Need new tires for '01 SR5, don't know what to buy!

[Peakester]

So the tires on my 2001 SR5 are about 6 years old and I need to replace them within the next week or two. I've never purchased tires only, so I want to make sure I get some that suit the 4Runner well. I don't put more than 15K miles on the vehicle each year, but I'd like to find some that will last 70K or more. I go camping/hiking a good bit, but mostly drive on the highway to and from work (with the occasional weekend road trip). Any recommendations?

(FYI - I had Michelin LTX M/S2's on my last 4Runner, but they were purchased through the dealership so I never had to do any shopping for those. I got about 100,000 miles out of them and they had plenty of tread left before I totaled the vehicle.)

Thanks in advance for any help you veterans can provide!

 

[GHARP57]

You cant go wrong with the longevity of the MS2's go to tirerack and they can help you alot

 

[Brique]

I'm very pleased with my Cooper discoverer at3 tires.

 

[EvilMole]

I'm very pleased with my Cooper discoverer at3 tires.

I just got 5 of these put on last week. I went with LT265/75/16's, C rated. So far so good. They're a little louder than the 8 year old Michelin's they replaced, but I expected more of what I call a truck sound from them. They do feel the road a little more, but I haven't checked or played with the air pressures yet. Haven't even checked what Discount aired them up to.

 

[Brique]

yeah, I have the exact same size and sidewall. I like 39 psi (why not just 40 like everyone else? Dunno, the 1 difference seems to be a bit better).

They're definitely louder than a street tread, but the quietest at tire I've heard.

 

[AZ07Runner]

If you drive 15k a year, Michelin LTX M&Ss would be the way to go. They are expensive, but you get your money out of them as you found out with your previous experience with them.

I, too, have the Cooper AT3, but they are a 55k tire and mpg will go down.

 

[jawga4runner]

I'm happy with my 265/75 BFG rugged terrains. Very little highway noise compared to other tires I've had. Handle wet vvvery well, they're pretty much a step below BFG all terrains, but I'm like you most miles are road with a couple camp trips every month.

 

[Peakester]

Thanks!

I'll probably stick with the Michelin LTX. I was in no way disappointed with the last set, I just wanted to see what everyone else was driving on. I'll double check to make sure they inflate them to 39 PSI.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[shadow247]

You cant go wrong with the longevity of the MS2's go to tirerack and they can help you alot

There's a reason Michelin is the usually the most expensive tire. Because they are the best. The MS2's are nearly bulletproof daily driver tires. I've got them on my Land Cruiser and plan to run them again. I haven't had a chance to test them on any sort of mud of trail, but they are fantastic on the highway.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

So informative! Now all we need is a shock thread. :lie:

 

[ridefast]

Michelin ltx ms2 will suit you well friend. (This is what im runnin) Maybe consider yokohama geolander at-s.

 

[Vwright14]

Duratrac all the Things! But no really...the Michy's will last a long time but we see a lot of dryrot out of them over time....usually before the tire is even close to worn out. The P metric size Toyo AT's have a 65k mile treadwear rating.

 

[ridefast]

Also check craigslist. I guarantee you there are guys selling OEM take offs wheel and tire sets for $600ish with less than 10,000 miles on them.

 

[GHARP57]

There's a reason Michelin is the usually the most expensive tire. Because they are the best. The MS2's are nearly bulletproof daily driver tires. I've got them on my Land Cruiser and plan to run them again. I haven't had a chance to test them on any sort of mud of trail, but they are fantastic on the highway.

haha i took my runner out on my ms/2s aired down to 29 pounds and didnt get stuck. few of the guys here can vouch i handled the mud and rocks perfectly!

 

[Peakester]

Hankook

I went with the Hankook Dynapro HT. I got an amazing deal I couldn't turn down. So far, the ride is way smoother than the Yokohama Geolander's they replaced.

Couldn't swing the Michelin's this time. :cry2:

 

[giro]

Time for another set on my '92, with the last 2 sets I bought and the set before that all being BFG A/T, one of the only ones with the severe snow rating. We're in Tahoe now, and on an average year we get 300 inches of snow. I'm not commuting over the mountain anymore, but not sliding around town and not worrying about getting across town to the ski resort on a snow day is important to me.

