Hi all.
The tires on my newly-acquired 96 2500 (4x4 auto 4.10 diff) will need replacement this year. They are LT 245/75/R16. Still a lot of thread but some age cracking showing (PO was an older man who pulled a 5th wheel 2-3 times a year).

I'm going to put a pop-up 10ft slide-in camper on the back (older Alaskan about #2000), and drive the truck on a combination of pavement highway, secondary roads, and lengthy gravel roads up North. Maybe the occasional mild trail to access remote camping sites.

I'd like a tire that will carry the weight of the camper well, and handle both pavement and gravel reasonably well. Not too noisy at highway speeds. Good mpg and wear.

I've heard good things about Toyo's (Open Country Tuff Duty, and the M-55).

1. any reason I shouldn't stick with the 245/75/16 profile?
2. what tire would you recommend for my use?

Thanks a lot.

 

I currently have Hankook Dynapro AT. Love them so far. Not on gravel as much as I used to be so can't tell you much about that but highway, rain, dirt and snow they have been great and rated at 3700 a tire. I also had BFG AT. Great tire as well held up in gravel. I had lance slide in that weight about 2500 lbs and had no issues with those tires. Went with the dynapro's due to cost and now have 5th wheel and wanted extra weight rating.

 

I use the Michelin LTX M/S. Great all around tire. Cuts through snow and ice with easy, and can handle snowy fire roads without any trouble. They're E rated, and they last forever.

Driving down the dry highway, they're smooth, comfortable, and very quiet.

Best all around tire I'v ever used.

 

I use the toyo m55 and have had good luck a little road noise but not bad. As far as tire size I run 285/75/16 as I think it's about the right size for these trucks.

 

I would step up to a 265 70 16 ,and the toyo open country HT or AT are great tires except on wet grass

 

On my 5th one of these trucks and would guess i have bought at least 20 sets of tires. (some were 6 tire sets)
i have proven to myself that for the interstate towing that we primarily do the best buy/tire is the stock General Ameritrac's

 

On my 96 I used Toyo M-55 (siped) in 235/85R16. Had the 4.10 gears as well. I was very pleased with them overall. Worked in a variety of conditions and the tires are tough as all get out for holding up to gravel.

 

you might check your local ads. i found a perfect set of factory alloy wheels and tires from a 3rd gen truck for $500. less than 1000 miles. cheaper than a set of tires and really freshens the truck's appearance

 

I'd go up a size or 2 with the 4.10 gears. Probably go to 285s.

I'd go aggressive since you'll be offroad regularly. I know the toyo M/T's are quiet moreso than the hankooks I use but are more money.

 

I have run the Nitto Dura Grapplers for 50,000 miles towing, hauling and running through construction sites. Tough as nails, never a flat and man have I driven over crap and steel that would have sliced my old BFG's (did that quite often).

The Dura's are just above 10/32's yet at 50,000 hard miles. I've rotated them twice. They stay balanced (two were balanced from the start and have no weight at all) are quiet on the road and are rated for 4,000 pounds each.

For gravel and highway hauling they are workhorses.

 

definitely go with 285s or 255/85r16s... or if you have deep pockets look at Rickson's in the 19.5 rims

I would tend to stay away from the RF10s as they are terrible at picking up rocks & throwing them for the first 10k miles... i'm on my 3rd set, however, i don't venture on gravel much & i stop to pick most of the rocks out at the end of the gravel road

 

IIRC Copper makes a tire that is made to run on gravel roads. I just looked it up: The Discoverer S/T-C is especially suited for off-road applications where cutting and chipping of the tread that leads to reduced mileage is of primary concern.