Tires, I hate buying tires.

[RBBailey]

So I've been trying not to notice the pizza cutters on my Defender, just telling myself that these are $300 tires, I should use them up! But now that the wet season is here, I have to say it's pretty scary to drive on these in the dark, on these country roads, on the wet, on 45mph corners that I know well enough to take at 60mph in the Mercedes or RRC, but in the Defender I'm hearing the tires start to squeal at 40mph.....

I've always known that they are just terrible on ice and snow. When you park in one place, and come out to get in the truck, and find that it is 50 feet from where you left it, pushed by the wind, sideways.

So I'm looking. But don't tell my wife yet.

I'm a bit torn on size. I like the look of the 255's, but I know that it is more expensive, heavier, and it will make my daily driving a bit less spunky. So I'm leaning to the 235's.

My choices so far:

• Falken AT3W or Wild Country
• BFG AT
• Goodyear Duratrac

I've had BFG mud terrain and all terrain, and I like them both. But I'm hearing possible issues lately with balancing and such.
I've never owned Falkens, and they don't have a lot of reviews that I can tell, at least in the Land Rover world.
I've owned the Goodyear, but I only got to put about 10k on them before I sold the truck. The Duratracs that are on the RRC, are a much smaller size, and I don't know how old they are. That is to say, I am unsure how they will wear over time.

So any first hand knowledge of any long term use of any of these tires would be appreciated. Especially your thoughts on how they handle in snow and ice. I remember that my BFGs even made me feel comfortable driving on the slick stuff.

 

[Uncle Douglas]

I just went with a set of Bridgestone Revo2's in 285/75 for my 110.

The current BFG at is a great tire and wear very well, its what I recommend customers run. Haven't had any balancing issues with them. My brother is running 255 Coopers on one of his 110's and isnt happy with how noisy they are.

Drove a customer 110 here for an engine swap, fitted with xzl's this week and was quickly reminded why I dislike those tires, they suck on pavement.

 

[nas90tdi]

I have had great luck with the BFGs. Even on my F-250 running 35"s they wear great and never let go or feel squirrelly.
One of the guys had the tire store told me the Falken are complete garbage. No personal experience, but he said they see them all time with premature wear, odd wear patterns or other failures. His suggestion was steer clear.

 

[chuckc4]

I have to suggest the BF Mud Terrain also. I have had three sets on two different 90's, in a range of sizes. All sizes great, in all sorts of road conditions, at appropriate speeds for a Defender...

 

[javelinadave]

I have to suggest the BF Mud Terrain also. I have had three sets on two different 90's, in a range of sizes. All sizes great, in all sorts of road conditions, at appropriate speeds for a Defender...

This^^^^^^

 

[Vtrover]

Nice, what's size is that in the picture? 255/85?

 

[Napalm00]

Bfg at are the way to go.

Tough
Come in every size
Amazing in snow ice and dry pavement
Quiet
Last forever


Before I went off the deep end of huge lift and super swampers they were my tire of choice. Went through two sets on my 110, first one got nearly 75k out of.

I've never owned Falken truck tires but ran them often on my early bmws and never had any complaints.

 

[javelinadave]

Nice, what's size is that in the picture? 255/85?

Yes. They slightly rubbed with the steelies and they do not rub at all with the Wolf wheels. Super pleases both on and off the road. They were basically new when we did the AlCan this summer. Great on and off road tires and would replace them with the same for sure when the time comes.

 

[rocky]

I’ve noticed that 255/85-16 seems to be a size that’s less and less popular or available. 285/75-16 seems to be taking over.

 

[rover4x4]

255/85 is my favorite on a 90, I like the tighter turning radius

 

[chris snell]

I've never had a problem with XZLs on rain, ice, or snow. My truck has lived its American life in Colorado, Western Washington, and Northern Kansas, so it's seen some crap weather.

8.25R16s...I wouldn't buy any other tire. Tougher than anything else out there by a long shot.

 

[Ray_G]

I currently have both MFG KM2 MTs (255/85) on my D1 and KO2 ATs on my LR3 (275/75/18).

I'd probably have gone MT for the LR3 if there was an appropriate size; that's how much I like the new KM2. Don't get me wrong, the KO2's are very nice too-but the MT does a good job.

