Time for new shoes.

Picked up a nail in one of my OEM Michelins, and Discount doesn't want to plug/patch it due to the tread depth.
I've been getting ready for the big hit of new rubber but was hoping to squeeze a few more miles out of these.

I've debated about bumping up a size but I think I'll stay with the stock size for this set.

I'd love to lift it and go 35's, but I just don't wanna' pay the price of admission.

It's weird, when I look at my truck from a distance the stock tires look silly small, but when I stand right next to them they're actually quite large.
I'm hoping the more aggressive tread pattern will help beef up the old man look.

I had E range KO2's on the 1st gen, they were tough as hell but I really don't want to take the mileage hit for the very limited amount of mild off roading that I do.

My travel trailer is only 5,500 lbs. so again no need for a 10-ply E range tire.

I've somewhat settled on a compromise, and going with Toyo Open Country AT3's in a C range.

More aggressive tread, little bit more load index, but I'd only be gaining about 2 lbs. per tire, for an 8 lb. increase in unsprung weight instead of 20+

I had Toyo AT2's on my 4Runner and liked them, got good wear out of them.

Anybody got AT3's and hate 'em?

Any better options/suggestions?

 

I know a lot of guys up in this area like the Wildpeaks...

When it's time for me, I'm going to be looking at the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/Ts

If you'd like they are available in a 275/70/18... Mickey's seem to be a lot more 'true to size' than some of the other brands, so the 275/70 should put you right at or just above 33". I believe the OE michelins were a 32.3" or thereabouts, so just a tad taller w/quite a bit more detail and lugs on the sidewall than the OE michelin for a more aggressive look.

I believe this are E rated though, so they're about 66lbs (not sure if you're wanting to go that heavy or not); but you shouldn't have clearance issues w/them.

https://www.mickeythompsontires.com/light-truck-tires/baja-boss-a-t

I believe @TaquitoBandito just put some 275/70s on his Pro recently and posted some pics in the what have you done to your 2.5 thread, if you want to see what that size looks like...

 

Bought that size because of the recommendation of @RainMan_PNW . Couldn’t be happier. Perfect fit and they fill out the wheel wells nicely.

 

Yeah, I'm wishing I could find something in that 275/70 that wasn't an E range, that seems to be the tipping point where everything goes to an LT, E range, much heavier tire.
It's really overkill for my needs and I fear adding 60 lbs. of unsprung weight would be a MPG killer.

 

My new RadRuuner would look pretty good in the back of that truck!

 

Feel free to send it here - I'll load it up and take some pictures of it for you.

 

Oh no no... Yer not gettin' pork butt all over my new scooter!

 

But it’s delicious…

 

Good info here, I went with the AT4's.

https://youtu.be/IPXfAkAlv6g?feature=shared

 

Yeah, I was strongly considering those, but I really don't think I need or want E range tires again.

 

I had Toyo AT3’s in a stock 275/65r18 size, LT rated. They run a little small and looked it. They also buzzed around 40 mph that drove me crazy so I swapped them out after a month. I had them rotated and balanced thrice in that time, and the truck on the alignment rack twice to no avail. I swapped them out for another set of Cooper AT3’s which had great road manners and were quiet, but again, in an LT flavor.

The Toyos were a very comfortable riding tire, though. Softer feeling than the coopers which were very sensitive to inflation pressure (great for towing and hauling but don’t leave them Aires up). I didn’t get a chance to test the Toyos in inclement weather or snow, but they did ride better overall than the coopers aside from the buzz. It wasn’t like a mud terrain whir going down the road, and it wasn’t super loud, but it happened to be at just the right frequency to really annoy me. A lot. I could hear it over the exhaust at cruise and even over the stereo at low volume.

I really like my Nokian Outposts - more so than than any other tire I’ve run. They make a little noise but it’s quiet and broader spectrum that doesn’t increase a lot with speed. Every other aspect is also hands down better for my use except for maybe the stiff carcass of the coopers when hauling heavy. But any trailer 7k and under and it’s simply smoother and better riding, just needs a little extra air above that. They are maybe a little aggressive of an AT for what you are looking at - almost in the duratrac category - but without the downsides (or at least what I don’t like about duratracs from my limited few months experience with them).

I run them in an LT on the tundra and a p rated tire on the sequoia. No complaints with either setup. They look much better on the sequoia than the outgoing Michelin LTX AT2’s (which aren’t bad looking..).

As for tire size, I’m a weirdo and think the stock size looks just fine. I drive a fair amount of miles and didn’t like the fuel penalty of a 275/70r18 despite how good they look. I might feel differently about a 285/65r18 but they are always much more expensive than than either of the other two sizes.

 

Falken makes the AT4's in 285/65 in SL load, I've got a spreadsheet of stock/close to stock tire sizes that supposedly fit without lifting etc. and this is what I have for Falken's AT4's, second is the SL 285/65's, bit more spendy than the 275/65's, extra ~$175 for four:

 

I’ve had 4 sets of the Toyo AT2 Extremes and am not on the AT3s and so far I love them.

 

I just put on Duratrac RT on stock size and also XL rated, not E. For me works well and still more load than oem but not as heavy. To each their own on tire make. But sharing this cuz when my wife saw truck in garage she thought I got a larger tire. So to your comment the aggressive appearance I think does help appearance of size some

 

So I had an interesting phone conversation with someone at Toyo yesterday... I was looking at the AT3's (stock size) and it was showing a C range and E range as being the same weight.

Figured it had to be a typo, but the Toyo rep said that the C range (which was a black sidewall) are made in the US, while the E range (raised white letters one side) are made in Japan.

Said the Japanese rubber is lighter... same compound but lighter.

Might've sounded like BS but (I'm an avid surfer) I've already heard similar things about wetsuits made from Japanese neoprene.

 

Since added weight was less of a concern (Same weight as the Michelins) I went with the E range.
Little more peace of mind when running around the desert.
Really smooth riding, smoother than the Michelins... but since they're brand new there is a lot of rubber cushioning our shitty roads.

Not a spectacular change, but they look a bit less grampaw-ish.

 

The good news is, now that I'm not working in the field or calling on customers anymore, my commute is only 2 miles from home.

I'm only driving 5-6K miles/yr. so these expensive MF'rs should last quite a while.