I posted something over in the Towing forum but thought I'd mention here too.

I'm building a truck that will be used for long distance RV travel, pulling a 30' travel trailer with a heavy load of tools. Can any of you suggest the best tires in Load Range E that you've used for towing? I don't want the commercial hiway ribbed tread as I tow here and there, then unhook and go exploring, maybe fire trails and desert stuff. I don't need a real aggressive tread so maybe something like All Terrain, and in a size like 235/75/16 or 245/75/16?

The main concern is something that wears very well so what have you used that has really turned some miles? Thanks for any advice!

JimmieD

 

Cooper discover ATR's. They have a 60,000 mile warranty. I really like them.

 

Thanks, Austin, I'll check them out!

 

While your at the Cooper store check out the Cooper ST/C. The C stands for cut and chip resistant, they have a different rubber compound then the regular ST. A good bit more agressive tread then the AT/R, more af a commercial grade tire. That said I have the AT/Rs and I love them, but I will probably go to the ST or ST/C next time.

 

And thanks for that tip, fiveology!

 

I'll seccond the Cooper S/Ts And the S/Tc is cut and chip resistant.

 

I've got 68k on my Michelin LTX M/S right now. 5/32" on the rear duals, and 7/32" remain on the fronts. They're excellent on snow/ice due to the factory siping, and hold up pretty well in the mud too. IMO perfect for highway, with part time off road travels. Most of the life these tires have endured 5k lbs. of slide in camper in the bed on Alaskan roads, then for the last 10k miles towing a 31' toy hauler 5er. I'm probably going to replace with the same since my spare has never been used, so I'll only need to buy 5 and keep one of the old ones as a spare, but I will check out those Coopers for the sake of price alone.
Oh, one more thing I like about the LTX M/S is that they have 3 steel belts in the tread compared to just two that most other tires have.

 

Wow, that's quite a testimony on the Michelins! I now have 3 or 4 to look into. Costco has BFG's at a real good price, then there's the others listed. Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

I changed my Michelins at 98000.< No Towing >

 

Hey, ol rattler, were you running the same ones as Moose? The exact model would help, 'cause these tire guys often sell 19 tires that sound the same but only one particular model is the 'Premium' tire. Even 2 tires of the same model can have WAY different wear characteristics in different sizes! Thanks...

 

I just called the Costco store in Redding CA and talked to Will in the tire shop. He offered some good special prices on BFG's but also told me about the Michelin LTX A/T. Said he had a customer that brought a truck in for new tires and that he was able to personally verify that the guy got 176,000 miles on a single set of the Mich's using his truck for daily commutes to Sacramento! another customer got over 90K! I'll be looking into these even at the higher price of $176 each, compared to BFG T/A's at $114 each. If they wear TWICE as long, then they're cheaper.

 

You won't see 176k on your truck. I have a hard time believing anyone can get that kind of like out of a L/T tire.

 

I have a hard time believing it too! He made a point that these were the A/T's and not M/t's, and that he couldn't believe it himself, until he somehow verified mileage. That's over 3 times the warranty's treadwear rating. Don't know what to think on that one....

 

The most I have ever seen that I believe on an A/T is 70k. And not on something near as heavy as our trucks. (BFG A/T KO FWIW)

 

JimmieD,
I have a hard time believing 176k on any "E" or lower rated tire too.
For another suggestion, I've also heard good things about the XPS Traction:
http://www.michelinman.com/catalog/t...etype=6&tire=5