help choosing correct tire

[Holty]

Sorry for beating this to death. I've been searching the forums for over 2 hours now and can't find the answers i was hoping to get, even though I remember reading a thread like this about a year ago, i couldn't find it.

Anyway, i'm looking for the best stock size replacement tire for my explorer. I believe stock size is 235/75-15
please correct me if i'm wrong. Right now i have Firestone wilderness something or other on and they are just about bald. I"m sure they won't pass inspection again.

I'm looking for a tire that is good for 80% highway driving and 20% city driving in all weather conditions(ie. dry, wet, snow, ice, etc.). These tires will only be used in the fall through early spring as I will run my Cobra R's in the spring through summer months. I would like the tires to be pleasing to the eye with raised white letters and get good mileage out of them to last a long time. I don't really care how much they cost.

I here so many people talk of the BFG A/T KO's which I will look into, but they seem to be a bit aggressive for what i would use them for, although I really like the way they look. If it helps, I would prefer to stay with the BFG, Goodyear, Bridgestone or Michelan brands. With that in mind I really would prefer the BFG or Goodyear brands as first choices.

Last question....if you happen to have pics of your favorite stock size replacement tire on a 2nd gen explorer that would be great!

thanks for the help.

 

[Crankcase]

Since the tires you need to get are only to be used during the rougher months, go with the BFG TA KO's....They will get you through any snow/ bad weather...

 

[Holty]

thanks for your reply

anyone else have an opinion?

also, does anyone have pics of a 2nd gen explorer with these tires in stock size?

thanks.

 

[XplorerKid]

im running the wrangler at/s there a really nice all terrain................... but with that said alot of ppl have said some bad things bout them, like after certain miles they wear unusually and some other stuff

i personally have not had ne problems with them(yet)


hope this helps

PEACE

 

[Jason_25]

I would not recommend the BFG AT. I really don't have many good things to say about them at all. Anyway, why would you want an all-terrain tire for driving on the street? I recommend the Michelin LTX M/S.

 

[Holty]

Jason, thanks for your input....

can you eloborate more on why you dislike the BFG's and also why you recommend the Michelan's.....are you running them yourself?

 

[Jason_25]

The 4 door 4x2 is running the 235/75/15 LTX M/S. The ride is perfect. Much better than the Uniroyal Tiger Paw's that it had before. Wet and dry traction is great. No noticeable wear after 10K miles.

The 2 door 4x4 has BFG AT's in 265/75/16. After 5K miles or so, I noticed the tires were wearing abnormally fast, especially on the outside edges. After many attempts at an alignment (don't think that was the problem) and tire balancing, the wear issue was not solved. After 10K miles, they began to vibrate and now do so constantly. At low speeds, they wobble and hum like mud tires, but yet, in the mud, they are they are as bad or worse than the Firestone Wilderness AT's that were previously on the truck. They were expensive as hell too at 160 bucks per tire, although I'm sure they will be much cheaper your app. The only good thing I have to say about them is that when they were new they looked pretty good and I have never had a flat with them.

 

[douce92x]

I currently am using the BFG's on a stock 1st gen and would say they are decent, but I'm a little disappointed with the way they handle the wet roads in AZ. With the oil on the roads when it rains they are slick when braking. I have slid several times, luckily no accidents. They are good in all the other areas I've taken them into. Andrew

 

[Robb]

I will second the Mich LTX M/S. I run them on most of my company Xs and love them. I did get cheap last time and put a set of Dunlops on (can't remember model right now) and have also been impressed with them. But, if you have the money and want an all around great tire, Mich is the way to go.

Robb

 

[Holty]

thank you all very much. i've been reading reviews of the BFG's on the net and not one bad comment yet. i would love to see some pics of them on an explorer though. the internet pics of them are never very good. it's hard to tell how they will look on the truck and looks are my number one priority along with highway handling. 2nd would be tread life. 3rd would be noise.

please keep the opinions coming.

 

[canada74]

i have the bfg's a/t k/o's and have just over 25k on them and havent had any probs. used to hav g/y rts but i love my bfg's. just personal preference i guess

 

[99 xplorer-XLT]

i have to give my new AT KOs 2 thumbs up...i would highly recommend them. they do great in rain, snow, and even mud

 

[TPLYNCH]

I love my Michelins - Sears knockoffs of the LTX M+S. I have put 70K on them, they still look and handle like new. Great in rain/snow and OK for light offroading.

 

[alphabets13]

got pirelli scorpion at's from tirerack and so far i am very impressed with them. they also took away the infamous 60 mph shake i had. very good price too.

 

[Holty]

thanks again for all the great input guys!

anyone have some pics of the BFG AT KO's stock size on a 2nd gen x?

 

[kkreit01]

I second the Pirelli Scorpion AT and Michelin LTX M/S. I've had both, and love them both. The Michelin will be a lot quieter of the 2.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

I recommend Michelin LTX M/S tires. Since you're driving on pavement most of the time. Or you can get Uniroyal Laredos. A lot of tire sellers told me it's about the same as the LTX's but a lot cheaper. But IMO, I'd spend a few more pennies and get the Michelins. Here's a pic of mine with Michelins on.

Dead Link Removed

When this picture was taken, it had over 40k miles on it and they still look brand new.

Like kkreit01 said, the Michelin is very quiet. You can't hear anything on the highway at all other than irregularities on the pavements and the wind. Before, I had Kelly Springfield Safari AWR and IMO the worst tires I've ever had. They were very slick on wet pavement, very very noisy on both city and highway driving and they were never ever balanced so my steering wheel shakes at around 70 mph all the time. Good luck with your selection!!