At the same time, I don't know how much longer I'm going to keep my '92, though we're only driving it 3k/year now. So I just bought a pair of 17" 4runner wheels, to put fresh tires on instead of my 15's. That way I can bring my tires (and their warranties) with me if I upgrade to a newer 4runner or Tacoma. (tried putting the 15's on a '98 I had, but the '98 had larger brakes so they wouldn't fit)

Anyway, it looks like the BFG A/T got rid of their warranties, and with how quickly our tires wear down that's nearly a requirement for me. The BFG's had a 55k warranty, and I'm only at 25k. I was stuck on a trail once and spun the tires a bit, but I don't think I wore them down that much that day.

Looking at Tire Rack, comparing warranties and their surveys, I'm looking at the General Grabber AT 2 or the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus. The General is ranked just above the BFG KO which I have (though the new KO2 is ranked the best, though with only limited testing so far, and would likely be my choice again if it had a warranty, or if I didn't wear through the last 2 pair so quick), and should be a little better on light or deep snow and on ice. OTOH, the Dueler is less of an off-road tire, and so while it beats the BFG on most things, and matches it on ice, it doesn't do quite as well on light or deep snow.

Truthfully, I don't drive off-road very often, and now can stay in on the worst days. Ice traction is important to me, though I have a pair of studded tires from a neighbor that I could also use if I bought another pair of 17" rims for them. So I'm leaning towards the Bridgestone's.

Different people have different tire needs. But for snow and ice, these look like they should be pretty good.

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

I wouldn't change using BFG's especially the new KO2's they are amazing and even though they may not state 55k warranty they still will back it up and if you really want a warranty buy the tires from Americas Tire and if you get their full coverage on the set of tires which is 28 bucks per tire that anything thing at all happens even thread wearing quicker than stated ,blow outs, chunked out bad etc and they can't fix the tire they replace it no questions asked all for another 28 bucks cause your gonna want the coverage for that replacement...Ask me how I know.

the last few 3 day desert runs this has happened a couple times ...but when I get home I take it to my local Americas Tires and just hand them my 28 bucks. Oh yeah and when these strange blow outs seem to just happen must be a sidewall defect if my rim gets damaged from the mishaps they cover that to..it needs to be structurly damaged loss of integrity "before" you try to get your beat up scuffed scrapped rim (as seen in pic) also covered with no questions asked.

 

[giro]

Yep, I've been using America's Tire company, which is Discount Tire company here in NV. When I bought my 4runner 11 years ago the previous owner had his tires from there and had the add-on warranties. They said my tires were in fine shape even though I was ready to shell out for a new set, but then coming down i-5 near Shasta it lost a diagonal chunk of tread, maybe 10" x 3". It still held air so I crawled to the next exit and changed it out there, and then ATC paid for one of my new 4 tires.

They also match prices, match other rebates, and you can even haggle with them. I added sipping on the previous Sienna tires, and got the $10/tire fee down to $1 each net. They don't like to deal if you're getting a warranty replacement though, and it depends on who you talk with.

OTOH, the last time I had mine rotated, they didn't hand me back my lug nut lock key, instead apparently leaving it on the running board. Eventually they found it by the stop sign where I turned, after looking for it for 20 minutes on the 2nd time I returned and swearing that they gave it to me. Other than that, and sometimes long waits even when I have the kids there with me, they've been a great place that has been just as good to me or possibly better than Costco, which is also pretty good but with long waits.

Still leaning towards the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus (265/70 R17, looks to be stock size on 2007 and 2015, and close to the circumference of the 31x10.5 R15's I've used), and then a pair or set of studded tires if they don't do as well for me in the snow and ice as I expect.

 

[Ghaddan]

I purchased the Nitto Grappler tires 285/17/17 MT. Love them on the rocks, and in the snow!

 

[paulndot]

X's 2 on the BFG KO2's. I had the General Grabbers before, and though I really thought they were better on -road ('07 FJ Cruiser). The BFG's I have on the T4R are better suited off road. BFG A/T KO2 in 275/70/17.