Time for new tires

odbrochound · **Posted:** Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:51 pm

I have been lurking here for about a year, since I bought a 2007 Stone White Limited. It is still all stock and has the 6 spoke 17" wheels(not Chrome Clad) and the np242. It had 46K when I bought it and now has almost 70K (yes I drive a lot). It sits about 18.5" center to flair in front 19 rear. I am currently looking to replace the tires as the Westlake SU-307's that came on it are about done. They were good on dry pavement and ok on wet but totally useless in snow. I would like to get Duratracs but the only size that would fit the wheels is the 245/70-17 which are load range E (ride harshness and mpg concerns, get 19-21 now). I would also need a lift with them. I have also looked at Destination AT, Kumho KL61 and Silent Armors. I have not been off-roading with it yet but being in western NY we do get quite a bit of snow, we also have a couple of off-road parks within a couple hours and Rausch Creek is only 4 hours away so hope to take her out and get her dirty. I have read all about the lifts but am worried about ride stiffness as our roads are not great around here. If a lift rides any harsher than stock I could not do it. I have been looking at the OME 927/948 that Tom and everyone else recommends. Would this lift also eliminate the rear end pogo stick effect on frost heaved concrete expressways. We have a couple of stretches of road that set the rear bouncing up and down. I have also debated getting steel 16" rims with stock size Blizzak DM-V1's for just winter but am a bit concerned about deep snow performance. They don't always plow our road and have had to get through 1.5-2 ft of snow. This is my DD, I am A Volunteer Fireman and my wife is a trauma nurse so if called we have to be able to get through the worst of winter conditions so winter performance is paramount. I love the KJ and would like to lift it but can't afford to make a mistake, would love to add more such as an ARB bumper, winch and f & r ARB lockers but the funds just wont allow it for a couple of years. I cannot even go for 4.10's so are the duratracks going to be too heavy and big for the 3.7L to handle? Should I just stick to stock diameter tires? Is there anybody between Buffalo and Syracuse with an OME or Frankenlift that I could meet up with to check out the ride?

theroofable · **Joined:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:37 pm **Posts:** 17

I am running the silent armors. They are very good in the rain, and snow. They have an 80 dollar rebate going on too! I am also a vol, I understand running out in all weather, and the tires will make a difference!

brettacuff · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 1:31 pm

The ride with the Frankenlift II is stiff but rides much better than stock. As far as fuel economy my 245/75/16's took mine from a 17 average down to 14 average. You shouldn't need to re-gear though.

RED_KJ_666 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:32 pm

Check out the Tires section for more Tire related info.

odbrochound · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 11:26 am

brettacuff - is the ride more controlled than stock, as the stock shocks always seem two steps out of step with what the springs are doing. I am used to german cars which are firm but controlled. I just cannot have something so stiff that it will rattle my fillings loose. The roads around here are not the best especially once the winter frost heaving begins. I live in a rural area where some roads seem like all they did was run a paving machine across a bare field with no base prep. three mpg hit is about $65/mo for me so that is something more to consider.

theroofable - thanks for the comment, how are they in the greasy brown slush when it snows too fast for the plows to keep up? What fire company are you with?

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:56 pm

Have to remember that brettacuff just installed the franky so its not even broke in yet, ride is NOT stiff at all unless you want a wimpy ride. :wink:

With the Franky or 927s in front it will ride nice and firm like it should of from the factory

brettacuff · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:32 pm

tommudd wrote:

Have to remember that brettacuff just installed the franky so its not even broke in yet, ride is NOT stiff at all unless you want a wimpy ride. :wink:

With the Franky or 927s in front it will ride nice and firm like it should of from the factory

That's true.

I would call it a controlled stiffness. Not earth shattering. And it rides wayyyyy smoother than my brothers lowers BMW 135i. I love it. :-)r

steve03sport · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 10:44 pm

just say no to Grabber AT/2's hate them

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:26 am

steve03sport wrote:

just say no to Grabber AT/2's hate them

Why do you hate them?

thehypnotoad · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:17 am

Hey there.

I have the Duratracs (245/75/16) on my '06 KJ and I love them, the 3.7 with stock gearing will be just fine. They aren't terribly loud on pavement (just a slight whirr at some speeds, but nothing deafening). They are great offroad and in the snow - I had to plow through the some rough farm roads through slushy mud and solid ice just the other day and I felt completely in control the whole time. I find I only get a slight bit of wheel rub when I am reversing and have it cranked fully. I have a ~2.25" Rough Country suspension lift as my only supporting mod. I wouldn't say the ride is super stiff, it feels as good as any other capable 4x4 I've been in. It doesn't ride like a Cadillac, it rides like a Jeep. It's my DD as well and I am perfectly comfortable with the ride quality in the city. As far as mileage goes, I get about 13-14 MPG but that is almost ALL stop & go city driving.

I highly recommend the Duratracs.

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

steve03sport wrote:

just say no to Grabber AT/2's hate them

He hates them, I love them. Already on my second pair and they rock in the snow!

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:14 pm

LetFreedomRing wrote:

steve03sport wrote:

just say no to Grabber AT/2's hate them

He hates them, I love them. Already on my second pair and they rock in the snow!

