Dunlops almost killed me today. Little help pls...

I wanted the general at2 tires but it came down to price. I was able to get the coppers for 130 shipped to my tire. Also don't let some people get you down. This sight has a lot of good people that know a ton about Tacoma's.

 

Also you can do a lot with the dunlops I had them on my truck in my in avitar. Spent a lot of time in the mud and never got stuck.

 

Just to stir the pot.... The 2007 Ridgeline I had came from the factory with Michelin LTX M/S2 tires. They were great for the 30,000 miles I put on them.

 

I find The GrandTreks are ok for dry highway driving. They are probably better for Fuel economy because they aren't very tready.

After the first snowfall this year, I had trouble getting up a very small grade at the bottom of my street. Lots of spinning and noise, made it up, but wasn't very confident with tires. Immediately ordered a set of Blizzaks from Costco and had them installed on a set of CND tire steelys. When I left Costco, I tested them on the nearest snowy hill I could find. Was able to fly up the hill easy as pie, no fish tailing at all. (2 inches + of snow). Almost feels like I am driving a 4x4 in snow with my rwd 4 banger!

In my old zr2 blaze I ran the BFG long trails which in my opinion were an awesome all season snow + mud tire. I was not really into having 2 sets of tires for the Tacoma but the blizaks are very impressive. They make nice and stinky, loud burnout$ when you want to have some fun! :->

I suggest you keep the "dunflops" for sumer and invest in a good set of winters.

 

Well, I finally got the Dunlop AT20's off the truck. Got a decent deal on the General Tire Grabber AT/2's for $1000cdn installed, balanced and taxes in at Canadian Tire. I also managed to sell the Grandtreks for $500.00 to help offset the cost. (And I made sure to tell the people buying it not to run them as anything except a dedicated summer tire. I wouldn't want anyone else to make the same mistake I did and assume they were anything but a cheap all season tire, which they clearly are.)

What a difference in the Grabbers, absolutely night and day. They are super quiet too which I did not expect from such an aggressive tread. Plus they look awesome, which is an added bonus. Can't wait to get these things onto a dirt road and see what they can do there as well.

For anyone in the future who might happen across this thread and still not be convinced, go to Tire Rack.com and read the reviews there. You will see I am not alone in my thinking. People left, right and center are taking these tires off their trucks within a few thousand kms. That ought to tell you something right there.

Again I really appreciate all the great info guys, was quite overwhelming trying to figure out what to put on there but the suggestions pointed me in the right direction. You guys rock.

 

I go by Tirerack survey a fair amount for input, I'm considering duratrac's, snow performance in a AT/MT type is why.
But people pulling off tires at a few 1000s miles doesn't prove they are bad. It doesn't tell us anything, except they wanted to buy a tire of a certain look, or get a specific AT or MT possibly.
As a collection of buyers looking for a REASON to buy up to what they really want, they might try to think it proves the tire (AT20) is bad to justify buying up. I simply use them for what they do well enough at, spring/summer/fall ....winter, I had chains for them and never even needed them.
Yea it ranked, 50 or so. Instead of thinking it is bad , its not, understand the truth that it is merely only adequate...not PREMIUM.
So, obviously, other tires are better.
I drove the AT20 on ice first winter (I aired down a bit, I bet no one else aired down a few psi), none of the traction control... that doesn't make them good, they surely weren't as good as my winter set I have now, but they did damn well for a HIGHWAY asr ranked 50th.
The $600-800 set I could've spent to replace them early, I saved and did the usual group of mods.

 

When they say in their review "I pulled them off at 1000kms because I was hydroplaning all over the place" Then yes, it does tell us something.

Anyway, my opinion? They are crap and Toyota shouldn't put them on new trucks in Canada. Your opinion? They are fine and you would rather spend the money elsewhere. Opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one. And I can appreciate yours even though we disagree.

 

I drive mine on I-84 lots of dammed up water and never hydroplaned, that's in the twitchier reg cab too, we are 65mph speed limit here .

More on agreeing though, the important thing is people are actually seeing what alternatives they have and making reasonable choices to improve over what they have. nothing more irritating in the winter than seeing someone in sport tires block the road saying they're high performance. Happens every year here.

 

The AT20's are crap

 

QFT

 

I'm mostly curious on how there can be so much difference in experiences when its about the same rain buildups, same packed snow, same ice.
I wouldn't rank it as great to be sure, but certainly it hasn't done me any wrong in the elements, and I'm one to be suspicious of any tires ability until its determined.
I think we likely agree not to push our luck, n pick something better overall.

 

Glad we agree

 

I mean no offence by this and does not refer to you personally, but to answer your question, I think many people who say these tires are good have never had a really good tire.

Also, there are those who live in harsh, winter climates like mine, who actually consider driving all season tires in snow to be irresponsible behavior. Especially cheap all season tires. If someone is driving a non snow peak rated tire in snow and loses control and kills someone else, that could be considered negligent. It's not just about driving slower, its about not being able to respond properly to an emergency braking situation should it occur. For instance, in my case, under no circumstances should I have been driving on those tires, in those conditions when I hydroplaned. It was zero degrees C, with lots of water and slush, and it was irresponsible of me to be out there. I was lucky no one was hurt. A person MAY be able to "get by" driving those things on snow, but they may not. So why not use a tire rated for the proper conditions?

Say what you like about the AT20's on dry pavement or rain, but they are absolutely terrible in the snow. Period. Are they designed for snow? No. So they shouldn't be driven in it.

 

I've always had snow tires as a 2nd set since 87 , so I do know what I'nm saying in comparison to , likely over 30 set of tires on my trucks or work trucks where I ..actually plow.
Also I ski 2 orso time a month, lots of bad drivers, odd how the AT20s made it ok. As far as negligent if someone dies, true , I carry chains no matter what. Any slide without chain , might prove the driver failed their duty , premium or not.

i'm sorry you hydroplaned, I don't know what tire presure you were at and the variables, but I think you'd agree it rains like hell here, mine haven't. Odd.
fwiw ill show ya my snow tire, no better or worse than any other brand, im not a brand basher as some may be.


I will say in the end of all arguments before they ramp up. You do admit to being the one who had problems. Maybe consider the tires aren't fully responsible for your situations.

 

I've not only considered it, I have stated in this thread numerous times.

 

I think i'll just apologize, Dan. I'm certainly not out to ruffle things or point fingers.

I wonder I'm going p.t.s.d. on accidents. As of late, even in good weather, me and 1-2 other crew members go out and fix knocked down signs. Stop signs, School signs, ped signs on islands, scary crap.
I'd say (I hope) we actually are just coming to a same "improve on a tire" result.

 

Congrats on the new rubber! I have been looking at Grabbers, BFG KO's and Duratracs and am still on the fence so its nice to see you like the Grabbers.

On a side note did I see you on Kenmount Road at around 5pm today? I saw a truck like mine with new meats and after seeing your post am now wondering if it was you.