Tow Vehicle Replacement Tire Recommendations??

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by jimcol

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, as evidenced by many of your previous post. To imply that everybody who doesn't get your same results is not sane is a bit demeaning.

I didn't intend to offend Jim. Certainly not my intent, I clarified with my next post. It wouldn't serve me or anyone in the community to to do so. Apologies. I'll choose my words more carefully.

Originally Posted by Foldbak

Allow me to elaborate 50 to 60K with no trailer load and well paved surfaces. Quite frankly I don't tow as many miles as most of you retired world travelers. (said in jest) All my TV's get good tire mileage because up until mow the most weight I pulled was around 8000 lbs. I'm sure all of that changes with the Montana. However....my 2020 GMC only has 7K on it and all trailer mileage. The tires will age out before they wear out

[rforten]

I have 25,000 miles on my OEM Michelin Primacy tires, 9000 towing. They are wearing pretty quick -- I assume I'll have to replace at about 35,000. 2020 GMC 3500 DRW.

Related to that I just had to replace my 2020 Sailun fifth wheel tires at 9000 miles because the sidewalls were splitting apart. Couldn't find Sailuns locally so went with a G rated Hankook tire. Hope these are better and glad the Sailuns didn't blow out on me!

[432bartman]

I have about 20,000 miles on my Toyo Open Country A/T 3's and really like them. They are wearing evenly, are very quiet, and the size I have (295/65R20) have a load range of E (Max load 4,080lbs.) Just another suggestion in the world of tires.

[77cruiser]

I have some square Goodyears I'll sell cheap. I think I'm trying Bridgestones.

[StageCoachDriver]

I get Michelins at Costco. Best price for really good, quite tires. 50K to 60K warranty.

[R.S.O'Donnell]

We've got about 50,000 mi on these. I'm very pleased and will definitely get them again. Our Sam's in upstate NY had them in stock the last time I checked.

[VagabondLove]

For reviews and ratings, I go to tirerack.com and then see if Costco has the ones I want.

[daveinaz]

on our Ram 3500 dually, I replaced my Michelins with Bridgestone Duravis HDs. They have strong sidewalls and I love how much more solid they make the truck feel. They are designed after commercial truck tires for better mileage but with the trade off that they are not great off road or in the snow.

[MuddyPaws]

After I had to replace three sets of Michelins in one year (on different vehicles) because of sidewall cracking I'm not likely to ever buy Michelins again. The most expensive ones were 22.5 truck tires. I replaced them with Sumitomos.

I've had really good luck with Bridgestone, Falken, Pirelli, and Toyo.

[TK1]

Originally Posted by Wisconsin Retiree

I have read the recent post on Michelin tires for tow vehicle and am looking for recommendations or opinions on additional quality brands for comparison.

I have 2020 SRW 3500 ram which came with 18" Firestone Transforce tires. I have rotated every 7500 miles and they are toast at 38,900 miles. Maybe that is the norm or average for these tires while towing but it just seems they wore out faster than I expected???

Looking for reliable suggestions on an LT tire E rated upgrade for towing which allows for decent/increased highway towing miles yet has some dependable traction when needed???

Is 39,000 miles the average wear with most trucks towing these trailers????

When it came time to replace the Michelins on our Chevy Silverado 3500HD SRW we chose Sailun TerraMax HLT's. The Sailuns coust us $750.00 for a set of four mounted and balanced the quotes we got for Michelins were all over around $1,200.00. We have put about 10,000 miles on the Sailuns with no problems or regrets and based on the great experience we have had with the Sailuns on our Montana I don't expect any problems.

[Dave W]

I had Michelin Defenders on my TV and they did very well - 3 tires that is. One was completely gone while the others had 9/32nds after about 50K miles, rotated at every oil change (5K miles or thereabouts). Replacement Michelins were way too costly so went to the General Grabber HTS and am very happy with them. The DWs Ford Escape had 18" Michelin 50 series Latitudes. What a crappy tire. 22.000 easy miles and less then 2/32nds tread left. Noisy, harsh riding, unstable steering, all for a $250 bucks each tire. Again, Generals. Quiet, nice ride, no more wheel fight and 180 bucks each. Michelin has priced itself in the elite range when they really are no longer that great of a tire (this is a personal opinion but held by a couple others I know)

[fre1fred2]

I'm biased, and have to put a plug in..lol...but I've been running Yokohama G015 A/T on my past two trucks (used 90% for towing 5th wheel). I get about 50,000 miles, which in the industry is pretty good for tires used for heavy loads. I'm Technical Director for Yokohama and we often have to do test trials to compare our tires to top competitors (Michelin, Goodyear, etc), mandatory during development stages. Feel free to ask if you have any specific 'technical' questions about tires.