Tires are probably the single most important part of any truck-I tend to pay for that on purpose.
r-
Ray

 

[rocky]

Since Duratrac is no longer made in 255/85-16, not sure what I’m going to do next.

 

[Jeff B]

Since Duratrac is no longer made in 255/85-16, not sure what I?m going to do next.

I currently have 2 sets of tires for my D90.
BFG KM2s 255/85 on the stock alloys and old BFG ATs 285/75s on boosts.
Originally I felt the 285s were too big for just 1" spring spacers but now I kinda like them.


.

 

[RBBailey]

http://www.expeditionswest.com/research/white_papers/tire_selection_rev1.html

This, the fact that Camel Trophy, and many military Rovers around the world use no bigger than 235 or 255 or 8.5x16, and the weight involved, is why I will stick to 235 or 255.

 

[broncoduecer]

I've been very pleased with my duratracs on the LR3. Great all weather performance.
KM2s on the 90 have been great.
Bfg ATs are good but found in my experience I didn't like them on hard packed snow and ice. Maybe they changed the compound but 15 years ago in the good ol UP of Michigan I didn't find much love there. But lots of guys I know run them still and they are happy. So just my 2 cents.

 

[mgreenspan]

I liked these on my 110 for the period of time I had them before I sold it. https://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/geolandar-a-t-g015

I also really liked the Michelin XZYs in 7.50 with the 14 ply sidewalls. They were incredibly heavy, though.

Another great tire that Jimmy absolutely hates that I have used on multiple vehicles in multiple sizes is the General Grabber HTS. Super quiet and perfect for never offroading.

 

[Uncle Douglas]

I liked these on my 110 for the period of time I had them before I sold it. https://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/geolandar-a-t-g015

I also really liked the Michelin XZYs in 7.50 with the 14 ply sidewalls. They were incredibly heavy, though.

Another great tire that Jimmy absolutely hates that I have used on multiple vehicles in multiple sizes is the General Grabber HTS. Super quiet and perfect for never offroading.

Have the Geolander's on Trey's 110. Great traction and road holding on wet pavement and snow.
For the 5% of the time we offroad or go to an event, have mt's and swampers on steel wheels we swap onto the trucks. The other 95% of the time run deeply siped at's on the trucks. My daughter wanted the look of tall skinny mt's on her truck but after locking it up twice in metro DC traffic and sliding into an acura and then a benz, I made her bring it back and swapped bfg at's on it. She called a week later to say the same truck with no other changes stops in half the distance. Expensive lesson learned.

Everyone has their personal favorites based on the climate they are in and how they use their trucks. Road holding ability, wet performance tests,sidewall cut resistance, mud self cleaning, braking distance tests,noise ratings, carcass weight, etc are out there on the web for anyone to read and make informed decisions.

Have the Bridgestone revo's, Geolanders, BFg at's, Nitto Terragraplers, Goodyears, and Michelin At2's on the 5 daily's. Sizes range from 235/85's up to 315/75. For me, size like tread, and suspension choices, is dictated by how you will use it and is an individual decision that folks on a forum can't make for you.

 

[mgreenspan]

For me, size like tread, and suspension choices, is dictated by how you will use it and is an individual decision that folks on a forum can't make for you.

That's how I feel. You can spend months researching the perfect tire. The bottom line is everybody drives differently and operates in different climates and conditions. I've lived in CO, VA, DE, MS, CA, driven cross country multiple times and offroaded everywhere and lived overseas in the UK and traveled from the Scottish highlands to Devonshire. Bottom line is get what suits you at the time. I'd buy something totally different if I lived in Alaska or Canada or the UAE.

Old man emu is the only coil spring I buy, though.

 

[RBBailey]

I'm leaning to the BFG 235s.

I'm partial to Rovers being on skinny tires -- HERETICS ALL, you fat tire riders!

When I was forced to switch tire sizes because Americas Tire company wouldn't fix my 235's because of 'insurance' (long story) I could tell the difference right away. The wider tires were squishier, they didn't fit the road ruts on the highway as well, causing more hydroplaning, etc...

On the other hand, the only time I ever spun out in a Rover was while on BFGs at 40mph, straight, level, no wind, without traffic, without warning. I still can't figure what happened there!