I've owned this truck since new, it just turned 70k on it and its still got the original Bridgestone tires that it came with new. The tires on the truck are 225/70R14LT Bridgestone Dueler. They actually came off the truck new with Firestone tires but the dealer switched them out for these because I had ordered the 225 tire size. I can't complain about the original tires, they show no signs of cracking but they have become hard as a rock with age.

The only other 14" tires I can find are Chinese or Korean made.
LT tires in 14" appear non existent.
I tow with my truck and it gets run on lot of dirt roads, so I need a fairly rugged tire on it. I tried passenger car tires and the sidewalls are too soft or thin. I use my truck as a truck, it tows my boat, goes in and out of junk yards, and is driven on roads often paved with crushed rock or clam shells.

I've been to 9 local tire dealers, the only thing I've found is RWL BF Goodrich T/A radials or Cooper Cobra GT tires in the 225/70R14 size. Three dealers told me that its a dead size and I can't buy tires anymore.
I've got two of these trucks and both have this size tire.

Both are still running on their original 22 year old rubber. I don't need an aggressive tread, but I want the added durability and heavier sidewalls of an LT tire.

 

Unfortunately, it sounds like you may have to go to at least a 15" wheel and tire combo in order to get tires from now on. I know people still do factory take offs even on Ranger wheels and tires. I think there is even a set of take offs for sale on the classifieds page right now.

However with an opinion of the Cooper Cobras, I would stay away from them. Had a set of those on an older Chevy pickup and on a 1966 Mustang. The ones on the Chevy truck rode terrible and the ones on the Mustang blew a radial band. Good luck on founding something!

 

I don't want to change the wheels or the look of the truck, and I really don't think a set of 15" tires would do me any favors gear ratio wise with the four cylinder motors.

I've got a set of new take off doe foot 14" wheels here, but have been putting off using them due to a lack of tires. I considered dropping down to a 215/70R14 to gain a few different tire choices but it still don't give me an LT tire.
I've also got a GMC van that uses the same size tires, also with a four cylinder engine.
I don't have a very high opinion of Cooper tires either, I had a set of their touring tires on my Crown Vic a few years back and I went through 12 tires in two months, they kept coming apart at higher speeds. They were speed rated but couldn't survive an hour at 85mph or so on the highway going to work. I finally tossed them for a set of new Michelin tires.

These are work trucks for the most part, I don't drive them daily, they only go out when I need them. Thus the low miles over 22 years.

The current tires measure 25.75" in diameter with probably 3/4 of the tread remaining, to get that size or smaller in a 15", the sidewalls would be pretty minimal which I'd be concerned about rim damage on rough roads. The aluminum doe foot rims are also an inch wider than the steel wheels, so the wider 70 series is more important. I'd even consider going a step wider if the tire sits right on the rim.

With so many vehicles on the road using this size, why would they drop it?
I'm sure I'm not the only one with an older Ranger or other small truck that uses this size tire. (My neighbor has a 1990 S10 that also uses the same size, as did several of my Aerostar vans.) So far the best choice I can find is a Solus touring tire in a 215/70R14, but I lose the LT rating and stiff sidewalls.

 

Ok I gotcha. Yeah maybe drop down to a 215 might help. At least be able to get into a good tire like a Firestone or BFG. I don't know if you'll ever be able to find a "LT" in anything smaller than a 15" wheel, but you might have luck finding an "Extra Load (EL)" in a 14" wheel.

 

I checked with two tire dealers today as far as 215/70R14 tires, they don't show anything in an extra load tire in 14 other than a trailer tire (ST).
In a 15", to stay withe same diameter I have to run a 215/65R15.
None of the suitable 15" sizes come in an LT tire either.
The only LT tires they stock or have easy access to are in 16".

 

Ok been doing some checking for myself for some tires for the future. I was looking at the General Grabber AT2s for a set for my truck. However General sells the AT2s in a 14 inch wheel. The size of the tire is a 27x8.50R14LT with a C load rating. A 225/70/14 is pretty dang close to a 27" tall tire (225/70=26.4"). May be a little more aggressive than you want, but a lot of the "all terrain" tires can be ordered with a P or an LT rating. Very, very hard to find an "all season" tire with anything other than a P rating.

 

I understand you are truly satisfied with the current set up. If ever you can't find the most suitable tires, take time to research for 15". You'll see lots of people felt some good difference on those set up.