Opinions on all terrain tires

[jason g]

Hey Gang, since there is no water to talk about I figured this would be alright.I have always ran the BF goodrich TKO's but was wanting to try another tire maybe?Anybody care to comment?

[Regud]

When I wear out my BFG MT, I am looking at getting the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... r+DuraTrac" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Deuce]

I used to run Kumho Sport Kings on my Sierra Z71. I was always very pleased with them. Great tires and a little less spendy than the BFGs. Not knocking BFGs, also great tires, but man! :shock: I've also heard good things about the Nittos. I was about to buy some for my truck, but ended up buying a truck instead. Long story. :roll:

[Owl]

I've had two sets of Goodyear Wrangler MTR's on my Jeep Wrangler. They're very tough (7 ply tread, 3 ply sidewall) and have a sticky, aggressive tread that isn't noisy because the rubber is relatively soft. Of course the softer rubber translates into less tire mileage but ya can't have it all.

[jason g]

Thanks everyone for the replies on tires.Still not 100% on which ones to buy but it's gotta be soon because I feel rain coming on. Jason G

[shelbyjohnson]

BF Goodrich. I am absolutely sold on these. Best all terrain tire I have ever owned.

[johnnybiggun]

Made the mistake of changing last time on my Yukon... Going back to COOPER TIRES asap...

[Cowper]

I've also heard good about the Nitto's, and had the Cooper's once as well as others over the years, but I have ended up back with the BFG's. You don't have to get that many more miles out of a tire before that high cost becomes at least a "break even" deal on a very good tire.

One "trick" I always suggest is buy a tire with a higher load rating than you require, in much the same way that you should buy a bigger battery than the one that came with your car or truck if it will fit under the hool. Most SUV's have "Load Range C" tires, most light pickups have C's or D's. If they have a load range "E" in your size, buy it.

I have no scientific evidence to prove this, but I believe this gives you some extra margin for driving on rough dirt roads the way boaters ususally drive, with less potential for flat tires.

[ScottH]

I am a BFG AT believer. And also buy into getting a higher load rating if possible. I put them on my old Tahoe (load rated E) and they had 65k on them when I traded it in on my Toyota Rav. The sales guy actually commented on them looking good and not being worn out. I would guess they had another 10-15k in them.

I put them on my Rav soon after I purchased it. Really it is too much tire for that vehicle but I only picked up a minimal noise increase. The worthless street tires that came on it were almost as loud. I had to purchase 5 (all wheel drive has to have the same size spare) which was expense. I do a 5 tire rotation about ever 5-10k miles. They currently have 71k on them and look like they will be good for another 15-20k. I am thinking about pushing for 100k.

Renee has them also on here Tacoma. They started to slip and slide after about 50k, but were still a long way from the minimum wear indicator. She went ahead and replaced them to feel safer.

Also had another 2 sets on my old Toyota pickup. Long life and no problem out of them either. BFG's are higher priced but not so much that they make me want to consider anything else.

[okieboater]

Hey Scott,

How is that RAV4 working for your boating trips?

I have a 2005 Tundra v8 with some 135k miles on it. Am happy with the truck but starting to think about a replacement maybe late next year.

I understand the newer RAV4 have a lot of power. I am wondering if the V6 version would be stout enough to pull my trailer and rafting gear. Thinking the RAV4 would be good for kayaks on the roof, not sure about towing a trailer. The trailer I use is rated for 3000 pounds and I am usually loaded sometimes with two rafts.

Looking for better mpg as I expect gas prices to soar next year if not before.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Renee H]

Dave - I could probably answer that question. My Tacoma is V6 standard and does not have as much pickup and go as Scott's Rav. He has the V6 and when I drive it, I have to remember I'm not in my truck. When you push the gas a little, it takes off so darn fast you almost get whiplash. We just drove it out to Colorado and in the hills and passes, it never broke stride - never lost power. I would say it would accommodate your needs.

[ScottH]

A little more detail then Renee gave you...

