Time for New Tires - Any leads?

sbohner · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:29 pm

Getting close to needing new tires at 41K on my CRD. I've seen several threads on tires, but few that address the combination of performance, width, fuel efficiency, and price.

I think that I want to go to a 245 width, but not sure if it will fit. Will they cost much for fuel mileage?

I think I like the Firestone Destination AT's but haven't heard much on the forum about them.

I'm curious what everyone else has been doing with tires.

Anyway, thanks for any guidance you can offer!

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:05 pm

I am running the Toyo Open Country HTs in a 235/75/16 and love them.

Another tire that was just introduced by Hercules is the new All Trac which comes in a 245/70/16 (not the same as the Hercules Terra Trac ATs). It is fairly aggressive as an AT but has a great tread desgn for the road.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:10 pm

The 235/75 or 240/70 should both fit without a lift (a couple have folks have run 255/70 - but I'd expect some rubbing)

down in the tire section Destination AT/s are appreciated unless you run into mud, and Tirerack has always had them in the top 3 (although they don't carry the Hercules and so they don't rank them)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=ORAT

sbohner · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:13 pm

Thanks Darby,

These look like great choices. I will check them out.

Is the 245 size going to rub on a non-lifted configuration of the Liberty?

Again, thanks - you have always given great information.

Grateful regards!

DarbyWalters wrote:

I am running the Toyo Open Country HTs in a 235/75/16 and love them.

Another tire that was just introduced by Hercules is the new All Trac which comes in a 245/70/16 (not the same as the Hercules Terra Trac ATs). It is fairly aggressive as an AT but has a great tread desgn for the road.

sbohner · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:16 pm

Thanks ATXKJ!

I just responded to Darby's reply and when it came back up, you had answered the question I put to Darby. You guys are great!

Grateful regards!

ATXKJ wrote:

The 235/75 or 240/70 should both fit without a lift (a couple have folks have run 255/70 - but I'd expect some rubbing)

down in the tire section Destination AT/s are appreciated unless you run into mud, and Tirerack has always had them in the top 3 (although they don't carry the Hercules and so they don't rank them)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=ORAT

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:19 pm

I meant to say 245/70 should work unlifted (I'm not even sure they have a 240)

I have 245/75's but with OME lift.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:38 pm

I just brought Michelin 245/70-16 LTX A/T2 and they are fantastic. I got for 122 each at local tire rack and I mounted them as white letters in, black wall out

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... TX+A%2FT+2

mackruss · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:15 am

BlackLibertyCRD wrote:

I just brought Michelin 245/70-16 LTX A/T2 and they are fantastic. I got for 122 each at local tire rack and I mounted them as white letters in, black wall out

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... TX+A%2FT+2

Can you explain why you went for the white letters in and black sidewall out.

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:54 am

Want a quiet riding highway tire that can also pull you out of the mud? BF Goodrich Commercial T/A 215/85/16 with no lift or weld-pounding needed, or if you are adventurous, 235/85/16 which would work best with a 2" lift or the weld pounded. It *just* fits on the front.

These are load range E tires, all steel construction, and I've got over 30k on mine already (not rotating them) with no apreciable wear at all on the front. The back are a little more obvious, but nowhere near replacement time. I figure at least another 30k on the rear, probably a lot more.

You can run them up to 80psi, but I've been getting a nice ride from mine at 60psi.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:46 am

mackruss wrote:

BlackLibertyCRD wrote:

I just brought Michelin 245/70-16 LTX A/T2 and they are fantastic. I got for 122 each at local tire rack and I mounted them as white letters in, black wall out

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... TX+A%2FT+2

Can you explain why you went for the white letters in and black sidewall out.

To me it looks better on black vehicle that has no white trim.

sbohner · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:00 am

Hi Geordi,

What does the "85" in 245/85/16 gain for me - closer circumference to get the miles per hour correct on the speedo?

Thanks!

geordi wrote:

Want a quiet riding highway tire that can also pull you out of the mud? BF Goodrich Commercial T/A 215/85/16 with no lift or weld-pounding needed, or if you are adventurous, 235/85/16 which would work best with a 2" lift or the weld pounded. It *just* fits on the front.

These are load range E tires, all steel construction, and I've got over 30k on mine already (not rotating them) with no apreciable wear at all on the front. The back are a little more obvious, but nowhere near replacement time. I figure at least another 30k on the rear, probably a lot more.

