New Tire Recommendations please

[mageorge]

I drive a 2014 Ram 2500 diesel with LT 285/60r20 Firestone Transforce AT tires. They are the original equipment tires. I rotate them every 5,000 miles and took them in today for a rotation (little over 20,000). The tire rep where I have done business for years said "you only have about one more rotation on those tires". I run the factory settings of 65# in the front and 80# in the rear tires. About 40-50% of the current mileage is towing our Reflection 303.
The tire shop recommended replacing these with Michelin Defender LTX 275/65r20 highway tires which will run about $1,400 for four. What does everyone else have on their trucks?

 

[steve gravelle]

I have Cooper Discoverer AT3's. They are American made, first set went a little over 40,000 miles, let one get low on air, internal damage- my fault. Had to buy 4 to keep tread within 2/32". They have a 55,000 mile treadwear warranty. I think they are a great value proposition, like a Reflection! The Michelins probably would be great also, but you will spend a lot less on the Coopers and I think as good a tire. They have some less aggressive tread patterns if you prefer. Look at their website.

 

[TucsonJim]

Steve,

I run Michelins on mine, and they seem to last much longer than other brands I've tried in the past. That sounds like a pretty normal price for four of 'em.

Jim

 

[Sirsea]

Bought my truck used with 35k on it and BFG Rugged Trail TA tires. Replaced them about 75k with the same and now have over 60k with lots of tread left. I run 50/60 psi when not towing and 80 psi in all when towing the camper; over 60k towing and very satisfied with these tires.

 

[mageorge]

Thanks for your responses. On my last domestic truck (two trucks ago) I eventually changed over to Michelins. My truck just prior to the Ram was a Toyota, and I ran Coopers on it - both were fine. I haven't tried the BFGs at all, but right after I posted this, my son told me he has a friend that just bought a new Ford f250 that came with Michelin LTX A/T 20" that he took off with 31 miles and would sell those to me for $800! So I might grab those. As I understand it, Michelin doesn't currently make a 285/60r20 like mine, but these are 275/65r20 which after finding an online place called www.tacomaworld.com where you can compare tire sizes, I think these will work fine. Mike

 

[mtpocket]

Michelin for me. First set went 60k with no problem. More upfront but great quality and they stand behind their tires. Even the ones they sell under another name.

 

[Gumpster]

I been running Firestone 315/70/17 destination A/T's have about 25,000 miles on then rotate every 5,000-7,000 miles also have the front end done when I rotate.

 

[el Rojo]

This thread has perfect timing for me. I'm in the process of deciding which new tires to go with on my HD3500 dually. The OEM's are Michelin LTX A/T2 235/80R17. I have 37,000 miles on them, never rotated. The front tires have 7 or 8 32's left while the rear have 6/32's left, but I feel pulling a 20,000 trailer it's time to change them. The Michelin's specs say 60,000 warranty but I'm hearing they won't prorate this against a new set of six which is about $1740. A set of Goodyear SR-A are a little over $1300, just not sure what is the best value. I can eat my pride and buy Michelin's if the value is there or try another brand.

Red

 

[notsosan]

My last two trucks came standard with Michelin LTX A/S which are a highway tread. I replaced my last set with Michelin Defender M+S. I have about 4000 miles towing on them and like them very much. I don't notice a difference in handling or noise compared to the A/S and an advantage for me is that M+S tires are also legal for winter use where we live, even though they aren't as good in snow as a dedicated snow tire.

 

[RamGunner]

Our truck came with General Ameritrac tires that were terrible. There have been many reports of serious balance issues with them, especially on DRW trucks.

I was going to put Cooper S/T Maxx tires on it, but the outfit I ordered them from screwed up. I ended up replacing the fronts with Big O Bigfoot A/T's (which are made by Cooper) and they have been far better. I'll have to replace the rear tires by early next year at the latest. I'll be using either the Discoverer A/T3 (which I was told is what the Bigfoot tire is based on), Discoverer RTX, or maybe the S/T Maxx. I've had REALLY good luck with Cooper in the past.

 

[LCBoyer]

I am interested in real world experience, I will have to replace tires on my Ram before long, 34,000 miles on him already

 

[el Rojo]

I am interested in real world experience, I will have to replace tires on my Ram before long, 34,000 miles on him already

LC are you running the General tire now? If so you're getting about the same as me with the Michelins.

 

[LCBoyer]

Mine came with Korean tires

 

[Sirsea]

OK, real world; I am still on my second set of BFG Rugged Trail. Now have about 74,000 miles on them and at least 10k left on them. Made in USA and I paid $864 incl tax and mounted at Discount Tire, next set will probably be a little more.

 

[mageorge]

I don't have a duelly, my 2014 Ram 2500 came with Firestone Transforce AT, but after 25,000 miles they looked like they only had 10,000 left, so I bought the latest generation of Michelin Defender LTX M/S. Those now have 15,000 on them and they still look brand new. I think the ride is a little stiffer and they seems noisier however. Mine are 280/60 R20. Oh, and almost all of the last 15,000 is towing the 303.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[B&P's303]

FYI..I have 265/70/17's so the price will be different than yours, however....I was running Michelin LTX M/S for 50,000 miles when I took them in to be rotated at Discount Tires which is where I purchased them. They said I needed new tires and since they didn't last as long as Michelin said they would, they would give me a prorated price on the Michelin Defenders they now make. Long story short, I left there with 4 new Michelin tires balanced, installed and out the the door for $700.00. They have been good tires before and I can't see them being any different from the Defenders.

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
I have Cooper Discover M&S LT 235/85 R16 on my F250 3042#/tire. They are just a couple of months from being 4 years old. We can have snow on the ground here for several months at a time and they have performed very well (better than any tire I've ever owned). I only have 13,898 miles on them so I can't vouch for longevity but they still look brand new. They ride quiet and smooth.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[WhittleBurner]

Our GMC came with Goodyear Wranglers which have 32,000 miles on them now and still look pretty darned good.

 

[TahoeTrekker]

My truck is my daily driver and I always use BF Goodrich All Terrains, I live in snow county (7000') and they are great. Just got back from towing the 303 to Yellowstone, Tetons and Park City UT (1735 miles) with no problems and averaged 9.8 mpg with my Hemi Ram 2500. Have had vehicles with Michelins, Wranglers and the Ram came with the TransForce. All good tires but I'm a die hard fan of the BF's.

 

[Silverbeard]

I put the Michelin Defenders on my Ram last March and like them so far. I've had Michelins on my last three Rams, and found them to ride well, good traction (I live in WI so traction is important about 1/3 of the year) and met my expectations for how many miles I got out of them.