Recommended SUV tires..

[06pathyman]

I have done lots of looking online for the right tire for my 06 Pathfinder.. There are lots of chose's from from the $145- $220 range.. Any where from the general tire to Goodyear, BFG and so on.. I wanna see if spending the extra few hundred dollers is worth it. From all the reviews i'v read, The BFG long trail looks like a winner. The tire is priced right, and looks good. I really like the style of some of the Goodyear tires but have found lots of reviews bashing there tread life and ride comfort. Bottom line. I want to know who's running what on there R 50 and R 51's. As I get closer to making a decision and gather more information and read more reviews I'll post what I can. This could turn into a very helpful thread for those looking to replace there rubber.

[KyooX4]

I just got General Grabber HTS over a month ago and I love them! I can't speak for tread life just yet, but everything else is great!

[GRNMACHINE]

Still run the original Bridgestone Duelers in the winter, no complaints. 2nd set were Dunlop Grand Trek TG35-they were fantastic!! Only reason I didnt buy them again, they quit making them in 275/55/17. 3rd set Pirelli Scorpion STR's-so far they are decent-very sticky. What are you looking to get-an all season in stock size? Yokohama Geolander AT/S and Michelin Cross Terrains (pricey) are a decent all season as well.I have had failures on Kuhmo's and Continentals and their customer service/assistance was ZERO.

[Buzzman]

Anything but Goodyear Wranglers. I have them and they are crap.

[WPGQX4]

If your able to spend the extra, go with a set of the Michelin Latitude Touring tires. These tires have the best rolling resistance of any tire in Michelin's line (better fuel mileage). The Cross Terrains are nice but they are being replaced by the Latitudes. The BFG Long Trail Tourings are new but Michelin owns BFG and your just getting the old Mich technology. I work at a Costco tire shop and we get to go to lots of seminars. The last seminar was in Vermont and we drove in the mountains with 1990 Land Rovers. One of the tires we were driving on were the Latitudes. For a City Highway tire they blew me away at what they could do in a off road situation.

[K03sport]

Nokian WR or WR2

Truly an ALL-season tire including the white stuff.

[paleface23]

I just got General Grabber HTS over a month ago and I love them! I can't speak for tread life just yet, but everything else is great!

Are you still liking the Grabber HTS?

I'm looking at getting some now. One thing is that in the size i need, 245/65-17 ('02 QX4), they only come with the white lettering, which i don't really want.

Other than that, i haven't seen a down side. For me it comes down to those vs. GY Fortera TripleTred. But, the Generals are $300 cheaper.

[attofarad]

One thing is that in the size i need, 245/65-17 ('02 QX4), they only come with the white lettering, which i don't really want.

That is true for the LTX/MS2 also, but my GF just had hers mounted white lettered side in. The 245 wasn't out yet, so she went with the 255/65-17 (2001 QX4). At first, I thought that they were riding really poorly compared to her previous LTX/MS 245/65-17s, but then I replaced her rear shocks and all is well.

[paleface23]

That is true for the LTX/MS2 also, but my GF just had hers mounted white lettered side in.

Ah. Yeah, i wondered if I could do that, but from the pics i've seen of the Grabbers on TireRack, they don't look 100% symmetrical (tread-wise).

Also, just curious...if anyone knows whats on the opposite side of the tire sidewall (the side thats usually inwards). Is it just plain black sidewall with no raised letters, writing, etc.?

[GRNMACHINE]

K03,Where is a good online dealership for Nokian? Have never heard a bad review on these tires but they are hard to find.

06,What did you end up getting?

[UndeGuy]

I just got a set of Mich LTX M/S 2 tires.

I can't really give a comment on them, since the tires I replaced were too bald (60k miles!!!) and slipping on wet and snow covered roads.

But, I guess I should at least say, it feels pretty good riding on new tires.

The only problem I have is, I went from 255/65/16 to 255/70/16 tires... and like some others, it's rubbing a little on the front right tire when I turn (more so if I'm turning and going in reverse at the same time). But since it's only the wheel well cover, I think I'm going to take off the plastic there. At least my speedometer is more accurate.

