What did you do with your (new) stock tires?

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Narg

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I couldn't wait to get rid of the Duratrac, so at 20,000 miles... They road walked, and were not that good in weather/off-road. I'm highway/in-town/off-road about 40/50/10. My off-road is not for fun, but just what needs to get done. Went with Michelin LTX Defender, just because they are great on the highway, and solid off-road plus bad weather. 33.5" tire this go around. Looks so much better than the 32" Duratrac tires. But I have air suspension, and they do rub if I'm negotiating a parking spot in the lowest level, the 32" tires didn't do that, but oh well. Got them from a local tire shop. Paid about $1400. Had them keep the Duratracs.
 

sam darakjy

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I will be the first to say that people have the right to do what they want with their money. If they want to buy a Power Wagon and put highway tires on it that is their choice and their right. However I still retain the right to make fun of them;). I feel the same way when I get stuck behind a new ZO6 Corvette running 7 mph under the speed limit on a back road, or about all of the Jeep Rubicons with lifts, mud tires, and winches (oh, and don't forget about the LED lightbars that probably aren't even hooked up) sitting in the soccer field parking lot that have probably never even been in 4wd, yet alone had the lockers or swaybar disconnect used.
Good post!! I agree. Also the OP had to throw mpg in the mix. Lord..65k on a truck with a 6.4 Hemi and 7000lbs and why is Mpg even being mentioned??
 

Bourgeois

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Had to replace them at 20,000. Seems like a common problem. What pressure do you keep in yours?
 

Dean2

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Had to replace them at 20,000. Seems like a common problem. What pressure do you keep in yours?
Like all OEM tires, the ones you get on the truck are not built to the same quality as the ones you buy direct. Duratracs on my 2500s, with LOTs of gravel use, last 50,000 miles easily and I change them out early due to the mud and deep snow we get, when most guys would still run them for a couple more years if it was mostly pavement and high grade gravel.
 
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DrTron

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Good post!! I agree. Also the OP had to throw mpg in the mix. Lord..65k on a truck with a 6.4 Hemi and 7000lbs and why is Mpg even being mentioned??
I don't mind you guys making fun of me because of that, I can stand the heat ;-)
But no, mpg is not a main concern, like you said, a PW will never be good at that. Main concern is pavement traction in dry/wet conditions (which a highway tire will always do better than an offroad tire due to a different channeling structure and less negative profile) and road noise. The PW I test drove with the Duratracs had an audible hum even at 30 mph, so it's probably only going to get louder at 70 mph.

Just looked at the Nitto Dura Grappler, the 285/75/17 (34") weighs 67 lbs compared to 50 on the Defender in 285/70/17 (33"). That sounds like a lot regarding unsprung weight, but I don't know what the rims weigh and if it really matters on a 7000lbs truck...
 

farout75

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I went to my local tire shop guy and had him put new tries on and he gave me 100 for the cheap 4 ply car tires. The tires that come from the factory are flimsy cheap tires, I never keep them on.
 

Fishhaggis

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Swapped out the tires right away at a dedicated tire store. They said they do this a lot. They took the stock tires and gave me a good discount.
 

MTGranite

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While I own a 2021 1500 Laramie, I found the the stock tires weren’t going to get me where I needed to go. That said, at about 5k miles I switched my tires out. As said, dealers do not do buy backs. Living where I do, I’ve know that there are folks in need of tires that can’t really afford them. Put an ad on Marketplace and sold them in about a day to a very deserving couple for the price of one of my new tires. They went on the wife’s truck and I’m happy that she isn’t riding around on bald tires.
 
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DrTron

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Swapped out the tires right away at a dedicated tire store. They said they do this a lot. They took the stock tires and gave me a good discount.
That's what I'm planning to do. Waiting to hear back from the Lake Charles tire stores.
 

Elkman

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I put on new tires and take the factory tires home and then I list them on Craigslist for 50% of the price at the tire stores. Takes less than a week to sell the set of tires. I have done this with every truck and SUV purchased over the past 20 years.
 

regulator54

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Put on BFG KO2s on first truck, and Cooper AS3 4s on the second before it left the lot. Dealer took factory tires in trade, plus a few more bucks for the new ones.
 

