Should I trade tires?

[brockeverly]

My tire guy called and told me if I want to get my Duratracs or Dynapro MT's we need to do it this week before my 90 days are up on my Geolander ATS. My usage has changed a bit in the recent months to a bit more off road camping trips and rocky terrain. We are also headed through the rockies and to Moab this summer. I pull a camper regularly as well. My commute for work is only around 15 miles, and tire noise won't bother me as my rack and vent visors already add plenty so I won't notice. It will cost me around $400 installed to swap, and I have around $750 into the current tires (paying tax difference and install cost again). WWT4RD?

 

[Okki]

short commute... increased off road usage.. looks (??) sounds to me like you are switching to DuraTracs

My commute is longer and less play time on the weekends.. for that reason I'm considering the Cooper Discover ATP (Cooper Discoverer ATP) Looks to be a happy blend between road and offroad and comes with a 55K warranty.

Just my 2 cents.

Okki

 

[ThirdToy]

My commute is longer and less play time on the weekends.. for that reason I'm considering the Cooper Discover ATP (Cooper Discoverer ATP) Looks to be a happy blend between road and offroad and comes with a 55K warranty.

Okki

I agree. For your needs, it sounds like the Duratracs are your best bet. I am going with the Cooper AT3's however. More down the middle as far as aggressive tread, quietness, life span, ect. I drive approx 37,000 miles a year and need something that will last closer to two years. :boxer:

 

[Mijfwb23]

I just had my duratracs installed today and highly recommend them. They look and drive great.

 

[homeyclaus]

Are you really approaching the limits of your tires with the trips you're taking?

I have Nitto TerraGrapplers and to be honest, I don't every get the feeling I am really limited by the tires. This includes jeep trails in WV, creek crossings, and bombing through axle-deep Kentucky mud.

If I went for something "cooler looking" I would pay the price in terms of mileage, as well as on-road handling. Unless I am driving 50% of my miles and time off-road it's not worth it to me.

 

[Intruder]

The Duratrac is a mountain snowflake tire meaning there's a possibility the rubber is slightly softer for winter conditions. Being in Arizona that might be a bad thing for you as you might experience much faster wear. Anyone have Duratracs in a similar climate that can confirm or deny? I love mine, but you might not need the siping and winter capabilities as much.

Make sure if you're doing any rock crawling to air your tires down. You'll be less likely to puncture them on anything sharp.

 

[Dusty Driftwood]

Are you really approaching the limits of your tires with the trips you're taking?

I have Nitto TerraGrapplers and to be honest, I don't every get the feeling I am really limited by the tires. This includes jeep trails in WV, creek crossings, and bombing through axle-deep Kentucky mud.

If I went for something "cooler looking" I would pay the price in terms of mileage, as well as on-road handling. Unless I am driving 50% of my miles and time off-road it's not worth it to me.

I agree with homeyclaus and would add that I had Geolander ATS's on my last vehicle and they handled everything I threw at them with ease. Granted, I wasn't rock climbing with them, but I did my fair share of camping, exploring and playing in the mud. Plus, as you already know, they have good on-road manners.

For me, I want something more aggressive than the Michelins that came on my 08 so I'm looking at Firestone Destination ATs when I'm ready to replace the Michelins. I have the same "need" for a tire as you. And, I prefer off-road ability without all the noise and big hit in mpg that come with a true off-road/mud-terrain tire.

 

[brockeverly]

I love my Geolander ATS tires, just want to be sure as my window of opportunity is closing. Once sliders go on and possibly a bumper then the tires may look funny. I don't know though.

 

[brockeverly]

A big plus to keeping them is that $400 could go to the other $400 I snuck past the wife and I could get the OME lift now vs telling her why I am spending so much money this month lol

 

[Gerdo]

Why do you want to get out of the Yokos?
That is what I'm running and I do trails that are rated 6, 7, and some 8s without issues. They also hold up great on the rocks. I have thousands of offroad miles and probably 500 miles thru Moab trails.

