Tire Shopping (2007 Tacoma Dbl Cab)

That's one of the reasons I held off and went Duratrac instead, more sipings. If the ST Maxx is redone, that will be hard to beat.

 

How are the duratrac's in the rain? i was told they sux?

 

Hmm interesting. I thought they were trying to avoid siping the outer lugs because they are the most prone to chunking and least responsible for wet/icy traction.

 

Give me a second i will pull up a picture.

 

This is an old article (from a local news site), I remember reading it when I was having issues. Schwab was a huge sipe pusher...

http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4168146.html

I didn't experience chunking issues until my tires would get to be about 50% worn or so, the rubber around the sipes would begin to pull apart with occasional chunking. They looked like a flower blossoming lol, that's the best way I can explain it. At first all the sipes were tight and clean, after time they would spread out and chunk.

 

interesting reading.

BN Jul 17, 2013
I am a ex employee of Les Schwab. I worked for them for 11 years. The reason these tire stores readily promote tire siping is they know that the tires actually wear out faster when siped, thus letting them sell more tires. Let's think about this for a minute. Tire manufacturers spend millions of dollars on cutting and testing tread designs, and now your going to let some tire guy cut up your brand new tires because he says your car will ride and stop better if you do, which he tells you because Corporate told him to. He's done no testing. He hasn't spent a dime to learn this information. Let me tell you a little secret. If for some reason this tire has a defect and Blows causing an accident with significant damage or even loss of life, the tire manufacturer will not be liable and that tire guy. Well he's going to argue that you wanted your tires siped, and you signed the receipt saying so. Just say no to siping.

 

I think they're good, really good so far. I don't see how they could suck with all the siping, lots of contact points. I could see if people go from a less aggressive AT, michelin ltx or cooper at3, or an all season they could say it's worse but that's to be expected imo. The more aggressive you go the less road performance you get.

 

I have had the duratrax for about 25000 miles and the first yr traction was awesome in all conditions. The second season not as much, there are at about 50% and the compound is harder and dosnt due as good as the first 50%. But all in all the due just as good as or better then most tires I have used and others people s I have wheeled with. Sipes help and aftermarket sipes help but plan on buying tires sooner. My experience with sipping was good for ice and snow but not recommend if you wheel off road in gravel and rocks. So good for a winter set but not an all season set.

 

Yeah I sure hope they come up with a better design with lots more siping... I think it will help it lots....

 

I hope they do something different with sidewall tread on the ST Maxx. I think they are probably great tires. I've had good service out of STTs, but I hate the look of the ST Maxx.