I have a 2007 Toyota Rav4 V-6 4x4 Sport (which is the same model/style as the current/latest). It has lots of horsepower (rated at 269hp) but not so much on the torque. Window sticker stated mileage would be 21 city/29 hwy (2011 – 19 city/26 hwy)

I changed the tires out at about 9k miles. I went UP a tire size (this actually corrected the speedometer to match a couple of gps’s) and I went with the BFG AT which is a much more aggressive tread pattern and heavier tire. The tires that came on it were 1 ply sidewall/2 ply tread and the BFG’s are 3 ply sidewall/8 ply tread. So each tire weighs a lot more. I also added some Yakama 66” bars, towers, fairing and stackers.

With this configuration, I get 20.5 to 23.5 mpg with no boats. With 4 boats I usually get 18.5 to 21.5. The worst average per tank I have ever gotten is 16.8 (I think it was crappy gas as much as anything). As for Power, I use 10% of the gas pedal 95% of the time. This car will snap your head off if you stomp it. I got the Tow Prep Package (wiring/alternator/radiator upgrade but no actual hitch) so they do rate it for towing but do not know how well it will do that. Guessing you would have to get deeper into the gas pedal which will reduce the MPG.

As for sleeping/traveling, it does really well. I think it has just about as much usable room as my Chevy Tahoe did. If you do not get the third row seats, there is a large trunk under the rear area to haul stuff in. When camping on trips, Renee and I both sleep comfortably with the rear door closed. With the front seats slid forward, there is just under 7’ of length from seat back to the closed rear door. And about as much width as between the wheel wells of her Tacoma.

I wish they made it with a standard transmission. That would be fun and would also fix the only real complaint I have about mine. I don’t like the way the 6 speed auto transmission. Had it checked out 5 times, never anything wrong and I don’t think it is going to break anytime soon. But when driving loaner cars with the same transmission they shift much better than mine.

[okieboater]

Thanks to both of you for the feedback.

I drove Tacomas and 4Runners for many years. When I got into rafting my Tacoma V6 with 170K plus miles on it had problems towing the raft trailer out west, really bad off the interstates, did better coming home back east which believe it or not I attribute to prevailing winds.

I had heard the new RAV4's were pretty stout.

Hearing it from fellow boaters (plus it is only important to boaters - finding out that I could sleep in the back) is a big plus.

Hoping to get thru next year's rafting season and maybe start looking late in 2011. Love my Tundra but gas mileage is 17 maybe at cruise of 65 less if I get on it. On the plus side it can cruise at 80 plus but I watch the gas gage speed up going towards E. My guess is gas is going up to 4 bucks in 2011 and even tho the Tundra is paid off, it would be nice to get mpg in the 20 plus range. I still do a bunch of kayaking and long as the RAV4 did a ok job on towing the trailer, it would be workable I think. Driving around town the better RAV4 mpg would be nice as well.

Appreciate the feedback. You guys take care.

[Fun Instigator]

BFGoodrich radial all terrains are the ticket. No way could I pass up the chance to brag on them. I have put 7 sets on 5 Jeeps over the last 17 years. Usually the vehicle gets traded before the BFGs wear out. I have never had one of these get "cut" open while spinning on rocks. Can't say that about Goodyear Wranglers. The record mileage was 80,000 on a WJ Grand Cherokee.(three sizes above the recomended oem size) A TJ Wrangler went 72,000 and again the size was a couple larger than oem size. On the lighter and squirrely TJ they really seemed to plant and ride better than the original Goodyears.

I have noticed that I lose a little gas mileage. (1/2mpg) It could be from the stiffer sidewall or it could be that I have never put the original size back on and the overall gear change throws the motor out of the engineered sweet spot?

Unlike ScottH I've never bought 5 for a matching spare. Call me Kenny Rogers if you want but so far so good. I carry the radial tire plug kit and have been sucessful in just pulling out a nail or screw, plugging it and never taking the tire off the vehicle. Just air it back up, they don't seen to break the bead.

My .02c Scott Yarbrough

[hdh]

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