Oh, in black lettering too.

[GRNMACHINE]

Unde,Congratz-those are nice tires. If it is only the front part of your wheel well covering (the black plastic)-you can push it forward. Look underneath where it gets attatched via black screws. You can easily take the screws out, push the wheel well cover forward and then put the screws in the new postion and it will hold the cover forward. Simple, easy, no cutting. Unfortunately, that wasnt enough in itself to fit 275/55/17 with a diff offset wheel for me, so cutting of the inside of the flares was in order. Nothing you cant see from the outside though.

[KyooX4]

Are you still liking the Grabber HTS?

I'm looking at getting some now. One thing is that in the size i need, 245/65-17 ('02 QX4), they only come with the white lettering, which i don't really want.

Other than that, i haven't seen a down side. For me it comes down to those vs. GY Fortera TripleTred. But, the Generals are $300 cheaper.

Yeah! They're great so far! I've had them for close to 4k miles and have no complaints!

My only regret is not getting an all-terrain tire, but that's a different matter and does not reflect on the HTS.

Yeah, tirerack.com (which is where I bought them from. I had them sent to tire kingdom and they mounted them for me.) says they're only white lettering, but that's only on one side. The other side is a raised black lettering. The HTSs are not directional, so you can mount them anyway you want. I had them mounted with the white lettering inwards and the raised black lettering facing out.

[Natedogg1701]

mastercraft courser AT2. mastercraft made by cooper, coopers awsome, the courser AT2 is mastercrafts near identical tread to the discoverer ATR. cooper/mastercraft make great tires, they do and will hold up to their warranty, and have very good prices. i got a set of courser AT2's, size 255/70/16, mounted and balanced for 585$ at my area's best most reguarded shop. pretty good price, 50,000 miles warranty too.

[alexf20c]

Interco SSR Radials if you don't want to get stuck.

[ssmokeyy]

The number 1 tire sold in the west coast is the hankook dynapro atm Best all around tire. I have a set on my q and love them. They dont make any more nosie on the highway than a highway tread but give you off road options. I have used them on snow and ice all ready and love it they hold the ground great... I got a set of dynapro atm's for 800 installed so not a bad price... great warranty for a all terran tire also 50000 mile ..

[alexf20c]

The number 1 tire sold in the west coast is the hankook dynapro atm

sources?

[UndeGuy]

Unde,Congratz-those are nice tires. If it is only the front part of your wheel well covering (the black plastic)-you can push it forward. Look underneath where it gets attatched via black screws. You can easily take the screws out, push the wheel well cover forward and then put the screws in the new postion and it will hold the cover forward. Simple, easy, no cutting. Unfortunately, that wasnt enough in itself to fit 275/55/17 with a diff offset wheel for me, so cutting of the inside of the flares was in order. Nothing you cant see from the outside though.

So apparently, my tires have white lettering on the insides. And that makes me wonder if they're directional... hum...

I loosened up the screws and was able to only put one of three screws back after pushing the plastic up. The second screw never came off the bumper plastic, even though it did come loose from the inside plastic. The third came completely off and I have no idea where the clip went... and since I didn't have that much time, I just left it off.

In any case, the plastic is too loose for my comfort, I keep imagining it getting pushed/pulled back into the tire at highway speeds.

When I have time, I plan on drilling new holes and attaching the screws through the new holes.

[alexf20c]

white lettering has nothing to do with a tire being directional or not. if the tires were directional, it would very clearly say it on the sidewall.

[K03sport]

edit: didn't realize I responded already....my bad.
Modified by K03sport at 12:22 PM 1/1/2010

[coledog188]

BFG T/A KO or Firestone Destination AT.

[GRNMACHINE]

I believe there were three screws under the bumper that attatched into the wheel well liner. When pushing the liner forward the screws will go into a new are of the liner and hold it tight. I do not remember if I had to drill new holes. It is all plastic so the screws hold it in place and do not come out.