[MoblieHilton]

Have 2021 DRW 3500 only 29k out of the Michelin tire.. went with Continental Terrain Contact H/T Lt35/R17.. currently have 20K with 10 to 12k towing 3791 RD.. they look great and have at least another 30k or better left..

[mlh]

Originally Posted by fre1fred2

I'm biased, and have to put a plug in..lol...but I've been running Yokohama G015 A/T on my past two trucks (used 90% for towing 5th wheel). I get about 50,000 miles, which in the industry is pretty good for tires used for heavy loads. I'm Technical Director for Yokohama and we often have to do test trials to compare our tires to top competitors (Michelin, Goodyear, etc), mandatory during development stages. Feel free to ask if you have any specific 'technical' questions about tires.

First Hi Neighbor
You live south of Roanoke at Boonsmill and I’m 7 miles west of the Yokohama plant at in Roanoke County.
When you test other tires what are you looking for? Ride wear mileage. And tell us about rubber compounds, how much difference does different compounds make in ride, wear, handing. Is there much difference in tires except for tread patterns?
Lynwood

[fre1fred2]

Originally Posted by mlh

First Hi Neighbor
You live south of Roanoke at Boonsmill and I’m 7 miles west of the Yokohama plant at in Roanoke County.
When you test other tires what are you looking for? Ride wear mileage. And tell us about rubber compounds, how much difference does different compounds make in ride, wear, handing. Is there much difference in tires except for tread patterns?
Lynwood

Hey Lynwood. Standard comparison is wet/dry/snow traction, braking, acceleration, handling, ride, and wear. Compounds are the single most important variable for tire characteristics (and the most highly confidential). Silica compound in treads are as close as you can get to 'holy grail' of high mileage and traction. Normally, you can't get good traction and high mileage on the same tire. Of course, the pattern is significant too, but patterns are fairly similar across major manufacturers. And you ask is there much difference in tires except for tread patterns, the answer is yes. There's multiple ply stock gauge, belt gauge, sidewall gauge, bead reinforcement, belt cover reinforcement, manufacturing quality control, etc that directly impacts the tire. Also... i see people say 14 ply tires etc.... there's not actually tires with 14 plies...typically 3 plies at the most on LT rated tires.

[sourdough]

Sorry for the late reply, and really have nothing illuminating to say. I've ran nearly every brand of tire, under all kinds of circumstances and IMO there are significant differences between regular SUV, truck and car use vs towing. That said I've NEVER had a set of tires last less than 40k...other than when I was growing up (under 30) and just didn't pay attention or my off road play toys which I shredded.

I've never had luck with Bridgestone, Toyo (some of the worst), Yokohama (ho hum) and others. Whether the inability to balance, noise, short mileage etc. I don't deal with them - never tried Cooper but heard good things. I have sort of narrowed my choices...changing lately.

My trucks came/come with OEM Firestone Transforce AT tires. I've never had a problem with those tires other than they are "hard"; last seemingly forever unless you hit a pothole and that hard compound just splits (unloaded). I had, for the last several years, moved to the Michelin Defender LTX tires for my truck (285/60r20) and had great luck. Just had a failure on one of the OE Firestone tires (flat) in May and just had Discount put a set (5) of the Michelins on; the Firestones had 32k on them, looked great and drove great. For what it's worth the new Michelins, with about 7k on them, cannot stay "balanced". Not bad, just a slight wiggle at speed. Had them balanced now 3 times in those miles. Each time they feel great initially but within a thousand miles I'm back to the shimmy. I paid $19xx for them and not going to dump them but at 40k I would get rid of them and try Coopers. Michelin was always my "go to" standard for my vehicles....I'm moving to something else. Tires....sort of like "what truck is best"...right?

[Lee-CI]

Originally Posted by mlh

It’s good to know I’m not the only person that doesn’t get 50,000 miles out of a set of tires.
Lynwood

Last time I got 50k out of a set of tires on a DRW 3500 was on a '98 Ram. Lots of heavy farm loads and towing 35' fiver when time allowed. With today's tires I'd be over the moon to get 50k out of a set.