Recommend me a tire?

So I've been stuck with my H/T Dunlops that came on it when I bought my truck for quite some time now, and because they have too much tread left to justify selling them or replacing them in my book. But now their tread life is coming to an end and I'm curious as to what you guys think would suit my needs best. During the summer, my tires almost never leave pavement say for maybe occasionally messing around with some friends offroad. During the summer I drive maybe 300-500 miles a week. However during the winter my driving habits change. I work at a museum and when it closes for winter I go to work as a snowboard instructor and find myself often in snow (as one might expect haha). To prevent getting caught behind a minivan going 5 mph up the whole mountain I take the back way up the mountain (its also fun as hell ). The road is unpaved and untreated. Last season the Dunlops struggled for traction quite a bit there. So in short my driving is mixed based on the seasons summer is 95% pavement and in winter a big portion of my commute is up an unpaved road to a ski slope. So I'd love to hear some opinions that would help me decide on what to buy!
Thanks for reading
~Bagel

 

If the OEM tires functioned, you should look at Firestone Destination LE 2. They are much better and about the same price as the OEMs (or less). Some of my friends have them on their Trucks and SUV's they liked them.

 

Can't go wrong with Michelin LTX MS2. I have a set on my Tacoma. I had a set of the first generation of this tire (LTX MS) on my last truck. Rotated them every time I changed my oil and they lasted just over six years.

 

With those wildly different habits, I think you're going to be far better off getting a highway tire (for which I can offer really no suggestions), or one of the less aggressive AT tires, and then finding a cheaper set of used wheels and putting studded winter tires on them.

 

I would check into Cooper ATP's. Our driving conditions are very similar and I am very satisfied with the Coopers.

 

+1

If I was in this situation, I'd get a new set of summer/highway tires and, when the season comes, a separate set of dedicated winter tires.

Considering the mileage you do in the summer, there's a good chance a good set of "all season" tires wont last long anyways.

 

Hankook DynaPro ATM's are working great for me.

 

Hankook DynaPro ATMs aren't well known, but good ratings. Not as expensive as the GY DuraTrac, but I couldn't resist. Good tire if you have the money.

 

I think a less aggressive all terrain may be the answer, I was thinking something along the lines of Firestone's Destination A/T or Michelin's A/T. On the other hand I've heard that General Grabber AT2s are really good in snow, anyone care to validate that for me?

 

I had absolutely no issues with my AT2s in snow this winter. A few times I drove to work in 12+ inches on unpaved highway @ 50mph. HOWEVER lateral traction could be better. They're not so good on ice unless studded.

 

Overland Journal did a all terrain tire comparison and judged the Cooper Discoverer AT3 to be both the editor's choice and best value. They didn't include any snow tests, but I have heard they are also excellent in the snow. The Cooper ATP is a similar tire sold exclusively by Discount Tire and would also be worth a look. The 235/85-16 AT3 is what I'm planning on putting on my truck before next winter.

Unfortunately they are not severe weather tested so they lack the magic snowflake on the sidewall. If you need something with this rating the Goodyear Duratrac would be my next choice. I recommend Discount Tire to everybody. They have always taken care of me and their prices are pretty reasonable, too.

 

agree with others - two sets of tires/wheels

245 / 75 /16 michelin ms2

and

dedicated studded winter tires.

I put on the michelin ms2 a couple of weeks ago - my mpg jumped from 20 to 21 hwy instantly. lighter, smoother, narrower tire can't hurt mpg's. They look fine to boot ...

 

I've had the Michelin LTX M/S2's on two Tacoma's now. I can't say enough about how much I like them...

 

I'm trying to stay away from the dedicated studs because a big part of my drive to the resort is on the highway, and I'm still driving around 300 miles a week, possibly more this winter. So that'd be why I'm thinking of a less aggressive all terrain.

 

toyo at II or cooper at3

 

I wouldn't let that decide me ... decent driving habits - no jack rabbit starts and hard cornering - and studs will last a long time even on the highway. If your still in doubt, at least get a set of siped, studless winter tires. Siped tires are just as good in all but a few situations and better for breaking on smooth hardtop.

Because of TW I have done a fair amount of tire research and came to the conclusion for mpg that light, narrow tires are the best for the Taco. Local tire shop gave me grief for going 245/75/16 6ply dedicated winter tires (they wanted to put me in a ten ply) - but the studs were 20#'s less than the studded hankooks I had the year before. I wanted 235's or even 225's for a winter tire, but in 6 ply it wasn't happening...

AVG mpg for the winter was a hair over 18 - call it 18 mpg to be safe. We put around 7000 miles on the studs with a small amount of wear. I could get you the exact wear numbers/miles if you want...

On personal vehicles I expect to get 3-4 years out of a set... on work pickups (heavy, loaded, and driven hard) I get 2 years.



rc

 

Still deciding to stay away from he studded tires as I have snow chains for days where it is realy bad. Did a little more thought and have (pretty much decided) on Hankook DynaPro ATM's they appear to be not too aggressive and they look good which while it may seem shallow is a concern of mine . That being said I've always run Michelin's in the past but never had any experience with their all terrain. And the Firestone all terrain isn't far behind seeing as it is quite light compared to other all terrains. I haven't found any reviews saying which of those is best in the snow, but if one of those was just genrally kick ass in the snow that'd probably be what I'd pick. So my biggest concerns are still not killing my MPG and doing well in snow. Again one more tire I am considering is the DuraTrac, I've heard it does amazing in snow and is fairly light for how aggressive it looks. I'd just be concerned by how much those would drop my mpg.

 

After doing a little more research I have definitively decided on Goodyear's new Adventure A/T with Kevlar. Seems to be a non aggressive fairly light all terrain that does excellent in the snow and ice. Also with a 60,000 mile warranty it seems hard to beat. I'll be sure to follow up with a review of how it does highway and offroad alike.

 

sounds like a good choice
is the 245/75/16 a 6 ply? or 10 ply...

 

Check the weight on the goodyear tires,if I remember rite,they might be much heavier then stock
How about the Yokohama Geolander ats,I just ordered some. I will get some pics up after they arrive