Tire Recommendations - Firestone Destination MT? Something else?

[Fatboris]

Used search and got quite a few hits on these tires but not what i was looking for. I'm doing a lot at once and already WAY over budget so I want to get some tires that are going to hold up but keep the cost as reasonable as possible. I had decided on Firestone Destination MT's 315/70r17 (35x12.5's) but along with all the great reviews I've read now I'm finding more and more people with issues of lugs tearing off so I'm back to square one. :bang: The problem with online reviews is you don't know if the reviewers ever see dirt much less rock.

Anyone with Destination MT's, how are they holding up for you on rocks. Also any intel on tires you've been running either good or bad that can be had for under $300/per tire for 35x12.5r17's. I'm in Parker so I'm hoping to find something I can get and have installed in my neck of the woods.

Thanks!

[ExplorerTom]

Zukrider (Joe) knows a guy with them on his old 4runner. I saw him billy goat his way around Chinamen's Gulch today on them.

[Patrolman]

Just keep in mind that Discount will match prices. Look at Costco and Sam's club websites. I bought a set from Discount and printed out the Costco price about 5 years ago. Took it into them and they matched it. I didn't have a Costco membership, but they didn't know that. I would have bought one if it meant getting that price.

[Robert B]

sadly the tires i run for 180 a piece dont seem to be in a 17 inch rim and the tires i would like to do in the future that are great are 444 bucks at 4 wheel parts

[Fatboris]

Zukrider (Joe) knows a guy with them on his old 4runner. I saw him billy goat his way around Chinamen's Gulch today on them.

Not like you crawled around and inspected them but did they look like they've held up? I know they're a softer rubber and am just worried about lugs flying off when wheeling on sharp rocks. With my luck one would hit somebody in the head and I'd get sued.

That's good to know about Discount. I talked to the manager over at Firestone and he's matching onlinetires.com's price. On the Destination MT's, 5 out the door with tax for a hair under $1500 with an alignment, $1700 for 5 with Hazard which he said even covers off road damage. Does anyone know if Discount covers ALL hazards or just road hazards on their warranty? Firestone says they'll cover anything but vandalism so if I walk outside and have screwdrivers sticking out of the sidewalls I'm on my own. With that in mind, I've been much more mindful of how well I play with others :D

Anyone who's run these things for a while....:help:

[glacierpaul]

Treadwright has some decent products, I am not sure on the size you need though.

[ILuvtheMountains]

I have KM2s, which are (to my knowledge) well-loved by off-roaders. I have some decent chunks ripped from mine, no entire lugs, but chunks. I don't know that you can help some chunking on rocky trails. Good throttle control and lockers will save you from having to gas-er-out too often. I'm sure there are brands that are better than others, but I have yet to see anyones tires that goes off roading without a single chunk ripped off.

[Fatboris]

Yeah, my BFG's are missing a few hunks. I went ahead and made the appointment to get the Firestones put on next week. I'll post up some reviews after a few trails and let everyone know how they hold up. The shop has a 30 day return policy. If you don't like 'em, bring them back in 30 days for full credit towards another set of something else. Another bonus, they'll put my Heep on the alignment rack anytime and give me the printout for the low, low cost of nuthin'. That's my favorite price.

[ExplorerTom]

You're right, I didn't inspect his tires, but I am sort of a tire guy (I'll know your rig and what tires it has before I know your name or what you look like) and I didn't notice anything missing. And being that he is open-open, there is some wheel spin from time to time.

More or less, any tire can chunk when subjected to off-roading. If you want to keep them nice, stay on the pavement.

[gm4x4lover]

With my tire knowledge I would never run the firestone mt's. They are too expensive for the lack of technology that comes with them. They only seem to have variegated tread design and are a straight up mud tire which isn't really what we need for out here on the rocks. And standard mud tires are terrible in the snow. I am sure that the tires will work ok but not nearly as well as other brands would.

[Fatboris]

They only seem to have variegated tread design and are a straight up mud tire which isn't really what we need for out here on the rocks.

