blake

Well I just got back from the tires shop and ended up with a set of Yokohama Geolandar ATS 285/75/16 Ds for $700 installed. The load rating is 3368lb per tire, where the 265/75/16E is 3472lb per tire, and the 235/85/16E is 3169lb per tire. I was looking at getting a set of BFG ATs but they were going to be right at $900 for the set. The owner of this shop is my mechanic buddy's friend so I know he wouldn't screw me. He said these tires should wear about the same as the BFGs and are just as good off road. I'm happy and glad I got a good deal (to me anyway). I also didn't spin or have to use four wheel drive coming up the drive way with these! The tire size calculator says these will spin 23 times less per mile, which over the course of 50,000miles is 1,150,000 revolutions less than the 265s. That HAS to help, I would think.

Is there anything that says two identical tires, one a 235/85 and one a 265/75, will get different tread lifes if driven the same way?

When I hit 165K miles I decided to clean mine and went at it with Simple Green and a pressure washer. Ever since then I've had a nice, slow transmission line leak at one of the connectors. I'm at 200K miles now and hoping this thing will dirty up soon and quit leaking. I'm tired of checking the fluid all the time.My advice would be to not mess with it. I have had mechanics tell me I was stupid for doing mine because of what happened. Apparently discovering new leaks is very common when someone power cleans a high mileage engine compartment.

Well, I still haven't bought anything and I'm getting down to the last 5-10K miles with these BFGs. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to go with the 235/85/16E since they're a hair taller than the 265s and skinner, and cheaper. There are no issues mounting them on the fancier 2nd gen alloys are there? Should I just go with a major name tire? BFG, Yoko, Nitto, etc. I would like the Michelins but they're really pricey... although the mileage may make them the cheaper option in the long run. I've heard of guys getting over 100K miles out of the new LTX MS2. Another question - Is my 10 year old Michelin spare any good? It's what came from the factory and i'm concerned it may be toast, although it's never seen sunlight or road. --- Update to the previous post... Here are a couple that I'm looking at: Mastercraft Courser Radial - $600 mounted (aren't these made by Cooper?) http://www.kauffmantire.com/tire/65310.html# Cooper Discoverer HT - $660 mounted http://www.kauffmantire.com/tire/50597.html BFG Commercial TA - $690 mounted http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireDetail.do?tc=MTAVA2&c=5&rcz=30114&pc=38938&ar=85&rf=true&cf=false&rd=16&sw=false&rc=GAAINT&cs=235 Michelin LTX MS2 - $860 mounted http://www.kauffmantire.com/tire/M19595.html

My 2001 does this too. It started about 3 months ago. My LP fuel pressure is fine, but I have a rough idle and with very light throttle pressure it sounds like a heavily cammed engine with a big lope. It surges at slow speed/light throttle like creeping out my gravel driveway, but once I'm on it everything is fine. It does surge when coasting to a stop but I have an auto trans. I have no idea what it is but am just waiting for the VP to die I guess.

Ok, I've done some more reading and I think I'm leaning toward the Transforce AT. It definitely LOOKS like it would be better off road than the HT and I've read reviews of pretty high mileage (60K+), and not too expensive. Anyone here have experience with these?

Is this true? If I can get more miles out of a MT I'll definitely go that route. I don't mind road manners or noise, just usability on and off road, and somewhat affordable. What mileage do y'all have on your tires and what are they?

During the week my truck does a lot of highway miles. On the weekends I go in the woods for recreation. From what I'm reading it looks like an AT will actually make a difference, however, I've still not gotten stuck running the BFG Rugged Trail. Is it considered an AT or HT? I guess it's sort of a middle ground tire. Is there anything else out there that's not just a slick highway rib, but will run for 80K+ miles like the Rugged Trail?

I drive about 80 highway miles a day every day for work, and however much extra on the weekends riding around. During the fall and winter I spend a good bit of time in the woods hunting and camping, and travel a lot of public hunting land dirt and gravel roads, along with forestry service roads. It's all nasty southern red clay, but I've never gotten stuck using four wheel drive riding on BFG Rugged Trails. I drive way too much highway to justify mud tires, but I just can't grasp that a BFG AT will do that much better in thick clay than a BFG Rugged trail, or any of those other tires that I listed for that matter. Have any of you gotten stuck with a HT tire in a situation that an AT would get you unstuck?

