foxhunter
Adventurer
The biggest hassle I have had with my truck, GVWR 33k lb, is getting tires. The recommended Michelin 395/85R20 XZL have been been difficult to get.I guess the military pretty much buys them all up. Getting the new old stock, means getting a 10 year old tire that has been sitting in a warehouse. They may be unused but they are not new aas they still oxidize and deteriorate with time. I have not gotten more than 2-3 year's use before they start to crack. Driving a 23k lb U500 on 10 year old tires into the middle of nowhere with sidewall cracks does not give one much comfort. I just recently bought my first set of new tires, but no heavy truck tire sales east of the Mississippi could get me new ones, so I just drove to LaJunta, Co to get them. I had considered changing rims to the 22.5 and going with 445/65R22.5 XZL. They are easier to find new and half the price. But I have to use one piece rims with those, which make them difficult if not impossible to change in the field compared the the 2 piece Hutchison rims I have now. These tires are rated, I believe at 65mph, while the 395's are rated to 55 mph. Michelin does now have the xzl2, rated to 68 mph, but good luck finding them as well, and I am not sure the tread is as thick as the XZL anyway. It has been so frustrating, and now that I have new ones on for the first time in the 7 years I have owned the truck, it is quite a relief. Anyone have experience similar, and how have you resolved your issue?
