All Terrain Tire Choices!

[carnal_c30]

what are most of you guys running?

I'm looking for new tires on my '00 QX4, something not too noisy and streetable because 95% of miles will always be on road (my commute doesnt involve trails =( )

But, I do definitely need decent trail ability, light mud, ice/snow traction

I have Yokohama Geolanders now, and for the most part I'm happy with them, but I am looking at the BF A/T KOs, Bridgestone Dueler Revos, General Grabber IIs, and Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor.

anyone have experience with the Kumhos, Coopers, or Falken A/T tires?

I'm always a bit hesitant to accept tirerack reviews on tires in the A/T category because I'm looking for actual trail opinions

thanks guys

[moparvwfreak]

i can attest to the BFG AT TA KOs. and the general grabbers. both are great tires. i had the generals on my suburban and on my cherokee. and now teh jeep and my ram BOTH have BFGs on them as i wasn't able to get the generals in the sizes i needed.

[fueler]

My next set of all terrains is going to be the general grabber AT2. Read this great review, from four wheeler magazine: Quote »One simply can't help but notice a striking resemblance between the new General Grabber AT2 and the old venerable . . . well; we'll just call it the "Brand X A/T." At first, we thought it was an exact copycat. However, after a recent trip to General Tire's Uvalde, Texas, proving grounds, where we had one-on-one time with both engineers and R&D officials who developed the Grabber AT2, we were convinced that though the two share aesthetic similarities, the architecture and rubber compound differences-combined with lower retail pricing and a better warranty-tip the scales slightly in favor of the Grabber AT2.

True, "Brand X" is a name Americans have come know and trust, but looking past that, we realized that General Tire, which is actually owned by Continental, is the primary shareholder of the European tire market. This doesn't mean squat until you understand that the average European consumer is influenced more by performance than price. Maybe that's why the finest European sports cars cost so much, yet lack simple conveniences like cupholders. It's safe to say that General Tire developed the new Grabber AT2 with the enthusiast in mind. True, "Brand X" does spend a ton on marketing its off-pavement prowess, but how much of the price of your tires do you want going to marketing campaigns?

In the end, we think General's low profile in the American tire market may actually result in a better product, based on the concept that fewer dollars per tire are spent on advertisements and, dare we say, supporting expensive Baja racing efforts. Instead, General is funneling its profits into R&D for better products. We're not saying Baja is a bad place to spend R&D money-we're just saying there are a lot of other places with fewer variables to consider.

Take, for instance, the mile-long shale-rock dirt track at the Uvalde proving grounds. During our visit, we drove a Toyota pickup sporting the Grabber AT2s on this track. As we completed the test, we couldn't help but wonder if anywhere in Baja-or the world, for that matter-you would find a road with such extreme conditions. The track is covered with very sharp stones that could almost be mistaken for Indian arrowheads. As it turns out, General regularly uses the track to evaluate puncture resistance, and testing in a controlled environment like this allows for more repeatable results.

The Grabber AT2 features a very quiet interlocking tread pattern that works well in everything except sticky mud. They are available in sizes ranging from 26 to 35 inches in overall diameter and for wheel diameters of 14 to 20 inches. The 265/70R17s that we tested on an '05 Nissan Pathfinder impressed us, requiring only 2 ounces on the worst one to balance.

[/quote] I have fallen victim to the advertising scheme that BFG is using. While the BFG is a great tire (i used them for a bit) there is no need to spend twice as much just to have "Baja Champion" written on the side of your tire.

Meanwhile the General appears to be a better tire. I still love my mud terrains in the mud and snow, but I need a set of normal tires for freeway noise and soft Baja sand. Ill post up the ATs when I get them.

[SnowSurfLax]

I run the cooper discoverer(discovery?) and I've loved'em. Super quiet on the road and easy on the gas mileage. I took them out once on some soft sand in Baja and they performed pretty well there as well. At no point did I feel like I was going to get stuck. However, it was a road of some sort, so I'm sure it wasn't that soft but it still felt as bad as any beach the one time I got out and walked around in it.

THere's my $0.02

[Buzzman]

I have Goodyear Wranglers, and they are CRAP.I'm looking at Michelin this summer. However, I don't off road, so the Mich's may not be what you are looking for.

