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01-14-2011, 11:11 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Nevada
Posts: 29
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TIRE CHOICE
We're at about 35,000 miles on our 2007 4X4 SMB. My choice for tires at the time of the build was the BFG All-Terrain 16" 315's. They have been a good tire for the most part, but, due to some wear issues, it's time for new rubber...
Our "normal" travel have been the paved backroads, and the not too technical dirt roads. We've gone off the beaten path, but I would probably put the real challenging/technical rocky terrain at about 10% of our miles to date.
I've been looking at the different models at Les Schwab and Sears (I've looked at these two places due to the amount of locals they have to repair any issues, or general maintenance for the tires), and I've found a few less "off-road" styles which still appear like they would handle where we've gone so far. My brother-in-law is running some Cooper tires on his Dodge 4x4 truck which have worked really well in the snow, mud, and dirt, areas we've explored together, and they are not as "off-road" as the BFG's I'm running.
I've liked the 315's, but I've even considered going down to a 295 if the design fit my needs.
Well, just putting it out there to see what other's have put on their vans, and the good and bad found along the way...
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01-14-2011, 11:20 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Nevada
Posts: 29
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
Just FYI, I was really interested in the Toyo Open Country (I have them on my VW Baja), but Les Schwab no longer has it in the 315.
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01-14-2011, 01:21 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 119
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
a friend of mine has the toyo M/t's on his f250 and he said they suck in the snow but they are also 40" tall tires.. haha. Ive been told the Cooper LTZ's are great tires. I always liked the Nitto Terra grapplers that I had on my tahoe but I will either get the coopers or toyos (love the look) on mine.
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01-14-2011, 02:22 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,644
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
305 Toyo M/T, wider but no taller than the 295s.
Any Mud tire will suck in the snow because it digs, however my Toyo M/Ts have been great around town (eg 1" - 3' of snow). I run 35s on the Jeep and the 305s on the van. The Jeep had a leak once and the front pass. was down to 13psi and I could barely see the difference... I can see where they would suck more in deep snow if they don't flatten out with very low pressure.
__________________
it was good to be back
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01-14-2011, 02:28 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PNW
Posts: 402
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
The Nitto Terra Grapplers which I am using are E rated in various sizes.
E rating is important to me for not nearing the tire load capacity (as maybe in D's).
The Terra Grapplers also have a good amount of siping for rain and the siping helps on compact snow too.
2WD (and posi) goes a long way on compact snow.
I haven't had my van out on sheets of ice yet...
They also have a bit of side bite tread and they work decent on wet dark soil.
Haven't tried them in full mud. Obviously they aren't m/t's.
Good all around tire for me in 7500 miles so far.
__________________
Two wheels or four, its all good. :-)
'10 E-350 EB V-10 QuadVan 4x4, SMB penthouse top, Van Specialties interior
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01-14-2011, 03:30 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PNW WA
Posts: 618
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
I agree the nitto terra grappler are ok in the snow. I am running them now. I have the 315's too. I am replacing them with the Toyo open country MT's 305/70R-16 rated E. I also chose these because every small town we usually travel through has a Les Schwab in it which is great for repair purposes. It is a big hit to the wallet however which is why I haven't gotten them yet.
After tires mounted, balanced, taxes it will be around $1850 for 5 tires.
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01-14-2011, 07:31 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: AVL NC
Posts: 1,008
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
I'm on my 2nd set of Toyo MT's, and I'm satisfied in all conditions.
__________________
Chris Steuber
02 E350 7.3 (V4)
17 Focus RS, 90 SHO, 49 CJ2A, 89 LSC, 20 T250 AWD
ujointoffroad.com
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01-15-2011, 12:01 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,071
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
I like my Toyo M/Ts. Very good on and off the road. Have not tried in snow.
Also have liked the BFG A/Ts, but not crazy about the M/Ts.
Stick with E-rated whichever way you go.
steve
__________________
'05 Ford V-10 4x4 SMB "50" White
'00 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Highly Modified
'04 Jeep Grand Cherokee- wife won't let me modify it. :-(
Does anyone really read this stuff other than surfgeek?
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01-15-2011, 10:06 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Tetonia & Pocatello, ID
Posts: 114
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
I really like my Toyo M/T load range E. I'm driving in snow constantly - they do just fine. Conditions are a huge factor. Give me dry low density, cold snow any day- they dig through deep snow well. Wet snow with a lot of moisture content is a different matter - you just have to slow way down.
Nothing does well on ice but studs, but heavily siped center treads do pretty well.
I don't expect them to wear very good, hope I get close to 30K out of them.
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01-17-2011, 03:45 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boulder, CO.
Posts: 2,554
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Re: TIRE CHOICE
Toyo M/T's here too, got them from all the positive marks they got from the forum. I drive it in snow, no problems that I can tell, still have to put it in 4WD in nasty stuff, but thats with any tire. Came from BFG A/T's that wore out faster than I would have liked. Get E rated whatever you end up with, makes a big diff. Toyos have worn pretty well and even.
__________________
'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
(de)SMB'd Custom RB-50
Quigley 4X4 w/Deavers & Agile Offroad's R.I.P. package
CCV High Profile Pop Top
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