Duratracs vs. Silent Armors... Help!
- Thread starter kmccrate
- Start date
Fleethammer
New member
The ol' tire discussion comes down to how you plan on using your vehicle. If most of the time it's on road, then a more practical (and cheaper) tire is more suitable. even for the small amount of off road use your vehicle will see, a tire like the SA will be more than adequate. But if you get pretty serious off road, you'll have to step up. That being said, the AT/MT tires like Duratracs actually perform quite well on road. There are just a few trade-offs like MPGs and ride quality compared to a P-rated tire.
An alternative to the Duratracs are the Kelly Safari TSR. Made by Goodyear and just as aggressive as the DT's, but costs as much as the SA.
An alternative to the Duratracs are the Kelly Safari TSR. Made by Goodyear and just as aggressive as the DT's, but costs as much as the SA.
maine runner
New member
While I can't speak to off-road performance, I can tell you the Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor do great in all kinds of snow (powder, wet et al) and pretty good on ice.
We average 60+" of snow yearly but we have had 90+" a few years I have had these tires.
FWIW, I had a Goodyear retail store match Tire Rack prices and had my mechanic mount/balance them.
We average 60+" of snow yearly but we have had 90+" a few years I have had these tires.
FWIW, I had a Goodyear retail store match Tire Rack prices and had my mechanic mount/balance them.
Fleethammer
New member
For light weight in an LT tire, its very tough to beat the Duratracs. Be interested to see what you go for. When I stepped up to LTs, I was shocked how much more some of them weighed to p metric tires. Duratracs and Chris he aforementioned Kelly's were featherweights compared to the rest.
kmccrate
New member
So after lots of research the duratrac is still the front runner.
Duratracs weigh approx 50 lbs each and surprisingly, the Toyo AT2's weigh 50 lbs each too!
Even the Nitto terra grapplers weigh that much.
I'm getting 18mpg right now and I really hope I don't lose 3-4 mpg with the duractracs. I would be fine with losing 2mpg.
Duratracs weigh approx 50 lbs each and surprisingly, the Toyo AT2's weigh 50 lbs each too!
Even the Nitto terra grapplers weigh that much.
I'm getting 18mpg right now and I really hope I don't lose 3-4 mpg with the duractracs. I would be fine with losing 2mpg.
k91
Junior Member
Haha..... Somehow that photo got turned around dang it!!
I used to have Silent Armors and really liked them on and off road. After I added my lift and needed larger tires I could only get the SA's in E rated, and I didn't want the extra weight like you, so I looked for something else. Ended up with Duratracs in C rating and I really love them - on and off road especially. They're definitely noisier, but not bad, and the performance in all weather conditions and on the rocks off road has been fabulous.
I really would have liked to get the SA's after my lift, but am very happy with the Duratracs. If I were you, I'd get the SA's since you can get them in a C rating and there will be less effect on your mileage (yes the Duratracs have reduced my mileage some) and they're very competent on and off road, and I think they look good (although not as tough looking as the Duratrac).
Hope that helps you.
Ed
I really would have liked to get the SA's after my lift, but am very happy with the Duratracs. If I were you, I'd get the SA's since you can get them in a C rating and there will be less effect on your mileage (yes the Duratracs have reduced my mileage some) and they're very competent on and off road, and I think they look good (although not as tough looking as the Duratrac).
Hope that helps you.
Ed
WXman
New member
The GY Duratrac and Kelly Safari TSR and Fierce Attitude MT are all the same tire, with slight variations in tread pattern. But the Fierce version is currently $190 delivered at discounttiredirect.com and the GY version is much more expensive. I have used Duratracs before, but right now I'd buy the Fierce version over the other 2 versions of this tire, just to save the $$$$.
kmccrate
New member
Well, the verdict is in... went with the Duratracs! 275/65/18's.
Yes, I had to do some trimming (and lost my front mud flaps) but these things just look and ride amazing! (so far)
Before
After Daystar 2.5/1.5, Duratracs and Rockstars installed!
They look and ride amazing so far! Honestly I havent even noticed much difference in the ride. So far my mileage has dropped from 18.5 to 16.1, according to the 4runner's computer. We will see what my calculations come to after this tank runs out...
Cant be happier with how they look and ride though. They were pretty darn spendy though!!
