carson blocks
10-15-2014, 12:29 PM
After only 32k on the OEM Firestone Transforce tires, it's time for new rubber on my '14 Ram 2500 Crewcab 4x4 Diesel. Stock tire size is LT275/70R18. I've had recommendations from shops for the Cooper AT3, Michelin LTX, and Goodyear Duratrac. I drive 90%+ on the highway, either commuting between Calgary or running between Calgary and various northern destinations, but spend a fair bit of time running around gravel and snowy lease roads once I'm up north.
My priorities are:
1. Reliability. First and foremost, I want something tough enough I can run gravel and lease roads and not have to worry about flats, sidewall damage, etc. There is very little I hate more than getting a flat tire. I also count reliability as not chunking off on the highway, or getting hot on extended higher speed highway runs and failing. I've been hearing 10ply tires are good for heavy diesel trucks like mine.
2. Highway traction. I want something good on snowy, icy highways as 90% of my driving is highway. Everyone tells me to avoid dedicated winter tires as I'll either burn them off on 10hr highway runs or chew the shit out of them in the gravel.
3. Off-highway traction. My lease roads are generally well maintained, but I'd like something that is a little grippier and more confidence insipring than the OEM tires, and which might actually let me drive out of the snowy ditch should I end up there.
4. Highway manners. I don't want a true mud tire that will sing loudly at any speed, wander, lose chunks of rubber, or get hot and fail on extended highway runs.
5. Durability. I don't expect miracles here, but I want something a little better than the 32k I've got out of the OEM Firestone Transforce which have 30-40% tread left, but are starting to crack after only 10 months, possibly due to all the gravel roads I ran this year.
Cost isn't a primary concern as an incident due even partially to bad rubber will cost more than a good set of tires. Fuel economy isn't a primary concern either, as long as it's not ridiculous. I would sacrifice .5L/100km to run an awesome tire. An aggressive looking tire would be nice, but the actual characteristics of the tire are more important. Sorry for the essay, but I think that's all the relevant info one would need to make a recommendation.
My priorities are:
1. Reliability. First and foremost, I want something tough enough I can run gravel and lease roads and not have to worry about flats, sidewall damage, etc. There is very little I hate more than getting a flat tire. I also count reliability as not chunking off on the highway, or getting hot on extended higher speed highway runs and failing. I've been hearing 10ply tires are good for heavy diesel trucks like mine.
2. Highway traction. I want something good on snowy, icy highways as 90% of my driving is highway. Everyone tells me to avoid dedicated winter tires as I'll either burn them off on 10hr highway runs or chew the shit out of them in the gravel.
3. Off-highway traction. My lease roads are generally well maintained, but I'd like something that is a little grippier and more confidence insipring than the OEM tires, and which might actually let me drive out of the snowy ditch should I end up there.
4. Highway manners. I don't want a true mud tire that will sing loudly at any speed, wander, lose chunks of rubber, or get hot and fail on extended highway runs.
5. Durability. I don't expect miracles here, but I want something a little better than the 32k I've got out of the OEM Firestone Transforce which have 30-40% tread left, but are starting to crack after only 10 months, possibly due to all the gravel roads I ran this year.
Cost isn't a primary concern as an incident due even partially to bad rubber will cost more than a good set of tires. Fuel economy isn't a primary concern either, as long as it's not ridiculous. I would sacrifice .5L/100km to run an awesome tire. An aggressive looking tire would be nice, but the actual characteristics of the tire are more important. Sorry for the essay, but I think that's all the relevant info one would need to make a recommendation.