CHALK TEST: Dynapro ATm at 16,000 miles

Not as many as I thought , 25 000kms

 

So, 15,500 miles... I bet they still look new (mine did)?

I took photos of my tires just now, I will post in a few seconds...

 

Ran at 38 psi first year (when brand new tried 32 psi for a couple days, but was way squishy), then 35 psi after chalk test...

REAR:





FRONT (slightly more worn than rear, maybe will rotate one more time before replacing?):







Passenger side tires above... driver side looks the same.

 

So, what do you think, am I over-reacting to the amount of tread left, and I can go another 5,000 miles? I really can't afford new tires yet...

 

Those look fine to me, they still have the sipes in the tread blocks. Maybe think about new ones before next winter but you've got miles to go on what you've got now.
Edit- just realized you probably don't need to worry much about winter where you live.

 

Right,,, but this truck is combination work and fun. So the tread on them now may be good a little longer ... I don't trust it for off roading, except sand (where the smoother, the better.)

Thanks for the feedback.

 

I'm fairly certain these tires are the reason I was able to drive 300 miles in a blizzard last night and not get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Hardpack snow, ice, slush, powder...these things cut through it all no problems. My traction control didn't even come on once during the whole night. If my old Goodyears (not Duratracs) had been on the truck still, I would have ended up in the ditch or stranded at a rest stop.

I have liked these tires since putting them on, but last night made a believer out of me. These will be my 1st choice in an AT tire as default until I see something noticably better. I have put about 5,000 miles on them in 2 months. They're quieter than my Goodyears (for now), my ride is a ton better, and they grip like crazy. Even if they do get louder, that's a fine trade off for me considering what I'm gaining. I haven't normally noticed a difference in AT tires for my uses, but these things are awesome.

 

1/4" is still a decent amount of tread left! But, understanding that you're concerned about off road traction, you could probably sell those tires off to someone looking for a cheap set. Someone who doesn't off road could run them easily for another year.

 

Thanks... good idea Mike. Patrick, they sure are good in snow, and I hardly get to use them in it, here in SoCal!

 

Ay, David, or anyone familiar with the chalk test
While driving this AM, thinking my tires felt soft and planning to do this,
the thought occurred to me, that I've not read if this is done on cold tires or hot.
I always check pressure cold, but would think this might be done hot when chalk is wearing off.
Maybe not as relevant to those in the warmer climates
I'll be waiting to be enlightened, thanks.


CC

 

The chalk wearing off from driving a hundred or so feet has to do with rubber contacting the asphalt, so obviously on a dry day, dry pavement. Since I am near the ocean in San Diego County, you can't find a day too hot or too cold most of the year (no tornadoes or hurricanes either, and yes I will take an earthquake any day over those but we never, hardly ever have those, and none that do any damage... yet!!).

 

Thanks for the reply, but I think I need to rephrase my question
I'm questioning the tire temperature not the atmosphere's temperature.
And I understand the chalk wearing from contact.
I have always checked my tire pressure when they are cold after sitting for hours.
If I then hit the highway at 70mph for 10 miles, the tire pressure increases as the heated air inside expands.
When the heated tire expands, the center of the tread is pushed out.
So the heated tire would wear off more chalk (over 100 feet) in the center of the tread than a cold tire.
So my question was intended to find if you perform the chalk test on cold tires that have sat for hours,
or do you intentionally run the tire to heat it, therefore wearing off the chalk under heated tire conditions.
Heated tires are what is in contact with the asphault 99.9% if the time.
Have I answered my own question?


Thanks
CC

 

OK,,, sure I understand... If your tires are cold, and you set them at the factory 29 front/ 32 rear... then if you don't do the chalk test until later in the day, the tire pressure will be different!

So, either test them cold or test them warm... post what the tire pressure was, either way.

Either way, if your tire is wearing too much in the center, it means that 32 in the back and 29 in the front is too high measured cold, and 35 in back and and 32 in the front is too high measure hot... The number does not matter as long as you change up or down from that tire's number is (while the tire is still cold or still hot). Wearing in the center = too high... Wearing on the shoulders = too low.