How far have you pushed your stock tires?

[sroodtuo]

Lately I've been fretting about the stock Dunlops as the spring and summer camping season approaches. I've known since day one I'd be upgrading my tires but time seems to be moving a little faster as I age and low and behold...

Anyways, with the first trip of the season only a week away, I am resigned to the fact that I will have to venture out with the stockers for the time being. Bummed that I will have to limit my travels for now so as to prevent any unnecessary wear and tear to the local trail system but I'd rather that then not go at all.

That being said I began wondering how far others have pushed their stockers. I can't help but think there must be some stories worth posting and more than a few upset spouses along the way.

 

[cbielat]

Changed mine out within the first few months.

 

[DM4RNR]

I have had incredible luck with my stock Bridgestone. I made it through Rug Rd. in Mammoth AZ with only a pin size hole on the passenger front tire. Also been on a couple trails around Tucson where trails are sharp rocks without any issues. I have upgraded to Toyo M/T in stock size but I think its overkill will be switching to Cooper's new 255/80/17. Below is a link to Rug Rd.
Experience AZ Rug Road

 

[OldSchool1959]

Changed mine out within the first few months.

^
This. I pushed my stock Bridgestone Duelers into the back of a very nice 2011 LE yesterday. They had under 1,200 miles on them and I opted for some Cooper A/Ts. The guy who bought them had about 40K on his original Duelers and they were just about done.

 

[1engineer]

Lately I've been fretting about the stock Dunlops as the spring and summer camping season approaches. I've known since day one I'd be upgrading my tires but time seems to be moving a little faster as I age and low and behold...

Anyways, with the first trip of the season only a week away, I am resigned to the fact that I will have to venture out with the stockers for the time being. Bummed that I will have to limit my travels for now so as to prevent any unnecessary wear and tear to the local trail system but I'd rather that then not go at all.

That being said I began wondering how far others have pushed their stockers. I can't help but think there must be some stories worth posting and more than a few upset spouses along the way.

It only takes about an hour to get new tires.

 

[sroodtuo]

It only takes about an hour to get new tires.

You are correct. But it's the $1000 that should have been spent on the baby (said in my wife's voice) that is causing the delay. :crybaby:

 

[J-BlickPhoto]

Lately I've been fretting about the stock Dunlops as the spring and summer camping season approaches. I've known since day one I'd be upgrading my tires but time seems to be moving a little faster as I age and low and behold...

Anyways, with the first trip of the season only a week away, I am resigned to the fact that I will have to venture out with the stockers for the time being. Bummed that I will have to limit my travels for now so as to prevent any unnecessary wear and tear to the local trail system but I'd rather that then not go at all.

That being said I began wondering how far others have pushed their stockers. I can't help but think there must be some stories worth posting and more than a few upset spouses along the way.

The day I bought my T4R I remember thinking "damn those tires are weak". Two days later my girlfriend and I drove to Cap Rock Canyon TX. On the way, I pulled over to take a photo and when I got out I heard a hissing sound. I looked down and there were two briars sticking out of the front driver side tire. I couldn't believe how easily they punctured. I drove directly to a discount tire and had them replaced. It's my personal opinion/experience that the dun flops are worthless. Unless your T4R is a pavement princess....in that case, ROLL ON!!

 

[sroodtuo]

The day I bought my T4R I remember thinking "damn those tires are weak". Two days later my girlfriend and I drove to Cap Rock Canyon TX. On the way, I pulled over to take a photo and when I got out I heard a hissing sound. I looked down and there were two briars sticking out of the front driver side tire. I couldn't believe how easily they punctured. I drove directly to a discount tire and had them replaced. It's my personal opinion/experience that the dun flops are worthless. Unless your T4R is a pavement princess....in that case, ROLL ON!!

Sad but true regards in the Dunlops. Too bad Toyota doesn't save us the trouble at least on the trail edition. It should be like buying a rubicon and getting a complete package ready for trail use.

 

[1engineer]

Sad but true regards in the Dunlops. Too bad Toyota doesn't save us the trouble at least on the trail edition. It should be like buying a rubicon and getting a complete package ready for trail use.

Why? There would be just as many complaints no matter what tire was chosen. Someone would want an "AT" or a "MT" or a "C" or "E" or a "285" or endless possibilities. I know Rubicon owners complain about the MT tire their Jeep's come with and we would be no different.

I stayed on the hard and easy dirt roads until I could get a decent tire. The stock tires do not clear mud at all.

 

[sroodtuo]

Why? There would be just as many complaints no matter what tire was chosen. Someone would want an "AT" or a "MT" or a "C" or "E" or a "285" or endless possibilities. I know Rubicon owners complain about the MT tire their Jeep's come with and we would be no different.

I stayed on the hard and easy dirt roads until I could get a decent tire. The stock tires do not clear mud at all.

