Help me pick new tires oppo

"Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero" (sampsonite24)
08/29/2015 at 18:15 • Filed to: None

So winter is coming (brace yourselves) and my wife and I were planning on getting new tires for the Explorer cause when we bought it we figured it had just enough tread left to get us through fall. Then yesterday I get an email saying my discount tire card has gotten a credit limit increase so we will probably be buying a new set of 4 within the next month or two. The only problem is I’ve never shopped light truck tires before so I need some oppo expertise. My requirements are

1) have go be availible through discount tire

2) be under 800 dollars out the door

3) I would prefer an All Terrain but would considering light truck highway tires

4) have to be all season. My wife and I don’t have the space to store a set of 4 tires note do we have the money to then buy a set of summers in 7 months.

5) stock size is 245/65-17

Lifted explorer for your time

DISCUSSION (20)

XJDano > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 18:21

I had some Bridgestone dueler AT, they would have lasted if it weren’t for the busted ass Detroit locker.

I got some truxus next, haven’t driven them much but, 50K mile tire.

Birddog > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 18:21

What size?

General Grabber ATs have BFGs old AT tread pattern for cheap and Discount Tire stocks them (usually).

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Birddog
08/29/2015 at 18:30

245/65-17 is the stock size. And I see the grabber hts listed on their website but not the at

Birddog > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 18:38

Oof. Yeah. that’s an odd size for All Terrain tires.

At least for an oldster like me.

61hp > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 18:43

Nitto Terra Grappler ATs. $155 each.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tires/nit…

We have a set on our FJ with approximately 55k miles on them. The first couple winters in the Salt Lake City area they were absolutely fantastic, last year they were only decent, defintely getting close to needing to be replaced even though there is tread depth left. Overall a great tire that is aggressive looking but not too aggressive for daily driving.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Birddog
08/29/2015 at 18:47

So far ive seen a pair of Yokohama geolanders a/t-s and cooper discoverers a/t3s for around the same price but then there is a pathfinder a/t for about 30 dollars cheaper and it makes me wonder if I should just go the cheaper route

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > 61hp
08/29/2015 at 18:51

How’s road noise?

Also they don’t carry the 245/65 in my area only the 245/75. Would that still fit? The second set of numbers is sidewall height right?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 18:52

load range e will wear slower on your vehicle but cost a bit more

BATC42 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 19:13

Yes. Your speedo will be wrong though if you use a tyre size diferent than the one used by the manufactuer. (bigger sidewall -> larger radius of the all whell -> speed on the speedometer lower than the actual speed of the car)

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > BATC42
08/29/2015 at 19:18

Yeah I also learned that that extra sidewall raises the price from 155 to 196 which is out of budget. Oh well for that idea

61hp > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 19:38

BATC42 is correct that the larger tire will throw off your speedo, the second set of numbers is the ratio of sidewall height compared to the footprint/width of the tire. As for fit it would be best to take a look around the Explorer forums to see what people are running and if there is any rubbing. If you call your local discount tire they may be able to bring in the standard size set from a different warehouse or have the new version called the “G2” in stock.

As for road noise, it is a little hard for me to compare as we only have had BFG Rugged Trail tires and the FJ is not the quietest vehicle around. Compare to a normal set of AT tires I would image there would be a bit more noise but probably something you would get used to - but for us the performance in snow and rain was the most important (they are rated as snow tires in Quebec) and we thought the BFG’s were not good in snow.

For something maybe more aggressive then stock but not too aggressive, I have heard that the Michelin LTX A/T 2 are suppose to be good and would fit your budget.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireD…

epidemike > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 19:44

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSear…

General Grabbers have always had great reviews.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > epidemike
08/29/2015 at 20:31

I like general as that’s what the truck has on there now but discount doesn’t have grabber a/ts only the hts

Jcarr > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 20:36

I was in the same situation a few months back, needing tires in the exact same size for our Envoy. I looked at the Terra Grapplers, but ended up going with the Discoverer AT/3s. I’ve put about 1000 miles on them and they’ve been great. I had Discoverer CTSs on before and they were great in the winter so I expect these to be even better.

Kinja'd!!!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Jcarr
08/29/2015 at 20:40

Yeah im kinda leaning towards those and the Yokohama geolanders. How are those on noise?

Jcarr > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 20:42

Maybe just a touch louder than the CTSs on the highway, but not nearly enough to be annoying. I did a 5-hour drive with them about a month ago and they were very pleasant.

Jcarr > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 20:43

MontegoMan has a set on his Commander and loves them. I believe he went on a pretty long road trip with them and was very happy.

epidemike > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 21:02

Maybe look into the Hankooks?

One of the reviewers said they were rated #1 by consumer reports. Sounds like though they may be a little loud.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js…

BJ > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
08/29/2015 at 21:53

I have the A/T3s on my 4Runner in 265/70-17, they’re very good. Comfortable ride, excellent off-road traction. Reviews state that wet traction is amazing, haven’t had a chance to confirm.

Recommended inflation for my truck is 32 PSI, which is too low - the tires tend to “track” on the highway, which gets exhausting. I run them at 35-36 PSI and they’re fine.

For noise, they’re ok. This is my first set of A/T tires so I have nothing to compare against, but they’re not bad.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
09/04/2015 at 13:43

Joining the party a touch late here, but to re-enforce what Jcarr said, here’s the Cooper Discoverer AT/3’s

Kinja'd!!!

I know Discount will order them for you if they don’t have them in stock.

Here they are on the Commander:

Kinja'd!!!

They’ve done great on gravel, grass, roads, dirt roads, and highway, including highway speeds in torrential down pour rain haha. Only thing I haven’t officially tested is winter so snow/ice, though they are rated great for the snow/ice.

My dad’s had them on his Silverado for a couple years no complaints.

We promptly took a 1000 mile ride home right after installing them (and the lift) ride is good and no complaints about tire noise.