[AuTSaurus]

First,

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a great New Year with lot's of prospecting time!!!

Now to my question...

I am going to have to purchase new tires for my truck fairly soon, and I don't remember the tires that were recommended here on the forum, about 5 to 10 months ago. I looked for the old thread but didn't find it.

If anyone remembers the post about tires, (the person that talked about them said they were the best he had found for the sharp desert rocks), could you please re-advise as to the type, brand, and possibly the phone number of the place where you purchased them? I will look for the brand in my area, but in case they don't carry them near me, I figure I can always have them shipped and mounted at my location.

Greg

[Mike Furness]

Hi Greg,

The reply you are referring to was not mine but I can give you some good tire advise for desert or mountain.

Whether you have an suv or pick-up truck be sure to get "LT" series tires. "P" series tires have too soft a sidewall ... usually only 2 ply(B rated). The series will be part of the tire size printed on the tire's sidewall. The rating will also be printed somewhere on the tire but in much smaller print and usually along the bead of the tire. For example the tires on my 2006 Silverado 1500 Ext. cab as delivered from Chevrolet were P265R70-17. That is not the tire to put on a truck that spends a lot of its life off road ... it is a passenger(P stands for Passenger, LT stands for Light Truck) car/suv type tire designed for highway driving but it is the minimum standard per Chevrolet to use with my truck. It is NOT an off road tire. I have now switched to BF Goodrich AT(All Terrain) LT265R70-17 with a "C" rating which is a 6ply rating. In the desert I might even go with a "D" rating which depending on the tire manufacturer is either an 8 or 10 ply tread. That gives good puncture protection from the cactus spines.

The key is to get a somewhat open tread ... it does not need to be super aggressive just a little on the 'chunky' side compared to a street tread pattern. If it is too aggressive it will sing loadly on the highway. That is very annoying if you have to travel long distances on pavement at highway speed. Keep your tires well inflated near or at the high limit of the tire, as printed on the tire side wall, for best wear. FORGET what the vehicle manufacturer says the pressure should be. In my experience those vehicle manufacturer pressures are stated more to smooth out the ride on the highway. OFF ROAD you need the higher pressures to help protect from sharp shale rock penetration and traction on that hard packed gravelly road surface.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[Montana]

AUTSAURUS. After trying just about all brands, I've settled on BFG all terrains . Rock punctures and slow leaks from cactus spines are a thing of the past. Depending on the the size and weight of your truck you can pick a sidewall rating that is best for your needs. Mikes reply is a good guideline. I put 8 ply rated ones on my Jeep grand cherokee and the ride was just too stiff but I got 60,000 trouble free miles out of them and probably could have gotten another 10,000 safe miles. I went to to a lighter rating the last set and so far no problems with puntures and the ride was greatly improved.---Bob

[FlakMagnet]

Hi,
I also use all BFG All-Terrain tires and love them although
they're too noisy for all the road driving I do.

The BFG tire that
I plan on using next:

BF Goodrich Baja T/A Truck/SUV Tire

It's very strong, with a super strong sidewall, which is incredibly important
(most of the punctures I've seen out in the desert back country have been
sidewall punctures),
and I'm told it's much better on the highway in the noise dept.


All the best,

Flak

[CalDave]

I'll be putting on new tires soon before heading to AZ this winter. Have considered BFG AT's but am concerned with their load carrying capacity. I'll be carrying two quads and a load of stuff in the bed, about 1400 lbs, plus pulling a 25' travel trailer. What do you guys using them think of the BFG's with a heavy load? Truck: '01 Dodge 2500 quad cab diesel 4x4.
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you all.

[FlakMagnet]

CalDave,

On some of the tire sites I looked at,
they have a load capibility listed for the tires...

All the best,

Flak

[Mike Furness]

CalDave
If you use the BFG AT's use D rated 8 ply as a minimum for a little more load carry capacity and higher tire pressure. With that kind of a load a dual wheel rear would have been ideal. But since I think you have singles, like most of use, be diligent on watching for tire pressure and small side wall cuts. Keep the speed down when you are at max load capacity of truck and trailer loads. Tire heat build up is your biggest enemy with your set up. If you can somehow lighten the trailer tongue weight without compromising trailer towing safety (swaying at speed must be avoided) I would consider that to take some of the weight off the rear axle truck tires.

Have a safe and golden trip,
Mike

[AuTSaurus]

Thank you, to everybody, for your responses.

It looks like it's BFG's, hands down.

Greg

[Nitro 54]

Also the BFG AT's are super in the snow. Most of you in Az. probably will never experience how good they work on snow. They also have just enough side lug to be fairly effective in the mud. They are a good compromise tire between highway and mud.

[CalDave]

Thanks Mike for the info, I have to admit a dually would be better, but the way we have the rack set up the truck is still stable. Tires will make a huge difference.
Thank you Flak, I will look for the information.
I agree, looks like BFG's have the vote.
HO HO HO

[Montana]

The BFG 8 plys are rated to be run at 90 lbs pressure on larger vehicles with heavy loads.----Bob