Ode to a tire.

Ode to a tire.

We drove to Northern Nevada to prospect for gold.
I didn’t suspect my Tacoma would leave me cold.

Not so much the Taco, but the Goodyear Wrangler Adventures,
When both rears blew, it almost knocked out my dentures!

On a road called Imlay we hit a big bump,
the kind you feel right in your rump!

We quickly saw lights and warnings on the cluster,
we sprang into action with all the speed we could muster,

With Nascar Pit speed we made quality repairs,
we promptly sped off thinking we had no more cares…

Sitting around the campfire we chatted about tires,
And nervously dozed off hoping things didn’t get dire.

After a Trego Spring soak and an ice cold beer,
I returned to the truck to find another flat Goodyear.

A plug and some air and we headed on our way,
not yet knowing the Applegate Trail would bring total dismay!

Zipping down Jungo we heard a big whoosh,
And right at that moment my brain turned to mush.

A two inch long gash let out all the air,
I’m tellin’ ya’ now, it just isn’t fair!

Nine bunched up plugs wouldn’t hold back the air,
in this remote country four tires is a scare!

Found cell service and called tire shops for 200 miles,
The Winnemucca Wal-Mart brought warm, winning smiles!

We eagerly met a nice man called Chris,
as he reshod my steed I enjoyed total bliss!

Having four P-rated flat tires in less than 24 hours,
tells me the LT 10-pliers won’t leave me so sour!

Seriously.

 

Immediately thought of this.

 

Wow I've hammered on mine here in some really rough terrain here in AZ and no issues at all. They're at about 60% treadlife at 25k miles. Hit an old tore up culvert?

 

Of the eleven flats I've had, one was from a screw, one from a bicycle chain link, and the rest sharp rocks. The rocks have got me in the Eastern Sierra and Northern Nevada. I don't think the P-rated Wranglers have enough meat. And I was around 60-70% remaining tread life at 17k.

 

Two things come to mind, vehicle load and max tire load inflation as recommended on tire sidewall.

Carry on

 

Chris is THE MAN!

 

I've had hell with mine too. Rolling with 4 plugs now at the 20K mile mark. One nail and all of the rest were mesquite.

 

Mesquite huh, we see sage brush sidewall damage on our three axle water trucks and utility trucks.

 

Mesquite is a bitch here. I switched to BFGs about 15 years ago and haven't had any issues at all. Before switching, I used to have to run green slime in all my tires. Can't wait to get a set of BFGs on this truck, but these Goodyears have a lot of tread left.

 

That looks nasty! What load range BFG's will you run?

 

One more verse.....

And on a final note, I did not have to drive off a cliff,
avoiding my only recourse if I had a leaking diff.


J/K

Great limerick.

 

We have that plus cacti that make nails look soft.

 

I'm staying with the 16s, so either D or E I guess. Maybe they'll come out with a C Rated 265/75/16 before I need tires.

Here are what's available today for the KO2:

LT275/70R16/D 119 S 31.1" and 50.8lbs
LT265/75R16/E 123 R 31.6" and 53.6lbs

I'm also considering the Grabber X3's. I had General Grabbers on my last Toyota and liked them.
LT265/75R16/C 112/109Q 31.6" and 49.2lbs

 

It always cracks me up that you crow about these tires. Seems like we use our trucks in a similar manner. You are luckier than a 3-dicked dog to go 20K miles abusing these tires without a flat. I do like them on the highway and I think they're a damn decent tire. They just don't seem to hold up well to Texas and I think prickly pears/ mesquite are the reason. I drive the same places I've been driving for the last 15 years with NO flats, and I've had 4 in a single hunting season.

 

Way to go OP! I like the ode

Guys at work had to switch to e rated on their half ton work trucks for similar issues. Too many blow outs on their goodyear p rated tires.

I'm hoping for better luck

 

Personal opinion but P-rated tires don't belong on anything that goes offroad.

 

Guy in a new Tundra on factory tires (20" wheels!) met up with us for a trail ride southeast of the Lahontan Reservoir. 3 miles in, he had two flats. Northern Nevada can be tough on tires and even though I've never had a flat, I still carry two matching spares. KO2 LT265/75R16/E. Heavy as hell, tough as nails.

 

Dude have you been to Arizona? We have thornbrush and cacti here with jagged rock that makes Texas look tame. Prickly pear is weak. I mean you realize we have everything Texas has here in AZ...plus about 500 species of cacti that Texas doesn't have.