Towing Tire Recommendations

Searched all of the threads, and got some good info - but I don't think I've seen anything recent (within the last year at least?). Either way, after reading a dozen or so threads - why not make another one?

While I don't want to say money is no object, I just sold a camper and have an extra grand I wasn't expecting. None of my vehicles have had "cheap" tires, so $1200 tires don't scare me.

Living in MinneSnowta, I need a good all season tire. I pull a travel trailer (10k), and put a decent amount of mileage on the truck as well (25k+ yr)

I see lots of recommendations for the Duratracs, and Toyo AT/CT's. Lots of "No Firestone" and "No BFG" comments. I've had the Bridgestone Revo 2's on my old 1500, and liked them a lot. Tire place is telling me there is a Revo 3 that is out now and they are pretty excited about it. But, they also recommended the Firestone Destinations, so I'm not sure about their recommendations any longer.

My main concern is burning up the tires in 4 months or creating an unsafe situation when towing (aka weak sidewalls). Granted, its not full time - but its a couple of 2-3 times a month I might drag the trailer 100 miles or more for camping.

Anyone have any better opinions than the Duratrac or Toyo's? Or are those still the safe bet? Anyone tow with the Bridgestone Duelers (Revo 2 or 3?)

Thanks for the time everyone! (2014, 6.4, no lift/level - just straight stock)

I've never been much of a fan of the BFG All-Terrains, but that's only because I like more of a mud-terrain style tire for my driving and activities (I use DuraTracs exclusively). However, they do have really strong sidewalls, they do ride really nice on the highway, and in terms of "all weather/all season" driving, the BFG A/Ts will serve you really well.

As I said, I run DuraTracs (7th set now on 5 different vehicles), but they are definitely only around a 25-40kmile tire before they're bald, depending on use.

BFG's come in nearly every size imaginable, are durable, and compared to other tires in their category, they do really well.

I'd recommend the BFG A/T2 in a load E (based on your trailer weight) and the miles you drive.

I have burned off a set of Cooper AT3's, I might get 25k out of them. Mostly street/highway driving, occasional 10k towing.

MasonD21 said:

I've never been much of a fan of the BFG All-Terrains, but that's only because I like more of a mud-terrain style tire for my driving and activities (I use DuraTracs exclusively). However, they do have really strong sidewalls, they do ride really nice on the highway, and in terms of "all weather/all season" driving, the BFG A/Ts will serve you really well.

As I said, I run DuraTracs (7th set now on 5 different vehicles), but they are definitely only around a 25-40kmile tire before they're bald, depending on use.

BFG's come in nearly every size imaginable, are durable, and compared to other tires in their category, they do really well.

I'd recommend the BFG A/T2 in a load E (based on your trailer weight) and the miles you drive.

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I will 2nd that with a minor twist. I ran BFG MT and BFG MT2 on my 09 1500 5.7 Got 45k from 1st set after stock tires were gone. Sold it with 2nd set on it at 113k (MT2s). Good 10 ply sidewalls. Good wet traction

My '17 2500 I had the dealer put Firestone Destination 2s on at 5k mi. as part of my deal. (Didn't know they wore out fast. I know now. ) I do 90 mi. a day for work and in 7 months, I now have 8500 mi on the tires (13.5 on truck). 2500 of that towing a 6x12 U-Haul. I am not easy on a vehicle but the tread is only 2/3s of what it was new. I rotated them twice already. At this rate, I see me needing tires at 25k miles. Never again Firestone crap.

My Nitto's are ready to be replaced as well. Looking hard at the General GRabber X3s in E. As I run 295 65 20s and they come in that odd size. I could go down to a 285 65 20 in a Duratrac, which I have run on my Diesel F250 previously. I deplore Nitto (weren't my choice) and would recommend against them from a wear perspective. I have had fantastic luck with General AT2s on my lighter rigs (Tundra and Lexus GX). I haven't given a look at the cliche KO2s and the Toyos seem well over priced to me.