They are not the butchest looking tire hey they wheel great. No they are not a mud tire but AZ isn't too muddy either.

 

[brockeverly]

I don't really want too outside of looks. They have never let me down.

 

[rouge1]

I went crazy today, Bought 10ply Duratracs in stock 265/70/17 size. I drive 55 miles round trip to work, only problem is the hours I drive are kinda about the same time road crews start working if it snows overnight, so I wanted that extra bit of assurance. The noise is not a big deal (turn up the radio:reddance, I figure a little bit of milage loss is acceptable. I plan on more off-roading, when my work hours change in a couple of months. Of course it chooses to snow today, so I may get to put them to work.:lookout:

 

[Intruder]

I don't really want too outside of looks. They have never let me down.

I'd stick with them then. Who cares what your tires look like if they get you where you want to go and you're happy with them.

 

[JB.]

The Duratrac is a mountain snowflake tire meaning there's a possibility the rubber is slightly softer for winter conditions. Being in Arizona that might be a bad thing...

This point is not trivial, imo.

As an LT, snowflake, Q-speed rated tire, it would be most out of its element in hot weather freeway driving from both a performance and statistical failure rate standpoint.

 

[homeyclaus]

The Duratrac is a mountain snowflake tire meaning there's a possibility the rubber is slightly softer for winter conditions. Being in Arizona that might be a bad thing for you as you might experience much faster wear. Anyone have Duratracs in a similar climate that can confirm or deny? I love mine, but you might not need the siping and winter capabilities as much.

Make sure if you're doing any rock crawling to air your tires down. You'll be less likely to puncture them on anything sharp.

Air down, yes.

Snowflake used to mean softer rubber to keep things pliant in cold temperature, but that was before silica was mixed into the rubber compounds to help with ice traction and overall durability, and rubber compounds now have properties similar to motor oil in that they can get softer as temperature drops rather than harder. If Nokian was doing that 10 years ago, Goodyear will most certainly be doing that now.

The wonders of chemistry. Nokian is one step ahead - they now make synthetic rubber from canola oil. Considering canola oil is four times the price of conventional oil to synthesize rubber from, it does explain their prices a little

 

[brockeverly]

So I am off tomorrow and my buddy wants me to go check out tire prices for his FJ. I really do not know that I can keep myself from getting some different tires. Driving 15k a year, the trade off is not a big deal even if I had to replace them in two or three years. The more researching I do, the more I like the RT03s. One part I did fail to mention, even though I live in a desert climate I routinely go up to Northern AZ in the winter. Once or twice a month in the winter we are out playing in the snow, and the same in the summer camping out in the middle of nowhere.

The 5th gen that Shrockworks showcases is running the RT03's, and IMO they look super mean. The reviews I have read also say they are surprisingly quiet for a MT, and have good tread life. I just won $300 on a lottery scratch off as well, so $118 out of my pocket. If I do not do something, I am sure I am going to be kicking myself for the next 50k+ on these tires. At 15-20k a year, that is a long time of kicking my own ass.

 

[Intruder]

Do it! You know you'll be miserable if you don't.

 

[jca21]

Do it.

 

[brockeverly]

I will have some Hankook Dynapro MT RT03's on tonight it seems. Hopefully they don't cost me much in mileage from the Geolanders. If I hate them, then its Duratracs LMFAO. I am not sure if my tire guy loves me because I buy so much crap, or hates me because I trade so much crap. Hankook gives 30 days to love em or send em back. Goodyear must either know they are the isht or don't care if you hate them LOL.

 

[jca21]

I will have some Hankook Dynapro MT RT03's on tonight it seems. Hopefully they don't cost me much in mileage from the Geolanders. If I hate them, then its Duratracs LMFAO. I am not sure if my tire guy loves me because I buy so much crap, or hates me because I trade so much crap. Hankook gives 30 days to love em or send em back. Goodyear must either know they are the isht or don't care if you hate them LOL.

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