Best all season tire, pics and write-up
 

I saw someone asking about the best all season tire and I think this one is one of the best. The rain traction is incredible as well.

I also posted this some time ago on the other forum.

I got the Bridgestone "HL" tire and they are NICE!

For those of you that remember, I posted a few weeks ago on the Goodyear fortera. In person that tire looks super skinny - it has roudned sidewalls which make it look not so beefy. Even in 275/70/16 it look skinnier than the stock tires.

The bridgestone "HL" is the only Suv tire with a 60k treadwear waranty, besides the new Fortera tire. These are NOT the same as the stock Bridgestones that come on some 4Runners. These have a 460 treadwear rating. The have a really sweet sidewall and ride super smooth. I had them in the rain yesterday and there is no comparision to the stock tires, (RT/S), these are amazing. They are also aover an INCH wider than the stock tires in the same size!

http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/jnburtm...estone_hl2.jpg

They have "UNI T" technology in them. As the tire wears down, different rubber compounds are exposed... This lets the tire perform as good as new when they wear down.

http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/jnburtm...estone_hl3.jpg

Here is a quote from Consumer reports, "We've since tested another contender that ties for best overall performance: the Bridgestone Dueler H/L, $96. Like the top-scoring BF Goodrich, the Bridgestone performed extremely well in the tests we weight most heavily--braking, handling, and hydroplaning."

http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/jnburtm...estone_hl7.jpg

The "HL" doesn't have that knobby tread like an AT tire. It's a tire that is good in all overall conditions and super smooth.

I wanted a good performing tire, and a tire that looked great too. I don't do offroading, except occasional snow fun.

I recommend this tire to anyone that wants a smooth long lasting tire with good/sporty looks. It also comes in white letters if you choose to use them :D

Hey Jason,

Nice looking tire. The tread design looks like it could handle heavy snow, but there don't appear to be many sipes in it. How are they in snowy conditions?

Al

It's got a nice deep, thunky looking tread, but not like an AT. They KILL the stock Goodyear RT/S, and stock Bridgestones that come with the 4Runner. Anyone will realize this when they upgrade to these. Those two brand stock tires are really bad in the rain and snow.

Thanks Jason!
As i am going to college next year, most of my miles will be on the highway. I really like the way the A/T looks, but I drive on a twisty road to work, and after this summer will mostly be doing highway driving from home to school. These tires sound like an upgrade w/o the sacrifices... hence the name UPgrade... Thanks, I'll be getting new tires before summer is over probably.

Jason,

I think anything you put on your rig looks good. Does your 4Runner ever get dirty *smirk*? I think i'll stick with my BFG AT KO's. They won't last as long as some others, but make up for it in looks...

jason, where did you see the price of $96?? i only found them at tirerack.com for $103...thanks!

I got mine from NTB and they beat tireracks price. I got lucky i guess.;)

wow! that is really strange...every tire i have bought, i've gotten off tirerack because they were cheaper...maybe i'll check out NTB...maybe this particular one is cheaper..thanks!

update: i just went to NTB.com and they dont have the h/l...only the dueler APT II...thanks anyway!

You have to physically go into the store. NTB doesn't stock the "HL" but can order it in since they do carry the rest of the Bridgestone line. They just don't STOCK the "HL" tire.

Check this out

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1872877932

Hey Jason, how do you keep your rims so shiny? Do you use any kind of polish?

Since they are CHROME, I just use regular car wax on them.

:nerd:

Bump for a good tire.

Less pics of shiny sidewall and more pics of tread design!

An update for you "street tire" guys. The Bridgestone Dueler H/L is being replaced by the Dueler H/L Alenza. Same awesome handling and ride, but the tread design is more refined. The Alenza comes w/ the new Unit-T AQII technology which makes it far superior to any other tire in its class.

http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tires...earchbyproduct

Lemme toss in my recommendation too.
I put these on the F150 about 5,500 miles ago, and cannot praise them enough.

http://www.hankooktireusa.com/produc..._ID=23&CatID=5
They are 285/60R18 on 18x8.5 rims.
From the first drive they were so much smoother and quieter than the Dunlops I had before (and anything is better than the POS Goodyears the truck came with!...) They also cornered noticeably better - great grip! I was leery of rain performance, although I had read great reviews - but I can tell you these tires Do Not hydroplane. I've even driven deliberately in the "ruts" at freeway speeds and you can't even feel the water being present. Amazing. They are still showing no signs of wear whatsoever, but at 5500 it's too soon to judge wear.

They aren't an offroad tire, but the F150 sees nothing worse than gravel roads anyway (although recently a lot of deep woods poor condition gravel roads, and no problems with the tires.)

I really only tried them because I got a smokin deal, but if they last at least as long as the tires I've had, I'd buy them again. I paid 318 + shipping (which I did through my company for $60) for 4 so I had to try them. Glad I did.

those hankook's look really nice! i think that's going to be my next choice of tires since my t4r is a 2wd :(. i can't even remember what i have on my t4r right now. all i know is they suck in the rain.

I bought them from these guys, they still have some specials going, you might call them for a deal. Nice guys to work with.
http://stores.ebay.com/Goodguys-Tire...enameZL2QQtZkm