SUV tire recommendations?

[hayabuser]

I've got a set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs on my Jeep. They're very good in the wet/snow, quiet on the road but because they're a pretty soft compound, my gas mileage has suffered. They're like riding on tires covered in suction cups... lots of traction but plenty of rolling resistance as well.

Still, I like them.

[Turbo-Torch]

$800 to $1,000 in tires for an Explorer? ??? Does it use some odd ball size to make the price so high?

I figured the Explorer would be similar to my Olds Bravada which uses a 235/70-15. I've been shopping around and something like the Long Trail is less than $450 from Tire Rack. If I want to go with an all season or mild performance tire, there are several choices in the $350 range. I mainly use it as a winter vehicle and it's unstoppable during even the worst blizzards with the existing Radial T/As so I may go with another set of performance/all season tires. It's also a more luxury oriented vehicle and I do like the smooth quiet ride.

Last set of tires I bought for one of my cars came from Tire Rack and I wouldn't shop anywhere else from now on. They sent them directly to my local NTB who installed them for about $60 bucks (mount, balance and new valve stems). I don't think they were too happy about losing commission; however, I did give them first shot and they offered one street tire in my size from some company I never heard of and the rest were non DOT race track tires.

[Lycan]

How are they on the highway? quiet or loud? smooth or rough? Some more info on these would be great

Reviews say they male some noice but honestly I never really experienced it. Awesome all weather tire, good grip in anything and they look really good too

[Tiller]

$800 to $1,000 in tires for an Explorer? ??? Does it use some odd ball size to make the price so high?

I figured the Explorer would be similar to my Olds Bravada which uses a 235/70-15. I've been shopping around and something like the Long Trail is less than $450 from Tire Rack. If I want to go with an all season or mild performance tire, there are several choices in the $350 range. I mainly use it as a winter vehicle and it's unstoppable during even the worst blizzards with the existing Radial T/As so I may go with another set of performance/all season tires. It's also a more luxury oriented vehicle and I do like the smooth quiet ride.

Last set of tires I bought for one of my cars came from Tire Rack and I wouldn't shop anywhere else from now on. They sent them directly to my local NTB who installed them for about $60 bucks (mount, balance and new valve stems). I don't think they were too happy about losing commission; however, I did give them first shot and they offered one street tire in my size from some company I never heard of and the rest were non DOT race track tires.

No my Explorer is a top of the line Explorer and has 17" wheels. Runs a 245/65/17 tire which definately makes the price jump up from $400 bucks. I wish they would be that cheap.

[GsxrBots]

245/65/17? That's an oddball size... Weird..

Just take 'em off and stuff some mudders under there!

[Tiller]

245/65/17? That's an oddball size... Weird..

Just take 'em off and stuff some mudders under there!

HAHA!!! All that lift and tire and he still got stuck

It is a rather oddball size but I swear it's factory size. Even says it on the sticker inside the door. And it's just a regular Explorer XLT I promise. It is the 4.6 V8 and AWD with 4x4 lock so maybe that required the oddball wheels?

[Vic_E55_2001]

Michelin LTX

It's what came on our Explorer and we got 67k out of them. 2nd set got 63k.

Best ride, handling and wear of the light truck/suv tires IMO.
+1. used them on honda ridgeline, great tire. 45000 and looks like half left. now i have nitto terra grapplers and they are waaay better, looks great too. on 4runeer, about the same weight as exploded

From my dunce stool :cookoo:

+1. used them on honda ridgeline, great tire. 45000 and looks like half left. now i have nitto terra grapplers and they are waaay better, looks great too. on 4runeer, about the same weight as exploded