Best tires for spirited pavement driving

Hey all, been searching the web and forums for suggested tires for spirited city and highway driving. I run country roads, and have worn out the stock tires pretty quickly. Not terribly concerned with how long tires last but would appreciate installing tires that corner better, with solid steering response, and better cornering and braking would be nice too. These will be summer tires only. in searching, I am leaning toward something like Michelin pilot sport 4 suv, or Conti extreme Contact Sport or Bridgestone Potenza sport tires, but none of these are available in stock size of 265/65r17. This truck is never off-road, except at construction sites.

Any recommendations on tires to fit 17in wheels, that emphasize dry and wet handling on pavement? Does not necessarily need to be exact stock size.

 

i would take a look at the yokohama geolander ht and the continental terrain contact ht.

 

@Discount Tire might help

@Torspd probably has thoughts

Looking in the X runner or Street trucks forums might give some clues too.

While tires can certainly improve grip, they won't lower COG or modify the suspension, so don't expect magic.

 

Toyo open country at3

 

I got “Better cornering” after I upgraded the front coil springs from stock (~550 lbs) to 600 lbs. Also went with Bilstein’s 6112’s.

 

good idea!, and no miracles expected, but would like to avoid getting any tire that will be slow to respond to steering, or allow any wallowing (not sure if there is a better word). Tires a expensive and a bit inconvenient to change, so hoping to get enough advice and research. for a one and done purchase.

 

While not a summer or performance tire per se, my Michelin Defenders are quite enjoyable on my truck, and many others here have them as well.

 

Michelin Defenders are really good tires. I had them on my LX570 and will probably get them when my Land Cruiser needs tires. There is a lot of discussion on the IH8MUD forum about them and I think the consensus is that they are about the best all round tire.

 

We would second the recommendation for the all new Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2. It now carries a load index of 116 with an Extra Load reinforced sidewall and 3-D sipes which lock together during cornering maneuvers, as well as braking and accelerating, stabilizing the tread blocks for precise steering control.

 

Anyone know if the Michelin Defender LTS A/T2 is quieter than the M/S2? Both have exceptional ratings, and the M/S2 has higher ratings than the A/T2 does, but not sure if that might just be becasue it is newer. reading the abundance of owner reviews, seems cannot go wrong with either one. I think I have run the A/T version on a Grand Cheerokee, and thought they were fantastic. with reading more than 100 reviews, I am sold on the Michelin Defender, just need to decide on the A/T or the M/S.

 

I've never ran the at2 michelins. I;ve run several sets of the ms2 michelins from Costco and they always dry rot way before I can get anywhere close to the advertised mileage. Even had one tread separate causing the tire to blow out on the freeway in the middle of the desert. That was no fun.

Bought Toyo open country at3's last year and have been happy with them.

 

The All Terrain A/T2 has more void between the tread blocks and stands to be more noisy than the LTX M/S2.

A/T


LTX M/S

 

I think they now make p zeros for truck applications.

 

There are many different P zero tires, but I don't seem to find any for my truck. Not sure if it is load rating or size, too many options for me sort it out, but certainly not for this truck according to Tire Rack.

I think I am settled on the Michelin MS2 (Just noticed and corrected this error; meant M+S2, not AT2 5/19), the reviews have turned my head; many say they are quiet, and several claim great spirited pavement driving, one even says like on rails compared to their previous tires.

I suspect I would love the P Zero's, until I wore them bald in less than 30k mi. That is my biggest complaint with the stock toyo's; they handle good enough, but all 4 will be bald by 30k mi. Also have hope that new tires are quieter. These are silent on smooth pavement, but old pavement or concrete seem very loud.

 

I went with Continental Terrain Contact A/T. Highly rated and also super smooth on the road. They are up there with the Michelin except on the cost. You'll get less mileage out of them. Super quiet. The next tires I get will be the same.