Advice on new tires (all season, off road)

[leo]

Needed to create a new thread, as there is no thread less than a year old that is a perfect match to these specifics:

I have a 2008 T4R Ltd with original tires that need to be replaced. I live in the Rockies at altitude so all season and snow handling is important (but I don't drive on un-plowed off-road, just common winter roads). I also do some off-road in the summer. Thus:

Requirements:
- some all season and winter handling
- some off-road (summer, not a lot of mud)
- would love to buy from Costco or a discount chain, or have shipped to one
- would love a tire that will last long, and not sacrifice fuel economy
- I'm a little price sensitive, but I understand tires are not a place to go cheap

From past (old) threads I've read Michelin LTX M/S or M/S-2 and Goodyear Silent Armour might be good choices. Is that still true? Any others or more recent opinions I can consider?

Thanks!!

 

[3rdgenT4R]

I just put a new set of my 97 4runner as well....I did lots of research and I really liked the General AT2's and obvioussly the BFG TKO's (had 2 sets before) but the Gererals were $185/per and the BFG's were over $200/per....so I kept searching and investigating and came across the Cooper Discovery AT3's.....they were highly recommended form more than a few guys across the nation on varous forums, Consumer Reports rated them best tire in the class. So I bought them for $148/per.....so far I've been very happy with there rain traction and on the road in general, haven't gone O/R or had any snow to really test them but they rated well in those catagories according to owners and Consumer Reports.....might be worth a look. I like mine....but I almost pulled the trigger on the General AT2's but it would been $160more total and like you I was also cost sensitive....two freinds have them ....F150 and a Taco and they love them. Also, Khumo received best value for their selection , but no nothing about the brand. ..FYI, good luck

PS....got mine from Tiremonkey and had them sent to one of there affiliated shops and installed for 90

 

[Quatre Coureur]

:deadhorse:

 

[Thai]

LTX AT-2, BFG AT KO, GY Silent Armor are top runners IMHO. The LTX MS series are glorified highway tires...useless off-road.

 

[aha2988]

x2 or 3 for Michelin LTX A/T 2

 

[leo]

I just put a new set of my 97 4runner as well....I did lots of research and I really liked the General AT2's and obvioussly the BFG TKO's (had 2 sets before) but the Gererals were $185/per and the BFG's were over $200/per....so I kept searching and investigating and came across the Cooper Discovery AT3's.....they were highly recommended form more than a few guys across the nation on varous forums, Consumer Reports rated them best tire in the class. So I bought them for $148/per.....so far I've been very happy with there rain traction and on the road in general, haven't gone O/R or had any snow to really test them but they rated well in those catagories according to owners and Consumer Reports.....might be worth a look. I like mine....but I almost pulled the trigger on the General AT2's but it would been $160more total and like you I was also cost sensitive....two freinds have them ....F150 and a Taco and they love them. Also, Khumo received best value for their selection , but no nothing about the brand. ..FYI, good luck

PS....got mine from Tiremonkey and had them sent to one of there affiliated shops and installed for 90

Costco recommended Cooper Discoverer A/T3s to me, so thanks for the confirmation. Their price was higher, so thanks for providing the Tiremonkey price.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Costco's normal tire prices are quite high.

Check out:

Tirerack.com

I suggest (if you can afford it) that you have a set of winter ICE+SNOW tires and a separate set of trail tires for summer.

If I lived in UT my primary priority in the Winter would be avoiding sliding off the road and crashing my rig. Then when spring comes around put on a set of trail tires.

Tirerack.com is good because they give you access to official 3rd party surveys (usually 1,000+ per tire type) which is different then website reviews.


For spring / summer tires I highly suggest:

BFG - All-Terrain T/A KO (ignore the reviews, look at the surveys)
or
General Tire - Grabber AT 2 (clone of the BFG but still very good)

 

[3rdgenT4R]

Leo....don't forget to account for shipping in you cost comparesons

 

[BrianSD_42]

TireRack.com even with shipping will always beat Costco in my experience - by a lot.

 

[Chandlerdoom]

If you dont mind re tread tires check out treadwright, they have been around a bit so its not like their just slapping on tread. They also started making the whole tire and not just re tread.

I paid $560 shipped for 5 265/75/16s in BFG AT tread pattern, I couldn't be happier. You cant even tell unless you are smart enough to realize toyo doesnt make a tread pattern like that.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Yes but for $576 + shipping you could get General Tire Grabber AT2 which is a BFG AT clone BUT a real brand new tire.

I'm actually running BFG in front and General Tire in rear (long story) - It's been a year and I can say with confidence that the General Tire AT2 is holding its own pretty well.

 

[ipaman]

I just installed some Cooper Discover HTP's from Discount tire and couldn't be more happy. Thye have a 65k tread warranty, they are quiet, handle good, and have great reviews for snow and rain. I ended up paying $650 out the door for 4 mounted and balanced.

Cooper Discoverer HTP

 

[blue dog]

Happy with my yokohama geolander AT/S tires. ride great on the highway, quiet, and have handled the dirt in baja just fine.

 

[Gerdo]

Happy with my yokohama geolander AT/S tires. ride great on the highway, quiet, and have handled the dirt in baja just fine.

X2
I have beat the daylights out of mine rock-crawling and they have held up great.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Discount Direct offers free shipping and will price match in stores if you have one locally.

IMO you don't need something like a BFG (so-so on road perf) or a Duratrac but maybe something like the Yoks or maybe the Hankook A/T which leans toward the street but stout enough for the occasional off road trip.