Probably a common question. I just bought a 2004 Ram 1500 shortbed 4WD and I'm looking at new tires. The original tires are still on the vehicle, and they are about down to the tread warning bands.

The question is - which tires should I get. The tires on the truck now are P265/70R17, and I'm OK with the size - I think...

I'm looking to maintian the present diameter, but I want something a little more durable and with a little more agressive tread than the stock tires that are presently on the truck (I guess that considering the fact that these tires are about worn out, anything would have a more agressive tread).

I'm thinking of an LT tire instead of a P-rated tire, though maybe I don't need that. Most of my driving will be on road. I will be venturing across the field on occasion, and might even play just a tiny bit in the dirt. I intend to get a new trailer, and will probably be pulling a maximum of 6000-7000 pounds. According to the towing guide, the 5.7 L engine with 3.55 gears on a shortbed regular cab 4X4 can tow 7900 lbs, so I should be within the rating. I'm a little concerned that 3.55 gears are a little taller than I'd like, but that's something to deal with at a later time.

So anyway, I'm not quite sure what tires I might want to get and I'm open for suggestion. I've had BF Goodrich AT /KO tires on my Explorer - great traction, durable, and long-lasting. A little noisy on the highway, though.

Any suggestions?

 

I'm about to buy some Cooper Discoverer H/T Plus tires for my truck. They have a cool looking tread and from what I've read they are pretty solid on and offroad. Other than that I've read in an offroading magazine that the General Grabber HTS tires are better than some more aggressive A/Ts and are apparently really smooth on the highway.

 

Nice tires!!! You will love them. Had mine for a few months and cant say a bad thing about them

 

Yep, single most popular questions by far are tire related, either what kind or what size fits.

I've had terrible luck with BFGs in the past. Uneven wear, cupping issues. A lot of people find they are not great, especially for the money. About the only national brand tire gets a worse rap would be Goodyear.

In a 17" tire a lot of guys go with the Nitto Terra Grappler. Above average wear rating and about the best wet and dry pavement ratings out there as it's a very heavily siped tire. Also a very quiet tire for a fairly aggressive A/T tire. Price is fairly decent as well.

Not quite aggressive enough for my 4x4 truck needs, but I have a set on my 4x4 Jeep Grand Cherokee and so far, after about 10k miles, I have NO complaints. I've always been a HUGE Mickey Thompson / Dick Cepek tire fan (have Cepek FCIIs on my truck) but couldn't get into a 265/65/17 Mickey Thompson ATZ for much under $200 a tire. The Terra Grapps in that size only ran me $127 a tire in that size.

An LT set in about 33x12.5x17 would be a good tire for your 4x4... Little bigger, little wider and would make the stance a little more aggressive although they are readily available in 265/70/17...

 

yup, you'll love them. I have had them on my truck for a while and can't complain. I've been leaning towards some Nitto's when these go bad....but then again I'd rather have a set of new (smaller) wheels too...But I have a few friends with Nittos and they say they are great.

 

Those Terra Grapplers look like a nice, fairly agressive tire on your Cherokee. I don't think I'd have much trouble pulling a few thousand pounds up the hill in the yard with those. I'll look into them.

I had never heard of that brand before.

BTW, those BFG AT/KO tires I had were very good - a true LT tire with way more load capacity than I needed on the 'Splorer. Made for off-road, but they did sing a tune on the highway! They had about 60k on them when I sold the Explorer. I think that they stood out from other BFG tires at the time. Maybe that's why, 10 years later, they still make the same tires.

 

I'll look into those Cooper Discoverer H/T tires also.

Thanks, everybody.

 

Never heard of Nitto? Wow!

Owned by same parent company that owns Toyo. Actually the Toyo Open Country A/T is about the same tire, but they price it at about 25% higher.

The Nitto Mud Grappler is a VERY popular tire among the off-road crowd, up there with Boggers and Baja Claws. But if you think BFGs are loud, FORGET the Mud Grapps, about the loudest tire on pavement I've ever heard.

Nitto Trail Grappler is worth a look too, again about a true clone of the Toyo Open Country M/T, but probably a little more aggressive than what you need, and a little louder than the Terra Grapps...

 

What can I say? I haven't had a 4WD vehicle in 7 years. I've been out of the loop as far as tires are concerned. Been driving the snot out of a FWD Ford Escape until last year when I got the Honda Civic Si. Fun little car.

The Escape is about to hit the market. Can't afford 3 cars, and I don't need 3 cars anyway!! It'll help pay for the used truck.

 

We got a site mod 'round here with a set of LT 33x12.5x17 Terra Grapps on his truck: