Hey guys, I have a question for everyone. I am looking into getting some new rubber this summer and have a question about the GoodYear Duratracs. I am currently running a 285/70R17 Wild Country XTX tire and with lift I think they look a bit small. I was thinking of going with 35s when tires came do for my truck but was advised that 33s would be better with my 4.10 gears. I looked at several 285/70R17 tires and was set on the Duratracs. My friend got some in that size for his Sierra and they look good but they are only about 1/2" taller than my current tires (31.25"), maybe because they have a soft sidewall? I started to look at slightly bigger size tires (295/70R17) and liked the Nitto Trail Grappler. Actual size is 33" on the dot. The downside to these is they weigh 71lbs a tire! Compared to the Duratracs in 285 that weigh 54! I started to look at the Duratracs again and looked at the 315/70R17. It is a D rated tire, weighs 60lbs, and is 34.25" actual hight. My question is would this be good for my lift and gears? Is anyone running these tires in these sizes? Are there any other tires I should look into that you guys recommend? I do 95% on road 5% off road (snow, sand & mud) thanks a lot guys!

 

The 34.25 inch tires would reduce your final drive ratio a bit, but, not so bad as some folks running 35's with 3.55 gears.... you would notice a bit of a loss of low-end grunt, but, the engine would be turning slightly lower RPM for any given road speed. On the ORE, you can actually get away with this. I would stay away from the larger tires with 3.55 gears. The reduced weight as compared to the Nittos. (are those load range E by chance?)

if you can, test fit them, see how they look, and see if they are going to hit anything. Take it from there.

 

Wouldnt go that big a tire on a D44 unless you like replacing front end parts. Ran a 315/75/16 (little bigger yes but just a hair..) and went through 4 ball joints, a wheel bearing and track bar in about 3 months. Not horsing it or abusing just driving around. That and that size tire with 4.10s really sucks, it lugs in O/D and screams when not in O/D... Really wouldnt recommend taller tires. Maybe look at a 305/65/17? Its a 33x12.5 r17.

 

I have 315/75/16 Goodyear Duratrac's on right now. I f***ing love them... Best tire I have better owned. When I was lookin for tires, I needed something good on the road, winter rated and good on ice but can still keep up with a mud tire. I really didnt want to buy 2 sets of tires. Well, a duratrac is that tire. Is has lugs similar to that of a mud tire but on glare ice it responds like a true winter tire. I used to own 33 inch Pro Comp MTs before the Duratracs and they were a good mud tire. The Duratracs are good. One of the only downsides to the duratrac I've heard is the weak sidewalls. Apparently they are 2 ply instead of the usual 4 ply tire sidewall. As long as you are not hardcore rock crawling, don't worry about it. I got stuck in the snowbank about a month ago and I these tires were really digging and nothing happened to the sidewall.

As for your lift and gearing, you're fine. I ran 3.55s for a few days but swapped to 4.56s. I wish I had gone to 4.10s.

 

Yes, the Nitto's are load range E, the Duratracs in both sizes as well as my current tire are load range D

 

I already replaced my whole front end not long after I got the truck last December (ball joints, tie rods, track bar, pitmam arm, steering gear box) but dont want to have to do it again... Bigger tires wear down the components?

 

Any extra wear on the front end like Johnn123 mentioned??

 

My op is that the Duratrac tire is a winter tire (rated on the sidewall) and should only be used in the winter and it wears just like a soft winter tire, run it in the summer and they won't last longer than two years. They are a great tire in the snow/ice.

 

I know that bigger heavier tires will both reduce my final drive, giving me less low end grunt and maybe cause more wear to my front end, but given that the Duratracs are both lighter compared to others that size (mainly because others in that size are usually an E rated tire and the Duratracs are a D) and because the Duratrac runs a little short that maybe they would be good for my particular set up? You guys are my go to when I have questions, haven't steered my wrong yet!

 

What tire would you recommend?