You can run them up to 80psi, but I've been getting a nice ride from mine at 60psi.

MOSFET · **Joined:** Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:40 pm **Posts:** 295

I went with Goodyear Silent Armors in 245/70R16, and they fit with no rubbing issues. They are almost the same diameter as the stock 225/75R16, about 0.7% different.

There are many good tires out there, but the 245/70R16 gives you a wider contact patch with effectively the same diameter tire.

Try this link to compare tire sizes and speedo errors:
http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

CRDMiller · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:44 am

OP as you have a crd, you can get your ecu reprogrammed for ANY diameter tire By REVS PER MILE. Expect to pay for about 1/2 an hour labor at the stealer, but KNOW your revs a mile for your tire beforehand.

Also consider that if you have f37 you can undercut your revs/mile and get better shift points =D but your speedo will be way off. AKA hitting 5'th gear and locked at 55 instead of 65. The minimum revs a mile is 600 for the ecu and the max i believe was 800 My bfg km2's were 650 revs/mile (32 inch)

chrispitude · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 3:07 pm

I've had favorable experiences on the CRD with both the Firestone Destination AT, and the Pirelli Scorpion ATR. The Scorpion ATR is sort of like a more street-friendly version of the Revos.

- Chris

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:22 pm

sbohner wrote:

Hi Geordi,

What does the "85" in 245/85/16 gain for me - closer circumference to get the miles per hour correct on the speedo?

Thanks!

geordi wrote:

Want a quiet riding highway tire that can also pull you out of the mud? BF Goodrich Commercial T/A 215/85/16 with no lift or weld-pounding needed, or if you are adventurous, 235/85/16 which would work best with a 2" lift or the weld pounded. It *just* fits on the front.

These are load range E tires, all steel construction, and I've got over 30k on mine already (not rotating them) with no apreciable wear at all on the front. The back are a little more obvious, but nowhere near replacement time. I figure at least another 30k on the rear, probably a lot more.

You can run them up to 80psi, but I've been getting a nice ride from mine at 60psi.

Welcome to Tire Measurements 101, please find a comfortable seat and your favorite beverage.

The typical way of displaying a tire's measurements makes use of several designators. Thankfully, they are somewhat standardized across manufacturers.

LT 215 / 85 / 16R LRE 115Q

For this tire:
LT means this is considered a "light truck" tire, which generally means it is designed for vehicles weighing up to 4 tons. This could include the Hummer at 6500 lbs if you got the proper size tire in this model.
215 is the WIDTH of the tread from shoulder to shoulder, measured in millimeters.
85 is the PERCENTAGE of that treadwidth that is used for the sidewall height. So if you want to lower your car without changing the suspension, reduce this number. But by doing so, you increase the revolutions per mile, which will increase your fuel usage on the highway.
16R is the diameter of the rim measured in inches, and the R says that this is a RADIAL tire, not a "D" which is for BIAS ply tires. Bias tires are the ones that bulge when you over-pressure them, due to how they are constructed. They are generally only authorized for trailer use, or for specific classic cars.
LRE is an abbreviation (from some manufacturers) that means Load Range E.
115Q is part of the same thing, but more specific. 115 corresponds to a standard load index chart that says that this tire can handle 2680 lbs at its sidewall max of 80psi, and the Q means that it is speed rated for continuous operation at full load at 99mph or below.

Here is the specific page for these tires, in all the sizes they are offered in. As I have said in other threads, I actually mounted one of the 235/85/16 on a front wheel of my NON-LIFTED KJ, and it *just barely* was rubbing on the plastic at the pinch weld. I had just bought the car, so I wasn't interested in beating on it just yet. The 215/85 are a 29.9" diameter tire, I measured my stock tires at 29", so I gained 1" of mileage enhancing reduced rotation. Next time I may get the 235/85 because those are another 30 revs slower, and another 1.4 inches taller.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/commercial-t-a-all-season/45.html

jinstall · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:39 pm

I am getting ready to install my 3rd set of Kumho 798's 245/70/16 with no mods. Great tire and gets me everywhere I want to go.

sbohner · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:37 pm

Thanks Geordi!

I was thinking of what you said about the measures and was struck by the % change in the revs per mile. Would this amount of change (particularly of the 235/85/16) necessitate a reprogramming of the system for the antilock braking/traction control?

