Tire Day - The day I have been dreading...

So, I have a 2014 RAM 1500 Laramie CC with 43k miles. Still a baby. lol
The stock GY SR-A's have been terrible, especially in Massachusetts snow.
Tax free weekend is here, so I will take advantage of that.

I've been looking at the Michelin Defender LTX, not on sale $1,400.
Yokohama was suggested at the tire shop my cousin works at and it's, buy 3 get 1 free day for $1,100.
All installed, with alignment, as I think I need it up front looking at the tire wear patterns.

I hear mostly good about these tires.
I don't want a noisy tire and I hear both of these are pretty good.
I do see that the Yoko's are listed as slightly less comfort and fuel efficiency.

Any chance anyone here has owed both and have a real world usage?

Thanks, pic attached.


Update:
Well, I broke down and spent the money on the Michelin Defender LTX.
That will get done on Saturday, which is tax free weekend.

I guess I can't complain too much.
The dealers do the oil changes.
I myself have done the front and rear diff fluids, air filter, front brakes a month ago, and had to do rear brakes 2 years ago due to a brake pad failure.
Also I had to replace 2 of the SR-A's a couple years ago.

So not much money overall for maintenance, I just hate spending it. lol

Good-For-A-Year's lasted 43K? Amazing....Buy the Michelin. You won't regret it. That's not to say the Yoko's are bad, but after 43K on that other crap, you'll be in heaven either way.

I realize this suggestion may not be the majority opinion, but I have had good luck with the Bridgstone Duellers. They came stock on my '22 1500. They have been smooth, and quiet on the last 3 vehicles I've owned. With that said, I live in the south and can't speak to their snow worthiness. Good luck on your decision.

I hate buying tires, because it's such a tough decision on which ones are the best for how I use my vehicles.

Scottly said:

Good-For-A-Year's lasted 43K? Amazing....Buy the Michelin. You won't regret it. That's not to say the Yoko's are bad, but after 43K on that other crap, you'll be in heaven either way.

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I should have clarified on the SR-A's. Two were replaced 2 years ago as they got punctured. One of those looks good, the other is worn funny due to alignment issue I think. The other two originals are worn garbage and cracking.

Oh, lol on, "Good-For-A-Year's"

Thanks

Wanted33 said:

I realize this suggestion may not be the majority opinion, but I have had good luck with the Bridgstone Duellers. They came stock on my '22 1500. They have been smooth, and quiet on the last 3 vehicles I've owned. With that said, I live in the south and can't speak to their snow worthiness. Good luck on your decision.

I hate buying tires, because it's such a tough decision on which ones are the best for how I use my vehicles.

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From what I can tell, those were the middle of the pack.
They were also original equipment on Nissan SUV's it appears.
Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

my laramie came with the Falken wildpeak AT3. they have been great tires. quiet and smooth riding. been good in heavy rain and good in snow. If I still have this truck when they wear out I will replace with the same but will go with LT version because I use this truck to tow our travel trailer.

I would highly recomend the Toyo Open Country A/T III especially here in MA. Great tire plus they they are 3 peak rated meaning they are severe snow.

chopperman1 said:

I would highly recomend the Toyo Open Country A/T III especially here in MA. Great tire plus they they are 3 peak rated meaning they are severe snow.

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Unfortunately they do not carry Toyo at Sullivan Tire.

MMM said:

Unfortunately they do not carry Toyo at Sullivan Tire.

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Nitto Ridge Grapplers are basically the same as the Toyo AT3. Great tires, ran many of them.

Can't ever go wrong with Michelins or Pirellis, great choice.
I just put new Pirellis on mine a month or so ago.

runamuck said:

my laramie came with the Falken wildpeak AT3. they have been great tires. quiet and smooth riding. been good in heavy rain and good in snow. If I still have this truck when they wear out I will replace with the same but will go with LT version because I use this truck to tow our travel trailer.