Tracy in IL

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I bought my Yokohamas from the dealer. He game be 50% of retail in trade in for my stock tires, plus free mounting and balancing.
 

Grand Mesa

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Just looked at the Nitto Dura Grappler, the 285/75/17 (34") weighs 67 lbs compared to 50 on the Defender in 285/70/17 (33"). That sounds like a lot regarding unsprung weight, but I don't know what the rims weigh and if it really matters on a 7000lbs truck...

The Grappler is larger in diameter. It weighs more, but then it is offset by a lower RPM in overdrive on the highway with the 4.10-1 gear ratio versus the OEM diameter.

The axle gears in the Power Wagon's are within solid front axles which weigh more than a Chevrolet 3/4 ton with IFS. Axles are unsprung weight. Also 4x4 trucks have more unsprung weight than 2WD.

It's more than just tires and wheels, but everything below the suspension.

My Toyo tires 35 12.50R17 weigh 77 pounds.
 

Grand Mesa

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The 285 70R17 Michelin Defender has a maximum load capacity substantially less than the 285 75R17 Nitto Dura Grappler. 3,195 versus 3,970 pounds. Even my 35 12.50R17's Toyo C/T's are 3,195 which is the same maximum load capacity as the Power Wagon's OEM Duratracs. The Toyo AT3 285 75r18 tires on our Cummins are 4,080 pounds, but its a heavier truck and hauls much heavier loads than my Power Wagon.
 
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DrTron

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The 285 70R17 Michelin Defender has a maximum load capacity substantially less than the 285 75R17 Nitto Dura Grappler. 3,195 versus 3,970 pounds. Even my 35 12.50R17's Toyo C/T's are 3,195 which is the same maximum load capacity as the Power Wagon's OEM Duratracs. The Toyo AT3 285 75r18 tires on our Cummins are 4,080 pounds, but its a heavier truck and hauls much heavier loads than my Power Wagon.
Sure, the Dura Grappler is geared toward trucks carrying heavier payloads. But given the GVWR of 8,565 lbs. for the PW, either one has more than enough load capacity.
 

Grand Mesa

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Sure, the Dura Grappler is geared toward trucks carrying heavier payloads. But given the GVWR of 8,565 lbs. for the PW, either one has more than enough load capacity.

I exceed the 8,565 lb GVWR everytime I pick up a full pallet of sixty 40 pound bags of home heating wood pellets under my fiberglass topper. GVWR includes me, my wife, and two 65 pound Huskies while driving 12,000 feet in elevation gain and loss. That's over 3,000 pounds above my Power Wagon's dry weight. Do this 5 times annualy. It's easy to exceed the 8,565 GVWR if you're dependent upon it for rural life without even towing. A higher load capacity tire means less sidewall flexing. I highly doubt that most Power Wagon drivers whom tow or haul for work or recreation haven't exceeded the GVWR. It's far less than what the truck can do.
 
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DrTron

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That's what I meant, the tires are unlikely to be the limitation here. If you have tires with a load limit of 3,195 lbs, that's 12,780 lbs total. Subtract 20% for the weight not being ideally balanced, that still leaves more than 10,000. Which is about your 3,000 lbs over dry weight ;-)
Sure, with 3,970-lbs-tires there's more margin.

That being said, the Nittos are the only available 34" tire with a highway designation, so I will likely go with these.
 

Grand Mesa

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The Nitto Dura Grappler also comes in a 35" for an 18" wheel.

LT305/70R18 E 126R
Tech Specs
Stock Number: 205380
Tread Depth: 17.3
Inflated Dimensions - Overall Dia (in): 35.28
Inflated Dimensions - Overall Width (in): 12.80
Approved Rim: 8.0-(9.0)-10.0
Maximum Load (lbs.) @ Press. (PSI): 3750 @ 65
Weight: 67.22
 
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