Author Topic: Tire Suggestions (Read 2719 times)

CmdrEd · « **on:** May 25, 2009, 08:44:24 PM »

So, I'm driving home from West Lafayette Saturday with a load of furniture on the back, heading east on I74 and my rear tire blows out. Being the first time to have a actual blow out, I was a little nervous.

Navigating the Av to the side of the road, in the pouring rain I might add. My wife and I began the extremely enjoyable task for changing the tire in the rain with the parade of Indy 500 traffic whizzing by - loads of laughs.

My tires were reaching the end of their life anyway but I was hoping to make it until I could afford a set of new 20's. That is not possible now so I will need to stick with the stock rims. I'm looking for tire recommendations from those that have tried other tires besides the oem's. What is the best tire to go with? I thought about going with another set of Goodyear Wranglers since I got nearly 65,000 miles out of them but I really didn't like the way they handled in rain, they slipped really easy. What do you folks recommend?

Also, it appears that my TPMS sensor for that rim might be messed up. The computer does not report the tire as low, only that there is a problem with the system. Any one seen this before? Will I need a new sensor?

What do you think?

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2009, 09:44:23 PM »

I can't help you with the tpms but I will vouch for my Cooper Discoverer HT's. It more of a highway tread but I've got 4x4 so I've never bothered with a meatier tread on any of my 4x4's that I've had. They're quiet and provide good traction in any kind of weather. Also, 20k miles on them and they are wearing nicely. I got mine for under $600 installed for 17's.

MyBigToy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2009, 09:52:36 PM »

I've got a new set of Hankook Ventus RH06's that I'm very impressed with so far. They are M+S rated and are XL (extra load) rated. That said, they are a street tire, not an all-terrain. Mine are 275/55/20 and they grip very well so far, even with the extra power from the supercharger. They have a 50K mile warranty. Edit: Since OBB posted the price on his tires I thought I'd add that I have $640 in mine out the door with new valve stems, road hazard warranty, and lifetime Road-Force balance/rotate.

If you are looking for an all-terrain it's hard to go wrong with a Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo. That was my second choice but I decided to give the Hankooks a try since the Bridgestones were $280 more than the Hankooks and had the same 50K mile warranty. Nitto Terragrapplers are also rated very well and I've seen several Av folks recommend them.

chevyfan · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2009, 10:18:36 PM »

Does anybody know what the biggest A/T tire is that will fit on stock height and rim? I was thinking of like a 31x10.50 or similar.

MyBigToy · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2009, 06:12:48 AM »

Quote from: chevyfan on May 25, 2009, 10:18:36 PM

Does anybody know what the biggest A/T tire is that will fit on stock height and rim? I was thinking of like a 31x10.50 or similar.

I know a 285/70/17 will fit and it's almost a 33" tire. That's about as big as you can go on a stock truck and even then you'll need to tweak the torsion bars on the front - unless you have an '07 or newer and then you will have to add front spacers.

Donnie1 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2009, 12:55:22 PM »

I have ran nothing but the Bridgestone Dueler's and Revo's on all our vehicles. Just a personal choice I guess. I like the handling on/off road, on snow/ice and in the rain.

The TPMS is probably reading that way because the rim is not on the truck. Your sensors are down by the tires I do believe.

I know that if you rotate your tires it will read the pressure of the tire that was in that spot/ for example: if you put the right front tire on the lleft rear, until you reset the system it will still show the pressure for the tire that was there.

Did it bend your rim? If not I don't think your sensor would have been messed up but you never know.

CmdrEd · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2009, 02:42:17 PM »

Anybody heard of or used these?
Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61
http://www.kumhousa.com/Tire.aspx?id=c205bde8-f7ff-4e90-82f1-4b22403cf2eb&cat=25

CmdrEd · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2009, 02:59:58 PM »

Quote from: Donnie1 on May 26, 2009, 12:55:22 PM

Did it bend your rim? If not I don't think your sensor would have been messed up but you never know.

I don't think the rim is bent but after closer inspection, it looks like the back side of the monitor is broke. - Bummer

Donnie1 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2009, 03:11:48 PM »

Quote from: CmdrEd on May 26, 2009, 02:59:58 PM

I don't think the rim is bent but after closer inspection, it looks like the back side of the monitor is broke. - Bummer

I think you can get those on Ebay for around $25 or so.

MyBigToy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2009, 06:59:10 PM »

Quote from: CmdrEd on May 26, 2009, 02:42:17 PM

Anybody heard of or used these?
Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61
http://www.kumhousa.com/Tire.aspx?id=c205bde8-f7ff-4e90-82f1-4b22403cf2eb&cat=25

Consumer Reports (I know, I know!

