Erich_870

Winter has arrived and so has my set of retread 235/85R16's with Ultra Grip II from Tread Wright Tires. Tread Wright Tires



[I tried to order a set last year but it fell through due to shipping complications on my end.]



The Ultra Grip II consists of crushed walnut shell granules mixed throughout the rubber creating a sort of sharks’ teeth effect to enhance traction. As the rubber wears down and granules fall out, more are exposed.

Here is some info on Ultra Grip II - Ultra Grip II Data Sheet [Last year Tread Wright was selling tires containing Ultra Grip I which contained industrial grade garnets. I assume the price for garnets went too high for use in tires.]



Here is a side by side comparison of both the size and tread of my new and old tires (bald 265/70R16 Bridgestones). The guys at Les Schwab’s were giving me crap about my old tires.



Another view



The narrow tire is AMAZING on snow. I haven’t put it in 4wheel drive yet this year.



Here it is from behind.



Here’s another look at the tall and narrow tire.

These tires are going to serve double duty as my full time tires. They are legal to run year round because they aren’t studded and they are already out performing my stock sized studs. I had to carry 200+ lbs of sand all winter to keep enough traction on the rear tires.

So far I'm very pleased with their performance. Once we get a little more snow I plan to run some comparisons between these and my stock studs. They are both on rims so I'm going to set up a little break course and test each of their stopping distances.

Erich

CJ3Flyr

Great report! I have 4th gen w/17's. I am considering 235/80's when the time comes. If you don't mind:

1) Do you get the chance to run highway speeds (75-80mph)? If so how did they balance out?
2) What pressure do you run?
3) I know this is subjective as heck but: How's the stability if you give an abrupt steering input at say 40mph? Do you feel the sidewalls squishing?
4) Another subjective: Ride harshness? I know they'll ride harder but do think it drives a little on the harsh side or just a little stiffer than stock? Does the G/F-wife think it's too rough, that's the real question

Thanks, those tires look good on your rig.

cackalak han

Looks good. I am not going to shell out my 2 cents about what I think of retreads, the walnut shell thing has been around for a while and they say it works really well in packed snow/ice. If there was snow on the road all winter where I'm at, I'd consider these. Doesn't Nokian also make some tires with walnuts?

I also just installed 235/85/16's on my Tacoma and I love them so far (BFG KO's). Had a chance to run them in snow last week and they performed great. They have less rotational mass than the comparable 265/75/16's so I only showed a loss of maybe 0.5 MPG's so far (averaging 20.5 MPG on the highway). Ride comfort is about the same as stock (wife has not complained ) and I like the looks of a skinny, tall tire.

CJ3Flyr

Awesome! Thanks. I am assuming you upgraded from a 'P' or 'C' 265/75/16, correct?

I too like tall tires and at the 4Runners weight there's no need to lug around the weight and rolling resistance of a wide tire (for my needs/wants).

cackalak han

Actually, I had the crappy stock 265/70/16 BFG Rugged Trails (never ever buy these tires!) which is P rated to this tire, which is only available in load range E. So I went from the softest to the stiffest!

CJ3Flyr

That's what I wanted to know Many complain about stiff rides with E tires but I suspected the taller profile of an 80/85 would keep the extra stiffness at a tolerable level. It sounds like that's how it worked for you.

In the 17" world there's the 235/80 which I will consider. The other 32" option is the 255/75. Plenty of P's in the 255/75's and it's not quite as thin. Decisions...

Thanks for the great feedback.

cackalak han

Yeah, if you really think it's too stiff, just air down a bit. But I'm at 40 psi front and rear and I think it rides just fine. My wife has not complained one bit or said anything about it.

They say that 85-series tires are preferred for expedition travels. Which is why most of those expedition guys run 255/85/16's. If I were you, I'd get a set of 16" 4Runner rims (I am 99% sure they will fit. Someone else with a 4th Gen will have to confirm if 16" wheels fit. According to Wheeler's Off-Road, they should), then put on the 235/85/16's. I bought some 16" 4Runner wheels on craigslist for DIRT cheap (less than $100) and put some BFG KO's on for about $140 a tire. I have my other rims if I ever desire to go back to them or to keep the wear off of the BFG's. I might even put some cheap highway tires on my other rims for non-expedition travels.

Just a suggestion.

CJ3Flyr

I am eyeing last gen Sequoia or FJC rims for better offset. The Sequoia rims look great and would get me into 16's. I have the non-SE model so my brakes will fit with 16" rims. Great advice thank-you. I'm a little ways out time wise but I will post whatever I do

Erich_870

1) I haven't been up to 70 yet. I don't have any open road here They seem pretty smooth. They just have a road hum.
2) I'm running ~43PSI
3) With the PSI above, I've not felt any sidewall squish.
4) I think the ride is pretty good. It's a little rougher and there's that hum, but it only reminds me of my new found traction, and I like that
The wife likes them too

I picked up a nail right after I got them on so I lost some tire pressure and that's skewed my MPG data that I keep. These are siped too, so that's going to affect MPG's too.

Erich

AZ89LONGBED

iTrader: (3)

FWIW-- I am running treadwright 235-75-r 15`s in the AT pattern. They have held there balance at speeds of up to 80 mph.

Mine do not have the Ultragrip patern, but plenty of siping.

Matt16

Sounds like you are willing to actually "test" these tire properly instead of simply reiterating what you uncle told you about retreads. I look forward to your tests. People who think like you (instead of giving relatively useless subjective judgements) are truly as asset to the knowledge base of yotatech.

I'm quite curious about Treadwrights. They're cheap and it seems Ultragrip performs well on the slipperiest of surfaces; ice. I just wish they made them in 33x10.5r15 or 255/85r16.

CJ3Flyr

Great report, thanks. If they hold balance and are smooth on the highway you may have stumbled on to one of the best kept secrets.

I'll be be honest. The last time I even thought about retreads was in the late 70's. I guess a lot has changed since then I love the pattern, siping, size and price. I drive a lot on the interstate in a warm climate and would worry about seperation based on nothing other than what I remember from the late 70's. I wish someone made that exact tire in new... Maybe as you report in and I learn more I'll decide that concern is unfounded.

Matt16

Do you think the walnut (Ultragrip) makes much difference?

cackalak han

Matt - They walnuts do make a difference if you drive on packed snow and ice on a regular basis. It snows a ton where I live, but most of the street are cleared off, so walnuts won't do me any good, so I stick with regular non-studded snow tires.

Matt16

Are you saying that the walnuts would wear down by driving on asphalt thus wouldn't be exposed enough to do any good when there was ice/ packed snow on the ground? Or just that you need the softer tire compound of a dedicated winter tire on the cold plowed roads?

Eric_870, did you ever get a chance to do that Treadwright VS studded snow tire braking test?

cackalak han

Sorry, should've clarified. They don't really affect asphalt driving. It's like driving on any snow tire on dry asphalt. But if the cost is more for the walnut tires (which in my experience, they were), then I'd opt to not get them if you're not on packed snow/ice for the better part of winter.

Matt16

How does the 235 handle on road? Does the handling feel "spongy" or are there any noteable differences in on road handling compared to a 265/70R16 (or whatever you had before)?

cackalak han

Handling is just fine. You will get adjusted to it pretty quick. There is a bit of difference between the stock 265/70's, obviously due to the taller side walls, but unless you're driving it like a sports car, you will be fine. I will continue to get this size tire until I go up to 255/85's. I just wish that they put out a load range D KO's. Oh, well.

Matt16

I emailed Treadwright to today with some questions:
I'm curious whether your ATG- Ultra in a size 235/85R16 are made from a different harder rubber compound than your 31x10.5r15. Most 235/85r16s are E rated, and more 31x10.5r15s are C rated. I assumed that higher load rated tires are made from harder compounds, but I have nothign to back that up with. I want to run the 235s on my 4Runner, but would the tread compound be too hard to perform in winter conditions on a truck which weighs around 4500lbs?

Treadwright replied:
The rubber compound we use is the same on all of our tires. It is a full grade Truck rubber rated at 40-60K miles. The compound is not so hard that it hinders winter performance.

Matt16

Still like them? Lets hear more. My neighbour is buying the same tires for his Series Land Rover which takes 235s as OE.