4X4 Tire Choices...

[5Tractorguy]

This spring I'm planning to do some upkeep on my '77 K25, one of those things will be replacing the tires.

Those of you with K series trucks and 16" steel wheels, what are you running for a more aggressive tire? Looking for something that will wear well on the road but will also have some grip when off road (this truck usually sees 3-5K for mileage each year).

My current tires are Firestone Transforce's, they have deep tread but it's more a road tire than anything else (zero traction off the pavement).

I really like the look of old school aggressive tires (especially the zig-zag bias M+S, though they are loud). I'm also making an attempt to stay away from the weird "sidewall tread" found on most aggressive tires these days. The Mastercraft Courser tires in the last link I really like the looks of, but they seem to be out of production now.

Anyways, figured I see what you guys are running here and gather some more info before making a purchase come springtime.

Here's some stuff that stood out when searching around online (Walmart happened to be the easiest to search through...).

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Crosswind...sRedirect=true

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Westlake-...-Tire/55180337

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Firestone...Tire/304149261

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tire-Mile...ain/1822523476

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Power-Kin...Tires/54988371

https://www.vulcantire.com/tire_deta..._ct_t.htm_7365

[THI]

I have been running Cooper Discoverer AT3, I have been getting close to 70,000 out of them by keeping them properly inflated and rotate every 5,000 miles. I had them on my 1990's K2500 Suburban's (on my third one now - 1997) all with a 454.

[mongocanfly]

im running bfg km series 255/85-16.. so far so good

[xylorex]

I keep BFG all-terrains on my trucks. the're long lasting, little to no road noise, and balance well (not many wheel weights required). downside is they're kinda expensive.

[cwcarpenter98]

I put Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws on my 2wd 63. I know, it's 2wd, but I really like the look of these with stock hubcaps.

The tires balanced nicely and are much quieter on the road than I initially expected. Haven't done any heavy off-roading in them, but what I have done I haven't had any issues with

[cadillac_al]

I won first place in a mud bog competition with BFG AT's and I run them up the interstate all the time with very little road noise. can't beat 'em. I also hate plain jane blackwall tires, BFG AT's for the win.

[JJH Jimmy]

I put 285/75/16 Goodyear Duratracs on mine. I think the tread resembles an old school tread.

[old Rusty C10]

i have discoverer tires too but the bfg is a good tire too

[72c20customcamper]

I’m looking for these in 17 inch had a site bookmarked but it now says no longer available . I can get all the 16s I want but a search shows nothing for the 17s .

[Southcity]

Vehicle - 1966 K10 Suburban (Originally a Bell systems vehicle)
Tires - 255/85R16 BFG KM5
Great pavement manners, quiet and excellent handling. I live on gravel/dirt roads, no hardcore wheeling yet but these tires have performed well on the dirt and gravel during this muddy wet CA winter.
Wheels - 16x6 Steelies from Wheel Vintiques

[Corts60]

I love my Cooper discoverer AT3 tires! I have a set of those for summer and a set of BFG for winter. The BFG’s are so noisy compared to the Coopers.

[JJH Jimmy]

I am a big Cooper fan for my daily drivers. I usually get the AT3 XLT’s but the last set I got were the Rugged Trek and I really like them.

[kipps]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

I’m looking for these in 17 inch had a site bookmarked but it now says no longer available . I can get all the 16s I want but a search shows nothing for the 17s .

Why are you running 17" rims? Are you trying to clear a larger-than-stock brake setup?

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by kipps

Why are you running 17" rims? Are you trying to clear a larger-than-stock brake setup?

Not for my square . My 68 came it’s 17s and I’d like to keep it that way the tires on it now are from the 90s so I won’t be driving it on the road . Since this was a thread on old school looking tires figured someone might know of a retailer .

[kipps]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Not for my square . My 68 came it’s 17s and I’d like to keep it that way the tires on it now are from the 90s so I won’t be driving it on the road . Since this was a thread on old school looking tires figured someone might know of a retailer .

I didn't realize that 17s were a thing on these classic pickups. I looked it up on the GM heritage site, and found that the 1968 trucks had 15, 16, 16.5, 17, and 17.5 rims. It certainly was a confusing tire scene back then!

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Not for my square . My 68 came it’s 17s and I’d like to keep it that way the tires on it now are from the 90s so I won’t be driving it on the road . Since this was a thread on old school looking tires figured someone might know of a retailer .

head on over to Interco, lots of 17s available and great tires for a K

https://www.intercotire.com/tire/133

for example - SSR-42R 35x10.5R17LT fits a 7" wheel and it's a radial series

several other series depending on the look and performance you're looking for

they are the OG super swamper and I think they fit these model trucks very well

In 1968 Interco introduced the first 78 series light truck tires, which began the evolution in light truck tires we see today.

shop the blem list if you're not picky and ask for Joey if you need help, he's awesome to talk to!

these thornbirds on the K1500 are dry rotted really bad but planning to put Intercos on it again





although I do like the way they look, I've given up on going back with STA 36" super lugs on the K20, it's getting Intercos too

looking at TSL/SX2 35X10.00-16 on steelies but on the fence for radial version

[5Tractorguy]

Appreciate the reply guys!

So a few of you mentioned BFG's... how do those do on wet pavement? I like the look of the classic all terrain tread they have (just not the price).

