"Cheaper" tire options

[stumpjump]

I've never ran the geolander but I have nothing but good things to say about the rt03 I ran a set of 315's on my f350 for a while (the f350 weighed 8K) and on my trail rig and they kick ass, they wear like iron and have a good bite to them on the trail. I plan on getting a set of the 235/85/16 for my dually once I finish the 4x4 conversion

 

[Smokinthehippies]

Slick road traction is slick road traction no matter what causes it. Hydroplaning is another thing.

Ahhhhh...I was forgetting the walnut shells they use now. I had the green diamonds which basically acted like studs. Worked great.
I'd still prefer to take a set of tires in and have them siped than some randomly spaced tiny holes. Hell, I sipe my own myself.

how much does siping cost?/ how long & hard is it to do?

 

[Blue85]

I siped a set of 35's myself with a utility knife. This takes freaking forever. Then I had a set of 35's siped once at a tire shop. I think it was $20/tire. The siping helps on ice, but it doesn't compare to the green diamonds. Those were carbides and worked better than winter tires even though they were MTs. I never ran the walnut shells.

 

[Smokinthehippies]

I siped a set of 35's myself with a utility knife. This takes freaking forever. Then I had a set of 35's siped once at a tire shop. I think it was $20/tire. The siping helps on ice, but it doesn't compare to the green diamonds. Those were carbides and worked better than winter tires even though they were MTs. I never ran the walnut shells.

hmmm.

i think either way, i'll give her a shot on my next set and i'll just report back with some findings.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Do a search on siping. I've discussed it a bunch of times.

Up north most tire places sipe. They have a machine that cuts the sipes in the tread as it spins. Cost was usually $10 and up starting from the tiny little tires. Some got sketchy on big tires.

I bought my own siping / grooving knife for about $75 eight or so years ago. It's not hard with the proper tools. Has made a night and day difference on some MT's I've owned.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/sipe/
That's the article that convinced me to do it myself. Bought the same model siper and haven't looked back.
Wouldn't recommend it for grooving super heavy duty rubber tires though. Was quite a pain.

 

[82355]

I ran a set of Treadwrights, and have had several friends run them. No complaints from any of them.

Martin

 

[fabjunkie]

I've run two sets of Treadwrights, both on my Tacoma in a 285/75/16. First set was the old MTR tread design with the Green Diamond. They worked awesome offroad, decent on the road, great in the snow/ice, and good in the rain. These had dry rot around the rim protector from the beginning. After 18 months and about 18k miles, the shoulder lugs started separating from the sidewalls. The tread was also done at this point.

I wasn't going to get another set from them, but thought I would call and see if they would do anything. They offered me a new set for half price, so I got the BFG All Terrain design this time without the kedge grip hoping for some longer life out of them since I spend most of my time on the street. One of the four had to be exchanged because it just would not balance. The rest of them and the replacement took a few times to get them balanced correctly too. I had about 10 months and maybe 10k miles on them when I totaled the truck and they were wearing great. There was one that was starting to crack around the rim protector at this point. The all terraings were good on the street, good offroad, great on slickrock, good in the snow, sucked on wet pavement, and ****ty on ice. My .02

 

[elks]

Another vote for treadwrights. I am on my 3rd set. they have always been a good tire. I use mine both on and off road alot. I have ran 1 pair on a tundra for about 32,000 miles still had some tire life left. On my current mega cab, my first set ran about 28,000 with tread left, but when they get so wore I just buy new ones. Typically with shipping and mounting I am in a set of 33" mud terrrians for around $700. Same set up using an off brand mud tire is almost $1100. The only complaint I have after using the tire is the start to show age. Specifically in the side walls. Never any issue with strength, but they loose the new tire "look" sonner. Not to mention I drive a bunch of oil and gas roads at high speeds. Towing has never been an issue for me, but I only ever tow my blazer, jeep or a 19" camper. Just do not run them flat, at least they say that, but I never run any tire flat. I always get the most agressive pattern I can for my size.

 

[K85 Octane]

gunna add to this:

The Dunlop Mud Rover looks a lot like the old BFG MT. But sizes are extremely limited. 35x15 runs 195 bucks! @ America's Tire

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Hard to find anymore since it's being discontinued. OLD design there. 1980's. Works well for general purpose mud tire uses though. I remember more than a few of my friends having them 15 or so years ago in HS.

 

[Stomis]

FWIW, I ran those on my ex-wife's Jeep GC. Really good all-arounder (great in the snow) with two nitpicks: the were louder than I thought they would be, and they wore quicker than I thought they would. Directional, which may present some issues.

Otherwise, they're a pretty solid tire.

Just an FYI the geolanders dont wear as fast as they used to they changed the compound like last year I think.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Few years ago. There was the Geolander M/T first and then when the common complaint was they wore fast they came out with the Geolander M/T Plus that supposedly wears better. Dunno how it holds up in reality but you hear that a lot now.