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AT3'S work well, what I have. Now OP, a lot of dealers, not know about yours, but my Dealership a lot of the times runs Buy 3, 4th free. And I get for life rotation, and they were AT3W's I bought, was $866.00 out the door. But this worked for my situation. I bought C, 5 ply, did not get E, 10 ply. So U have to adjust. If you do not tow much, the C's be fine. If U tow a lot, and pull a lot of weight, U may want to go to "E" rated tires.

turkeybird56 said:

AT3'S work well, what I have. Now OP, a lot of dealers, not know about yours, but my Dealership a lot of the times runs Buy 3, 4th free. And I get for life rotation, and they were AT3W's I bought, was $866.00 out the door. But this worked for my situation. I bought C, 5 ply, did not get E, 10 ply. So U have to adjust. If you do not tow much, the C's be fine. If U tow a lot, and pull a lot of weight, U may want to go to "E" rated tires.




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So the dealer wanted to throw on SR-A's for $920 plus alignment, etc.
I'll have no more to do with GY SR-A's.

I do not tow, just at times haul mulch and other garbage.

BJ's does have them cheaper, however they did my wife's small SUV a month ago.
They did not line up the yellow dot on the tire, with the valve stem, nor did they line up the red dot, with the marking on the rim.
So honestly, I don't want to deal with discount places either.
When doing tires, they should know how to dismount, mount, properly line up the dots, inflate properly and properly torque the wheels on the hub. lol

I'm really loving these defenders. Soo quiet. And I feel like the truck rolls less in sweepers.

Oliver Closehauf said:

I'm really loving these defenders. Soo quiet. And I feel like the truck rolls less in sweepers.
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Update: That's what I did, I ordered the Defenders and scheduled it for Saturday. Thx

You can not compare the tires that come with the truck from the factory to ones you buy at the stores or even dealer. Factory tires are all junk and aimed at ride quality instead of wear and handling. Even the Michelin tires that come oem on Toyotas barely last 20k miles, where as the ones you can buy will easily outlast that going 60k or more.

Tray Burge said:

Can't ever go wrong with Michelins or Pirellis, great choice.
I just put new Pirellis on mine a month or so ago.
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Tray, are you gonna' drive those Scorpions in the snow this winter? If so give us a review next spring. I have the Plus II on our SUV and they are very good in the snow.

PS They look great.

hunterdan said:

You can not compare the tires that come with the truck from the factory to ones you buy at the stores or even dealer. Factory tires are all junk and aimed at ride quality instead of wear and handling. Even the Michelin tires that come oem on Toyotas barely last 20k miles, where as the ones you can buy will easily outlast that going 60k or more.

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I understand that.
Factory tires weren't always junk. (Liked my Eagle GT +4's, way back in the day.)

Today they are usually the cheapest tires, with that model being made especially for the car manufacturer.
Less tread and meant to be more gas mileage friendly, among other things.

My last truck, Nissan Frontier Pro-4X was great in the snow, but the life of the tread wasn't great. (Off-road tires)
I traded that at about 32-35k miles and they still had some life in them.

David H said:

Tray, are you gonna' drive those Scorpions in the snow this winter? If so give us a review next spring. I have the Plus II on our SUV and they are very good in the snow.

PS They look great.

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Oh hell no, we don't get snow in GA and if we did that day she'd stay parked in the garage. lol

Tray Burge said:

Oh hell no, we don't get snow in GA and if we did that day she'd stay parked in the garage. lol

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I sold my wife's 2010 F 150 4 X 4 with the Monster 5.4 Triton Motor to my wife's younger son when she died. He has the truck in WI and leaves it parked in a garage during the winter. He refuses to drive it in winter. It only had 44K on the odometer when sold. The only problem he had, the truck was sooooo heat soaked, when he got it to WI, the oil pan gasket and trans gasket were also badly heat soaked of course, they both leaked profusely till he had the gaskets redone, LOL.

runamuck said:

my laramie came with the Falken wildpeak AT3. they have been great tires. quiet and smooth riding. been good in heavy rain and good in snow. If I still have this truck when they wear out I will replace with the same but will go with LT version because I use this truck to tow our travel trailer.

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The Falken WildPeak AT3’s are great tires in my book!