Corts, Jimmy and C10, how have those Cooper Discovers been wearing for steer tires? I put Discover RTX's on my square 4x4 1-Ton back in 2015. Cool looking tire with plenty of grip on and off the road. Only thing I didn't like was when turning it felt like the tires were "rolling" into the sidewall (if that makes any sense...). Almost felt kind of "soft". It's a big truck after all. The fronts have since been replaced last year because they were pretty scrubbed down, rears are still holding up and wearing fine.

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

I won first place in a mud bog competition with BFG AT's and I run them up the interstate all the time with very little road noise. can't beat 'em. I also hate plain jane blackwall tires, BFG AT's for the win.

They're a great look on old trucks! Figured white letters facing out would be a nice change of pace this time around. Providing I find a tire with such.

Originally Posted by JJH Jimmy

I put 285/75/16 Goodyear Duratracs on mine. I think the tread resembles an old school tread.

Slick looking truck Jimmy! Tires fit it well...

Originally Posted by Southcity

Vehicle - 1966 K10 Suburban (Originally a Bell systems vehicle)
Tires - 255/85R16 BFG KM5
Great pavement manners, quiet and excellent handling. I live on gravel/dirt roads, no hardcore wheeling yet but these tires have performed well on the dirt and gravel during this muddy wet CA winter.
Wheels - 16x6 Steelies from Wheel Vintiques

Nice aggressive looking tread on that old Suburban! Truck's a beaut too... I wish BFG's weren't so darn pricey. I don't think I need anything that aggressive for this truck, though I do like those. Similar to the Crosswinds linked above.


72c20- Did a quick search just for kicks... closest I can find are 17.5 in those old M+S tires. No 17's to be found unfortunately.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

head on over to Interco, lots of 17s available and great tires for a K

https://www.intercotire.com/tire/133

for example - SSR-42R 35x10.5R17LT fits a 7" wheel and it's a radial series

several other series depending on the look and performance you're looking for

they are the OG super swamper and I think they fit these model trucks very well

In 1968 Interco introduced the first 78 series light truck tires, which began the evolution in light truck tires we see today.

shop the blem list if you're not picky and ask for Joey if you need help, he's awesome to talk to!

these thornbirds on the K1500 are dry rotted really bad but planning to put Intercos on it again





although I do like the way they look, I've given up on going back with STA 36" super lugs on the K20, it's getting Intercos too

looking at TSL/SX2 35X10.00-16 on steelies but on the fence for radial version

Seen lots of new tread design I'm looking for the old bias ply type mud tire . 7.50 -17 is the size

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Seen lots of new tread design I'm looking for the old bias ply type mud tire . 7.50 -17 is the size

Coker sells these Tornel | Traction 10 Ply | 750-17



only ones I see that size on STA site are highway p/n LA5J7

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by 5Tractorguy

Appreciate the reply guys!

So a few of you mentioned BFG's... how do those do on wet pavement? I like the look of the classic all terrain tread they have (just not the price).

for modern style all terrain daily driver the ATK02s are awesome

wet pavement hasn't been an issue for me but all aggressive lug tires can be a little squirrelly on smooth surfaces, keep proper air pressure and mind your right foot and they work fine

biggest drawback for me is the mileage, they don't last like a more subtle patterned tire but they work great in a wide variety of average off highway conditions and very little road noise for as aggressive as they are

had at least a dozen sets over the years, three sets on trucks right now, on my '02 GMC and the '71 C20 longhorn and '86 F250 on the farm

'71 C20, not 4wd but you get the idea

not my favorite tire look on a classic style truck but that longhorn earns it keep on the farm.. those tires have a purpose and they're good at it

245/75R16 BFG ATKO2 on 16"x6.5" wheels





'86 Ford F250 4x4 besides a great truck in it's own right, gotta keep it.. dad ordered it brand new and was built in local claycomo plant.. probably the only XLT Lariat on the planet with manual locks/windows and no OD with 4:10's but he insisted

I think those are 285/75R16 RWL out, not my preference but it fits the look of the truck





425gal/3500lbs of water no problem getting it home or up to the cistern





last but not least the '02 GMC also not 4x4 but needed desert clearance.. been worked hard traveled all over mojave to the baja and not been stranded yet (knocks on wood ) and had 33"-35" BFG's on it for 20yrs/200k mi

35's with 2200 lbs of concrete in the bed



and tow everything

[Corts60]

I personally feel the coopers wear better than the bfg tires and last longer. I have about 35k miles on my work truck with coopers and they still have at least half their life left. I don’t notice any exceptional wear on the steer tires, of course all my trucks are aligned pretty well and I rotate tires every 5k miles too.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Killer Bee

Coker sells these Tornel | Traction 10 Ply | 750-17

Most likely end up with these .

[bigdaddy4x4]

mickey thompson mtz good for both on and off road

[kipps]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy4x4

mickey thompson mtz good for both on and off road

When I was shopping for mud tires a few years ago, I didn't like the weird look of those tires. I chose the Mickey Thompson Deegan 38 instead, because it had a more traditional appearance. I've since sold these tires and rims, and am going with a stock-size rim/tire combo for the truck in my signature once I get it reassembled.

Edit: this pic shows 305/70r16 Deegan-38 tires on 16x10 Wheel Vintiques 82-series rims. With stock suspension on a v20, they did rub a little at full lock.

[Killer Bee]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy4x4

mickey thompson mtz good for both on and off road

now that's an awesome looking truck!

if those tires work half as good as they look - they're keepers!