Best tires for tow vehicle

[artfuldodger]

My f350 needs new rubber soon and I need input from you people. We spend the winters in the sw USA . I have Michelin's on now they have been regularly rotated, but didn't give me the mileage I got out of the Goodyears I had on my last truck. Of course I could just buy Goodyears but maybe there are even better ones I'm unaware of. Thanks

[BB_TX]

Are those the OEM tires that came on your truck? If so, no surprise they are wearing faster than you would expect. Here is a typical article on why.
http://oncars.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-new-car-tires-wear-out-so-fast.html?m=1
The OEM tires on my last several trucks and on DW's SUVs have worn out far sooner than I would have expected, even those with OEM Michelins. Replacement Michelins have gone twice the miles. I think any replacement will greatly exceed the OEMs, no matter the brand.

[WeBeFulltime]

Dually or SRW ?

[mlh]

I have Michelins on my F250. The truck has 77000+ miles on it. A lot pulling my HC. The OEMs lasted about 30000 miles or so. The tires on it are about wore out. That is less than 50000 on 2 sets of Michelins.
Lynwood

[artfuldodger]

SRW 275 65 20. I have about 32000 on them. I bought the truck used and the dealer put on the Michelins at the time or sale. I can't find the treadwear code # or where they were made.

[Bill.vannuys]

I have original Goodyears on my 2015 Chevy 3500 SRW. They have 46K and are original with 4/32 even tread remaining on all 4 tires. I was happy with the Goodyear Tire, but I just ordered 4 Michelins (Defender LTX MS 265/70R18) with a 50K tread wear warranty for replacement this week. I had good reports on these from other RV owners and thought I would try them.

[mlh]

I forgot to add the tires on my F250 are Michelin 275 60 20s.
Lynwood

[Slufoot733]

Very interesting article there BB. Thanks. I am not surprised that the manufacturers are doing something like that. On my last tow vehicle (2208 F350) the original Continental tires lasted about 35K miles. I replaced them with BF Goodrich All Terrain tires and they showed virtually no ware after 20K miles.

[phillyg]

I'm always puzzled when I hear of Michelins that wear much faster than normal. Perhaps there is something to the belief that tire mfgrs. make a lesser tire for vehicle mfgrs. Regardless, I've been disappointed the few times I've strayed from Michelins with one exception, which was my new 2004 F150 that came with Bridgestones that
went 80k miles, but I still replaced them with Michelins.

[mlh]

My two sets of Michigan tires might last a total of 55 K miles. I like the tires and may buy another set but I wish they would last longer. In all fairness they may be a softer compound that would give better traction than a tire that would last longer.
Lynwood

[CORattler]

Consider Toyo Open Country A/T II
https://www.toyotires.com/tire/pattern/open-country-at-ii-on-off-road-all-terrain-tires

[twindman]

My two sets of Michigan tires might last a total of 55 K miles. I like the tires and may buy another set but I wish they would last longer. In all fairness they may be a softer compound that would give better traction than a tire that would last longer.
Lynwood

I talked to my tire dealer. He said the Michlien tires (LTX) were changed several years ago. He said they changed the rubber compound and they didn't last as long. I believe they changed back on the new Defender LTX series and now use the better rubber. At least I hope he is right, as I just put on new tires on the Monty.

I have pretty much gotten around 40-50K miles on both the truck and trailer thru about 4-5 sets (counting truck and trailer) over 10 years.

[mlh]

Thanks Tom. Tires like everything else is are a compromise. Short life, smooth ride, good handling, good traction = soft compound. Long life, rougher ride, less traction= hard compound.
Lynwood

[BB_TX]

I was looking on Michelin's web site for 20" tires for DW's Expedition. They have two; Defender (70,000 mile) and Premier (60,000 mile). The Premier is a newer tire with rubber compound and tread design for smoother ride and better wet road traction. Reviews on Michelin site praised the Premier for ride and traction, and panned it for low tread life in the mid 30,000 range. Defender was getting closer to stated mileage. So yeah, two tires of same size, same manufacturer, different design can vary a lot in tread life. Michelin did comment to the posters complaining of low mileage that their customer service team would be contacting them.

[cpaulsen]

I use Cooper AT/3.....LT275/65/R20 on mine truck.....wearing very well.

[J-KB]

You mean 1/8"