I have a buddy who liked his Cooper STs on his 250 but wear was "meh" but that is what you get with aggressive tires and heavy trucks.....25-30K really.

I tow as well and live in New England so I am in same boat as OP......but this rig sits in crappy winter weather as the GX is light years better in the snow.

That's a good amount of miles/year. IMO no matter what AT tire you run, once you get below that 50% tread depth winter traction is compromised on all tires. The oil/gas operators around here run Duratracs or Toyo CT's. The duratracs are great at snow ice mud but they burn through them regularly. Toyo CT's are tough and great offroad but once you burn 1/3 of them off them big lugs are not great on the packed snow/ice. Pick your poison I suppose...they're both costly. Another tire being run is Hankook Dynapro AT-m. Stiff sidewall, good siping and $50 bucks cheaper a tire than duratracs around here. I've got 22k on mine now and still have a measured 9/32 at the center. 40k? If I treat them nice, but that's about all you can ask for out of an AT on a heavy truck. I rotate at every oil change. That's running our hwys that are all rock chip sealed, lots of dirt county/mountain roads and 15% towing horses, camper, and other toys. Hell if your feeling cashy...lol, run a good truck AT/hwy tire in the warmer months and blizzaks in the winter...

Great responses so far. Still undecided, but hoping to get something this week or next. I guess theres really no reason I couldn't just run these for the summer too I guess. Probably just hold out for whatever sale happens. As for summer/winter - too lazy for that. lol I think I would be annoyed with trying to swap out tires, and having an indian summer - or that late blast of snow that you weren't expecting since it was 60 the other day kinda thing.

My buddy just got Toyo Open Country tires last summer, on his 2500 Duramax. He has about 25,000 miles on them. He tows for about a third of his miles and plows frequently throughout the winter. They still have over 1/2 of the tread on them. I actually looked at them last weekend because I think I will be getting those tires next.

Bought a set of Discount Tires Pathfinders made by Hancouk. 8 plys 25k and about 1/2 worn. Think they were $159, ride and handleing very good.

I had Firestone Destination AT's on my last truck and I liked them so much I put a set on our Jeep. They don't have a really aggressive mud terrain style tread if that is what you're after but they handle snow like a champ and don't scream at you on the highway which is two things MT tires don't like. I will probably put a set on my Ram before next winter as I wasn't thrilled with how the stockers did in the snow.

I've had 35" Falken AT3W's on for almost 2 years and have 30k on them. They are still well over 1/2 tread. I was strictly a BFG guy, but my KO2s were gone in 20k. I tow 10-14k about 8k miles per year. I'm very impressed with these tires and will definitely buy another set when these wear out.

Feel the same about the BFG. Great tire, but wear out fast. As the OP noted in the beginning duratrac and toyo at are the safe bet for good tires with longer tread life. Couldn't say which is better since I've only run the toyo's, which in my experience were not as good traction as the BFG, but were still good and gave me about 80% more tread life on the same truck in the same conditions on my 3500.

running the falken wildpeak at3 and love them have about 30 k on mine wear nice

I’m running 285/75r18 cooper at3 on my 3500, we also run them on all of our one ton service trucks now. Every truck pulls 14k very often, plows and get a lot of miles. Great tires, pretty affordable, descent tread life, only issue I have had is some chopping of the front tread on several trucks but regular rotations helps


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I'm just coming to the end of a set of Wild Country XTX 4 season tires. I got them at Les Schwab and think they may be a Toyo derivative. The tread pattern looks similar and Schwab carries a lot of Toyos. What I REALLY like is they have the snowflake rating to qualify for traction devices so no need to chain up or swap tires when heading over the mountain passes in winter (kind of a big deal where I'm at).

