Mud/Snow/Highway Tires???

SirKeats · 10-30-2009, 04:15 PM

Ya... kind of a contradiction, I know. Here's the deal though...

My stock tires are finally toast. Got great life out of them by the way. Anyway, I have a 2004 2wd XT. I get really good highway miles right now with the stock tires (18-20mpg depending on conditions) and like 14-16 in town (again, depending on conditions).

I'm wondering what the best option would be for something a bit more mud/snow like that wont totally kill my mpg (or pocket-book). I'd like to feel a bit more secure during the winter months and when I'm out in the woods (looking for the best fishing spots).

I don't "off-road" in the true sense.... but the occasional fire-road is in the cards for sure, and during the winter months with the possibility of mud and snow, combined with my lack of 4wd, I'd love to get something a bit more aggressive than stock that won't kill my mpg since the reality is that most of my driving is on the highway.

I'd like to stick with the stock wheel and tire size BTW. It's worked out well for me thus for so don't see any reason to change (i.e. I don't need more ground clearance or anything like that).

Thanks for the info gents!!

JStaley · 10-30-2009, 04:18 PM

get yourself a set of these
nitto grapplers 33/12.50/17 picture by jstaleyspecv - Photobucket
nitto mud grapplers 33/12.50 lol

bmbroker · 10-30-2009, 04:38 PM

I'm really liking my Hankook Dynapro 10s from Discount Tire.

NorCal 4x4 · 10-30-2009, 05:27 PM

So your current is the XE's 245/75R17?
If so, The Michelin ATX/2 and the Hankook ATm RF10 look like good choices. The Goodyear Dura Tracs if you want better mud and snow.
245/75R17 tires

The 265/70R17 tires are about the same 31.5" diameter, and 1/2" wider, and has tons of choices, (45 models on 5 pages), in both the heavier LT265 and the smoother P265. In the P265, I'd consider the Hankook ATm RF10 with a 50k mile tread wear warranty, (no warranty for the LT265). Michelin has another tire, the Michelin LTX M/S 2 that has a 70k mile tread wear warranty in a P265/70R17. Since you don't off road this one might be a good choice.

ostafadobo · 10-30-2009, 06:36 PM

Look into the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac and Dunlop Rover M/T Maxx Traction... both have the Snowflake emblem.

SirKeats · 10-30-2009, 07:12 PM

how much will that 1/2" addition affect fuel economy?

SirKeats · 10-30-2009, 07:59 PM

okay... so i've narrowed it i think to the goodyear duratrac and the hankook dynapro (both in the orig size of 245/7517).

i'm thinking the duratrac's might be a bit better off road and the dynapro's a bit better on road.

thoughts?

NorCal 4x4 · 10-30-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirKeats

how much will that 1/2" addition affect fuel economy?

Not much, but if your stocks are P245/75R17 and you go to a LT245/75R17, that could make you loose around 1 mpg, because LT tires are usually 10 to 15 pounds more each, for the same size as the passenger tires. So if you're running a P245/75 going to a P265/75 instead of an LT245/75 could save a little bit of fuel.

I agree with you, that the more aggressive tread of of the GY DuraTrac would be better off road, and the RF10 would probably ride better on the road. My guess is if your current 245/75s are passenger tires, you might regret getting the GY over the RF10. Especially compared to the RF10 in the P265/70.

SirKeats · 11-01-2009, 11:19 AM

Not that anyone would really care, but I ended up going with a Hankook ATM RF10 in the 265/70R17. I got passengers though rather than LT's. Weight difference was only 2lbs a tire from the smaller size tire I'm running now to this one... so figured the increased footprint would be worth the few lbs in trade off. No need to LT's on my rig (thanks NorCal) for the tip.

FYI, not that I have anything against Discount Tire at all... they seem great... but Les Schwab was able to order them for me and everything for just a couple bucks more (including shipping). Saves me the hassle of receiving a set of large tires at my house.

NorCal 4x4 · 11-01-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirKeats

Not that anyone would really care, but I ended up going with a Hankook ATM RF10 in the 265/70R17. I got passengers though rather than LT's. Weight difference was only 2lbs a tire from the smaller size tire I'm running now to this one... so figured the increased footprint would be worth the few lbs in trade off. No need to LT's on my rig (thanks NorCal) for the tip.

FYI, not that I have anything against Discount Tire at all... they seem great... but Les Schwab was able to order them for me and everything for just a couple bucks more (including shipping). Saves me the hassle of receiving a set of large tires at my house.

They sound like they will be great for your application. Let us know how you like them.

Btw, for future reference and the others, most of the larger on-line tire dealers have a network of local tire stores that they will ship them to. Tirerack sent tires to a Big-O tire store a few years back when I bought some from them. Discounttiredirect.com also has a network of installers shown here: Discount Tire Direct Installers
You can also suggest local tire shops to them, details at the page in the link.

vtach12 · 11-01-2009, 01:30 PM

Consumer Reports has a good list of tires. Seems the General Gabber HTS is ranked the highest all around tire, and at around $105. a tire, thats a good deal.
I did a search on that tire and I have read nothing but good things about it, including good MPG.