Can't stand the hard ride anymore...

[my98nnj]

I've got KYB GR2's all around. Bumps are more like hard impacts.
Will replacing the Goodyear Wrangler RT/S with something else really make a big differance in ride quality?

Suggestions?

 

[toypaseo]

Switching from those Goodyear Wrangler RT/S to Michelin LTX M/S improved my ride ALOT. Pricey, but well worth it.

 

[corkey]

what tire pressure do you run ?
how many plies in the sidewall?

both of them can have a big effect ,

 

[my98nnj]

30 psi all around

 

[coled43]

If the wranglers have 20k or more, its probably them. Check out the reviews on tire rack and other sites to find tires with a good ride. BTW - Sears and maybe others will online price match.

 

[hwydave]

I second for the Michelin LTX M/S also. I have KYB in my 1999 Explorer and the Michelin definitely last and ride quality is great. The tire pressure maintains at 30 psi.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I know the LTX is a great tire, mainly because it's a van tire where the RT/S is more of a split-shoulder tread SUV tire, and they just ride better as a van tire, quieter too. They do well on the Ex. How many miles are on your shocks? I have brand new Monroe Reflex shocks supporting 7k old Goodyear RT/S tires, and it rides great...

 

[my98nnj]

Shcoks are a little over a year, maybe 10K miles. Tires have plenty of tread, the rears being newer. The ride is OK on the highway, the GR2's control the truck nicely. It's just that it seems to hit bumps hard. Might have to look into the Michelins this fall.

 

[jadatis]

You can calculate the minimum advice pressure for your tires .
Then if you stay above this , you will not damage your tires.
This with the formula the European car and tyre- manufacturers use.
This is up to now the savest , because highest pressures then the American formula.


I placed a topic on this forum in the tires-part about it
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257436

 

[beach]

Wrangler RT/S suck, their harsh, Sumitomo A/T's not only look pretty badass but they ride and handle so much better and thats a damn a/t tire lol.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I had Cooper Discoverer ATR's on my last Ex, and Goodyear Wrangler RT/S on this Ex- I think ride quality on the Wranglers is better for daily driving, based on comfort.

 

[my98nnj]

UPDATE:

I just rotated the tires, fronts are getting down there and are dried out a bit too. The rears are less then 2 years old and have plenty of meat on them, they are now up front and the difference in ride just from the rotate is night and day. So my conclusion is that the Wranglers do suck when they get to the end of their life.

 

[jamester_a]

Put on some KYB GR-2s a few weeks ago. All 4 corners was an easy driveway job. All I can say is wow - new truck. (Have LTX tires @ 2 yrs old, 32 psi.). Cannot get over the improvement in handling. After 500 miles of shock break-in I would say the ride is 'confident'. Not harsh or stiff at all. Handling is superb. It's amazing how you get used to so-so handling. Should have done this ages ago. Did the fifth shock (axle damper) too with a Monroe.

 

[Xplorer82]

Sumitomo A/T's not only look pretty badass but they ride and handle so much better and thats a damn a/t tire lol.

x2. and for $590 out the door for 31's, they are WELL worth it. nice smooth ride, great in the rain & snow and a awesome tread pattern and look overall.

i<3 'em

(click to enlarge)

 

[Spdrcer34]

You think KYB's are good...I just replaced my old shocks with Bilsteins!!!

AWESOME!!

Now I am getting new Sway bars from Explorer Express.

Ryan

 

[sarge816]

What do you guys think about the BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A Tour? I have an appointment to have these put on my 98 Sport, and the reviews look good.

http://www.discounttire.com/tireInfoBFGLongTrailTA.html

 

[ozmedia]

Yup I like them so far

What do you guys think about the BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A Tour? I have an appointment to have these put on my 98 Sport, and the reviews look good.

http://www.discounttire.com/tireInfoBFGLongTrailTA.html

I just replaced my 97 Limited 4.0 SOHC with an identical one. It came with three of these, near new, and one 'similar replacement' from COSTCO as they don't carry the branded BFG anymore. They are pretty nice so far, dead silent on the road but I hear they have poor wet weather traction ( I think a lot of people just don't know how to drive an Explorer). They they are center chanelled like a rain tire and have full depth outer tread, sipes are deep and angled too, definitely the quietest tire I ever had on an explorer, especially for an L/T tire.

