The "Cons" of Duratracs
- Thread starter Gerdo
- Start date
Mike G.
New member
By no means am I knocking the Duratracs, but I recently did some tire shopping and when I went to the tire store they had a set of Duratracs (C load) on display. I checked the sidewall and was really surprised at just how flimsy and thin it was, after seeing that first hand, no way would I mount a set on my truck. To be fair they did not have a set in E load to compare to, most of the complaints have been with the C load tire.
The sidewall failures are real, just do a Google search for ''Duratracs Sidewall'' and then go to images, there are numerous pictures of sidewall failures, more so than any other major tire manufacture.
My shopping ended with me buying a set of Goodyear Authority tires (E Load), which are supposedly based off of the Duratrac tire. I checked the sidewall thickness and was surprised at just how thick and beefy they were, so maybe the E load is the way to go.
Before you say I`m wrong go to a local tire store and compare for yourself, I promise you will not buy the Duratrac in load C range. I tow a camper and do some easy trail riding and I would not trust that tire under my truck . If I could find an E load Duratrac and it was as beefy as the Authority sidewall, I would have no problems buying that tire.
The sidewall failures are real, just do a Google search for ''Duratracs Sidewall'' and then go to images, there are numerous pictures of sidewall failures, more so than any other major tire manufacture.
My shopping ended with me buying a set of Goodyear Authority tires (E Load), which are supposedly based off of the Duratrac tire. I checked the sidewall thickness and was surprised at just how thick and beefy they were, so maybe the E load is the way to go.
Before you say I`m wrong go to a local tire store and compare for yourself, I promise you will not buy the Duratrac in load C range. I tow a camper and do some easy trail riding and I would not trust that tire under my truck . If I could find an E load Duratrac and it was as beefy as the Authority sidewall, I would have no problems buying that tire.
RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
If you look for something you'll find it and I found a few pics of BFGs with sidewall tears. The thing is we don't know the story behind the pictures and yes,the DTs might not be as durable as the BFG's sidewall but it really depends on how hard your pushing a tire since not everybody's off road style is the same.
I know my truck very well and don't do things I know it can't do and I've never been worried about the tires when off road and since the tires still spend most of their life on pavement I really can't complain and they have much better on-road manners (especially in the wet) than any previous set of BFGs I've driven on.
I know my truck very well and don't do things I know it can't do and I've never been worried about the tires when off road and since the tires still spend most of their life on pavement I really can't complain and they have much better on-road manners (especially in the wet) than any previous set of BFGs I've driven on.
rebelbowtie
New member
The real problem for me is the price of duratracs, I can buy proper mud tires for the same price. They are definitely one of the most expensive all terrains on the market.
Doozi
New member
I know a few guys running the C load DuraTracs without issue. I've also seen them take a lot of abuse on trails. The DuraTrac has to be one of the most popular AT tires on the market... in my area, that's all I see! They're on everything from Jeeps to giant diesel Dodge Rams. I would trust the DuraTracs over the WalMart version any day.
RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
I know they've gotten pricey;they used to be in the price range of the Nitto TGs. I got my DTs back in Oct. '09 and out the door they were about $870 with road hazard replacement from Discount,now they are over a grand.
Mike G.
New member
I agree the Duratracs are a great designed AT tire, but go to a tire store and physically compare a Load range C Duratrac against any similar tire and let me know what your thoughts are.
Go and compare a Load range C Duratrac against an E load one and let me know what you think; I could never find the two together to compare them. I was able to do a comparison between the Duratrac C and the Authority E, and there is no comparison. The Duratracs are paper thin and the Authority is thick and confidence inspiring tough.
The hands on comparison is what changed my mind. I would have no problems with a Duratrac tire on my truck if it was an E load and was comparable to other manufactures E load tires, though the cost would be a consideration. I am not trying to knock anybody`s tires, just stating what I have seen and experienced.
t4r4life
Elite Member
^ what he said, my old general grabber AT2 had option of C or E load rating and i went for the E just cuz i thought it might have more layer for the side wall for weight loading, i was right when i peeled mine off and compare it to a duratrac, it was much thicker, also i went to sit on the AT2 and came back from the john and went to sit in the duratrac and the freaking think caved and i ate shit lol
PARunner17
New member
I don't think anyone is advocating C load DT's on a 5th gen. With the extra weight of a 5th gen compared to a 3rd gen I would definitely go E load. A lot of members running C DT's on here are 3rd gens, myself included.
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