[moparvwfreak]

I have Goodyear Wranglers, and they are CRAP.I'm looking at Michelin this summer. However, I don't off road, so the Mich's may not be what you are looking for.

badyears suck. i have them also on my grand marquis (dont ask) and i have no traction wet OR dry. i would rather have Michelins but $$ is not there for them.

[carnal_c30]

thanks guys! I am leaning to the General Grabber AT2s and I also read really good reviews of the Firestone Destination ATs

I know its Firestone, but they seem to have a good tire through and through

and fueler! I was thinking about your Nankangs Mudstars, how happy are you with them?

[fueler]

The mudstars are a superb mud/snow tire and the price is ridiculously cheap. I pay $100 each for the mud tire while I paid $150 each for BFG A/T's. The downsides are NOISE and vibration. The huge treads make everything rattle in the car and the tires themselves make loud noise on the freeway! I'm trying to get a set of A/T's for the street cause its killin me! A quiet ride in t he QX4 is a distant memory for me! But there is no feeling like going to some nasty, sticky mud, or deep snow, and doing the whole trail easily in 2wd while I can see Toyotas and Jeeps struggling with 33"+ all terrains. Even in the stickiest of mud, just hit the gas in 2wd and the tires will spin, clear the treads out, and start gripping while shooting rooster tails 20 feet behind you and up in the air.

The mud terrains are terrible in soft, deep beach sand, they just dig right in and youre stuck before you know it!

[InfinQX4]

I have been trying to figure out the best combination of wheel and tire size to get a good set of all terrains (BFGs, whatever) that fit. I'd prefer stock wheels (2000 QX4), but am open. What is the secret here? and I know most of you have stock suspension, as do I. Do you have to cut into the wheel well guard?

Been running Goodyear Fortura with Silent Armor. Not planning on them again for sure, but want a good solid all terrain. It's been driving me nuts. I must be missing something.

Ideally, I'd have 1 QX4 with mud tires and another QX4 with road tires and could just switch between them when the mood struck

...don't see that happening...

[carnal_c30]

thanks fueler, thanks guys

I'll go with the General Grabber ATs I'll let you know what I think when I get them, an when I take them off the beaten path

I also didnt know that mud tires were so bad in the sand, most of the trailing I do is in light dirt or sand, so I'm glad I didnt go straight to mudtires, not to mention the noise factor

[carnal_c30]

well guys I got the General Grabber AT2s 255/70-16 from Americas Tire. All I can say is that they hooked it up pretty well as I got each tire for $117 plus tire disposal fee and CA environmental fees (about $16 for all four) and then I got free mountaing and balancing

My initial impressions on the tires as far as road driving= they seem to be a bit harder in compound than my Yokohamas but don't squeal while turning as much as Goodyears did.

There is a bit of road noise you get from them as expected with the aggressive tread blocks, but nothing intrusive.

we'll see how we progress with these tires, I'm happy so far

[fueler]

Sweet man post some pics!! THats definitely cheaper than BFG, same size is 150 a tire without mounting or balancing, so u saved some $$$

[InfinQX4]

I was looking at 245/70-16. Thought anything much bigger would rub the wheel well in turns. No issues with the 255/70-16 though?

[carnal_c30]

Ill post some pics today or tomorrow

I went with 255/70-16 it does the rubbing in reverse turning the wheel deal but while driving it never rubbed.... except once.... loaded with 7 people (dont ask) while turning through a rain ditch

yea I was going to order the tires through tirerack but 98+ shipping came out to $119 a tire so I couldnt beat the deal from America's tire AND they had them same day ready to go.

cant wait to get these suckers off road... they sure look the part

[carnal_c30]

heres a few pics, let me know if you want something else!



sorry nothing cool like mudding

[carnal_c30]

and one more for good measure

[fueler]

I like them!! How they ride? Got stock QX4 rims to sell me?

[SilverPath]

I put a set of 31" Bridgestone Dueler AT REVO on my 1998 and they ride good with minimal noise.

[carnal_c30]

hey bro, sorry man i dont have stockers either, everyonce inawhile they pop up on craigslist for $100 because they arent the most popular wheels

the tires ride pretty well, no complaints... I'm not the best judge because all my other cars have low pro 245/35s,or 245/40s

I'll see how they progress, I'm happy so far and the fact that I got them from Americas tire makes it easy to make a complaint if something goes wrong