Why? Because it is a "trail edition." They give you the electronics and a few other things but not the single most important thing to a vehicle- tires. I'm not advocating they come with MTs but some decent ATs would be nice. As for jeep owners complaining about the BFGs, that's likely because jeep owners complain about everything that isn't 37s and made of 1/4" steel. I was one until I traded in my Rubi for my TE.

 

[Intruder]

I never drove on the stock Dunlops at all. The dealership bought them back from me before they'd had a single klick on them. If it had come with BFGs I would've done the same thing, whether they were KM2s or TA KOs.

 

[WV runner]

I pushed mine right to my local tire dealer and put on a set of Michelin AT2 E load range and then sold the Dunlops to a guy at work for his wifes Tahoe. This all happened in the first 300 miles. Michelins did very well during many snowy and icy drives to work in the last 3 months and are pretty quiet for the tread pattern.

 

[RickC5]

Got rid of the Dunflops on the second day after we bought the truck. Replaced them with Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs in the stock size. Did an off-road drive later that day and the Duratracs worked marvelously. Discount tire gave me $75 per tire--total $300--for the Dunflops.

Our salesperson stated that: "Those OEM tires just aren't the same quality that you can buy at a tire store, and you will be lucky to get 20K miles out of them."

 

[Shawk00]

Got rid of the Dunflops on the second day after we bought the truck. Replaced them with Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs in the stock size. Did an off-road drive later that day and the Duratracs worked marvelously. Discount tire gave me $75 per tire--total $300--for the Dunflops.

Our salesperson stated that: "Those OEM tires just aren't the same quality that you can buy at a tire store, and you will be lucky to get 20K miles out of them."

Your truck looks great with those wheels/tires! I picked up a set of those wheels as well and am thinking about that tire for my Silver LE. Your 4Runner looks like there is no lift? I'll probably leave mine alone as well at this point... thanks

 

[toyorgy]

Got rid of the Dunflops on the second day after we bought the truck. Replaced them with Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs in the stock size. Did an off-road drive later that day and the Duratracs worked marvelously. Discount tire gave me $75 per tire--total $300--for the Dunflops.

Our salesperson stated that: "Those OEM tires just aren't the same quality that you can buy at a tire store, and you will be lucky to get 20K miles out of them."

I got a gravel puncture the next day from just driving on a gravel road with Duratracs. The rock was imbedded in the tread. I think the rubber compound is really soft which may help for the snowflake rating.

I then got two more rock punctures all within 30k miles. Two tires never made it past 30k because they were not repairable.

I'm having good luck and great traction with Treadwright Guard Dog tires with Kedge Grip.

 

[GiGi's 1996]

I put about 3000 miles on the good 'ol "Grandteks" before replacing with some E rated Toyo Open Country A/T II's.
Did we push our luck with them....yes, and we made it unscathed, thankfully.

We took 4R to Sedona and went up Broken Arrow trail and up Schnebly Hill Road (not maintained like the trail books say).

On Broken Arrow trail we made it most of the way up the trail. "Slipped" a little bit on slick rocks when using the A-TRAC. Two bummers about that trail, 1. I got a couple/few "Arizona pinstripes" from the brush on the sides of the narrow trail (totally worth it, they'll buff right out and 2. we had to turn around at about the point of the picture because my daughter started freaking out and was scared....oh well.

Tell your wife, I can say this because I am a wife and Mom too, that your family needs the better tires for the safety of the family!... And I liked getting $300 out of the Grandteks on Craigslist and help paying for the new ones.

I do not miss the Grandteks. At all.

 

[Loopsb]

I'm not about to find out how far I can take them. 380 miles and my new tires, LT285/70/17s, are going on tomorrow

 

[RickC5]

Your truck looks great with those wheels/tires! I picked up a set of those wheels as well and am thinking about that tire for my Silver LE. Your 4Runner looks like there is no lift? I'll probably leave mine alone as well at this point... thanks

Thanks! We were surprised at how much better it looked with the more aggressive tires. I also took off the OEM side steps, as we are both tall enough that we didn't need them, and all they do is get our pants dirty.

No lift yet, but I will be visiting our local suspension shop soon to find out about a 1-1.5" lift. I'm thinking Bilstein 5100s.

We banged the front skid plate twice on that run, so it now has some battle scars. I noted that the factory AND aftermarket skid plates for a KDSS-equipped 4Runner are about an inch lower (maybe more) than non-KDSS to clear that massive sway bar & associated hardware. Another reason for a small lift.

 

[ant-ny]

I got 25K out of the Dunlops. I thought they were ok for city driving, but pretty bad in snow and ice. I did very light off roading with them. Got a cut in the sidewall a few months ago on one of them and changed them out with Nitto Terra Grappler. Difference in snow is night and day and I wish I had done it sooner.

correction: they are Nitto CrossTek, not Terra Grapplers.

 

[Davemon]

Did Engineer pass outside of Ouray, in my bone-stock rig with the factory Bridgestones, when I first go it. No problem. Ran them for almost 30,000 miles after that.