Tread Depth Question / Interesting Tire Measurements...

[Mick1]

I have Goodyear Duratrac tires. 265-70-17, C load, with about 37K miles.

The listed tread depth when new is 18/32", and the website says this is measured from outer edge to the grooves in the tire.

Link here:
Wrangler DuraTrac Tires | Goodyear Tires

I just want to confirm that I understand this correctly.

This 18/32" is the distance from the outer edge to the DEEPEST grooves in the tire right?

Not the distance between the outer edge and the WEAR-BAR groove, correct?

If so, the total USABLE tread depth when new would be 12/32". From outer edge to the Wear-bar.

My tires currently have 11/32" total, and 5/32" to the wear-bar groove.

So I have used 7/32", or 58% of the tires possible 12/32" usable depth in the approximate 37,000 miles I have on them.

All other things equal, this would extrapolate out to ~63,000 miles if worn down to the tread bars.

 

[eddiebx]

I am not sure if I am following how you are measuring exactly? What do you mean the "outer edge"; like the outer edge as in the tread block closest to the sidewall? Or the outer edge, as in the tallest part of each tread block?

But yes to measure the remaining tread you would take the measurement from the tallest part of the tread block down to the lowest part on the surface of the tire; and not to the wear bar. I think the wear bar means it's ~2/32" left (or maybe it was ~4/32").

With the Duratracs you have to pay attention where you are sticking the measuring tip because if you look carefully on the surface of the tire between the tread grooves there are tiny raised gripping things (for lack of a better description ) molded on to the surface and that can throw off your measurement by a 1-2/32". I think these are molded in for snow traction, since I've only noticed them on my various snow tires.

With that said, I think it is also a good idea to measure a few points all around the tire and take the average; what I do is measure the inner/outer tread blocks and also the center tread blocks. That way you can tell if you are wearing them evenly or not and also have a better overall reading on remaining tread depth.

Lastly, I measured my E load 265/70R17 Duratracs just now with ~2000 miles on them, and i have roughly 16-17/32" left all around. So I would venture to say they probably started off at the advertised 18/32" depth.

Edit: I read your original post wrong, I thought you meant you only had 12/32" new :hiding:

 

[marlin driver]

Try taking the square root of the temperature differential between the cold tires and warm tires and multiply it by the rubber density, then see what that does to your calculations.

On the other hand, you can just drive the car until the tires are worn out, then buy new ones.

Both methods are equally effective.

 

[WV runner]

By my calculations using this NEW math, I say you will not get 63,000 miles out of those tires but will get 62,697.5 miles give or take a few tenths......................Seriously, drive them you think they are worn out and buy new ones. Goodyear makes them everyday. I never make it to the wear bars because tires are generally shot before then and get slippery or hydroplane in the rain. Don't put youself or your family in jeapordy trying to get the last few miles out of set of tires.

 

[eddiebx]

Heavens forbid Mick1 takes time out of his day to provide some statistics for the guys wondering approximately how long a set of Duratracs would last on a 4runner.

 

[1engineer]

Heavens forbid Mick1 takes time out of his day to provide some statistics for the guys wondering approximately how long a set of Duratracs would last on a 4runner.

I agree and kudos to @Mick1 for doing this. Lots of guys running these and curious on longevity of the tire.

 

[agjake01]

Thanks for the info, was wondering the expected lifespan of the Duratracs as I'm going to pick up a set soon.

 

[adam2562]

Thanks for the info, was wondering the expected lifespan of the Duratracs as I'm going to pick up a set soon.

what color is your truck? i see you're nearby! i'm also going to get Duratrac's soon!

 

[agjake01]

what color is your truck? i see you're nearby! i'm also going to get Duratrac's soon!

I've got a Mag Grey with blacked out SR5 wheels and grill. Daily driver on 270 in to the city, I'll keep an eye out for your rig! What size Duratracs are you going with? Still running the stock Dunlops? At 33k on mine and trying to decide when I need to hang them up.

 

[scanny]

I like Mick1's calculations, I'm truly hope that my tires will be good for over 60,000 miles. So far I have them for about 20,000 miles and 60,000 seems to be realistic so far.

 

[adam2562]

I've got a Mag Grey with blacked out SR5 wheels and grill. Daily driver on 270 in to the city, I'll keep an eye out for your rig! What size Duratracs are you going with? Still running the stock Dunlops? At 33k on mine and trying to decide when I need to hang them up.

