Pavement pounding Tacoma seeks mountain goat like traction year round.

Alright, looking for a new set of tires - and I'm torn. I'm curious to hear about your experience with these tires (although I don't expect to hear much about the Nokian tires).

Equipment: 2008 4Dr TRD Sport taco
Current Millage: 38,500 miles
Current Tire: Dunlop AT20 (Stock)
Tire Size: 265/65R17
Budget: $1k USD

Goal: All Season radial tire with 45k< mile tread life expectancy.
Bonus: Severe Service Rating in Snow/Ice

Terrain Covered: 75% Highway, 25% side roads/ back roads/ local.
Area Climate: North Eastern United States
Driving Style: Highly "Spirited" Year round.


Winner-


-------
Initial Review
-------

Some initial thoughts, The WRg2 is considered an All-Weather, All Season tire - I've driven on Nokian tires on some rough roads and ice cap up in Greenland, and I can say they seem to survive most any abuse. The Fortura Triple treads have gotten some mixed reviews, range from hot to cold - the tread design looks like it would do well but I'm concerned with its tread compound and "twitchy" handling characteristics which I've read some about. The Wranglers, well I had a set of the original wranglers on a 89 GMC Jimmy (first car as a kid) and My brother and I were ruthless with that thing year round, running over curbs at 40 mpg and just pointing the thing in the woods and giving it the lead food those tires held up - but I do most my driving on the pavement no adays and I'm looking for something with the footing of a mountain goat year round, I will be demanding on my tires in every season. I've only heard good things about the Bridgstones - Seams like the tire everyone is recommending. So how about it - the good, bad, and ugly (and I'm not talking about my spelling) - Trying to find the ultimate year round tire for my pavement pounding tacoma.

------
UPDATE Oct 12, 2010
------

 

the bottom two look like they are strictly snow and ice tires and wouldn't last long on bare pavement. Have you looked at the Hankook Dynapro AT/Ms?

 

You cant go wrong with revo great traction and ride
50.000 mile

 

I like my Revo IIs

 

If they've kept the same quality as the Revo's they are your winner, high mileage, good on road manners, handles off-road excurtions well, and they just can't be beat for snow packed roads with icey spots. They were awsome on my 1st gen Taco
If my truck was still my DD then they would be on it!!

 

I removed the Hakkapelitta R as it was too much a winter tire, the WRg2 does look all winter but from what I have read it is considered an all season tire. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/tires/performance-all-season-tire-ratings/models/overview/nokian-wr-g2-99026508.htm

It's been hard to find out tread life expectancy, it got a "450" but who knows if that was tested against a true all season or winter tire. Starting to wonder if having 2 sets of tires is worth it? Lots of pros/cons to both sides.

Dex, those hankooks look too off-road for what im looking for, was a time that those would fit the bill.

And as I suspected, a ton of votes for those revo's - they do seem to have the hype, nothing but good things I've read about those. And as far as price goes, right in range with the rest of them.

If you compare the Triple Tread to the WRg2 - then you will see that both tires are very heavily sipped - According to Tire rack the Triple Treads have excellent tread life expectancy so my thoughts on heavily sipped tires having a significantly shorter life span must be missing a key ingredient (or at the very least is not a major contributing factor when compared to Tread design, compound, and tire construction).

 

I'm having the same debate (no surprise since we are both in upstate NY). I've been leaning towards the silent armor or revo 2s personally. Duratracs are awesome tires too, just not willing to loose mpg.

 

I drive alot of highway miles myself and have been looking at different tires. I've been leaning towards these.

http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/geolandar_ats.aspx

or more of a highway tire

http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/geolandar_hts.aspx

 

I fixed my profile, it was a bit out of date. I was in Little Rock finishing up Flight Engineer school there. Damn glad to be home in the Northeast!

I do not want to lose any fuel efficiency, Another draw to the Nokian was its low rolling resistance which I found interesting due to it's high traction design. I was starting to lean toward the Wranglers myself remembering how they held up, then I begin to think about the tires we run on the Hilux's up in Greenland - I can attest to those tires having some amazing traction in the dry and the wet.

Gunner, thanks for the input on the Geolanders, I have not read or heard much about these tires but I will read up on them.

I am going to add to the list above in my first post tires that have been suggested that fit what I am looking for with specific details to include ratings, tread life expectancy, cost, and warranty.

Also, thinking about going up to the 265/70R17 size (so about an inch larger overall diameter) to fill the wheel wells up and thinking about getting the leaf spring tsb/billys up front for a 1-1/2 inch stretch. I towed a boat the other day and was surprised at how low my rear end was to the ground.

 

I know people have good things to say about these, but mine sucked. Not doing that again.

 

I have had the Revo's on every truck i have owned, Ice and snow is incomparable. I absolutely love my Revo's.

 

Revo II's!

 

How do they do in sand?

 

i have the gy triple treads on my truck and love them. Just put the silent armors on my gf's truck, and so far she likes them.

 

Have you thought about Michelin MS2's? They get great ratings and are within your budget? I think that's what I'm going to go with next time.

 

No sand in Montana, can't comment on sand traction.

 

So here is what I did, I finished doing a ton of research (more research than any human should do) and concluded that:

A) the revo 2 is by far one of the most popular tire based on responses from this forum (and several other forums).

B)the majority of people who have the wranglers or the GY TT's like their tires, and realize the short comings of every all-terrain highway tire, there has to be sacrifices to some areas of performance to get a true "all season" tire.

C) There is little talk or experience with Nokian tire on the tacoma - and as such (and the fact that I got one heck of a deal after all my phone calls) has led me to...

D) I choose to go with the Nokian WRg2 All Weather tires in 265/70R17

There will be a link to a new thread that will include before, and after pictures with the plan to do a full on review this winter with regular updates that will continue at least a year and cover every season and weather condition.

I want to thank all for the input - and advice, but I would like to Boldly go - where no tacoma enthusiast has gone before.

Along with the tires, I'm planning on going Billstein 5100's all around in the comming months.

WooHoo - New Toys!!

 

So how are the Nokian WRG2 holding up? I looked at the same set over a year ago, but didn't pull the trigger.

 

1k mile review!

I'm convinced the Nokians actually bend the laws of physics, and its not the tire rolling over the road rather the tire pulling the earth under the truck while the truck stays stationary. I had the fortune (misfortune?) of having almost a week of solid torrential rain up here in the North East and these tires just held on to the road in the wet, hitting deep rutted roads with standing water at speed and taking turns much to fast on freshly paved corners in the very wet with no surprises. The tires are holding up well, and I've been maintaining a pressure of 38 Psi. I installed a mild lift over the weekend and had an alignment done. These things track straight and balanced well.

I have noticed a slight decrease in fuel economy but it's probably 50/50, error induced by the slightly larger tire diameter, and the rest probably the grippy tire compound/design.

The tires are all function, they don't look bad, but they certainly don't give you that Tough off-road look. So for that I have to put that in as a negative. When I bought the tires I wasn't lifted, they still look good, but if I would have lifted first, I would have probably gone with a slightly larger and more aggressive looking tire just to compliment the look.

Overall, the primary job of the tire is to grip the road, absorb road "noise", and connect the vehicle to terra firma - these tires appear to deliver with excellent traction in the dry, and the wet to very wet. (snow untested as of now). If you're looking for an All-season "All Weather" tire, and performance over looks is your priority, then you should definitely take a look at these tires.

 

Are the Nokians the tires shown mounted on your truck in your Photo Gallery? Very nice looking truck.