Need Help Buying Tires For Burb - Please!

[dablonde]

I'm posting this at the risk of being chastised for starting a new thread. I have searched and couldn't find the help I need, so...

I'm having a very difficult time deciding which new tires to buy for my 1999 Suburban. Here's what I'm looking for. First, I need a load rating of D or E. I haul a lot of very heavy musical equipment. I need great snow traction. I live in a very steep, hilly section of Connecticut and we're supposed to get hit heavy this winter. I also do a lot of highway travel while hauling the heavy loads. Our band plays all over the east coast. I've kept Michelin LTX on the vehicle, but I've never been terribly happy. They get good tread wear, but they don't have the proper load rating (they're ballooning out) and are so so in wet and snow conditions. I have to use the Auto 4WD even on just wet roads. I'm leaning towards either Avon Ranger TSE's or Kelly Safari Trex. Then again, I'm not sure whether I should try the Revo's. I can't find any reviews on the Kelly's - though Mavis Tires claims they got a better rating in Consumer Reports then the Avon's. Obviously, I want what everyone else wants: great tread life, great traction, quiet. I'm confused. Please help. Thanks. Oh, by the way, their 16's.

[laxman21]

I've had good luck with Cooper discoverer radial LT.

And BF goodrich ATs

[J-Ri]

The Kelley Safari Trex aren't very good on snow or even wet pavement. We have a set on our shop truck and they're probably the worst truck tire I've ever driven on snow.

Unfourtunately, there are few, if any, truck tires that have great traction in snow and are quiet. I can't comment on the noise of the following tires because of very loud exhaust on both trucks.

I personally have been very happy with BFG. I have a set of 235/85/16 Commercial Traction T/A's for my truck, and they stick to snow/ice/mud like you wouldn't believe. They're a load range E.
I have a friend with BF Goodrich A/Ts and they are very good on snow. They are really meant as a bridge for combination on/off road driving, and won't have quite the treadlife of the Commercial Tractions.

Check out www.bfgoodrich.com to see what sizes are available.
You could also check www.tirerack.com if you haven't already.

[laxman21]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

They are really meant as a bridge for combination on/off road driving, and won't have quite the treadlife of the Commercial Tractions.

I have 80 K on mine and should get another 10k or so.

[uwdtbuds]

this is my 5th burp! tires like anything stay away from wallmart an go see a michelin dealer you wont be sorry !!!!!!!!

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by uwdtbuds

...stay away from wallmart...

I usually buy the cheapest product I can find. I figure it's probably the best. Especially for stuff that isn't really important like tires.

Seriously though, very good advice.

[dablonde]

Thanks guys. I hadn't thought about the Commercial T/A's at all. That's a definite viable option. Seriously, you got 80k on yours? I'll definitely take that. Although, my Burb has 194k miles on it now. It may not even last another 80k (lol). The car is running like a brand new vehicle. I'm betting it'll make it to 300k.

[laxman21]

Originally Posted by dablonde

Thanks guys. I hadn't thought about the Commercial T/A's at all. That's a definite viable option. Seriously, you got 80k on yours? I'll definitely take that. Although, my Burb has 194k miles on it now. It may not even last another 80k (lol). The car is running like a brand new vehicle. I'm betting it'll make it to 300k.

Yep. I keep them rotated, proper inflation and get an alignment regularly.

Yep...80k on both the Coopers and the BFGs.

[sub006]

My first engine made it to 370,000.

And you can't go wrong with BFG!

[rvan800]

I have Bridgestone A/T Revos and have been very happy with the performance.
I was a die hard Michelin fan for years until I tried the Revos. The aggressive tread pattern is noisier than the Michelin LTX.

[Asphalt Cowboy]

I have run Bridgestone A/T REVOS on a pick up and liked them alot great traction in the snow.
I am currently running Yokohama AT/S in a 10 ply LT285/75R/16 on my 3/4 ton and love them!

[sub006]

As I mentioned, I'm a BFG fan, but Bridgestone makes kick-ass RV and truck tires!

Time and again, I've heard of motorhome owners who've solved their ride, handling, etc. problems by replacing Michelins with Bridgestones.

And my son runs Revos on his 2004 Silverado Z71. Awesome on and off road.