Dagummit! Where were you yesterday? You're right I looked at them again and remembered a set of Super Swampers I had 20 years ago, pretty similar and complete CRAP in the snow. Guess I have to sit on the internet, surf more 4WD sites, and read reviews. :2thumbup:

[gm4x4lover]

I run big o big foot xt's and absolutely love them. They work in the snow, they hook on the rocks. they are more of a mix between a MT and AT. We ran liberty with them and never winched plus they have a free replacement warranty with them. We use to wheel with a guy who ran the Hhankook Ddynopro ATM RF10's on an XJ with only a rear locker. He had no problem hooking on the rocks. The siping for ice had a very positive effect on the rocks. The tires would always grab and pull.

[Fatboris]

I ran the Big O's on my old Disco, always thought those were great tires and funny enough had a '96 Cherokee with the Hankook, they were a damn good tire too. A couple hillbillies on my rig run Terra Grapplers, Discount quoted me 5 installed with warranty for $1945, waiting for a call back for an MTR quote, I'll have to check ut those Big O's again too.

[Jackie]

Time is up for my BFG MT T/As (2008). What do you recommend? I want something good in snow and great off road. Do I stick with BFG?

Also need new tires on my 2000 Honda Odyssey. This car needs to make it through the winter at least. :erm: We don't want to invest a bunch of $ into this one, but it has to be safe for winter driving. (No junk).

[dieseldoc]

I have seen the Big O stuff take some pounding.
We had a wheeler in our group in saint George who ran them they book well and last out on the rocks. Mind you saint George has the same type of rock as Moab.
He just happened to own the BIG O on main street.

[ExplorerTom]

Big O has a great replacement warranty. But I've heard if you wheel with them, you have a really good chance of using that warranty. I have them on my Expedition (99% pavement). Good tire in that regard. But I'd never consider them for my Explorer.

Everyone that has the BFG KO2 loves them. Probably my next set.

[Tom]

I have a set of Cooper Discover ATPs on my JK. Had em for a full year now. They do great in snow, not so great on ice. Wheeled em hard with no issues. Quiet on the hwy but almost a mudder kind of tread pattern.

40,000 mile warranty. Got 5 285/70/17s mounted for right at 1100 from Discount.

While waiting for the hardware store to open the other day a guy came up to me and said he got 90000 miles out of his.

[FINOCJ]

Over the last few sets of tires I have run the BFG KM2 (mud tire similar to what you had on your JK), and the BFG ATs (older tread pattern) and the Hankook Dynapro ATMs. Without a doubt, the BFG mud is the best off road of those, but isn't great for something that gets a lot of road miles. I really like the BFG ATs for all around tire both on snow and most off road, but due to cost I went with the the Hankook ATMs on my Tacoma for the last set. Quite a bit cheaper, but they have been very good. By far, they have the least off road traction for wheeling, but on road they are great. I am at 50K miles and they are nearing their end, but nothing but compliments. They are great on the snow and stay good even with high mileage as the siping goes much deeper into the tread blocks than some of the other brand ATs.

My truck doesn't get wheeled that much compared to my old Jeep, and gets lots of highway and street miles including in the snow all winter between CO and Montana, so the Hankooks have been perfect. I wish they had a bit more off road traction, or a bit more sidewall strength (which can be gotten with the LT version), but then they'd cost as much as the BFG KO (new BFG ATs). If money were not a concern and I had to pick one tire for everything it would be the BFG KO - but I haven't actually run the new tread pattern. Some of the more aggressive Cooper AT tires look good as well. IF looking for budget off road tire - maybe check out the Mastercraft AT or MT tires at Les Schwab. They seem to be a very good tire as well for good price - I was looking to go this route on my old Jeep, but couldn't get the 33x10.5 size I was looking for.

[Java]

X2 on the Hankooks, they've been great on our Xterra. Just something I found out when buying them: Discount tire has it's own AT tire called Pathfinder, they've been around in different inceptions for years and as of 2016 the contract moved from Kumho to Hankook. The current Pathfinder is identical to the Hankook Dynapro AT in appearance, but is much cheaper.

If you're not going up in size there are a few sets of Rubicon take offs on Craigslist, and there is a facebook group called colorado4x4 tire exchange or something like that that has some too, you can save some $$ that way.