) rates it number 4 for all-terrain SUV tires that they tested, behind (listed chronologically): Nitto Terragrappler AT (rating of 80 out of 100), Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo (73), and Toyo Open Country A/T (72). It's rated a 70. Right behind that is the Hankook Dynapro AT RF08 (69).

CmdrEd · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2009, 09:38:47 PM »

Thanks for all the great info - you guys are a big help!

Looks like I got it narrowed down to the Cooper H/T's or a set of Toyo Open Country HT's
I can get either for about $680 out the door with mounting, balancing, lifetime rotating and balancing and a free alignment. That doesn't include Uncle Sam's cut.

The sensor will cost between $60 & $90

Anybody got some work to be done where I can earn some extra cash??

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2009, 07:36:24 AM »

Have you looked at the BFG All Terrain? I'm currently running 285/70/17 with the F@rd keys in the front and 1-1/2" spacers in the rear and longer shocks!

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2009, 11:56:21 AM »

Quote from: CmdrEd on May 26, 2009, 09:38:47 PM

Thanks for all the great info - you guys are a big help!

Looks like I got it narrowed down to the Cooper H/T's or a set of Toyo Open Country HT's
I can get either for about $680 out the door with mounting, balancing, lifetime rotating and balancing and a free alignment. That doesn't include Uncle Sam's cut.

The sensor will cost between $60 & $90

Anybody got some work to be done where I can earn some extra cash??

Well, which one did you end up going with? I don't see it but maybe I missed it, nobody suggested going with an "LT" (Light Truck) rather than a "P" (Passenger) tire?

It just so happens my girlfriend blew out the side wall on one of her original rear tires (Goodyear Wrangler A/T) and they had 53,??? miles on them so she is now in the market for new tires. There are no suspension mods done to her 05 Z-71, occasionally she will tow her wave runner to the lake and she travels on gravel roads when she goes to her Mom & Dads. I told her she should go with an LT265/70R17 rather than the P265/70R17. I thought something with a little stiffer side wall and a decent tread but not too aggressive? One of the tires I was looking at for her is the Cooper Discoverer S/T.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks all!!

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2009, 03:46:37 PM »

I've been running the Discoverer H/T for almost 20k now. It's the Pmetric but I like it. I don't do any heavy towing or hauling is why I stayed away from the LT. I also went with the H/T because it's great year round and if the snow gets nasty I have 4x4 to handle that.

CmdrEd · « **Reply #14 on:** June 24, 2009, 08:26:14 PM »

Sorry - I hate when I do that - start a post and not give the final update

Well this is an interesting story.
I went into my local Chevy dealer to buy a pressure sensor which I made sure they had by calling in advance. They said on the phone that it would be about $72. When I got there, the guy tells me it will cost $55. They wanted to give me a break so I would become a more loyal customer. I'm thinking, huh pretty good deal as I'm walking past a stack of Goodyear Wrangler AT/S's and the thought hit me, I wonder just how much they want to make me a more loyal customer. I stop at the service desk and get prices on several different brands of tires including the OE Wranglers. The price he quoted me for the wranglers was nearly $100 less than the other brands.

Long story short, I went with another set of Wrangler AT/S's.

So far they have been really good in the rain, unlike my last set and I think the alignment really helped the handling. I really like the look of the tire over the other brands and hope I can get another 60K out of these.

A note about our local Chevy Dealer, they have always been a very reputable dealer and if I could ever afford a new Chevy, I would definitely go to them. If you are ever at the Indiana/Ohio line in Harrison, check out the folks at Hirlinger Chevrolet.

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2009, 02:10:14 AM »

That's what I have on my winter wheels. I'll give an update after this winter. Glad to hear the dealer took care of ya.

Fowlhunter · « **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2009, 07:27:05 AM »

Quote from: CmdrEd on June 24, 2009, 08:26:14 PM

Sorry - I hate when I do that - start a post and not give the final update

Well this is an interesting story.
I went into my local Chevy dealer to buy a pressure sensor which I made sure they had by calling in advance. They said on the phone that it would be about $72. When I got there, the guy tells me it will cost $55. They wanted to give me a break so I would become a more loyal customer. I'm thinking, huh pretty good deal as I'm walking past a stack of Goodyear Wrangler AT/S's and the thought hit me, I wonder just how much they want to make me a more loyal customer. I stop at the service desk and get prices on several different brands of tires including the OE Wranglers. The price he quoted me for the wranglers was nearly $100 less than the other brands.

Long story short, I went with another set of Wrangler AT/S's.

