Tires for moderate off road use

[pls]

My vehicle is a 2003 Explore Sport XLT, currently with Goodyear Wrangler A/T Adventure tires in 235R70/16.
My driving profile is roughly
35% city driving
35% free
20% easy dirt road
10% moderately rough dirt road

By moderate rough I mean something like Schnebly Hill Road, or the road down to Sheep's Bridge.

I need to replace the tires since they are well over 10 years old. I reasonably pleased with the mileage I've gotten. But I hesitate to use the same tires because I've lost 2 of them to sidewall cuts on phoenix streets. I'm thinking I'd like something with a stronger sidewall.

I'm considering these
- Firestone Destination A/T
- BFG All Terrains T/A KO2
- Michelin LTX A/T2

Does anyone have experience with any of these tires in AZ driving? Or suggestions for other tires I should be considering?

Thanks,
++PLS

 

[RandomNerd2000]

Just a comment but I have two Cooper Discoverer ATs, they're absolutely amazing on my 2WD V8, I'm 6K miles into mine and I'd estimate the life as average for a truck tire, but I've actually tried a time or two to get stuck and they just pull, no wet traction issues either. Pretty cheap too, likely the tire I'm going to be buying for a while yet.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

I bought new tires for my '01 Sport Trac a couple of months ago and switched from Firestone Destination A/T to Cooper Discoverer A/T3. My driving is all highway, but I think both of these should work well for you. The Coopers have a fairly aggressive tread, but are quiet. I think they're rated for 60,000 miles vs 50,000 for the Destination A/T, which are also good tires in my experience, and also quiet. You probably won't regret buying either of these. I have no experience with the others you listed.

 

[Stic-o]

You can't go wrong with the BFG's. However take a look Hankook Dynopro ATM. I have heard good things about them, and some new trucks are coming with them now, including the new Ranger I believe. They are much more budget friendly and have long life. I have the mud version on my super duty and have been very helpful happy with them.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

I had one of the Hankook Dynapro ATMs on my 01 XLT 2WD, on the back, I sold last year, tire pulled good off road, that thing would go through big holes like nothing ever happened, but on wet road it was a bit lacking, it was a 1/3 tread pair though so it was likely due for replacement. The Cooper looks nearly identical to me, a set does cost roughly an extra $100 on SimpleTire though.

 

[Mbrooks420]

The BFGs are pretty good, and wear well, but do ride like bricks. My next tires will be another set of Grabber AT2s. I only got the BFGs because I got the set of 31s for 400.

 

[pls]

The BFGs are pretty good, and wear well, but do ride like bricks. My next tires will be another set of Grabber AT2s. I only got the BFGs because I got the set of 31s for 400.

I should have realized that. I was looking for a stronger sidewall but that means a stiffer sidewall and a harsher ride.

I may just go with the current edition of the Goodyear Wrangler that I have now.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

I should have realized that. I was looking for a stronger sidewall but that means a stiffer sidewall and a harsher ride.

I may just go with the current edition of the Goodyear Wrangler that I have now.

I'd avoid Goodyear tires period, as would many others on here, the Cooper Discoverer ATs I have are a 10 ply LT tire afaik, they're plenty stout.

 

[429CJ-3X2]

Depends on the Goodyear model. I really like the Wrangler SRA. They've performed well, summer and winter, on my '02 Sport Trac, my son's '97 Explorer and my '94 Explorer. I've had no reason to complain about them. I just decided to go with something different on the '01 ST.

I wouldn't put the bottom of the line Wranglers on anything.

 

[Mike65]

I have the Cooper Discoverer AT-3's on both my 2000 Ranger 4x4 & my wife's 99 Sport & we love them.

 

[Craigerz]

I have 3 AT tires on three different vehicles.

KO2 are by far the toughest imo but I have to run them insanely low or they do beat you to death.

I just got a set of Hankook DP ATs. They are the cheapest and ride the best but I have them on an F250 and they are only about 3 weeks old so can’t give you an really in depth opinion but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy them again.

According to my tire guy who does our fleet vehices at work the two tires above have the thickest sidewalls for “hunters and off roaders” (his words) and I didn’t buy them from him.

We run Cooper Discover ATs on the 4runners at work but they are all highway and don’t seem to last as long. Idon’t buy them or decide what gets put on them so that’s just my outside opinion and we buy them from said tire guy above.

I had a set of Michelin LTX on my F150 for 6 years replaced them with 110k miles on them. That would be my choice if 90% was never really off road. But they come with a price tag.

But come to think of it all tires are expensive now.

 

[Jason94sport]

I have Geolandar A/T-S. I'm pleased.

 

[pls]

>Depends on which Wrangler

I'm thinking the Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar

++PLS

 

[Mbrooks420]

That looks like way too much of a street tire for the price and planned off roading. For that price I’d get Grabbers or Kelly TSRs.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

Several years ago, maybe back when they came out we bought a set of those exact Kevlar Goodyears, they wore funny and wouldn't stay balanced for anything on earth, nor did they do well at all offroad, I'd steer clear of them.

 

[J_C]

Unless these rough dirt roads are being driven in mud or snow, I don't see where you need anything more than LT rated street tires and road hazard coverage for them, or maybe Michelin LTX if you don't mind spending a little more, though the Goodyear w/Kevlar would cost more too.