[96EXXLTinCO]

X2 on the Hankooks, they've been great on our Xterra. Just something I found out when buying them: Discount tire has it's own AT tire called Pathfinder, they've been around in different inceptions for years and as of 2016 the contract moved from Kumho to Hankook. The current Pathfinder is identical to the Hankook Dynapro AT in appearance, but is much cheaper.

If you're not going up in size there are a few sets of Rubicon take offs on Craigslist, and there is a facebook group called colorado4x4 tire exchange or something like that that has some too, you can save some $$ that way.

Makes me wish I had bigger rims. I've seen pole almost giving away brand new BFG's off their new Jeep.

[Jackie]

Britton went to Goodyear today to get new shoes for our van. He inquired about tires for my Jeep. The sales person suggested Wrangler Dura Trac. (4 Tires W/Replacement warranty and the whole sha-bang for $827.13).

Any thoughts? (I think my spare is still in pretty good shape, so I'll only buy 4).

I do a lot more highway driving now then I used to. :rolleyes:

[dieseldoc]

Jackie- the fur a trace will do you well.
Not likely that you will be out and put them in a place that the side walls will be an issue for you.
Goodyear in general the side wall is crap
For the price you got quoted its a good deal to.
For,my jeep they want closer to 1300 for 4.

Hope you get some trail time this next year.

[Chris]

Britton went to Goodyear today to get new shoes for our van. He inquired about tires for my Jeep. The sales person suggested Wrangler Dura Trac. (4 Tires W/Replacement warranty and the whole sha-bang for $827.13).

Any thoughts? (I think my spare is still in pretty good shape, so I'll only buy 4).


No, no, no! DuraTracs are junk. I just replaced mine the other day after getting my 4th sidewall split. I will never buy another GY tire after having them. :mad:

Of course that's just my opinion.

[FINOCJ]

My friend runs the Duratracs on his TJ. At first he really liked them, but as they wore, the siping is shallow and they got kind of treacherous in the snow. He says they also make a lot of road noise (and he is used to oversized off road tires on his lifted jeep). Off road traction is good and he hasn't had the reported sidewall issues, but doesn't run them all that hard. He now only runs them in summer and has some winter snow tires he uses the rest of the year (he lives in a ski town). My thoughts would be to go with the Cooper or Hankooks ATMs for less money, better wear (especially on pavement), or for more off road traction go with the BFGs all terrains for about the same price as the Duratracs and probably a better tire. JMO.

[Jackie]

Wow!:eek:
Thanks for the feedback. I will probably stick with BFG's because the ones I have have never let me down. I was hoping to find a less expensive alternative because my driving needs have changed from when I first bought my Jeep 8 yrs ago. I think a good all-terrain might be the best option because the trails I enjoy most don't necessarily require beefy mud tires but I do need something good for daily driving and snow. (Everything sucks on ice, so...).

I used to work from home. Now I have a 20 mile daily commute at minimum. (Blahh)

[Chris]

I posted elsewhere about my change from DT back to BFG which is a better choice.

[Jackie]

I knew I could count on the advise of my friends here more than a sales pitch from a salesperson. You all are great!

[dieseldoc]

With all talk about tires.....
So here I am starting my search as well.
Once again I will get a year from the tires I have on the jeep.
Mind you I am welded in the rear right now so no give at all in the corners so scrub is my biggest wear issue.
Next issue is no manufacture give a milage warranty on a mud tire.
And I guess my 15" wheels are beginning to dissaper, grrr WTH!
I get it the industry is going to bigger wheels from the factory.
Yet why would I want to jump into a 17" wheel on my TJ. Not like I have a money tree in the back yard.

So with a grizzly locker finding its way into the d44 in the week or so....
I will have some give in the corners so next set of shoes for my TJ should last a lot longer.

As I have tried some of the cheaper tires, and had the maxxis tire as well.
I am looking at the TOYO mud tire in a 33/13.5R15 After some chat with my friends at law Schwab who run these on there own trucks, seems they have a strong side wall that is stiff, thus they run less pressures on the street. One of them is near 25 thousand miles on his....I would be a static to see this kind of mileage.
I will have 15k miles roughly on the tire I will be taking off. This last set was 1200 for 4
The TOYO will be 1400 for 4 so not to bad a difference.