Im gonna go with 285's.. im at 36k on my trail. Probably gonna lift it soon too for the big dogs event

 

[agjake01]

Im gonna go with 285's.. im at 36k on my trail. Probably gonna lift it soon too for the big dogs event

If you go with 285s before a lift try using a heat gun to reshape the fenders rather than cutting them, I seem to remember reading on a thread where someone recommended this. Let me know if you find a good deal on the Duratracs, I haven't seen anything online better than Tire Rack yet. King VW charged me $15-20 a tire to mount and balance the last set I purchased and drop shipped for my VW, imagine they'd do a good job on the T4R. Not a fan of Fitzgerald..

 

[adam2562]

If you go with 285s before a lift try using a heat gun to reshape the fenders rather than cutting them, I seem to remember reading on a thread where someone recommended this. Let me know if you find a good deal on the Duratracs, I haven't seen anything online better than Tire Rack yet. King VW charged me $15-20 a tire to mount and balance the last set I purchased and drop shipped for my VW, imagine they'd do a good job on the T4R. Not a fan of Fitzgerald..

I'm probably gonna do the lift and tires at the same time . I used to work at 355 toyota so I've got guys there to mount the tires and I'll probably do the suspension myself.. yea tirerack/discounttire are about the same price I've noticed and cheapest

 

[Mick1]

Update:

I had my duratrac tires rotated a few thousand miles ago. The guy also tried to "balance" them even though they were running perfect. He did a horrible job.

Weights in multiple spots on the wheel. Steering wheel was shaking. After 2 trips back to same shop and a third trip to another location I still had a slight but annoying vibe. I even noticed some uneven wear starting on the rear tires. At different times these duratrac tires gave me some balance issues. When they were smooth they rode great.

Tires have 45,000 miles on them, but a good amount of tread left. They have gotten progressively louder recently.

Tire shop offered $40 each credit. So $160. Wow. :yo:

I recall I originally spent $986 on the duratrac tires. $986-$160= $826 net divide by 45,000 miles =$0.018 per mile. Cheap

I got a good deal on 4 new BFG 285-70-17 load E. They ride super quite and smooth compared to the duratracs with 45,000 miles on them.

 

[simonj]

Update:

I had my duratrac tires rotated a few thousand miles ago. The guy also tried to "balance" them even though they were running perfect. He did a horrible job.

Weights in multiple spots on the wheel. Steering wheel was shaking. After 2 trips back to same shop and a third trip to another location I still had a slight but annoying vibe. I even noticed some uneven wear starting on the rear tires. At different times these duratrac tires gave me some balance issues. When they were smooth they rode great.

Tires have 45,000 miles on them, but a good amount of tread left. They have gotten progressively louder recently.

Tire shop offered $40 each credit. So $160. Wow. :yo:

I recall I originally spent $986 on the duratrac tires. $986-$160= $826 net divide by 45,000 miles =$0.018 per mile. Cheap

I got a good deal on 4 new BFG 285-70-17 load E. They ride super quite and smooth compared to the duratracs with 45,000 miles on them.

I guess it just goes to show...you can do all the math you want, but at the end of the day, infinite variables will determine how long your tires last.

 

[philsey]

My takeaway was that [MENTION=73024]Mick1[/MENTION] didn't care for the DTs enough to buy them again. In fact, he replaced them early when a good opportunity presented itself.

 

[Mick1]

You guys that are afraid of a little math crack me up.

It is called planning. A small investment of time measuring and "mathing" let me roughly know when i would need to spend ~$1,000. It also let me know i was offered a decent credit on the used GYs.

The duratracs looked great, were quite most their life, offered great wet, snow, offroad traction, but sometimes had a super annoying balance issue.

 

[1engineer]

You guys that are afraid of a little math crack me up.

It is called planning. A small investment of time measuring and "mathing" let me roughly know when i would need to spend ~$1,000. It also let me know i was offered a decent credit on the used GYs.

The duratracs looked great, were quite most their life, offered great wet, snow, offroad traction, but sometimes had a super annoying balance issue.

I love math.

 

[Antman]

I love math.

Screw math. I use a penny.:lol:

 

[philsey]

I love math.

Me too .... and tables, and charts, and lists, and graphs ..... anal much?

The wife just rolls her eyes when I'm deciding to buy something.