Hello everyone I just made a recent purchase of a set of Wrangler Duratrac tires for my Mazda B4000 (265/75R16). I initially had them put siping to help with wear on the tires and made a long journey back to eastern Colorado. Sad to say I dang nearly rolled my truck on the way back due to some severe side ways action happing out back. It almost had a boat like affect where the rear tires were doing the steering. I recently read on some of the sites that people were complaining of the side wall being to flimsy and thus causing their trucks to walk all over the road. Now Im not sure if this walking affect is a direct result of the siping or if its part of the characteristics of the tire. To combat this I had the tire shop put the 3 ply E load range tires on this but I have nothing to compare them to apart from the Michelins LTX which performed as well as the high-performance eagle goodyears on my Crown Vic.
I went back to the store and the agreed to give me a new set of tires without the siping free of charge. The other alternative was that they were going to give me a new set of COOPER STT tires for the same price(E load also). I am wondering if I am going to have the same problem with highway walking once I get past 65+ MPH. I havent heard anything to harsh about the COOPERS other than that they had a minor balancing issue. These tires are about $20 more per tire normally but I heard they are quite load. Im not sure what to do. I am leaning more towards the COOPER but am afraid they will do poorly in the snow since they are a mud tire, but if they are good on the highway 65+ MPH ill be okay with them even if they are really noisey. If anyone could give some insight it would be greatly apprecriated. Another thing where the warantees that each tire company offered, Goodyear was 45000, and COOPER was 50000

 

you should really get c load tires

 

Subscribed for the heck of it.

 

Never had any problems on the highway with my duratracs.

 

Same here... no issues.

 

I never had an issue with STT's at highway speeds. They were a great tire with anything I threw at them.

 

I have the Duratracs in 33x12.5s, which are load range C. I have no stability problems at highway speeds.

 

Both are great tires, but putting load range E on a Ranger is asking for problems.

 

I've never had a problem with my STT's. They do fine when i'm at 85mph and I usually forget they are even a mud terrain.. I already have 15,000 miles on them and the still look brand new.

 

I've experienced this quite often between getting new tires on our work trucks and tires on my trucks. I've found after a few thousand miles they tighten up and don't "walk" around so bad. The only set I still notice the "walk" is Firestone Transforce AT's.

I'd give them a few thousand miles and see how they fare.

 

Thanks everyone for your input. The tire shop and I agreed on putting a set of C load tires without the siping on the truck and wow what a difference, it rides exactly how it used to. Im not sure if because they are not siped or if they are a C load tire, anyways my truck has returned to normal. Thanks again everyone

 

I should have clicked on this thread earlier.... I have dura's in E load. My uncle has driven my truck and said that he felt the truck walking. I haven't noticed it. I didn't have sipping done as duras have them done from the factory. Those little squiggles, that's them. You probably took out too much support and Thus weakening the tire's structure. The only time I noticed walking bad was when I first got mine, the tire place had them at 60 psi since that's what the tire said. Of course, my truck doesnt weigh what a f250 does.

Once I lowered my psi to 35 the truck rode better. I know you guys are gonna say watch the tread wear, when I had them rotated the guy didn't mention anything wrong. Just that the weights moved. Which is common on these trucks.

 

It's funny that you mention the factory psi rating. I always think it's funny having them say 50lbs. Mine is all over the place bouncing here and there when I have them that hi. I generally keep them at 40psi or so. Lately I have noticed the outer ***** of the tires start to wear down a bit. I do rotate the tires but I'm sure it's going around corners to fast. Sucks. I quite enjoy the knobby tire look. It takes away some of the effect. haha :-(

 

What? Who the hell told you that? I will take a 10 ply rated load range E over a 6 ply rated C any day. I'm sorry if I enjoy thicker sidewalls when I wheel.

As for the STT's they are a great tire. Shouldn't have any kind of issue out of them.

 

Well it certainly depends how you will be using them. You certainly have a harder driven and capable truck. Op is more concerned with highway driving.

 

Then he shouldn't complain about the ride quality of a mud terrain. Plenty of companies sell a good HT branded tire. It not only rides better on the highway they wear better and handle better (for the most part) in snow.

Both the cooper STT and duratracks are great tire I have never seen the issue the OP described. The coopers however will last longer duratracks are soft as hell.

 

never had a problem with my stt's on my explorer and I was never stuck when I had them great tire.

 

Gonna throw my new falken wildpeaks in there. blows every tire ive used outa the water.

 

When you go to the metric tire sizes you end up with LT Tires and most of them are rated Load Range “E”; my 285x75x16s are “E” and they ride hard.
A load range “C” tire will help n the ride department and may even wear better.
You get into “LT” tires when you go 16” rims, unless you want a light weight tire like on cars.

Most 33x12.50x15s are load range “C”; even with the new rating system something like “108” equates to “C” and the speed rating is around 100 mph.

The 15” KM2 are “C”, the BFG AT 15" is “C”, the General RED Tags 15" are “C”… try to get to a 15” tire, you will get a better riding tire and may even get longer life.

I am just leaning this stuff (never too old to learn), I went to the KM2 x 16” and didn’t stop to think about the Load Range but I am now and my new ones will be 15”, just need to determine which axles I will be using.

 

Yea they are. You have to be on the rotating at alignment game.

I still love them though. Mmmm