Any thoughts????

[Jim]

Selectable locker in the rear looks to be your step to reduce wear & increase mileage.

[FINOCJ]

Agreed - I've run a number of different of MTs and ATs on my YJ, CJ7, current CJ5, Tacoma and some earlier versions of ZJs. Never had mileage issues like your talking. All of them went 40k or more (my 33inch BFH MTs on my CJ7 were or 30k when I sold it and looked new minus some chunks sliced out)! Thinking it has to be the spooled rear - having some sort of selectable or even Detroit automatic style would help immensely. A friend of mine with 33inch (p-series) Duratracs on his TJ rubicon has gotten near 50k with them right now - and I don't think any of us think of Duratracs as great mileage. Obviously, he can switch his locker off.

[dieseldoc]

The spool scrubs big time.
The Yukon is like the Detroit so it will have some give in the corners.


Any thoughts on the Toyo tires???

[FINOCJ]

Toyo Open COuntry MT looks like a great tire. It also comes in more size options for those of us that still run 15inch rims (especially in the tall but not super wide category). I was very interested in them for my CJ, but decided on the the BFGs KM2 as the price was a bit better at Discount and they have a little less sidewall stiffness and are a bit lighter overall due to being a bit narrower. For my super light CJ5, I want tough sidewalls but not necessarily too stiff as I can run the KMs at 10 psi and they don't pooch or bulge at all. Even down around 7 psi they barely bulge and less than that I worry about popping a bead. But that being said, the guys at Les Schwab almost convinced me to try the Toyos...seem like a great tire but certainly a bit pricey. Would be more interested in them if i drove a slightly heavier rig like a 4 door JK

The Schwab guys also suggested the Mastercraft MT as a cheaper but very functional alternative. The don't come in a lot of 15inch rim sizes though which ruled them out for me.

[dieseldoc]

The mastercraft is what I have now.
Not a bad tire.
Bet it would have lasted longer if I had something other than a spool!
I have rotated these tires every 3I miles and they are wearing very even
Just going faster from tire scrub due to the spool.

On your light cj5 I bet the MasterCard would have been stiff.
We had a rear tire take a chanell lock and flat....it was 0psi and couldn't tell....

[Java]

So many good choices these days. :thumb: I'm taking off my Duratracs now with over 30k on them and they've been flawless for me in every situation. I've been looking into the BFG KO2s since I just bought Shane's and found that the major motivation for the redesign was so that it could have the winter rating and be used by manufacturers, specifically Toyota, as an OEM tire. Fourwheeler just tested them at the Steamboat Springs Bridgestone winter driving school and they out performed the OEM Goodyear all seasons on an F150. We put Hankook Dynapros on my wife's Xterra and they've been great too. Wet weather and dirt trails have really stood out to me, and they have a 50k warranty. My DD has two hankooks on the rear that are the last of a set of 4 I bought about 10 years ago, they wear like crazy. Consumer Reports likes them, @1:30 or so:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ofmriTaWL8



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em8oErdIw98

[Chris]

Yep, I have KO2's now after my DT's proved to be really crappy, specifically the sidewalls that are weak.

[Java]

I almost got these http://www.ebay.com/itm/33X12-50R15-6-Ply-General-Grabber-AT2-Tires-108-Q-Set-of-4-/331847110840?hash=item4d43a110b8:g:r74AAOSwh2xX~0T r&vxp=mtr

[Java]

Wow!:eek:
Thanks for the feedback. I will probably stick with BFG's because the ones I have have never let me down. I was hoping to find a less expensive alternative because my driving needs have changed from when I first bought my Jeep 8 yrs ago. I think a good all-terrain might be the best option because the trails I enjoy most don't necessarily require beefy mud tires but I do need something good for daily driving and snow. (Everything sucks on ice, so...).

I used to work from home. Now I have a 20 mile daily commute at minimum. (Blahh)

Saw these on CL today: http://denver.craigslist.org/wto/5893678388.html