I really only drive my 4 runner on the road. Rarely ever taking it offroad.
I have the BFgoodrich wranglers or some such in 235/70-16 size right now...and aint very happy with them.
They really wore quickly for one.

I'm actually thinking of running a slightly smaller tire also, maybe in 225, for better mpg.

I do some towing every once in a while with about 2000 lbs trailer.

Any suggestions on a tire that has good life, not aggressive thread (less road noise and better mpg), yet is still somewhat safe for minimal towing?

thanks

 

Not sure about the towing rating, but before I swapped to m/t's, the rims I picked up had Michelin LTX M/S tires. They are a highway all season tire that last a long time. Minimal road noise, and still had good traction in ice and snow on pavement.

 

hey, i saw the LTX's and have been reading reviews online.

The non E load LTX in 235/70-16 is rated for around 1980lbs, which is about 8K total for the vehicle. This restricts me from towing the max allowable for the truck, but I never come close to this anyways, so figure it doesnt matter.

Most the reviews are good, with just a couple saying stuff like the tire would never balance out...etc..

They are a little more money, but I figure if I have to live with the tire for 50 or so thousand miles, might as well pay now for something better.

Anybody have experience with this tire?

 

I work in a tire shop and would have to say the michelins are pretty damn good. The LTX M/S does last a good while. I have seen some that wouldn"t balance out but there are factors that are in play in that too. Such as the type of rim its going on and some tires just WILL NOT balance out. But I'd definately go with those hands down for a good moderate street tire on a truck or suv.

 

Im running Falken High Country A/Ts and never offroad.Excellent handling,aggresive tread.No highway hum on 31 inch tires.Awesome traction,got caught in a white out just south of des moine,iowa in march.Best 600$ Ive spent on tires.Check them out before you buy.

 

The Michelins are probably the best choice if you plan on keeping your 4Runner for a long time. The long wear you should get out of them will help recoup the cost.

That being said, I put a set of BFG Long Trails on my 4Runner many years ago. They wore exceptionally well -- I got nearly 80,000 miles out of them -- and they were quiet and handled rain and snow well. They still had serviceable tread on them at 80K, but would no longer balance out. Might be worth a look.

 

I've had Michelin LTX m/s on my
Ford Explorer
Ford Bronco II
Toyota 4Runner
Ford Ranger

It's the only light truck highway tire I'll run after trying a number of brands. Great traction and incredible wear, the m/s even got me up Independence pass in CO in late May. They do like to pick up and throw gravel. I've just put the LTX A/T's on my 4Runner and am looking at the LTX m/s or a/t's for my other 4Runner soon.

Ugh. I feel like a Michelin commercial.

 

or you could look into Firestone Steeltex tires. they have been known to last as lost 80k miles on 1-ton pickups. Im sure your 4runner could get allot more out of them...and try not to listen to the horror stories about them, they are just as safe as any other tire they just got a bad rep after the firestone recalls...

 

go with the michelin LTX. buddy of mine works for a tire company, and he says they last forever, with no exaggeration.

 

Last as lost?..lol

 

^^^^ huh?

 

so, let me narrow my question down a little bit...

If I was looking for a tire that gave the best mpg AND lasted a long time, should I even consider an A/T or M/T tire?

I'm looking at something like this...http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....oModel=4Runner SR5 4wd&autoModClar=

less aggressive tread should help with mpg. These trucks dont get all that great mpg as it is...
I've currently got the 265/70-16 and looking at the tire weights on this tire, for instance, you can see how much heavier it is than a similar tire in 245 or even 235. With the 235 being 10 lbs lighter per tire.

this 10 lbs is a lot when considering unsprung weight...it matters a lot more than sprung weight.

As I said before, I never drive off road, and when I do, a regular street tire is fine as it is only sugar sand here in florida.

Being a michelin, I would think it will last long like the LTX

 

if you want a tire that lasts a long time. you shouldn't consider a AT or MT. you need to go for all season.

 

My dad just got a set of Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza at Costco on is 02 Taco TRD, he had Revos on it for the last 50,000 miles and they had gotten LOUD. The Alenza are freaking quiet, I rode with him the day he got them on a 300 mile round trip to pick up a new refrigerator in his vacation cabin, about 70% was I81 at 80 miles per hour the rest was Rt33w over the mountains of WV, it was the first time in a long time that he could hear the engine in the truck!! He actually thought his passenger side wheel bearing was shot but it turned out it was the tires all along... Now his Bilstein HD shocks that we put on when he got the Revos are still in great shape! Anyway take a look at the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza with Uni-T

 

Or just buy a prius!..

 

I think if you intend to keep the truck another 100K miles Michelins are a good choice and perhaps will be your last tire purchase.

You can certainly spend less money,but Michelins enjoy a great reputation and many say it is well deserved.

You state clearly you only need a street tire- so Mak92 is correct you do not need an AT or MT type tire. Many of us run the All Terrains in a LT (light truck) series.

You sound like a good example of someone who would appreciate a P rated series tire and you will save mileage and have a somewhat softer ride than what most of us favor.

 

I have 84,000 miles on aset of Michelin Cross-Terrains. They look like they have another10,000 on them.

Seriously.
.