Truck tire choices

Buying new AT sneakers for the F150-7700. Since almost no one makes a D-range tire anymore (and since I want pizza-cutters) I'm going E-range, 215/85-16. Emphasis should be on really good highway tires that don't have to be changed for winter or the modest offroading I do.

I have several options, but there are a couple I haven't had experience with.

I had been looking at the Firestone Destination AT, but it was brought to my attention that Firestone does a Transforce AT. It looks like an AT tire, but with a couple continuous ribs like an HT tire. Any thoughts? Might be the crossover I'm looking for? Good highway that doesn't suck in mud/snow?

Cooper re-brands one (scorpion I think?) that is cheap, but one of the reasons I'm upgrading is because the Hankook Dynapro AT-Ms on it now suck. Noisy and don't do well in rain. I won't be happy replacing cheap tires with even cheaper tires unless someone knows they're the best kept secret in tires.

Toyo Open Country AT. The Open Country MT is one of the standard go-to tires for off-roaders who do some highway. Does the pedigree carry over to the A/T?

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=Geolandar+H%2FT+G056&partnum=185R6G056V2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=Geolandar+A%2FT+G015&partnum=185R6G015OWL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

I like geolanders.

E: I also suck at linking it seems.

Mastercraft Courser AXT is my new tire recommendation, see what treadwright has on sale for retread Warden 2s otherwise.

I like the Yokohama Geolander G015's. Great on the highway, severe snow rated. and pretty good at doing stuff like this.

The last set on my work truck were Firestone Destinations. I was not happy with the wear pattern on them. Even with regular rotation and alignment checks, they cupped and would not stay balanced. It made for some very noisy and uncomfortable tires.

The Samurai has Kuhmo Road Venture ATs. I've been very happy with them so far but that is a very light vehicle and not driven much. I'm not sure they make a E range tire, though they did make a extra load version.

The last set of E range tires I bought were Uniroyal Laredo HD, for a E250. They were outstanding.

I have general grabber at2's in 235/85/16 and REALLY like them. Just got back from a 1500 mile trip and they were great. Quiet, great in rain, sand, and mud. Look great as well and good price. My rover is about 6000 lbs.

The only thing i have to add is that i had some very used Transforce AT in 235/85/16 that i just took off my 87 Montero. Even with less than 50% tread i had no noise issues. Didn't use them off road and honestly they LOOK like they'd be bad at it, but i guess that depends on what you're doing. I've heard that pizza cutters tend to do better than you'd expect which is part of why im running this size. Replaced with Nankang Mudstars in same size. I don't have anything bad to say about the Transforce ATs.

I have been pleased with my general grabber AT2, but now am having some issues getting them to balance, after about 30k miles. They balanced OK but still have intermittent vibration from 70-75. Boo.

Something severe snow rated. Kumho AT51? Seems to have good reviews. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Road+Venture+AT51&partnum=185R6AT51&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

I run Goodrich Commercial T/A's on my C30 Dooley. They work fine and reviewed well.

I'm a sold fan for Cooper RTX's http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Light-Truck/DISCOVERER-RTX.aspx

I have P265/75/16 on a 99 Z71, E Range for towing. They are not loud, tow the heavy loads, handle decent, and the tread cleans out very well including mud.

BrokenYugo wrote: Something severe snow rated. Kumho AT51? Seems to have good reviews. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Road+Venture+AT51&partnum=185R6AT51&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

My dad has these in 245/70r17 on his '13 Chevy 1500 4x4 hd suspension general purpose tow pig and grocery getter. He complains about the road noise a bit, but if you have the radio on it's barely noticeable. My most extensive off road test was trying to pull my broken D350 up a hill on moist grass, didn't work, nor did I expect it to. They behave pretty good on road with or without the trailer. No word on winter performance yet.

Why hasn't anybody mentioned the Goodyear Duratrac? BTW tirerack does sell them just not advertised on site due to some ridiculous below-MSRP rule. You can call or chat for prices.

Severe snow rated, dead silent on highway, excellent in mud and on rocks. I had 50k miles on mine with LOTS of tread left when I sold the truck. Drove it cross country 3 times including Alaska and back. Never an issue. I'm blown away goodyear can make a tire this good at everything. I'm sure the AT2s are also very good.

For what it's worth, the Transforce AT doe not appear particularly well reviewed by vehicle owners on Tirerack. Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac, and possibly Michelin XPS Traction as more miles get reported, would seem to generally be a better choice in that category.

Blaise wrote: Why hasn't anybody mentioned the Goodyear Duratrac?

They are a really aggressive tread that is more geared toward M/T. I'll check them out, but I can't imagine they'll be a good fit for me. They might be great, but even Goodyear's website describes them as being for aggressive off road but some highway. I'm sure yours were quiet, but customer reviews describe them as very loud.

Again, I'll look into them, but I think they're a bit more off-road than I need.

In reply to curtis73:

I have a set of Duratracs on my 4Runner. I wouldn't call them loud, but not bad at all. Not MT or MTR loud thats for sure. I do like them.

I had a set of Toyo ATII's on my old RV. Seemed like a really good AT tire.

Yes, even though it the Duratrac rates somewhere between slightly and considerably better by pretty much every other measure, the ratings do indicate the Transforce AT as being quieter than the Duratrac...Albeit not by very much.

Also, I'm not seeing where the Transforce AT has a continuous rib...Were you maybe thinking of the Transforce HT?

Blaise wrote: Why hasn't anybody mentioned the Goodyear Duratrac? BTW tirerack does sell them just not advertised on site due to some ridiculous below-MSRP rule. You can call or chat for prices.

They do actually have pricing on their site.

^^ OK this is news, up until very recently I had to call or chat for pricing.

curtis73 wrote: They are a really aggressive tread that is more geared toward M/T. I'll check them out, but I can't imagine they'll be a good fit for me. They might be great, but even Goodyear's website describes them as being for aggressive off road but some highway. I'm sure yours were quiet, but customer reviews describe them as very loud. Again, I'll look into them, but I think they're a bit more off-road than I need.

I did probably 40k of highway miles and they were quiet. I've had noisy M/T tires before, these were not even close to the same level of pain. Not sure what year your F150 is but if it's newer I'd imagine it would be fine. I can't remember a single instance that tire noise exceeded wind noise.

They are pricey though so if they're overkill there's not much sense in spending the $

The Yokohama Geolanders seem pretty legit. My buddy has used them on his 4runner and had no complaints. He's running the General AT2 now and likes them too. Both sets ride well and don't produce an unreasonable amount of noise. Meaning I can't hear them on the freeway.

Good to know on the Duratracs

My F150 is an 02

I ended up getting the Kumho AT51s about 2 months ago, haven't taken them off the road as of yet, and no snow, but I am really happy with them, especially for the price.