Tire Opinions

[blkexp98]

I know this topic comes up often but tires are changing all the time as are the amount of users experience. I need to replace my tires due to dry rot and they are getting close to smooth on the tread. My current tires are Michelins Cross terrains in a 275/55 R18 size. I see now they don't make the tire or the size so I need to find something different. I am now looking at the 265/60 R18 size. While reading over the forums I did see the sticky about the different size spare causing an issue. I really don't have the extra money but should that be replaced given the issue and the age? The tires are the original ones from 2007.

I have been reading various posts and think I want to stay away from the Dynapro's and some of the more mud tires due to noise. I would say 80% of my driving is on road but I would like to have the capability for some mild offroad or snow. I used to have a set of the BFG all terrains and I loved the look but they just didn't do it for in wet weather so im marking those off the list.

Here are a few I found that may be options:

Michelin LTX M/S2
Michelin LTX A/T2
BFG Rugged Terrain T/A
Nitto Dura Grappler
Yokohama Geolander A/T

For another issue what are yall using as tire protectant? I have heard Armorall is bad so I have been using 303 protectant and Zaino brand tire dressing. With using those two back and forth I still have significant dry rot to the point I probably shouldn't be using the vehicle.

So what do yall think?

 

[fourwd1]

Of those in your list I'd say the Yoko's or BFG's.
Just my .02

 

[blkexp98]

I have been reading through the post about the Toyo Open Country AT2 tires and think I may add that to the list. Im a little worried about the sound levels since I am on the highway a fair amount though.

 

[WXman]

I haven't run the Toyo ATII but I have run the AT which has virtually the same tread pattern and it was very quiet on the road and rolled smooth.

Another tire that was silent on the road but had good traction was the Firestone Destination AT. That's an excellent choice.

The Falken Wildpeak AT is also silent on the road. Many people like it a lot and swear by them. I didn't like them much but then again I had different expectations from the tire.

The Hankook ATM does make a little noise, but it's not loud and it's hands down one of the best SUV tires on the market.

The Cooper Discoverer AT3 is the best, and that's what I'd recommend. But there are some other good choices like the Kumho SAT, Goodyear SR-A, and Mastercraft Courser AT2.

I'd personally stay away from Michelin or BFGoodrich (same company) because they are over-priced and as you have personally seen they have dry rotting issues earlier than most brands due to harder rubber compound.

I'd go with a new tire like the Cooper AT3 or Toyo ATII since they use a modern silica compound and will wear very well while providing awesome traction that a HT tire can't give you. Plus, they are very inexpensive.

Try discounttiredirect.com or treaddepot.com for the lowest prices.

 

[blkexp98]

Those Cooper tires do look nice but they don't have a size I can use without a lift. Having 18" wheels really hurts your options. I remember reading a good many posts about the Hankook ATM's but I thought they had issues ones they got some wear on them. I thought they either just got loud or got loud and didnt have as good of traction. I could be wrong though and will look them up since there is a good amount of info on them here.

Edited to add:

Looks like the The Hankook ATM's don't have a size that will work in 18" either.

 

[Tig]

Those Cooper tires do look nice but they don't have a size I can use without a lift. Having 18" wheels really hurts your options. I remember reading a good many posts about the Hankook ATM's but I thought they had issues ones they got some wear on them. I thought they either just got loud or got loud and didnt have as good of traction. I could be wrong though and will look them up since there is a good amount of info on them here.

Edited to add:

Looks like the The Hankook ATM's don't have a size that will work in 18" either.

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Hankook - in Europe they recently launched the Dynapro HP2 RA33 (not to be confused with the RA23 that they replaced.

I'm on my third Surf (T4R) having previously owned two Gen 2's & now on my Gen 3 - I was so impressed by the independent reviews that I decided to replace all corners with the RA33........three weeks on & I have to say I'm stunned at what these tyres deliver.

