OK, I have the disease , the one that makes people wanting bigger things all the time(dont laugh...)
I have a 97 ram 1500 reg cab short box with off road package.

It has the original size 265 75 16 on it, but its time to change them.

I have been looking at the firestone destination AT, they are very well rated and price is decent. However the look is deceving (I cant beleive im talking about the look of a tire!), I have BFGs AT right now on it and looks meaned than the destinations.

So I have been searching and dayton(firestone made),have the timberline MT tires for about the same price of the destinations, but a much meaner look and higher load rating (D versus C). Also they have good reviews in terms of wear and traction.

I live in Canada where we have TONS of snow, so i know mud tires are usually pretty crappyin snow and icecondition,butsince I travel alot for business I only get to drive incanadian snowy conditions maybe5 times a year. I dont really dooff roading(I have a jeep wrangler also), but I do go in the woods and gravel roads for fishing and dirtriding.

the daytons mud are pretty much the same price (same size) than the Firestone Destination AT.

ALSO there is a tire size question, my truck is equipped with 3,55 gears its a 5.2 auto. Its not a rocketas it is right now and Im affraid of killing my mileage (already pretty bad)and myacceleration with 285 75 16 tires.

the BFGs 265 7516looksok butsomewhat lost in the big wheelwells on my truck ,thats why I thought about 285s instead of the 265s, but tires weight , overall diameter increases really makes me wonder if I should go up one size or stay with 265s.

So what should I get 265s mud or 265 all terrain?

285s mud or 285 allterrain?

let your experience talk I really need input please...

regards

 

if you like the destination at's look at the bridgestone dueler at revo's. Not as knobby as the destinations but better in ride quality and in the snow, and look very aggressive. I've seen many dodges with destination at's and they look pretty f'ing sweet...better then bfg all terran's..I just installed some 285/75/16 destination mts today on my truck and i didn't notice any if at all a performance loss and i also have the 5.2. 285/75/16 destination at's will do you well and look very well on your truck, or even the dueler at revo's will look great, not to mention they will last alot longer thenan mt. Oh, just so you know, your truck isn't an off road dodge. They didn't come out till 2000 and came with 17inch rims, and 4.10 gears.

 

Sorry my mistake ,I thought because I had in the option codes: H-D 241 TC I hadsomewhat of an offroad pkg , but the option codes says Sport pkg, not off road.

Thats what alot of people are saying about the destination ATs they are supposed to look real good once on the truck and have a nice tread pattern, I have to be honest I feel dumb saying I want my tires to look good on the truck ,but at the same time if I can get good performance out of them and good looks, it would be even better.

I have my mind almostset on the destination ATs 285 75 16 , for the wear , size, load range but the looks I have to admit I have only seen these tiresin pictures on the net, I guess in real life they look more agressive. well...

 

Going up a size in tires really fills in the wheelwell gap, I cant imagine reverting back to the stock size tires. You will notice that your speedometer will be about 5 mph slower with the bigger size tires and stock gearing. Ive searched for a few months trying to find the right look before I bought my tires. I too wanted somethign that looked good and mean but also didnt want to be another truck with x brand tires. I havent had much experience with other brands of a/t tires but Ive heard that BFgoodrich a/t's handle poorly in the rain. Although BFGoodrich street tires are my choice for any car that I would drive.

So far I am quite happy with my Cooper Discoverer S/T tires I bought over a yr ago. They have that knobby / mean look to them once mounted on the rim and have good treadwear. Here in Wisconsin we get our share of snow and they handle just as good in snow as in the rain. Ice doesnt matter, as to me no matter what tires you have you will slide if your not driving according to the road conditions. I get many compliments on how aggressive they look. If I ever have to buy another set of tires the Cooper's are my only choice.

If your looking to fill the wheelwell gap then go with the 285's but you will lose a bit of power as the engine has to push the bigger tires. But if you plan on beefying up the motor a bit then you should get back to the performance you had and then some.

 

good looking truck, mine is exactly the same but all black ...

 

ill put it to u this way, my old job we use to get ppl who come in for the Destination a/ts for SNOW tires on their trucks/suvs. i say get em. they will do the job and then some

 

you shouldn't really feel dumb about wanting a good looking tire on your truck. It's your truck and your the one that's spending all the money on the tires, so you should get what you want. I got destination mts on my truck because that's what i wanted...but i would definatilly with the destination at's or dueler at revo's

 

Ok im set on 285 75 16 firestone destination AT, for my truck I hope its not going to kill the motor having the stock 354, gears.

best price ive found was 125$ per tires (not installed nor balanced). I will keep you posted on how good or bad my choice was.

Thanks.

 

I just put new Toyo Open Country M/Ts on my truck, 285 75 16s, and they are the best! seriously a good buy, but VERY expensive and they are imported directly from Japan... (mine were about $300 a tire) but very aggressive looking, and as far as off road tires go, they have a very hard rubber, lasts longer on pavement.

 

they aren't going to kill your motor, i just installed 285/75/16 destination mt's which are heavier then the at's and i honestly didn't notice all that much of a difference..i'll post some pics of them later on tonight