Mundane Tire Question for a '94 Sport

[MythX]

Need to get some tires for the first time in my explorer. I remember a few years back a whole bunch of drama between ford & firestone about tires causing rollovers and such. I figured this was mostly just that....drama, but as I start researching, it appears tire companies want you to call or come in, once I enter the year make model, they suddenly have nothing available.

Anyway, my truck is stock. I'd like something that won't cost extra at the pump, if I can get an aggressive offroad tread pattern that would be great, but fuel economy and decent ice/snow driving are more important.

Any info on the rollover issue would be great too. I read some of the past forum posts, and it seems to be that the consensus is...don't drive an SUV as if it's a sports car.....

Back to tire recommendations. I'm running 235/75/15's (stock I believe). What's been giving good experience?

Thanks

 

[Roadrunner777]

I have about a year on Goodyear Wranglers, including one good Minnesota winter. I work early, before the plows are out, very secure grip. They did not disappoint, and should run about $100 each installed at your local Walmart. You will get more road noise compared to a highway tire, but I rarely notice it.

 

[arco777]

There are a lot of options out there. I'd suggest going to Tire Rack online. I've found better prices there than local on most tires, and the amount of reviews available for each tire they carry is awesome.

The Wrangler mentioned above is not a bad tire and many people on a budget use it with good results. Personally I did not like the P-rated Wranglers as they had a lot of sidewall flex, making a slightly squishy feel when cornering quickly. I think a LT version would fare better. Light Truck versions of tires are built stronger than the Passenger versions, with tougher sidewalls and better load ratings. For the little extra they cost it's so worth it on an SUV.

Much of the Firestone thing was drama, but their tires were defective. They probably make acceptable tires now, but company attitudes don't quickly change like their products so I'm still leery.

 

[Roadrunner777]

That's true about the Wranger radial, it is a bit more bouncy than whatever I had before.

 

[Jason94sport]

The rollovers were 2nd gens & they were mostly because of moron drivers that didn't know how to drive when the tires gets blown out. The tire pressures were also wrong from ford that didn't help things. It was a combined effect.
I had wranglers on a B2 & they sucked. I skidded into a divider on wet day turning.
I have had good luck with Bridgestone & Michelin. The BFG's AT's are great tires too but $$.
I'm running Bridgestone passenger car tires on my X now it's what came on it when I bought it & they are fine so I haven't felt the need to change them. Stock size.

 

[Maniak]

While I agree that it was people over correcting when they had a blowout Ford is partly to blame..

Ford wanted a softer ride and IIRC was combating the roll over tests (Emergency S turn) so they set the "correct" tire pressure to 26psi. 26 psi was enough using the stock tires to hold the weight BUT the average person doesn't keep up on their tire pressures..

Over time the pressures drop (just going from summer temps to winter temps can drop the pressure by quite a bit). Now people are driving around on low tires causing them to overheat and blow. Last time I checked more than a large majority of the blowouts happened in the Southwest US.

So, in short.. The rollover issue was caused by Ford not taking into account the average consumer's maintenance actions (or lack of) while having a facotory tire pressure with little margin for error and for the owners not keeping up on tire pressure and knowing how to handle a blowout. I can't say if other brand tires at low pressures would have held up better than firestone but I don't blame the tires for blowing when underinflated.

I am not saying ford is to Blame just that they didn't take into account their users' mentality.


~Mark

 

[Kingphil]

I am running Goodyear Wrangler radials on my 94 sport so far I have not noticed any issues what so ever with them

 

[MythX]

I was looking at the Wrangler myself just the other day. Was noticing the sidewall seemed a bit thin, but liked the price/tread pattern.

Anyway, thanks for the info everyone.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

There are several Goodyear Wrangler tire models. I have had Wrangler SRAs on my '94 4 dr Explorer for 4 years, and they are the best tires I've ever run. They go in the snow, stop in snow and ice better than anything I've had before. They are quieter than some I've had. No complaints at all. I plan to put a set on the '97 Mountaineer we recently bought my son, and might put some on my '02 Sport Trac. The only reason I might not put them on the ST is that I bought a second set of wheels for winter use and might go with something a little more aggressive.

The Sport Trac has Firestone Destination LE tires on it. They go in the snow, but won't stop or steer at all once the snowplow goes through.

 

[Roadrunner777]

Yeah, copy that. I got the low end wranglers. There are several variations, and if I had a few extra bucks, I might have upgraded. There is some question about the base Wrangler and the load rating. I don't tow anything so not a big deal.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

BTW- The Wrangler SRA is an all season tread. Doesn't look all that aggressive, but they work - at least on the street. No off road experience with them.

 

[Roadrunner777]

Here is the standard Wrangler radial:

http://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/wrangler-radial?pc=79569891800000

This is the Wrangler SRA:

http://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires...save&webprodid=364&productcode=18340641800000

Now, you kids in the lower states might as well go on to the next article. This isn't about mud. Winter tires are about two issues. First, can they get through the snow. That's all about big grooves and that aggressive pattern that lets the tread get to the pavement. Second is how they do on ice, because a lot of the time, we have to deal with snow on top of frozen pavement.

Traction on ice is all about the sipes. Sipes you say? These sipes are the very thin grooves in the treads. On ice, they let more rubber conform to the road.

The SRA is a better winter tire. If I had an extra few bucks, I'd be riding on them now.

But... I don't know. Sometimes I go to get in the truck and I see that fairly nasty aggressive tread of my Wrangler radials and I just smile. I spent my whole life driving pintos and escorts. I Love my truck and I love the look of these tires on it.