Wet grip is unprecedented with noise at highway speeds down to a minimum......oddly no squealing when pushed cornering on hot tarmac?????? - also there's a very strong tyre odour, unlike I've ever come across before.

I wouldn't know if these tyres are available in the US but I do know that they are also produced for 18" rims.

.

My verdict?.....holy crap, tyres have just been re-invented.

 

[WXman]

Those Cooper tires do look nice but they don't have a size I can use without a lift. Having 18" wheels really hurts your options. I remember reading a good many posts about the Hankook ATM's but I thought they had issues ones they got some wear on them. I thought they either just got loud or got loud and didnt have as good of traction. I could be wrong though and will look them up since there is a good amount of info on them here.

Edited to add:

Looks like the The Hankook ATM's don't have a size that will work in 18" either.

One time in my life I've read a review where somebody wasn't happy with the Hankooks and it was on this forum.

Everybody else on the planet seems to love them. I actually had another set of them on order...but they were backordered so I ended up trying the Kenda MTs this time around.

 

[blkexp98]

I went back to the hankook site and see a P rated tire now in my size. Before when I looked all I saw were the LT tires. Ill look more into them now that I see the size is avaliable. I called the local tire shop to get a price on the Hankooks and the Coopers and he said Cooper did have my size in that too so I dont know what I was looking at not to find it on their sites. They also said that they could order the Hankooks but ill have to pay the shipping since they dont have that size at ~$230 a pop installed. That seemed a little high to me but when I asked about the Coopers he had those in stock and said they install them (the A/T 3's) often and have good feedback. They were ~ $200 installed per tire which was pretty close to the Toyo price I had.

I have been doing my research and still am a on the fence on the Toyo A/T II's, the Hankook ATM's and the Cooper A/T3's. Im a little turned off at the price of the Hankooks vs the others and am a little leary of buying tires and bringing them to the shop. It seems like that puts me at more risk if anything doesn't work out with them and just not on the best terms to start with. With the Toyos They have a satisfaction guarantee but I assume ill have to have to pay for them to be removed or shipped back to Toyo. Not to mention the time ill have to deal with all of it. If I like the tires it wont be an issue but from what ive been reading the Toyos need a break in period to start to handle better.

 

[Tig]

Holy shit, you guys pay a lot for your tyres - I just paid £109 ($170) balanced/fitted for Hankooks........mind you, having said that it costs us £102 ($160) to fill a Gen 3 tank up with diesel.

A litre of diesel is on average £1.46 ($2.29) over here :crazy:

 

[blkexp98]

Well I bit the bullet and bought a set of 5 Cooper AT3's. So far they seem good but I have been babying them on the turns. No offroading or rain yet so I cant speak on that but noise wise its just a minimal sound. Its hard to explain but sounds like air blowing out of a fan without the fan motor sound. So overall I am pretty happy right now. They are definitely a stiffer sidewall than my Cross Terrains so I feel that but its not a big deal. Maybe it will help my handling .

I thought about going with the 265/65R18's but decided I didnt want to mess with myself and my wife having to figure the 3 to 5 mph speed difference on the highway. So 265/60R18 it was so the speedometer is only 1 to 2 mph off now. Ill try to put up an update after I get some time and experience on the tires.

 

[WXman]

For what it's worth, you can order a set of 5 Cooper AT3s in the 265/60-18 size and have them delivered to your door right now for $655, after discounts and rebates. Actually, it would be $605 if you ask for the forum member discount.

I hope you didn't pay much more than $650 for the tires alone. Then you can get them mounted and balanced at Walmart or somewhere else local for $12.50 per tire.

Just FYI.

The Cooper AT3 is a great tire. The deals on discounttiredirect.com are so good that I'm considering buying a set myself just to tuck away in the garage for a while.

 

[Saberman]

Cooper Discover AT3 .............. Crazy nice tires... Might be the best.....
If you want to keep your tire you can. Period.......