Oh here we go again- Tires?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:41 pm

Ok, I've put it off as long as possible
The wear bar is now offically part of the tread pattern.

Has anyone here bought tires at BJ's?
If so, what did you get?

I have a stock suspension and stock rims.
I want a tire that is a bit taller for mostly street use.

Reccomendations?

tonycrd · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:55 pm

I now have Cooper Discoverer H/T 235/70/16 which are doing pretty good.

mackruss · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:33 pm

Probably 245/70/16's without any rubbing.

Here's a tire chart you can refer to for circumference checks.

http://www.wheelcitystl.com/tires/chart.htm

geordi · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:09 pm

245 is WAY too wide for street mileage. Look for these:

BF Goodrich Commercial T/A Load Range E in a 215/85/16.

Some will say these are "too high of a load range" for our CRD, but would you like something to deliver better-than-stock mileage and lifespan, while not working to 80% of it's rated capacity all the time? Yea, me too.

Rated max pressure is 80psi, I have been running mine at a variety of pressures to see what the ride feels like. Currently, I like them at 60psi, and I get about 27-28mpg on the highway at 80mph. Can't beat that!

They are about 1/2"-3/4" taller than the stock wheels, and look GOOD in the wheelwells. As an added benefit, curb rash is a thing of the past with the reinforced sidewalls, and they perform quite well off road in both sand and mud. I used my CRD to pull out a fully loaded 10k lb box truck from about an 8" deep hole, AND pull a Ford Explorer out SIDEWAYS from a similar mudhole.

They fit with no lift or pounding of the pinch weld, and no rubbing.

I got mine at Sams Club for $112 each, mounted. So far, I have about 30k miles on them, with no appreciable wear, certainly not the "ooh, it will wear out in the center first!" chicken-little fears I was hearing from people.

Excellent tires. If you pull ANYTHING, they will really shine compared to others, and they are great for mileage and handling.

What they look like:

UFO · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:50 pm

That's just what I'm looking for in a tire, Geordi. Nice review.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:59 pm

You can also fit 235/75/16s to a stock CRD...at least I did and then they still looked good with the OME lift. They are a bit harder to find...Hercules and Toyo Open Country make that size.

Just remember as you increase the side wall size you will sacrifice a bit of performance in turns because of more inherent flex. That being said, I still might go to a 225/85/16 for my next set since I am lifted.

geordi · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:38 pm

Ufo: Thanks, glad to help.

Darby... Sacrifice performance in turns? Are we talking about cornering at speed?

Aside from the insanity of trying a high-speed corner in a vehicle with such a high center of gravity... I will admit to being that kinda insane.

Copy this location into maps.google.com and look at the big loop it centers on: 32.081195, -81.106868

That is an exit ramp into Savannah Georgia from South Carolina, on the descending side of a VERY steep 1-mile long bridge that has to gain almost 200 feet. I believe the actual grade on that to be about 10% or so. Anyway, That loop is "yellow signed" at 25mph, which doesn't cause ANY lateral forces in my CRD if I'm stuck behind a truck exiting.

I have taken it in the following: My motorcycle (Suzuki Burgman 650), my former car (Jetta TDI with Falken sport tires) and my CRD with these BFG... And the Jetta would be maxed out at about 60 on that radius. The CRD? fastest I've tried is at 50-55, and that is all I'm going to try. It cornered just fine, I didn't feel like the tires were compressing OR causing any instability. The bike has no problems at 55, but I'm too chicken to try leaning any further over with all those trees and that wall. I like living.

I think the stiffness of the sidewall on these commercial tires negates any possible effects of possibly rolling over onto the sidewall. These are "all steel" tires, they have a steel core in the sidewall too.

Good example of that: I needed to push a minivan that I own, and decided to use the CRD. The bumpers didn't line up, the CRD was taller. "Well, let me just let the air out, and push it with almost-flat tires" I thought.

Even at 10psi, the rims were STILL not on the ground, and the sidewall was only about 1.5" compressed.

As an option for the lifted (or adventurous) people, these tires are also available in a 235/85/16 size. I had one fitted to the front wheel when I was getting these, just for giggles. The ONLY place it contacted was on the plastic covering the pinch weld, and just barely. I didn't feel like bashing on my new car just then, so I got the smaller size. Next time, I will get them. Maybe I will have a 1 or 2 inch lift then. Or a big hammer.

retmil46 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:00 am

Tire recommendations? Preferably the kind made with rubber and inflated with air. :twisted:

Yes, I'm being a smarta$$. I turned 50 2 weeks ago, so I have a legal excuse for being a cranky old man now. :wink:

Cooper Discoverer ATR's, 245/70's, no noticeable effect on fuel mileage. $450 out the door at the local Discount Tire.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:08 am

retmil46 wrote:

Tire recommendations? Preferably the kind made with rubber and inflated with air. :twisted:

Yes, I'm being a smarta$$. I turned 50 2 weeks ago, so I have a legal excuse for being a cranky old man now. :wink:

Cooper Discoverer ATR's, 245/70's, no noticeable effect on fuel mileage. $450 out the door at the local Discount Tire.