So far they have been really good in the rain, unlike my last set and I think the alignment really helped the handling. I really like the look of the tire over the other brands and hope I can get another 60K out of these.

A note about our local Chevy Dealer, they have always been a very reputable dealer and if I could ever afford a new Chevy, I would definitely go to them. If you are ever at the Indiana/Ohio line in Harrison, check out the folks at Hirlinger Chevrolet.

Great story, I'm also glad the dealer took care of you!!
If I remember correctly I got about 68-70,000 miles out of the Goodyear Wrangler AT/S's. I also liked the look of the tires as they really fit with the cladding on my AV!!! The dealer actually replaced the entire set on my AV, the sidewalls on three of the four tires were starting to separate, the sidewalls had wrinkles in them.

fyrmdc26 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 17, 2009, 07:24:24 AM »

I'm looking to buy new tires for '04 Av. I drive mostly on the road, but do some off roading. Most of my off road time is spent driving on the beach though.....what kind of tires are best for this? Do I stick with regular highway tread or do I want something different? Sorry for my ignorance, but I've only had my Av just over a year and am fairly new to off road stuff too. Thanks.

<Mike

bluedevil · « **Reply #18 on:** August 17, 2009, 03:50:19 PM »

Quote from: fyrmdc26 on August 17, 2009, 07:24:24 AM

I'm looking to buy new tires for '04 Av. I drive mostly on the road, but do some off roading. Most of my off road time is spent driving on the beach though.....what kind of tires are best for this? Do I stick with regular highway tread or do I want something different? Sorry for my ignorance, but I've only had my Av just over a year and am fairly new to off road stuff too. Thanks.

<Mike

If you plan to keep the original rims,i would just replace the tires with the same brand and size.

I think my '04 had GoodYear Wrangler 275/65/17

fyrmdc26 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2009, 10:07:33 AM »

What kind of rims would you guys recommend? Again, I have an 04 Av with cladding and drive mostly on the road but do some off road stuff, mostly of the beach variety. Does the off road on the beach have any effect on what rims or tires I need anyway? Thanks. Forgive my ignorance, but I'm new to this vehicle mod stuff.

Mike

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2009, 10:33:21 AM »

Quote from: fyrmdc26 on August 23, 2009, 10:07:33 AM

What kind of rims would you guys recommend? Again, I have an 04 Av with cladding and drive mostly on the road but do some off road stuff, mostly of the beach variety. Does the off road on the beach have any effect on what rims or tires I need anyway? Thanks. Forgive my ignorance, but I'm new to this vehicle mod stuff.

Mike

Can't give you an answer on the beach question. Mine hasn't been on one yet.

MyBigToy · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2009, 10:37:08 AM »

For beach driving you want a wider footprint to provide more floatation and a not-too-aggressive tread pattern to keep from digging in. You could go with an all season or all terrain tread and even a mud-and-snow rated tire would probably be OK. You could just keep the stock wheels if you want. As far as tires, any top-rated tire would be fine. There are several recommended in this thread. I'm impressed with my Hankooks so far; I decided to save some money and give them a try. If I hadn't gotten the Hankooks it would have been the Bridgestone Dueler Revo AT's. I've been able to get by with the Hankooks up at the farm so far even though they are only mud-and-snow rated and the tread's not very aggressive. 95-98% of my driving is on pavement so that's part of the reason why I decided to go with a mostly street-oriented tread. I've got a tractor and a 4-wheeler so if it's really sloppy I can just pull in off the gravel road and use them.

Donnie1 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2009, 12:00:37 PM »

Quote from: MyBigToy on August 23, 2009, 10:37:08 AM

For beach driving you want a wider footprint to provide more floatation and a not-too-aggressive tread pattern to keep from digging in. You could go with an all season or all terrain tread and even a mud-and-snow rated tire would probably be OK. You could just keep the stock wheels if you want. As far as tires, any top-rated tire would be fine. There are several recommended in this thread. I'm impressed with my Hankooks so far; I decided to save some money and give them a try. If I hadn't gotten the Hankooks it would have been the Bridgestone Dueler Revo AT's. I've been able to get by with the Hankooks up at the farm so far even though they are only mud-and-snow rated and the tread's not very aggressive. 95-98% of my driving is on pavement so that's part of the reason why I decided to go with a mostly street-oriented tread. I've got a tractor and a 4-wheeler so if it's really sloppy I can just pull in off the gravel road and use them.

I have to agree with the Bridgestone Dueler Revo A/T's. I have had them on quite a few different vehicles and love them.

WB · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2009, 12:47:05 PM »

I'm liking my new Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armour Pros...