The performance in all 4 seasons has been great. They are rated for 50K and I'm nearly to the tread bars @ about 43K. I think I paid around $1200 for the set installed with all the siping, balancing, etc. I was previously a Michelin fan and was reasonably happy. I know I could get cheaper tires and maybe even better ones but I really like no having to screw around if I have to make a run over the mountains or if we get a snow storm.

Perfect example was last Christmas Eve - my wife's family ran off the highway into a guard rail in an ice storm (2WD w/****** tires - long story) and I had to jump in the truck and go rescue them with a moment's notice. I would have been 1+ hours later if I had to swap out to my snow tires (I kept 4 wheels with snow tires on my old truck). Even though I use to do fine in the snow with standard all-season tires, from a liability standpoint I like having the correct equipment in case I'm a wreck. Maybe I'm just getting old and responsible.

I have ran Toyo ATII and they are great for hauling and towing. I usually overload my trucks and never had a problem with them. My first set i put about 35k on them and still had about 40% life on them and could've got another 20k out of them but traded it in. My next set which I have but switch out during the summer have about 15k on them and still about 13/32nds left. I am very hard on my tires. You pay more but you get a tire that you can depend on and won't let you down. Plus they have a stiff sidewalk that looks awesome. Not very noisy and have great traction.

mtofell said:

I'm just coming to the end of a set of Wild Country XTX 4 season tires. I got them at Les Schwab and think they may be a Toyo derivative. The tread pattern looks similar and Schwab carries a lot of Toyos. What I REALLY like is they have the snowflake rating to qualify for traction devices so no need to chain up or swap tires when heading over the mountain passes in winter (kind of a big deal where I'm at).

The performance in all 4 seasons has been great. They are rated for 50K and I'm nearly to the tread bars @ about 43K. I think I paid around $1200 for the set installed with all the siping, balancing, etc. I was previously a Michelin fan and was reasonably happy. I know I could get cheaper tires and maybe even better ones but I really like no having to screw around if I have to make a run over the mountains or if we get a snow storm.

Perfect example was last Christmas Eve - my wife's family ran off the highway into a guard rail in an ice storm (2WD w/****** tires - long story) and I had to jump in the truck and go rescue them with a moment's notice. I would have been 1+ hours later if I had to swap out to my snow tires (I kept 4 wheels with snow tires on my old truck). Even though I use to do fine in the snow with standard all-season tires, from a liability standpoint I like having the correct equipment in case I'm a wreck. Maybe I'm just getting old and responsible.

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Please excuse my ignorance re: equipment requirements in winter but this "snowflake" rating allows you to remain legal with just your bare tires? They must really be good in the snow huh? Live and learn. I live on a little mountain in Northern NJ. 900 Ft. In fact, on a map, they're called the "Pimple Hills". Swear to God. Lots of snow all winter but nothing like you get. Are those tires really that much better than say...my M/T's? If so, I might just need a set.

I think the Wild Country are Manufactured by Dean Tire. Les Schwab carrie's that line up.

RoadRamblerNJ said:

Please excuse my ignorance re: equipment requirements in winter but this "snowflake" rating allows you to remain legal with just your bare tires? They must really be good in the snow huh? Live and learn. I live on a little mountain in Northern NJ. 900 Ft. In fact, on a map, they're called the "Pimple Hills". Swear to God. Lots of snow all winter but nothing like you get. Are those tires really that much better than say...my M/T's? If so, I might just need a set.

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They are definitely better than just an all-season but not quite as good as dedicated snow tires. I believe the stud-less snow tires have to do with the softness of the rubber compound so it's always a balance between quick wear and grip in the snow or ice.

I imagine all states are different but mine usually just requires "traction tires or devices" which means snow tires or chains. These tires have some blessing from the manufacturer (the snowflake rating) that means they qualify.

In the past I've gotten 60K+ miles out of Michelin all-season tires so these are a bit of a compromise in that respect. I'm basically paying for the convenience of not having to worry about swapping tires or screwing around with chains, etc.