Tire question - Chevy Silverado 3500 (expedition/road trip vehicle)

[morrisster]

I'm in the midst of setting up my diesel Silverado 3500 (QCLB) with a truck camper for a year long expedition/road trip around the US/Canada.

I am at the part of my prep where I am ready to buy new tires - I am looking at BFG A/T KO and A/T commercial traction.

I am wondering what is better. I am currently running 265/75 16 tires that are basically for street only and I'm wanting something that still has good road handling characteristics but can do well offroad. Besides being 1 inch narrower, would 235/85r16 be better than 265/75r16 or worse? (they are about the same height 0.2 inches off in diameter)

or would I be better with something like the geolander or wrangler?

 

[blue dog]

tires

For your truck i would say a e rated tire is in order, for your criteria, the good year gsa is a great tire, very strong and they last, they are pricey and do not have the sexy off road look, but they are a great tire for the dirt as well as the highway. The toyo m/t is probably the strongest production tire made, they wear good and road noise is what can be expected from a mud tire. Take a look at the general grabber as well. Never had good luck with any bfg or yokohama tires. Good luck.

 

[blackmonte]

255/85/16 love mine!

 

[BillTex]

Just put BFG Commercial Traction T/A on our Chevy for extended trip beginning this week.
Loaded up the TC and been driving around all week to "seat" the new tires...very pleased so far...big improvement over 245 OEM Bridgestones .

I'll report back in 1 month...

B

 

[locrwln]

Michelin AT2's on my F350. I have about 30k on them and probably 20k of that is with the Lance on it. They still have alot of tread left and are quiet and do well offroad (at least for where you can fit the beast anyway). Got them at Costco, which is nice for road tripping, Costco's are everywhere.

Death Valley.


British Columbia, there was a hole there...


Deadhorse Alaska.


So as you can see, I used and abused them and they still balance out well and I (knock on wood) have never had a flat. The only problem is they really pick up and throw the rocks when new.

Jack

 

[Tahoe Diesel]

I love my Geolandar's A/T-S 265/70R17

Good traction on granite rocks.

Tough enough for rock gardens! They're nice on dry gravel roads and hard pack too. Havn't had the opportunity to try them in mud, snow or sand, yet... But I imagine that a more aggressive tire would be more appropriate if you expect to encounter a lot of those conditions.

So far they seem to have a healthy tread life, despite a worn out front end on my Tahoe (now fixed) for the first 10k miles, no irregular wear whatsoever! 15k miles as you see them in the photos. Excellent traction on the highway, wet or dry! You can get them to break loose if you push hard, but they feel predictable, no drama! Quiet running tire too. And VERY affordable; I paid $525 shipped from discounttire.com. However, that was for a 'D' rated tire. I'd definitely get the 'E's for your application.

 

[bfdiesel]

Only other real difference between the 235 and the 265 you are looking at is in an E rating the 265 is rated for about 500 more lbs. of weight. Both however meets or exceeds the stock tires weight capacity.

I have ran 265/75r16 (cooper stt's), 235/85r16 (geolander's sipped), and 255/85r16 (toyo M55) on my long gone 04 duramax. The 265's wore good for being on stock rims and the stt's are an awesome offroad tire. I liked the 235's more because I like a tire that is narrow and that size is readily available. They were also a very good AT and handled shallow mud, snow, and dirt well. The 255's are awesome tall and narrow, but they are an order only tire as not to many places will stock them. I have these tires now on my burb. They did well on my duramax and do well on the burb. Can be weak is slimy mud, but most AT's are. All these tires have been E rated and handled heavy goose-neck trailer loads well.

 

[mkitchen]

Regardless of choice, go with an E range tire.

You are going to be driving a heavy vehicle and the added strength of an E range tire will give you that confidence needed when travelling. BFG, Goodyear or Toyo would all be a good choice.
Mikey

 

[Tahoe Diesel]

The 265's wore good for being on stock rims and the stt's are an awesome offroad tire.

How were the Cooper STT's on the highway? Would you recommend them for all-purpose use i.e; daily driving and off-road?

 

[morrisster]

Definitely going with an E range tire - its what I have on the truck now.

255/85/16 love mine!

What model tire, and on what vehicle?

Just put BFG Commercial Traction T/A on our Chevy
I'll report back in 1 month...

B

What size tire did you put on, what truck, and can you give me a report in about 2 weeks? ha. - I'm leaving august 18

Michelin AT2's on my F350. I have about 30k on them and probably 20k of that is with the Lance on it.


Jack

I like the idea of a tire available from costco - warranty/availability, etc.
what size are those tires, Jack?

Only other real difference between the 235 and the 265 you are looking at is in an E rating the 265 is rated for about 500 more lbs. of weight. Both however meets or exceeds the stock tires weight capacity.

My truck weighs about 7500 "wet" plus my camper roughly 2000 wet plus gear/clothes - I'm pretty close to 10k... Will I regret getting 235? - can E range tires handle being aired down for sand? how well do they handle offroad at 80psi? - do you decrease pressure to make them more grippy on gravel/rock/sand?

 

[bfdiesel]

How were the Cooper STT's on the highway? Would you recommend them for all-purpose use i.e; daily driving and off-road?

I got about 35k and could have pushed them to 40 if I wanted and yes I would recommend them. They were louder than the stock tires, but wind and engine noise drowned out most of it. bftank has a set on his explorer and before that he had them on the mini van he got rid of.

I will most likely be putting them on my cummins when it needs tires.

 

[bfdiesel]

My truck weighs about 7500 "wet" plus my camper roughly 2000 wet plus gear/clothes - I'm pretty close to 10k... Will I regret getting 235? - can E range tires handle being aired down for sand? how well do they handle offroad at 80psi? - do you decrease pressure to make them more grippy on gravel/rock/sand?

I would say no you won't regret them. The 235 is rated for around 3050 depending on the brand and the 265 around 3450 give or take depending on brand.

I have 235's on my goose neck trailer and it has been loaded well over it's 15k limit and the tires have had no problems and I run cheap off brands on it.

No I don't usually air down my tires, but yes they can handle it as 16's have a pretty good bead. I ran them at 80 on the rear for towing and 50-60 on the front. 40-50 rear not towing and 50-60 on the front. I usually adjust pressure to get a good foot print.

 

[morrisster]

It looks like costco carries BFG commercial A/T traction for like $165/tire in 235/85r16 ... I might have to do that. The A/T K/O in 265/75r16 is like $260/tire

 

[BillTex]

It looks like costco carries BFG commercial A/T traction for like $165/tire in 235/85r16 ... I might have to do that. The A/T K/O in 265/75r16 is like $260/tire

Jeez..I just paid $184/tire at tirerack...we'll be on the road for the next 3 weeks...I likely won't update my response until then..so far they feel great.
I put a couple of hundred miles on with the TC loaded up (3000#).
I am running 265's on OEM wheels...

Bill

 

[huntsonora]

How were the Cooper STT's on the highway? Would you recommend them for all-purpose use i.e; daily driving and off-road?

I had the STT's on a 2007 Tundra and I like them, they were a little loud and required frequent rotations but they were TOUGH! I had 33,000 miles on them when I went with the Hankooks

I have the Cooper ATR's on my 1994 Dodge diesel 2500 and have 60,000 miles on them. They were fantastic tires and I am getting a set of the Cooper AT3's on Monday