Is there any REAL, USABLE difference in off road traction in a standard AT vs. HT tire?Let's take a 265/75/16 load range E:BFG Rugged Trail vs. BFG All TerrainMichelin LTX/MS vs. Michelin LTX/ATTransforce HT vs. Transforce ATOpen Country HT vs. Open Country ATIs there enough extra off road traction in an AT to justify the shorter life span of the tire?

Does anyone make a replacement drain plug that eliminates the immediate fountain of hot oil as soon as you break the threads loose? I absolutely love changing other cars' oil that don't let any oil out until you completely remove the plug.

I broke my stock airbox top by stepping on it while it was on the garage floor. I shattered the slots that make a hinge with the bottom section. Does anyone have the top half of a stock 24V (2001) airbox that I could have? I'm currently running a BHAF and I'd be willing to trade even for the airbox, however I would have to wait until I got the airbox before pulling the BHAF off. It probably has 10K miles on it or so, and it looks nearly new. Anyway, I live north of Atlanta, zip 30114. Can anyone help a brother out? Thanks, Blake ---------- Post added at 01:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:48 PM ---------- By the way, I can just buy the airbox if there's no interest in the BHAF.

Thanks man!It doesn't look as dramatically small as I expected. I may have to look into this size now.

Mike, could you take a few pictures of your truck with the 235/85s on? I don't think I've ever seen this size on a SRW truck. Does anyone have experience with a BFG A/T on these trucks? I loved them on a 1/2 ton truck I had but I'm not sure how they'll do on a heavy truck even E rated. I've always been impressed with BF Goodrich tires and will get 80K miles out of the Rugged Trails I have on now.

Is there any real advantage to the 255/85/16s? I'm guessing that I'll have slightly lower cruising RPMs, which is good with the 4.10s, along with slightly better MPG from a smaller footprint on the road. The only problem is that the only tire I can find in this size is the Cooper ST which is fairly aggressive tread - does that cancel out the benefits of the size difference over a 265/75 HT tire? Other questions: any change in weight capacity? How many miles to expect out of that Cooper ST in 255/85? Is this a worthwhile mod considering the need to buy a spare? Food for thought: my local tire guy can get me 4 Michelin LTX/MS 265/75/16 E for $800 out the door. ---------- Post added at 01:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:34 PM ---------- Another question: what width is the OEM aluminum/chrome wheel on the 2500 (my avatar)?

It's almost tire time again for me. I bought a set of BFG Rugged Trail E-rated 265/75/16s that I've been running for over 60K miles now and they've still got a little ways to go. The only issue is that my front end apparently went out of alignment and the toe-out ate up the insides of the front tires on the last 5K rotation.I've read TONS of information on tires and I'm always a function over form guy, which makes it hard to wade through the "they look cool" recommendations I always come across. I've considered a 255/85/16 because I like the tall, skinny (I have 4.10s) aspect. However, I've heard horror stories about getting a flat and not being able to find a replacement fast. I've read good things about the Cooper s/t and the Toyo M55 but I can't afford the Toyos.It seems that the 265/75/16 is a very common tire size so that may drive my decision a bit. The Firestone Transforce A/T seems to be another good tire, but I can't find any mileage reports on it. I know the H/T will last a long while, but I don't really want a pure highway tire because I do a good amount of mountain dirt road traveling. What do y'all recommend in size and brand? I'm not looking to spend a whole lot, I got my BFG Rugged Trails at Sears for $700 with the road hazard warranty, and if it comes down to it I'll just do that again since they're wearing so well. Thanks!

Thanks guys, I'll probably make the heat shield just for a little added splash protection.Out of curiosity, does anyone have a picture of a BHAF that's worn out or too dirty?

*also posted on cumminsforum.comHow is the BHAF affected by driving in heavy rain? Is there a possibility that it would get wet from the water going up through the wheel well past the shock tower? If it gets wet will it ruin the paper element? I don't run a heat shield, but do they help keep the water out of the filter? Thanks!

Hmm, my first post....I've dealt with the 40-43mph (4.10 gears) OD lock/unlock ever since I acquired this truck several years ago. I wrapped the alternator cables with aluminum foil and electrical tape and that worked for about 2 years, then it started up again about a month ago. Last night I did the Suncoast APPS grounding trick and it seems to have worked so far.