sierra Crew Cab; 2WD; Short Bed

I'd go elsewhere for my tires. Mgr's just tryin' to make some extra $$$

[CapitalTruck]

Let's see, truck has been running for 35k on P tires, came with P tires, yeah, you want to take your business elsewhere. Do you want to do business with a outfit like that? I don't think so!

[Champy]

So basically the Destinations are good to go - right? Now I begin shopping for a straight-n-square dealer........

 

BTW - I can probably get a good price from Tire Rack, but would prefer to support local businesses and then also have local support (free rotations, etc...) in return.

[WilliamBos]

So basically the Destinations are good to go - right? Now I begin shopping for a straight-n-square dealer........

 

BTW - I can probably get a good price from Tire Rack, but would prefer to support local businesses and then also have local support (free rotations, etc...) in return.

 

That seems to be a hard thing now adays, a good dealer. Keep us posted.

 

Do you have any farmer friends?? If so ask them who they deal with, that is what we did, and found an excellent dealer because of it.

 

Try Costco or Sam's if all else fails.

If you want a cushy ride, get the Passenger tires, but if you plan on hauling, get LT.

[rodram]

Hi ... tire selection is a personal thing, and depends on how you drive, what you haul around, and your expectations from your tires....

 

.. your replacement Wilderness AT P-series tires will be "safe" to have on your truck as long as they meet the minimum tire size and load range requirements stated on your drivers door post or owners manual... your P245/70/17 tires are probably rated as 108S load range... if you have been happy with the tire performance and longevity, then you could stick with that size and load range

.. but a tire with a stiffer sidewall might just be what you are looking for if you sense any instability in the ride and/or for when you are hauling your trailer.... the LT's will provide a stiffer ride, stiffer sidewalls, and the Transforce AT,s are available in 6-ply and 10-ply grades. (I am no Firestone fan, so don't take this as a sales pitch...)

.. $200 premium for the upgrade seems steep as the price difference at tirerack from the Destination AT P-series to the Transforce AT 6-plys is only $16 each

 

Personally, I have a truck to use as a truck, to be able to load it up and pull a trailer with no hesitation about capacity or stability.... so I have LT (8-ply) tires on mine .... and I would strongly recommend looking at TOYO Open Country AT (whether you go P-series or LT-series)

[Brad92]

I would actually go up to a 265/70/16. Thats what I have on my truck. It make it look like a real truck. IMO, GM vehicles usually look like they have undersized tires.

[Spurshot]

My preference is for a load range E tire on my trucks. That goes for my 2500 or my 1500, even though my 1500 still has the stock "P" tires. The "P" type tires have given me terrible protection from flats even in easy going off road useage. They all look like crap if they have flats, trust me. I'd highly recommend a D or E load range for any off road use simply for the puncture protection. Others may have different experience.

 

My 2500 currently has Firestone Destination M/T tires which are very aggressive treads. Prior to that, the same truck had 3 sets of Firestone Wilderness A/T tires that gave about 65,000 miles a set. They discontiued that tire that had fairly aggressive tread for an A/T so I went with the other Firestone that had an aggressive tread.

[Champy]

Well I 've been looking at both the Firestone Destination AT's and was also considering the Toyo Open Country ATs as well because the tread patterns seemed like they would be more capable of getting me across soft fields. The stock Generals I currently have just load up with the slightest mud and are useless. I don't want to go totally with an M/T tire because probably 85% of my driving is on paved roads, but each weekend I need to drive through the fields to get to our camp as well as through our Xmas tree farm (my 2nd career).

 

The Transforce AT's did not seem to have as much open tread for getting through the fields.....any opinions? BTW....load ratings on the Transforce AT © is the same as the Destination AT's....2205lbs... It sure would be nice to test drive a set first..

 

Also.....truck spec sticker recommends P245/70R/17 tires. What is the impact of going to an LT245 or even possibly a P265?

[Brad92]

Well I 've been looking at both the Firestone Destination AT's and was also considering the Toyo Open Country ATs as well because the tread patterns seemed like they would be more capable of getting me across soft fields. The stock Generals I currently have just load up with the slightest mud and are useless. I don't want to go totally with an M/T tire because probably 85% of my driving is on paved roads, but each weekend I need to drive through the fields to get to our camp as well as through our Xmas tree farm (my 2nd career).

 

The Transforce AT's did not seem to have as much open tread for getting through the fields.....any opinions? BTW....load ratings on the Transforce AT © is the same as the Destination AT's....2205lbs... It sure would be nice to test drive a set first..

 

Also.....truck spec sticker recommends P245/70R/17 tires. What is the impact of going to an LT245 or even possibly a P265?

 

There really isn't any impact that I noticed. The speedometer is barely off. Gas mileage is the same. But the truck looks way better.

[04CCSO]

Where are you located and is there a COSTCO nearby? Great prices, lifetime rotation, balance, road hazard, free flat repair, new stems, and nitrogen fill.

[svensk]

The line has been blurred between P rated tires and C range LT's. Personally, I don't find comfort in the thought that those tires also come stock on whimpy XUV's and mini SUV's.

You can spend some money and get some nice Michelin LTX M/S tires that will hold up to Hell and back yet not make your ride suffer any.

[seamonster]

The LT's are the way to go, I had P rated on my truck and switched to Lt's and it added allot of stability

when towing my travel trailer. Check out Cooper tires they are reasonable and of good quality.

[ckillls]

my truck had 265's on it the first thing i did was go get bf gr km2's 285/70/17 i cant tell the diff rides fine lil noise but not bad