A guy I know used to get peer performance reviews at work, one guy wrote that he was a "proto-curmudgeon"

I think you found a new adjective for yourself.

grywlfbg · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:13 pm

They're pretty expensive but the best performing LT tire I've ever used are Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo's. 245/70-16

Great performance in dry, rain, and snow and not too loud. After my years roadracing, tires are one area I'm not willing to skimp on. Small price to pay with so much riding on them.

tulsa · **Posted:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:02 pm

geordi wrote:

245 is WAY too wide for street mileage. Look for these:

BF Goodrich Commercial T/A Load Range E in a 215/85/16.

Some will say these are "too high of a load range" for our CRD, but would you like something to deliver better-than-stock mileage and lifespan, while not working to 80% of it's rated capacity all the time? Yea, me too.

Rated max pressure is 80psi, I have been running mine at a variety of pressures to see what the ride feels like. Currently, I like them at 60psi, and I get about 27-28mpg on the highway at 80mph. Can't beat that!

They are about 1/2"-3/4" taller than the stock wheels, and look GOOD in the wheelwells. As an added benefit, curb rash is a thing of the past with the reinforced sidewalls, and they perform quite well off road in both sand and mud. I used my CRD to pull out a fully loaded 10k lb box truck from about an 8" deep hole, AND pull a Ford Explorer out SIDEWAYS from a similar mudhole.

They fit with no lift or pounding of the pinch weld, and no rubbing.

I got mine at Sams Club for $112 each, mounted. So far, I have about 30k miles on them, with no appreciable wear, certainly not the "ooh, it will wear out in the center first!" chicken-little fears I was hearing from people.

Excellent tires. If you pull ANYTHING, they will really shine compared to others, and they are great for mileage and handling.

What they look like:

While 215 is plenty wide for the CRD, the 215/85/16 should weigh in excess of 40 pounds. Tire weight has a negative effect on braking and city fuel economy. 245/70/16 tires with normal load capacity should have similar fuel economy.
Lewis

geordi · **Posted:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:15 pm

Maybe if they weren't all steel, and needed extra rubber for reinforcement, they might be that heavy.

Honestly, I don't see how a lighter tire that has LOTS more road friction could possibly be equal in mileage. On my tires... Yea, the city mileage *might* be lower, the highway mileage *might* be a bit better... But a 245 tire WILL have more friction. Friction = fuel usage.

As for the tires, I remember being surprised when I went to lift them, how light they felt. I can't weigh one now b/c they are kinda in use, but what is my city mileage? Try about 18 or so. Granted, I don't do a lot of city driving, so that number is based on the EVIC's reporting. But when driving around normally, I get about 530 to a tank.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 5:18 pm

Thanks for the info guys.

I went with Firestone HT 215 85 16 load range E, 80 psi max.

Tires Plus was the only place that had this size in stock. The called me
to make sure that this was the tire I wanted. He saw how much bigger it
was and was afraid it wouldnt fit.
It fit just fine. Plenty of room, no rubbing.

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Dec 22, 2008 5:55 pm

Sounds good! I hope they last as long for you, as mine are for me.

alljeep · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:57 am

My current tires gave me the same mileage as my stock tires. I'm looking to upsize one more time to 265/70R16 but I will need someone to weild a sledgehammer onto the pinch welds for me.

chrispitude · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:19 pm

With the 50psi load range D Pirellis, the ride is noticeably harsh on our potholed and uneven Northeast roads compared to the P-rated Firestone Destination ATs they replaced. I'll be looking to sell them and move back to a P-rated tire for this daily driver CRD.

- Chris

Ukraine Train · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:31 pm

Have you guys considered or have experience with retreads? These got good reviews over at the Cherokee board, though I don't have experience with them. http://treadwright.com/

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:04 pm

I thought the 225/75/16s were a bit skinny for a CRD and I think the 215/85/16 are also...just by a bit for me. I just today ordered a new set of Toyo Open Country HTs (they just came out with this line). I got some more 235/75/16s at 29.8" ... so basically a 30" tire. This one is more highway orientated with two large grooves for water eveacuation. I also like that they only weight 3# more each tire than the stock Goodyears...

chrispitude · **Posted:** Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:47 am

Darby, let me know how these work for you. I'm looking at options for more commuter-friendly tires.

- Chris

Ripple · **Posted:** Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:04 am

I'm glad the weight aspect cam up already, I found the original tires weight 29 pounds and most tires that are "good" weigh 35-45 pounds, which is 24 to 60 more pounds of rotational mass. it makes sense too more steel, rubber and deeper tread add weight.

my question is those of you that put on heavy tires, did you see a MPG drop in city driving (lots of stops and starts) and ride quality. one poster already indicated a rougher ride with heavier tires, anyone else have this happen?

Oh here we go again- Tires?

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