[cjmariani]

I just replaced my stock tires after 40k. I got Mastercraft Courser AXT's, stock size. I just got them 3 weeks ago or so and have another week or 2 to exchange them for something else. Have only 1 more chance.

I was hoping to get something that looked aggressive, but would perform well on the road. The truck is stock and I don't do a lot, if any, off-roading, but I like the look of a more aggressive tire. The tire place talked me out of a mud tire, suggesting they wouldn't perform well in the snow (I'm in CT, and winter here can be anything from no snow to blizzards). I'm not concerned too much about road noise, but would like a tire that will hold up to daily highway driving.

I've been looking at the Goodyear Wrangler which looks more aggressive (online) but isn't listed as a mud tire. Anyone have any experience with them? Any other suggestions without breaking the bank?

Thanks!

 

[glamisdude]

Duratrac's are good in the snow from what I hear. My dad had a set on his f350 and they worked well but only lasted 30k miles or so.

The new Falken AT3W are also supposed to do well in the snow.

Pretty happy with my AT3s but they are pretty much the same tire you have now. The MasterCraft is a slightly modified version of the AT3 also made by Cooper. Never had them in snow though...

 

[Zedbra]

The Duratracs are good in the snow, they are popular up north here. I have been eying up the Toyo R/T tires for my next set, not sure how they perform in snow, as I run dedicated Toyo snow tires.

 

[Sabretooth]

I have these WILDPEAK A/T3W TIRE | Falken Tire and like them a lot they're a little more aggressive looking quiet on with great traction off. I could of easily surpassed the 55k mileage rating on them so I'm even putting another set on because they work for me. I've never had them in snow but this year had them through a lot of muddy Texas back roads they even have some snowflake rating lol for whatever that's worth

 

[pmcfrontier]

Like my wildpeak at3w also.

 

[Wet Dog]

Duratracs have been my favorite tire thus far but I just got the AT3Ws and like them as well. I especially like the $$$ I saved compared to my Duratracs!

 

[raine]

Stick with an A/T tire at most if it's mainly a daily driver, unless you love annoying tire drone

 

[cjmariani]

Thanks everyone. It happens that I drove by a goodyear store today and took a look at the Wranglers, and the guy who works there has them on his Tacoma and they looked great. His had 20k miles on them and they looked like new. So they seem to wear well. I'm not as concerned about road noise, I drive a truck so expect some. I was ready to go with a mud tire until I was talked out of that, so I was expecting increased road noise anyway.

 

[twojayonel]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[twojayonel]

Oups I sent the pictures before entering the text. I live in Quebec where snow and ice are common. I haven't tested the geolandar A/T G15 in winter but they are supposed to work year around and be ''OK'' for off-roading. I only have my pro4x cc since June and I do only fire roads but so far they ride nicely on pavement and grip well on 45% dirt hills. I paid 160 C$.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cjmariani]

Thanks twojayonel. Hoping to find something that gives the truck a more aggressive, "off road" look, while maintaining good winter traction. While we get a good amount of snow here in CT, my truck performed really well in most conditions last year with the stock tires, so I'd think that anything would be better in the snow, except may really aggressive mud tires from what I've heard and read.

 

[The other Sean]

I run the Duratracs and as stated, they are great in the snow. I have 43k miles on mine and still have quite a few miles left.

With that said, they do have a few donwsides.

Price. they are spendy.

Road nose can be an issue if you don't rotate regularly. They are not mud tire loud, but, there is now some hum.

They do not do well in heavy rain at highway speeds. They tend to skip over larger spots of standing water. They are not unsafe, but I can feel it. This is probably more to do with their tread being more mud terrain style.

With all that said, if you plan to do little to no off roading, I would go with a more mild A/T tire.

 

[cjmariani]

Thanks The Other Sean. My prior ride was a 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 with low profile, street tires. So I certainly know a thing or two about skipping across puddles. That car was one step below a boat going over standing water.

It may seem silly (although I know I'm not the only one) but I really want my truck to look like a truck, not an SUV with a bed. So I am willing to give a little on the noise to get the look I want. As long as the performance is there.

 

[The other Sean]

Completely understandable. looks was a large part of picking the Duratracs over other tires I was considering. The severe weather rating of the tire with mud tire looks was what finally sold me on them. They are also a couple of pounds lighter than many other tires, so the potential to not take as much of a MPG hit is also nice.

 

[cjmariani]

You should be in sales! Really helpful info! You've convinced me... LOL. Any chance you have a pic of your truck with them on?

 

[The other Sean]

Funny you say that. Sales is my least favorite thing to do... lol..

There should be plenty of pics in my build thread. You can click on the red words on my signature.

 

[cjmariani]

Looks great. You went slightly wider than stock? Was that after the lift or are the wider tires on a stock truck? Any idea if I could go wider with the truck fully stock (suspension, wheels, etc)?

 

[Nissan4Life]

Wait so you chose and bought a set of tires. Have been driving on them for 2 weeks. Am now going to return them because you do not like the way they look. Did I get that right?

Duratracs are probably the best offroading tire out there right now. They are probably close to double the cost of the mastercrafts you are currently running. They are not a highway oriented tire. THough they do have a mountain snowflake rating, the modified mud terrian thread can not be as good on snow/ice as some more dedicated patterns.

Of the mastercraft lineup, I am currently running the Courser MSR. It is an old school high sipe, soft rubber, high void, studdable winter tire, that I do NOT have studs in. I essentially run winter tires all year long. Fresh winter tires for the winter old winter tires for the summer. In the summer I hardly drive the truck as I ride my motorcycle or drive my car.

If I read your original post correctly I would probably just run what you have on there. Seem like the right tire for what you want. Except for looks.

 

[cjmariani]

Hi Nissan4Life. Yes, you've got that all correct. When I bought the tires, I saw them in the store and at first glance, they looked like what I wanted. But as I've been driving on them and seeing other trucks/jeeps etc with more aggressive tires, I am realizing that the tires I got really aren't what I want (yes, in terms of looks, and aggressiveness). Fortunately, the store I got them from offers a 30 day, no questions asked "test drive" and I can exchange them (once).

Believe it or not, the price difference is about $20 a tire, before a $50 rebate from Goodyear. ($169 for the Mastercrafts, $189 for the Wranglers)

I've read a ton of reviews on the Wranglers from people all over the country, from NJ to TN to MT, and the general feedback is that they seem like a tire that would fit my desire for a more aggressive (looking) tire, while not losing too much performance, most especially in snow.

 

[The other Sean]

Looks great. You went slightly wider than stock? Was that after the lift or are the wider tires on a stock truck? Any idea if I could go wider with the truck fully stock (suspension, wheels, etc)?

They are 285/75/16. I initially had a 2.5" spacer lift on it and had to remove the front air dam and trim the mud flaps and I still had a slight rub. If I was stock height, I would have stuck to the 265/75/16 OEM Pro-4X size.