Newbie with a Tire Question

[maze446]

I am picking up my new 4Runner SE 4x4 on Friday and I am pretty excited. I was browsing this site and founds multiple threads dealing with the Dunlop AT20 tires than happen to come standard on my truck. After reading all the negative reviews on this site and Tirerack.com, I voiced my concern to the dealer. He said that they have switched out tires before but he is going to get back to me tomorrow when he checks with the general manager.

Assuming I can swap tires, the two I have to choose from are the Bridgestone Dueler H/T 840 and the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV. I'm limited to those two because I am not going to buy new tires and I can get those off another 4Runner on the lot for free.

I don't plan on doing too much off-road driving but I do live in upstate NY and we get quite a bit of snow.

Which one would you guys (and girls) recommend?

 

[pickerdd]

I'd go with the Michelin CT's.

David

 

[nyc4runnin]

ya dude dunflops suck ass.

get some bridgestone revos !

 

[sharp4runr]

Go with the Michelins. Very nice tires.

 

[RL4673]

Michelin's. Had them on my '04. They were nice.

 

[Kmvreter]

ya dude dunflops suck ass.

get some bridgestone revos !

Revo's aren't one of his free options.
Mich CT is the way to go. Quiet, smooth and long wearing. Summer and winter.

 

[Thai]

Michelin by a long shot!

 

[Uneek]

Michelin CTs. I got them as stock.

 

[maze446]

Well, I got a call back from the dealer today and they said they would not be able to switch the tires on my 4Runner. Big suprise, huh?

The salesperson gave me some BS about not wanting to risk damaging the wheels on the vehicles. I responded by saying that doesn't bode well for the confidence they have in their mechanics if they can't perform a simple tire exchange without damaging the wheel.

Looks like I'll be going elsewhere for service when the truck needs it.

Anyways, thanks for the tire suggestions. I'll keep them in mind if the Dunlops turn out to be as bad as everyone says.

 

[maze446]

Sorry, but I have one last question. I know that most people don't have a high opinion about the Dunlop but I imagine it is all relative.

Here is what I mean: for the past 3 years, I've driven an 2003 Acura 3.2 TL with all season Bridgestone Turanzas. I feel like that car was pretty good in the snow. Being from Buffalo, I know a lot about snow driving.

I got the 4Runner because I wanted more security in snowy conditions but, just from reading all the opinions and ratings, I feel like the first inch of snow or rain is going to send my truck off the road. Am I being paranoid here or do the Dunlops really suck that bad?

 

[Kmvreter]

Well, I got a call back from the dealer today and they said they would not be able to switch the tires on my 4Runner. Big suprise, huh?

The salesperson gave me some BS about not wanting to risk damaging the wheels on the vehicles. I responded by saying that doesn't bode well for the confidence they have in their mechanics if they can't perform a simple tire exchange without damaging the wheel.

Looks like I'll be going elsewhere for service when the truck needs it.

Anyways, thanks for the tire suggestions. I'll keep them in mind if the Dunlops turn out to be as bad as everyone says.

BS is right. Let them know you are taking your service business elsewhere because they obviously can't do a simple tire rotation. See how they react and press them on it.

 

[Kmvreter]

Sorry, but I have one last question. I know that most people don't have a high opinion about the Dunlop but I imagine it is all relative.

Here is what I mean: for the past 3 years, I've driven an 2003 Acura 3.2 TL with all season Bridgestone Turanzas. I feel like that car was pretty good in the snow. Being from Buffalo, I know a lot about snow driving.

I got the 4Runner because I wanted more security in snowy conditions but, just from reading all the opinions and ratings, I feel like the first inch of snow or rain is going to send my truck off the road. Am I being paranoid here or do the Dunlops really suck that bad?

I live in the great white north but you are in even more of a snow belt. I put BFG's on other wheels just for winter because I didn't want to run in 4x4 all winter with the Dunflop's (they would slip all the time and set off the VSC; depends on your driving style.) No reason to be paranoid about going off the road. The T4R is very capable with any tire, unless you are on worn slicks. Just put it in 4x4 and go. Tell the salesman to get off his @$$ and get the stealership to swap to Mich CT's. Any chance of looking elsewhere and not closing the deal? That would be sweet and put egg on their face.

 

[Uneek]

Sorry, but I have one last question. I know that most people don't have a high opinion about the Dunlop but I imagine it is all relative.

Here is what I mean: for the past 3 years, I've driven an 2003 Acura 3.2 TL with all season Bridgestone Turanzas. I feel like that car was pretty good in the snow. Being from Buffalo, I know a lot about snow driving.

I got the 4Runner because I wanted more security in snowy conditions but, just from reading all the opinions and ratings, I feel like the first inch of snow or rain is going to send my truck off the road. Am I being paranoid here or do the Dunlops really suck that bad?

They probably don't want to swap the wheels because of the TPMS, either having to reprogram it with your truck or remounting the tires on the rims and run a chance of damaging one out of eight TPMS sensors. (Toyota list their sensors in the neighborhood of $100. I think Honda's TPMS is the same which is about $20.) Or they know that the Dunflops aren't good and no one wants it, but since they're on your truck they want you to take them.

When the dealer scuffed a rim on my dad's old Chevy back in 2000, they were reluctant to swap it, but we said we're not taking the car then, they changed the wheel.

 

[jrc_bar]

If you have the option of changing tires at the dealer do so.
I bought my truck in late march, and in the past 3 weeks I have had two flat tires. Actually yesterday on a Highway one of the Dunlops blew doing 70 mph. Now I'm in the same problem of finding something safe to put my Toyota in. Regarding the TPMS, I wonder if its not like BMW's, I have an M3 and had also a couple of flat tires and found out that the TPMS is actually a computer that monitors the rpm of each tire. If a tire increases RPM more than the other ones I think... the TPMS turns the warning lamp on.
I would like to think is that way because the tires or wheels do not have any sensor mounted on them.

On the other hand... can any one suggest the proper tire preasure on the bad Dunlop Grand Treck tires the Runner has?

 

[Kmvreter]

If you have the option of changing tires at the dealer do so.
I bought my truck in late march, and in the past 3 weeks I have had two flat tires. Actually yesterday on a Highway one of the Dunlops blew doing 70 mph. Now I'm in the same problem of finding something safe to put my Toyota in. Regarding the TPMS, I wonder if its not like BMW's, I have an M3 and had also a couple of flat tires and found out that the TPMS is actually a computer that monitors the rpm of each tire. If a tire increases RPM more than the other ones I think... the TPMS turns the warning lamp on.
I would like to think is that way because the tires or wheels do not have any sensor mounted on them.

On the other hand... can any one suggest the proper tire preasure on the bad Dunlop Grand Treck tires the Runner has?

Search the forums. The TPMS is part of the base of the valve stem. It works on a radio frequency to communicate pressure to an ECU. Early sensor systems worked on RPM differentials but those have been abandoned due to lawsuits (failure to perform correctly.)

Inflate the Dunflops to the label on the door pillar and start looking for other tires (Mich CT's preferred.)

 

[jrc_bar]

Search the forums. The TPMS is part of the base of the valve stem. It works on a radio frequency to communicate pressure to an ECU. Early sensor systems worked on RPM differentials but those have been abandoned due to lawsuits (failure to perform correctly.)

Inflate the Dunflops to the label on the door pillar and start looking for other tires (Mich CT's preferred.)

Thanks for the info, I did the search and found a thread that shows a diagram of the system.

Regarding tires... what about Bridgestones or Pirellis?

 

[JungleJim]

Well, I got a call back from the dealer today and they said they would not be able to switch the tires on my 4Runner. Big suprise, huh?

The two tires you mentioned would be a different size than the Dunlops.

 

[maze446]

The two tires you mentioned would be a different size than the Dunlops.

No, they were all 265/65/17. All the SR5s on the lot had the optional 17" wheels.

 

[Bluto]

A local Toyota dealer has a 'buy 3 tires, 4th tire is $1.'

I had them give me a quote on the Revo. The only bridgestone they offered was the Dueler H/T 840. The supplier never heard of a Revo. I told them no thanks.

Dealers sell Toyota vehicles and parts. Go to a tire store for tires.


maze446,

Some tire stores will pay for 'new' used tires. Some members have had luck getting store credit for their Dunlops. Call around.