The Michelin LTX AT has probably been the best truck tire out there for the past eight years or so. I just got through replacing a set with 80000 miles and only one flat. I did some research and found the LTX and the new Goodyear tiress were the best ones out their considering wear, traction, and noise. However I was able to find an American made tire that was made by the same company as Michelin with the same tread pattern as the Michelin LTX for a lot less money. That tire is the Uniroyal Liberator AT. Its only available at Wal-Mart. The cheapest price I could find for a set of four Michelins was $825. The price was $557 out the door. That is probably as cheap as you are going to get for a quality American made tire. The tire has already been tested in snow, ice, and towing and seems to have good traction and is very quiet. I couldnt be happier. Its probably not as good a tire as the Michelin but I think for driving less than 10,000 miles a year its more than adequate.
I just put on a set of Goodyear Wrangler Pro Grades after having a brand new set of Michelins pulled off. Sears defected the Michelins after they about killed me towing the trailer one time, I have never seen a 5th wheel sway the truck like it did with these tires on it even inflated up to 80psi. My truck had Firestone Steeltex from the factory and they were great but not available any more and the Transforce got some bad reviews on here so I went with Goodyears made in the USA. They ride good, all most no noise and have a good off road tread. Most important though when I tow the trailer now it is hard to tell its back there. Cost was about $789.00 Time will tell on mileage but no more Michelins for me.
2007 Keystone Laredo 29RL 5th
2003 Ford F-250 SD Crew Cab 4x4 6.0 Diesel
Pullrite 16k Superglide with Super Rail kit
Brakesmart
I live on a gravel road and everyone on my road has Michelin LTX M/S.. everyone swears they last longer.. too many flats on the gravel for some reason..
On a down side they pick up and throw rocks by the handful when they are new..
Thanks a lot for all the info guys... I'll make a decision here shortly - have to physically shop for the tires now at various places and see who has the best deals... I'm kinda leaning toward the Michelins but I'll see what other deals are out there...
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
I'm probably the lone dissenter on Michelins....I had a set of LTX/MS in 245/75-16E and only got about 30,000 miles out of them. The wet weather traction really went downhill after they were about half worn, and I finally made the decision to dump them before they reached end of life. Based on treadwear alone, they probably would have gone 50,000 miles. I have since upgraded to 16x8 wheels and now run 265 tires. Last year I decided to try the Bridgestone Dueller Revo's and have been very impressed. Tread is a little noisy on the highway, but excellent wet weather traction and great offroad at the beach as well. A little pricey at $180/each but still less than the Michelins. IMO, Michelin has become so expensive they are no longer worth the premium they charge.
If you want more of a highway tread, the regular Duellers (not the Revo's) are worth looking at.
If you have a local mechanic that can do the mount/balance for you, you may want to consider The Tire Rack. Even with shipping and paying for mount/balance, I was able to save almost $100 on the set of Bridgestones vs. the best price I could get from the local tire dealer.
Treadwright--$70/tire, add $20 each for studless snow/ice tires. I run these exact tires (265/75R16E ATD) on my truck...I will never run anything else. They are that good.
John
1984 Ford B-700 school bus conversion, Thomas body
A bunch of other vehicles
3 nutty cats (Maya, Vierna, Briza)
One lazy dog (Marmaduke)
One wife (Liz)
"A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age"
-Jim Steinman
Really? No issues towing with retreads? Same load ratings? Which tread pattern do you run? Free shipping and 1/2 the price of new tires, I bookmarked that site! With the price of oil going up like it is, new Bridgestones will probably be $250 each by next year.
I have one set of michilens, on the back of my dumptruck. Otherwise, I run Coopers. I have yet to have a blowout with a cooper tire, I can not say the same thing for michilen, or good year. Michilen does build some specialty size tires, like the LRH XDA M+S tires on my dumptruck vs LR G for everyone else, so I buy them. Otherwise, not sure you do get what you pay for.
BFG ATs I was lucky to get 40K miles out of them, I get 50-60K out of coopers generally, same with the few michilens I have had, along with a 20% premium in cost. So see no reason to buy the more expensive tires.
marty
05 Chev CC D/A LS Dooley
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
00 Chev C2500, V5700, 4L80E, 4.10, base truck, no options!
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer
3 Single axle utility trailers
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