The Lair

Those are 285/75/17s.. (34s). The only reason I’m not on 255s anymore. I never wanted 35s and these 34s were again a price I couldn’t pass up for freshys. Thanx @TNT4X4

 

Yeah, it was more just to give me an idea of tread pattern comparison.

 

Tread for sure ST Maxx > Duratracs

They are stiffer than average even aired down but that stiffness and weight of the tire all comes from the strength of the tire..

 

I noticed that weigh! The 255 weighs about the same as a 285 Duratrac. Although the Duratracs have a reputation for a weak sidewall. Fortunately no issues for me though yet.

 

I have only sliced one of my duratracs and it didn't get past the outside rubber. Never knew I cut it until someone else pointed it out. Made a 15 hr round trip and a weekend full of wheeling with it like that. II wheel mine hard and use the sidewalls all the time on shale rock down here.

 

Oh you should see my sidewalls. 8 years of wheeling on them have given them plenty of "character" marks. A reason why it's hard to leave the Duratracs behind.
But the price difference is pretty significant.

 

Wait, you can't possibly have had the same tires 8 years right?! Meaning the same set of tires?

 

Same set. The truck doesn't get much milage as it's not my daily driver. Probably have 20k on the Duratracs. I will be replacing due to age not wear.

 

Holy Shit!! 20k miles in 8 years!? Well I can respect a hard 8 years and 20k miles. I have 15k on mine in just over a year. And it's not my DD. Of course my commute is 88 miles round trip so when I do drive it it is 400 + miles a week. Hmmmm, I might have to reconsider my choice when the time comes. I guess I just got a bad batch.........would love to hear what you think at 30k miles but I will have a new truck in 4 years so it wont matter.

JK.

 

That's true they aren't cheap that's for sure! Yeah at that age they are definitely ready to be replaced. I think I'll be going with a different AT when these wear out.

 

The Ridge Grapplers are a good tire. Seems a lot of guys like the Cooper ST Maxx though.

 

Damn thats it I've put like 20k on mine in the past 10 months since I've owned them. DD and lots of wheeling and trips. Still holding up great. Worn a few 32s. Probably still got 2/3-3/4 of the tread left.

 

Not a fan of the ridge grapplers I'd take the Maxx over them any day!

 

Do you get much snow down there Skip? I liked them in the Maryland snow with my Tundra and the 4Runner.

 

We had a few days of snow and by far the duratracs have been the best snow tire I've ever owned. I've had the original KOs and some other brand ATs. No experience with the Maxx or toyo or nitto ats in the snow.

 

Yea, I think they are an acquired taste. I do think though the longer they are out the more people will like them. Unless we all find out they are for shit once they get past a certain amount of miles.

I wish the warranty was longer on the hybrid tires.

 

Exactly how I felt with them. Now the Nittos did excellent for me in the snow too. The first season. Never loaded up like the BFGs I ran a long time ago. Of course, the DTs don't load up either.

I've never had the Coopers or Toyo's. But I've had a couple others.

 

The thing about st maxx that makes them so good for wheeling is their triple reinforced sidewall. Which also makes them heavy. That and their tread pattern is extremely grippy. @ADV4R might not remember, but at rausch, he was spotting me through a tight fit, and my back right tire was up on a rock. It only had about an inch of tread on the rock, so it easily could've slipped and caused me to drop awkwardly and possibly damage something, but it didnt.

 

Is it feasable to run a 255 on a 9 inch rim??

 

Haha I totally remember that! That was super impressive