So far, WAY better than my last set of Goodyear tires, better than the Michelins I ran before that but I don't expect them to run in winter as my Nokian's did. I live in BC where there's plenty of rain and ski a lot so I am in the snow a fair bit too.

I find I have to run them at 28PSI though, othewise it's like driving the Flintstones car, feels like running rocks on the axles. Ford recommends 26PSI on these Ex's but I find that wears tires too fast and 30+ is just way too hard.

The key to the BFG's is they are known to last forever, some people are getting 100Kmiles + out of them.

 

[domeshot14]

Wrangler's are garbage..all of them. I had the Michelin LTX M/S on my 99 XLT and they were amazing. Great ride, good in the ****ty weather, and not bad off road. A little pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for. I got about 60k out of those tires and probably could have held on to them a lot longer if they didn't dry rot while the truck sat for almost a year. If you want something more aggressive go for the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A. I have yet to hear a bad thing about those tires..other than the price tag. If you plan on doing some 4wheeling in the future go with the BFG's and go big or go home. Again, I've NEVER heard a bad thing about them. Gotta have some deep pockets to get them but just like the Michelins they are worth EVERY penny. I challenge you to find an all terrain tire with a deeper and more aggressive tread pattern. If you want your Ex to look badass too, the BFGs are the way to go. Period.

 

[Xplorer82]

Wrangler's are garbage..all of them. I had the Michelin LTX M/S on my 99 XLT and they were amazing. Great ride, good in the ****ty weather, and not bad off road. A little pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for. I got about 60k out of those tires and probably could have held on to them a lot longer if they didn't dry rot while the truck sat for almost a year. If you want something more aggressive go for the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A. I have yet to hear a bad thing about those tires..other than the price tag. If you plan on doing some 4wheeling in the future go with the BFG's and go big or go home. Again, I've NEVER heard a bad thing about them. Gotta have some deep pockets to get them but just like the Michelins they are worth EVERY penny. I challenge you to find an all terrain tire with a deeper and more aggressive tread pattern. If you want your Ex to look badass too, the BFGs are the way to go. Period.

Yes the BFG's are tried & true, agreed. i've owned 'em and i can tell you the Sumitomo A/T's are up to par w/them as far as ride quality, aggressive pattern (plus a more sporty look as well), meaty lugs and everything else you have listed and may have missed.

the only thing that i have not had a chance to compare is the tread life. But i can tell you that since ive got them i can see no wear as of now and i have about 12k or more on them. not to mention that they have gotten me out of any situation i have gotten myself in.

so IMHO (as everyone has one) i would be happy to put the extra $275-$300 elsewhere .

just wanted to put my $.02 in since you wanted to "hype" them up as far as you did as i have had Personal Experience w/both. (and i didnt mean "hype" in a bad way, just a FYI)

 

[domeshot14]

Yes the BFG's are tried & true, agreed. i've owned 'em and i can tell you the Sumitomo A/T's are up to par w/them as far as ride quality, aggressive pattern (plus a more sporty look as well), meaty lugs and everything else you have listed and may have missed.

the only thing that i have not had a chance to compare is the tread life. But i can tell you that since ive got them i can see no wear as of now and i have about 12k or more on them. not to mention that they have gotten me out of any situation i have gotten myself in.

so IMHO (as everyone has one) i would be happy to put the extra $275-$300 elsewhere .

just wanted to put my $.02 in since you wanted to "hype" them up as far as you did as i have had Personal Experience w/both. (and i didnt mean "hype" in a bad way, just a FYI)

No worries. I did get a little carried away but nonetheless they are still a great tire. I'd be willing to try out a set of cheaper tires if they can get the job done. To each his own I guess