Tire Brand Decision - GENERAL VS MICHELIN VS COOPER?

Note that tread depth is usually shallower on SL and P rated. If longevity is a concern, they don’t usually last as long as an e rated tire with more tread depth.

 

I've been pretty happy with continentals white raised letter and sheds water all season tire

 

From this thread it looks like you got good contenders. I love the Toyos on our Jeep and I will switch to those when the stocks on our pro are worn out. I'll likely grab a set for my old tacoma too here this year.

 

If your looking to minimize mpg hit stock size and P metric is the only way. Going to a 285/70/18 would be a true 34 inch tire. (stock is about 32.5) 285/75/18 is a true 35. Expect 1-2 mpg loss with 34 and 2-3 mpg loss with 35...its just pure simple physics...but damn they'll look great!

 

Yea I’m tracking…i’ve been researching a lot.

Figured with my wheels being lighter than stock, if i go with a slightly bigger/heavier tire and keep the overall weigh the same or very close it should be a wash technically…

But also there is the new offset which is +20 instead of +60 OEM. So I understand I’ll also have a bit more drag….so probably not get exact MPG as stock but pretty close.

Going from 265/70/18 to 275/70/18 is only slightly larger too.

 

I call BS on those aftermarket wheels weight. The TRD Pro forged 18x8.5 are 39 lbs and lighter than the TRD 20's by 2 lbs. No cast wheel I would trust is going to weigh less. With the stock Falken tires my combo is 80lbs per wheel...39+41.

 

I will send you a picture of the on a scale as soon as I open them up, but if you do a search on this page for BFD’s you will already find a picture of them.

They are no-kidding 23 lbs.

I (like you) was also concerned about thier strength.

See below:

Regarding the load rating - more often than not the tire load rating is going to be higher than the wheel load rating (for almost every vehicle, not just the Tundra). This doesn't necessarily present a safety issue as long as both the tire and the wheel load rating exceed the axle rating for the vehicle. The axle rating is denoted on your VIN placard in your door jam under GAWR FRT (front axle rating) and GAWR RR (rear axle rating).

You are also correct that the load rating for the OEM 265/70R18 Yokohama Geolandar tires is 2,756lbs per tire.

However, please note that the OEM 245/75R18 Yokohama Geolandar, the OEM 265/60R20 Yokohama Geolandar / Bridgestone Dueler H/T 685 / Falken Wildpeak A/T3W and the OEM 265/50R22 Bridgestone Dueler H/T 685 tires all have load ratings of 2,469lbs per tire.

Our 18x9" +20 6x139 FN BFD flow formed wheels have a load rating of 2,500lbs as tested with up to a 35" tire diameter. It's important to note that we tested with a 35" tire diameter, since larger tire diameters exert more stress and load onto the wheel. OEM tire diameter is 32.5", so the load rating for our wheels would be comparatively higher if we had only tested with up to a 33" tire diameter. Also, it's worth noting we have two new 17" wheel designs that were engineered to handle up to 37" diameter tires while maintaining a robust load rating (more info here: https://www.fnwheels.com/17-five-star-and-six-shooter-new-fitments-available-now/).

Back to the axle rating vs. wheel/tire load rating:

The Tundra GAWR rating is approximately 4,100lbs. The front or rear GAWR could be a little lighter depending on the trim level and whether the truck is a 4x2 or a 4x4. 4,100lbs is a good approximation and is rounded up from the heaviest number we have seen which is actually 4,080 lbs.

There are two wheels and tires per axle on a Tundra, so you multiple the wheel load rating x2 to compare to the axle rating. The load rating of our 18x9" BFD flow formed wheels is 2,500lbs per wheel which equates to 5,000lbs per axle. The BFD exceeds the axle rating by approximately 22%. As long as you don't overload the truck and exceed the axle rating (which could potentially snap an axle as well), you won't have any safety concerns or issues with the BFDs.

The same methodology and standards apply to the tire load ratings, which is why the Tundra doesn't blow out the tires with the 2,469lbs load rating (when properly inflated of course). 2,469lbs per tire x 2 tires per axle = 4,938lbs load rating (exceeds the axle rating of 4,100lbs by approximately20%).

Long story short, the rear axel can only handle so much weight….it would actually be the “weak link” in this scenario all things being equal.

 

That still seems low but hopefully legit. I found a few that are in the low to upper 20's in weight on Tire Rack. Also found a member here that listed the stock 18's are 31 lbs in alloy and TRD Pro Forged 27 lbs. Enjoy the process, nothing makes a vehicle pop like the right wheel/tire combo!

 

I had the generals on my GX460 and they were amazing in snow/ice and rain.

 

Wheels just showed up!

 

22.4 lbs

 

Niceeeeeeeee! Love the color!

 

Nice wheels.

 

Wow, I’ve never given this much thought or math into buying a tire. I figure out what I want it to do, try to find right tire, right size, and at right price. And buy em.

 

I enjoy it….i like to be precise.

 

Yea I enjoyed the process…but your right lol. I’m getting 18mpg so is 17 going to kill me - no.

 

Personally I prefer the Toyo of those 3. A lot of people on here like the general but I don’t know anyone that has gotten 4 round ones on the first try. Cooper used to be good but they have been bought by good year which I have never had good luck with on trucks. I have had good luck with the Toyo but I have only had the rt and mt

 

I am on the same boat as you. Currently running BFG KO2 275/70-18. You are correct in that all but 1, the General, are E rated and heavy. If I stay at that size I will definitely go with the General and even if I go smaller I might stick to them also. Don't go off 1-2 reviews, I went off way more reviews for KO and want them gone @27k miles on them. Pretty much all the reviews I read for the General was more positive than negative.

 

You can definitely buy the generals in load SL AND in E.

Them and Duratracs both have 275’s in SL and E….basically the only two brands that make this size in both categories

 

Thanks, these look awesome and around 52lbs Vredestein Pinza AT 285-65-18 will probably be my oem replacements.

https://www.vredestein.com/car-suv-tires/products/2041-PINZA-AT/

 

You get a STAR for that.

 

I did. They were very good tires. Smooth, quiet, very good in rain and snow.

 

I’ve loosely tallied all the posts and the Coopers are just a hair more than the General but not by much.

Still in between so I may go General just mainly due to them being cheaper but also the switch at Cooper to Goodyear ownership….not a fan there even though they are still made in America.

Then if I have issues in a few years with General I will switch out to something else.

Definitely suprised at the low number of Toyo recommendations though….just a few.

 

Generals are 14/32” Coopers are 16/32”.

 

Toyo is the choice, also made in America

 

Those that you listed......

Coopers....

I perfer KO2's personally

 

coopers, coopers ,….

 

I just put some Vredestein Pinzas on my Tundra. So far (6 weeks in) they look great, had a fair price, and handled a couple of minor snowstorms with ease. Highway noise is next to nothing. Looking forward to seeing how they last through the years. Also I thought they were Italian not Dutch?

 

Yeah, but racecar spelled backwards is still racecar

 

Probably unpopular but somehow “pawpaw” Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 have made in onto my list now.

Stellar all across the board reviews in all categories - they just do not look cool. But honestly I will not really ever off-road, got the truck to pull my boat. Minimum once/twice a week 30 miles round trip to the ramp.