Its funny that I could never sell Generals when I was in the tire business, no one wanted them, they were what most considered a second rate tire company.
The last few years people on here swear they are the best thing since whipped cream, just don't get it. For me there are so many more tires that are way better

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

tommudd wrote:

LetFreedomRing wrote:

steve03sport wrote:

just say no to Grabber AT/2's hate them

He hates them, I love them. Already on my second pair and they rock in the snow!

Its funny that I could never sell Generals when I was in the tire business, no one wanted them, they were what most considered a second rate tire company.
The last few years people on here swear they are the best thing since whipped cream, just don't get it. For me there are so many more tires that are way better

That would explain why if you wait past October, you can hardly get them anymore since most sizes are on national back order. Must be a pretty crappy tire eh? :wink:

(On a side note, back when you were selling tires, they were probably still the original A/T's. The AT2's have come a long way from that design.)

Oh and just to clarify, there are many more tires that are way better "for double the price" :-)r

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:47 pm

Well I'd pay double for say Duratracs, way better I think than even BFG ATs which pretty much su** any more as well.
Whatever you like though, its what you get used to having and driving on, may not be the best but you are used to the way they handle.
For me I've had Firestones Destination ATs, Kumhos KL78s, old style Goodyear MTRs, BFG ATs, Treadwrights ( very short time) , and now Goodyear Duratracs on the KJ to find what works best for me.
Lets see
General AT 2s $148 on Tire rack
Goodyear Duratracs $164 on Tire Rack
BFG AT T/A KOs $ 204
mmm still nothing double the price
I'll keep looking :ROTFL:

LetFreedomRing · **Joined:** Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:51 am **Posts:** 268

tommudd wrote:

Well I'd pay double for say Duratracs, way better I think than even BFG ATs which pretty much su** any more as well.
Whatever you like though, its what you get used to having and driving on, may not be the best but you are used to the way they handle.
For me I've had Firestones Destination ATs, Kumhos KL78s, old style Goodyear MTRs, BFG ATs, Treadwrights ( very short time) , and now Goodyear Duratracs on the KJ to find what works best for me.

I'll agree with you. If they made a Duratrac that was not a load range E in my size, I would gladly pay double for them! :mrgreen:

Basically, the Grabber AT2 is an great improvement on the BFG design for a fraction of the cost!

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:47 pm

LetFreedomRing wrote:

I'll agree with you. If they made a Duratrac that was not a load range E in my size, I would gladly pay double for them! :mrgreen:

!

Yeah, I wish they made a "P" rated Duratrac. I went with Firestone Destination A/T's because they were "P" rated. They do ride like a Cadillac. :mrgreen:

LetFreedomRing wrote:

Basically, the Grabber AT2 is an great improvement on the BFG design for a fraction of the cost!

Amen!

odbrochound · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:24 pm

Well thanks everybody for all the info. Not sure I will be able to do the lift at this time as money is a little tight (just had to order plane tickets to visit the wife's family in the Caribbean for Christmas). I think I have decided on the Silent Armors (245/65-17) as with the current Ford deals I can get them for the same money as the KL-61's or the Dest AT's. I wish I could wait until lifted to buy tires as I would really like to get the Duratracs but the snow has already started here and I can't chance the wife driving in bad weather with the current tires and NYS Inspection is due at the end of the month.

As far as the Grabber AT's, I know people who have the and love them but I just don't like how they look, the BFG KO's are just as ugly to me.

Hopefully in the next few days I will know if I can swing the lift and Duratracs.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:33 am

the ride with my frankenlift is OUTSTANDING. drastically reduced body roll and feels much much more controlled. the BEST tires i've every owned or driven in the snow/ice/DEEP slush/heavy rain were trxus MT's. the aggressive and deep tread pattern made slush non existent as well as hydroplaning. but they got really loud at about 28k miles when they were about half tread left (then i sold them). traction on ice was best it can be without studs.

osufans · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2011 7:32 pm

Hey, just throwing this out there as a suggestion. I found a cheap mom and pop tire shop not too far from me...they carry Cooper/Mastercraft tires. They offer the Mastercraft Courser AT2 tires cheap compared to BFG, Goodyear, etc. My buddy has them on his Yukon and his Trailblazer and loves them. I thought they looked nice too. I'm gonna go with these on my Liberty next year when I need tires.

I won't argue they're the best tire, but if you're on a budget like me, you might want to check them out!

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:24 pm

osufans wrote:

Hey, just throwing this out there as a suggestion. I found a cheap mom and pop tire shop not too far from me...they carry Cooper/Mastercraft tires. They offer the Mastercraft Courser AT2 tires cheap compared to BFG, Goodyear, etc. My buddy has them on his Yukon and his Trailblazer and loves them. I thought they looked nice too. I'm gonna go with these on my Liberty next year when I need tires.

I won't argue they're the best tire, but if you're on a budget like me, you might want to check them out!

Mastercraft is not a bad tire line, used to sell a lot of them in the Tire Shop I had, don't wear as well as some but overall they do well. I've ran a set on a 69 Bronco and 86 XJ before and liked them.

Time for new tires

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