Grateful regards!

geordi wrote:

Want a quiet riding highway tire that can also pull you out of the mud? BF Goodrich Commercial T/A 215/85/16 with no lift or weld-pounding needed, or if you are adventurous, 235/85/16 which would work best with a 2" lift or the weld pounded. It *just* fits on the front.

These are load range E tires, all steel construction, and I've got over 30k on mine already (not rotating them) with no apreciable wear at all on the front. The back are a little more obvious, but nowhere near replacement time. I figure at least another 30k on the rear, probably a lot more.

You can run them up to 80psi, but I've been getting a nice ride from mine at 60psi.

[/quote]

Welcome to Tire Measurements 101, please find a comfortable seat and your favorite beverage.

The typical way of displaying a tire's measurements makes use of several designators. Thankfully, they are somewhat standardized across manufacturers.

LT 215 / 85 / 16R LRE 115Q

For this tire:
LT means this is considered a "light truck" tire, which generally means it is designed for vehicles weighing up to 4 tons. This could include the Hummer at 6500 lbs if you got the proper size tire in this model.
215 is the WIDTH of the tread from shoulder to shoulder, measured in millimeters.
85 is the PERCENTAGE of that treadwidth that is used for the sidewall height. So if you want to lower your car without changing the suspension, reduce this number. But by doing so, you increase the revolutions per mile, which will increase your fuel usage on the highway.
16R is the diameter of the rim measured in inches, and the R says that this is a RADIAL tire, not a "D" which is for BIAS ply tires. Bias tires are the ones that bulge when you over-pressure them, due to how they are constructed. They are generally only authorized for trailer use, or for specific classic cars.
LRE is an abbreviation (from some manufacturers) that means Load Range E.
115Q is part of the same thing, but more specific. 115 corresponds to a standard load index chart that says that this tire can handle 2680 lbs at its sidewall max of 80psi, and the Q means that it is speed rated for continuous operation at full load at 99mph or below.

Here is the specific page for these tires, in all the sizes they are offered in. As I have said in other threads, I actually mounted one of the 235/85/16 on a front wheel of my NON-LIFTED KJ, and it *just barely* was rubbing on the plastic at the pinch weld. I had just bought the car, so I wasn't interested in beating on it just yet. The 215/85 are a 29.9" diameter tire, I measured my stock tires at 29", so I gained 1" of mileage enhancing reduced rotation. Next time I may get the 235/85 because those are another 30 revs slower, and another 1.4 inches taller.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/commercial-t-a-all-season/45.html[/quote]

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:19 pm

sbohner wrote:

Thanks Geordi!

I was thinking of what you said about the measures and was struck by the % change in the revs per mile. Would this amount of change (particularly of the 235/85/16) necessitate a reprogramming of the system for the antilock braking/traction control?

Grateful regards!

It shouldn't. I didn't have anything reprogrammed on mine when I got the larger tires, and as the speedometer is off by about 10% anyway, a slower tire actually moves the speedometer closer to being accurate. The ABS system however, while it does send a speed signal from the tone ring on each wheel into the computer, that speed reading is only used for the computer to calculate the average speed display of the EVIC. (Or scangauge, if you have one of those)

The operation of the ABS has no functional need to know how fast the tires are spinning, only that they are. If you have a 2006 with the traction control system... That might be a different story, but I believe that system only cares if the wheels are spinning at significantly DIFFERENT speeds.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:03 am

I'm partial to the BFG radial long trails, they have always served me well. They are a good low resistance tire for on road low noise travel, but still do good in snow. Mud traction stinks, but its not a mud tire.

I run them in 245/70/16 on my XJ, and 245/75/16 on the CRD(will go with 245/75 in the future all across the board)

sbohner · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:42 am

Thanks again Geordi!

This helps. I think that this gives me some of the info I need to select a tire. Now for the pricing :-)

.

Grateful regards!

[/quote]

It shouldn't. I didn't have anything reprogrammed on mine when I got the larger tires, and as the speedometer is off by about 10% anyway, a slower tire actually moves the speedometer closer to being accurate. The ABS system however, while it does send a speed signal from the tone ring on each wheel into the computer, that speed reading is only used for the computer to calculate the average speed display of the EVIC. (Or scangauge, if you have one of those)

The operation of the ABS has no functional need to know how fast the tires are spinning, only that they are. If you have a 2006 with the traction control system... That might be a different story, but I believe that system only cares if the wheels are spinning at significantly DIFFERENT speeds.[/quote]

Time for New Tires - Any leads?

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