Yes alex is right, white letters have nothing to do with tires being unidirectional. Look at a ProComp Xterrain - you can clearly see how the "V" part of the tread is at the front. There are also arrows on the sidewall showing which way they point. Yokohama Parada Spec X is a good picture to see as well.

cole-my preference is BFG all terrain T/A. On my second set. They last a long time, good in mud & snow & smooth on the highway and that is in a 33x12.50x15 (no not on the Pathfinder).

[UndeGuy]

I believe there were three screws under the bumper that attatched into the wheel well liner. When pushing the liner forward the screws will go into a new are of the liner and hold it tight. I do not remember if I had to drill new holes. It is all plastic so the screws hold it in place and do not come out.

Yes alex is right, white letters have nothing to do with tires being unidirectional. Look at a ProComp Xterrain - you can clearly see how the "V" part of the tread is at the front. There are also arrows on the sidewall showing which way they point. Yokohama Parada Spec X is a good picture to see as well.

cole-my preference is BFG all terrain T/A. On my second set. They last a long time, good in mud & snow & smooth on the highway and that is in a 33x12.50x15 (no not on the Pathfinder).

I didn't mean to say that I thought the white letterings made it directional, it was just that it made think about it, since I hadn't checked if it was.

The reason it made me thought about it, was because IF I wanted white lettering outside, could you just flip it on the rim and put it back on the same place (non-directional), or would you also have to swap sides (directional). But, I was only thinking about it, since I like NOT having white lettering on the outside... feels like it draws too much attention.

[GRNMACHINE]

10/4. I agree with the white lettering, looks okay on some vehicles, and some tires have better looking letters etc. I have my BFG's letters facing in - sometimes I think I should have went white letter out. Can always flip them but that requires removing, remounting, rebalancing, gets expensive, and there is always a mark or scratch on a rim or two.

[paleface23]

Yeah! They're great so far! I've had them for close to 4k miles and have no complaints!

My only regret is not getting an all-terrain tire, but that's a different matter and does not reflect on the HTS.

Yeah, tirerack.com (which is where I bought them from. I had them sent to tire kingdom and they mounted them for me.) says they're only white lettering, but that's only on one side. The other side is a raised black lettering. The HTSs are not directional, so you can mount them anyway you want. I had them mounted with the white lettering inwards and the raised black lettering facing out.

Just curious if the HTS you got were at the OEM load rating?

I could only get them in 111T. (OEM load rating for my original tires was 105).

Shouldn't be a big deal to go UP in load rating. Might be a harsher ride. But, i'm not sure where i should keep the tire pressure on these for even wear.

[jeames]

Disappointed with original equipment tires, only got 30k in south Florida, mostly local, all on road miles, any suggestion on the best for the money tires?
Have seen $130- 200, around $150-160 is budget, looking for long wear...appreciate the advice

[AlanAZ]

... any suggestion on the best for the money tires?
Have seen $130- 200, around $150-160 is budget, looking for long wear...appreciate the advice

Check out the tires on the 'Tirerack' for your particular Pathfinder model (and tire size), look for ones with a higher UTQG value (a tread wear indicator.)

In my experience, Sumitomo tires are good value for the money. I'm considering their HTR Enhance C/X for the next time our Arizona QX4 needs tires (I'd avoid using them during the winter in snow states -- they have almost a summer tire tread pattern, excellent for non-snow conditions.)

[jeames]

Yeah, don't have to worry about snow where we are, so the tread recommendation sounds perfect for us, thank you for the feedback.

[AlanAZ]

In my experience, Sumitomo tires are good value for the money. I'm considering their HTR Enhance C/X for the next time our Arizona QX4 needs tires.

Any other current recommendations? Sumo's newer Encounter HT light-truck tire has also gotten excellent Tirerack reviews, but nothing beats real world relevant experience. '03 QX4 with 17s, on-road only, no snow. Looking for smooth, quiet, good tread wear, decent grip (vehicle doesn't get pushed), and reasonable non-Michelin price. Thx.