Hey, new to the forum and have a couple questions!

[justins90]

I just picked up a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 Express after trading in the F-150 Ecobomb nightmare.

The truck has 27600 miles on it and it's the 2WD Express with blackout upgrade. 20x8" black wheels etc.

With winter here and snow coming soon; I'm wondering what kind of tire to pickup? It has 275/60/R20 on it now. Goodyear Wrangler SRA which I am assuming is the OEM tire. The rears look a little worn. I work for continental/grabber tire and get discounts, so I'm looking at the Grabber HTS and HTS 60 mainly. A comfortable all season that can get around in the snow and not wear out too quickly is what I really want.
I'll be leaving continental soon to join the Airforce (swearing in Wednesday) so I need to make this set count since I'm going from 50k+/year to around 20k/year income lol. Not to mention my wife will be quitting when she can move with me on base... income loss for days!

Anyways, I also have a problem with the front bumper. It looks like the previous owner ran over roadkill or something big enough to break the mounting tabs off right under where it mounts below the fender on the driver side. It's not a huge deal, but I will want it fixed/repainted before I go back to being poor for a while lol. I found on carparts.com that they have the replacement bumper for $159 and it comes primered. I just want to know if anyone has used these as an OEM replacement as I'm not thinking they're really OEM (even though they say OE replacement). I just would really like a review if anyone has used the "replacement" brand (as they call it) on carparts.com. I don't want to buy it and spend the money to have it painted if it's going to crack or something from weather conditions, like some of the cheap body kits do on cars.


Thanks for any information! And about the tires as well, the 275/60/R20 are 33" diameter tires, which I know grabber has the AT2 in that size as well. Anyone swapped from a highway tire to a at2 of the same size and experienced much more road noise/any mpg loss?

Thanks again.

 

[MaizeNBlue]

Are you sure your wheels are not 20x9? I just ask, cause mine are 20x9, mine is a 16 Express QC 4x4 , so not sure if they are different.
As for the tires, I'm suprised those lasted that long...anything will be a improvement over them You will lose mpg with any heavier tire, and some added road noise, but should be minimal with stock size tire, depending on the tread.
Wish I could help with the bumper, but I don't have any experience swapping them...I'm sure another member will stop by on here soon and help ya out.

 

[Jeff CA]

Since you also get a discount on Continental, I would consider the TerrainContact A/T.

 

[roadshow]

Continental is pretty respectable for winter on cars, and I've used them before but I can't speak for how they are on trucks. Most people around here like Duratrac,, KO2, Cooper etc for ram winter rated A/T's.

For your bumper I'd just play it safe and get a genuine Mopar replacement, you're only going to shave a few bucks off by looking for alternatives

 

[justins90]

For your bumper I'd just play it safe and get a genuine Mopar replacement, you're only going to shave a few bucks off by looking for alternatives

Are there any oem dodge part guys that hang around on the forums with big discounts like Ford has (I.e. tascaparts.com)? The oem bumper seems to be $80 more and may not come primered

 

[shibby927]

Personally I've never had an issue with the Wrangler SR-As, they are not a phenomenal tire by any stretch of the imagination but I've gotten as much as 55k out of a set of them.

 

[justins90]

Yea I wouldn't be worrying too much about it but with the rears being a little low on tread and snow coming I need to make sure my wife and I can get back and forth to work.

 

[shibby927]

Yea I wouldn't be worrying too much about it but with the rears being a little low on tread and snow coming I need to make sure my wife and I can get back and forth to work.

Gotta do what you gotta do brother. Tires are a definite need.

 

[quietpeen]

Are there any oem dodge part guys that hang around on the forums with big discounts like Ford has (I.e. tascaparts.com)? The oem bumper seems to be $80 more and may not come primered

Check with our vendor allmoparparts.com

 

[justins90]

Since you also get a discount on Continental, I would consider the TerrainContact A/T.

Have you used the TerrainContact AT? They sound and look like a pretty good tire. Expensive to the public, but I can get the 275/60/R20 for $399, before shipping anyways.

Wish I had a comparison of the gas mileage gains/losses between this tire and say a General HTS 60.

It's too bad I can't find a 33" diameter tire that's only 255 wide or so. Just don't need 275 wide tires all around on this truck. Extra width, and thus extra weight + loss of mpg for no reason. IMO. I don't want to go with a smaller diameter tire and risk a rougher ride and have to have dodge recalibrate the speedometer either.

 

[justins90]

I think I've narrowed it down to these two tires... hard to choose. The terraincontact at will probably be better in the snow, but crosscontact will yield better mpg im sure. Plus the crosscontact is cheaper for me.

 

[EagleChief]

This is just my opinion... I don't think you will ever really notice a difference in mileage in the big picture, IF you are sticking with the stock tire size. I'd say get the tire that has a better tread wear and better handling in snow/rain/sand, whatever weather, so you feel more secure/safe while driving and getting around.

Now, if you end up with larger tires (diameter), it will be a mileage difference, obviously, and that's something to consider. My next set of tires will be anywhere from 34" to 34.5" and it will change my mileage. I'm prepared for that.

 

[roadshow]

This is just my opinion... I don't think you will ever really notice a difference in mileage in the big picture, IF you are sticking with the stock tire size. I'd say get the tire that has a better tread wear and better handling in snow/rain/sand, whatever weather, so you feel more secure/safe while driving and getting around.

Now, if you end up with larger tires (diameter), it will be a mileage difference, obviously, and that's something to consider. My next set of tires will be anywhere from 34" to 34.5" and it will change my mileage. I'm prepared for that.

Agreed, going even smaller than stock will save you maybe a few hundred bucks over the course of a year? Not really worth caring about

 

[justins90]

Continental TerrainContact AT

Anyone run these tires? And info please, noise, comfort, mpg loss and snow traction?

 

[jasonw]

They are a pretty new tire design, I doubt many have had the chance to get them yet. When my mother was looking for new tires last month for her Jeep GC (2014 Summit with 20" wheels), these were one of the few AT tires made in her factory size, but no one in my area could get a hold of them.

 

[Firestalker]

Continental TerrainContact AT

Anyone run these tires? And info please, noise, comfort, mpg loss and snow traction?

Any update on this? I'm in the same situation as you with the discount and looking at the TerrainContacts, or the Grabber AT2. I need occasional offroad capacity, but appreciate a quiet ride.