Yes, I had to do some trimming (and lost my front mud flaps) but these things just look and ride amazing! (so far)
Before
After Daystar 2.5/1.5, Duratracs and Rockstars installed!
They look and ride amazing so far! Honestly I havent even noticed much difference in the ride. So far my mileage has dropped from 18.5 to 16.1, according to the 4runner's computer. We will see what my calculations come to after this tank runs out...
Cant be happier with how they look and ride though. They were pretty darn spendy though!!
nghiS4
New member
well, the verdict is in... Went with the duratracs! 275/65/18's.
Yes, i had to do some trimming (and lost my front mud flaps) but these things just look and ride amazing! (so far)
before
after daystar 2.5/1.5, duratracs and rockstars installed!
they look and ride amazing so far! Honestly i havent even noticed much difference in the ride. So far my mileage has dropped from 18.5 to 16.1, according to the 4runner's computer. We will see what my calculations come to after this tank runs out...
Cant be happier with how they look and ride though. They were pretty darn spendy though!!
^^^ want !!!
nghiS4
New member
What suspension are you running? I'm close to getting the Toytec Ultimate, with Light Racing UCA's. Have 1.5" All Pro spacers waiting to be put on.
What exactly did you have to do as far as trimming? Also, why'd you decide on 18's? Should I go up?
Was planning on 17's but your truck looks just sooo nice. As far as wheels, I'm undecided, but I'd like matte black somethings. Seeing that you truck is (was) the same as mine (2004 Ltd, even Ti Metallic!), I'd appreciate any advice!
OH, and more pics please!!!
What exactly did you have to do as far as trimming? Also, why'd you decide on 18's? Should I go up?
Was planning on 17's but your truck looks just sooo nice. As far as wheels, I'm undecided, but I'd like matte black somethings. Seeing that you truck is (was) the same as mine (2004 Ltd, even Ti Metallic!), I'd appreciate any advice!OH, and more pics please!!!
kmccrate
New member
What suspension are you running? I'm close to getting the Toytec Ultimate, with Light Racing UCA's. Have 1.5" All Pro spacers waiting to be put on.
What exactly did you have to do as far as trimming? Also, why'd you decide on 18's? Should I go up?
OH, and more pics please!!!
If I had to do it again I would likely just go with some 17's. !8's were kind of a pain in the ass, and pretty hard to find the exact tires I wanted. I actually really like the look of the stock wheels that I had just powdercoated or plasti-dipped!
I put the Daystar 2.5/1.5 suspension spacer lift in. Ive heard that even people that put in the 3" Toytec lift still have to trim a little bit, depending on the tires you get. I had to remove my front mud flaps and move the inner plastic liner on the front forward about 2 inches. It was actually pretty easy.
Ill try to get more pics up tonight!
Thanks and good luck with your build
kmccrate
New member
Update: after a full tank of gas on the new Duratracs, my MPG has dropped only a tiny bit!
I'm still very pleased with the duratracs so far. Only dropped 2mpg so far, although a further break-in period may be needed.
Stock 17's & Toyo H/T tires: 18.5 MPG
18 inch KMC's with Duratracs: 16.5 MPG
I'm still very pleased with the duratracs so far. Only dropped 2mpg so far, although a further break-in period may be needed.
Stock 17's & Toyo H/T tires: 18.5 MPG
18 inch KMC's with Duratracs: 16.5 MPG
kmccrate
New member
Loving them! I think you will be very pleased if thats what you go with.
Here's a couple extra pics. Notice on the front bumper there is a soft peice of black plastic.. its there to prevent water from getting into the lighting areas..
anyways if you unscrew it and do a little bit of cutting, you can just move it forward a few inches and get that extra clearance. you do have to use zip ties, but mine came together really nicely...
just for fun, i threw in some screen headrests and hard-wired my gps unit in the place of where my center speaker used to be. it was a perfect fit!
nghiS4
New member
I'm torn between 265 & 285 Duratracs. Wheel-wise, thinking of the Pro Comp 7089, 17x8, 4.5" backspacing. I wonder if the 285's on 17x8 will be better with rub issues? I'd really like the 285 but if the 265 is much better in terms of rub, I may go with those. You're lookin' good there BTW!
