Truck Brakes

Initial Review, 9,500 Miles on Tires
September 06, 2012

I bought this truck from a friend who purchased this new. I was looking for a set of tires to replace the OEM tires on the truck that were worn.

I’ve had positive experiences with Michelin tires on my MDX, with their LTX models, the A/S and the M/S, so I began looking into these as replacements. The A/S tires are a great all season tire, but lasted about 38,000 miles before needing replacement and were a little too light for this application. The M/S tires that replaced the A/S tires were a big improvement in the snow and all around, but were a little loud at highway speeds on the MDX, so when I came across the M/S2’s, this was the tire I had to have.

The difference in tread pattern over the standard M/S was the key factor in my decision. The combination of a traction tread design (similar to their commercial truck highway traction tires), in line traction blocks and the snow / ice sipes found on the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2(used as dedicated winter tires on my 06 Maxima), made this the perfect replacement. I optioned to go with the heavier ply (123/120R) in lieu of the standard 111T due to heavier side wall construction. Living in the City with all the potholes, manhole covers and construction plates, tires take a beating and the heavier sidewall I feel would offer me better protection against a blow out or puncture.

The ride quality is noticeably stiffer, solid but not bone jarring and to be expected with a 2500 series SUV over the lighter 1500 series. The tread is relatively quiet on the highway and turning feedback and response is positive. No numb feeling or lost connection with the road surface. The one thing I did notice was an improvement in braking feel, feedback and distance. Under hard braking, you can feel the tires grab the road surface, helping you slow down and not letting the brakes do all the work inspiring confidence.

Unless Michelin introduces an M/S 3, I will be purchasing another set when these are worn, in about 50/60k miles.

Initial Review, 1,200 Miles on Tires
June 02, 2012

The best way to describe these tires in one word is glue. Right out of the garage (where installed) they give you a sense of being glued to the road. I selected track/autocross due to the setup on my truck but I also spend a fair amount of time on the Autobahn and these tires don't care. 100+ mph and the ride doesn't change; no slipping and sliding, strong cornering, and no give when braking. I've owned a few different tires that were supposed to provide this performance level at cheaper prices but it was worth the extra $200 per tire to get this kind of traction and performance. Not sure how many mile I will get before they have to be replaced but I will be buying a new set when due.

Initial Review, 78,000 Miles on Tires
July 09, 2012

Man, it's been a good run. Thanks Yokohama for making a good tire. From the noise to the sliding under hard braking, the Continentals the truck came with made driving a chore; I detested having to go on long trips and actually feared for my life when it rained with the Contitracs. After I got my set of Yokohama G051's, I will never go back. The Yoko's have lasted me for FIVE years and 78,000 miles. I have worn them down to the exposed CORDS (waaaay past the wear bars) and they still drive better, and with no noise, than the Continentals. I've dodged potholes and had 2 accidents on this same set; in one accident, the Hero unit actually PUSHED the Expedition off the freeway - tires squealing and all. They've pulled the 2.5 ton behemoth out of beach sand, and they have jumped more than their share of curbs (my wife helped on this tremendously). As long as you keep them rotated, they stay up to par. The wet traction is great, but what gets me is being able to take curves at up to 50-60 mph without them breaking loose or squealing (I did say I drive 'spirited'). And the really good part? I've only had to patch one of these tires once. I am really hoping my next set gets another five years, but I don't think the truck will hold together that long!

Initial Review, 99,999 Miles on Tires
July 15, 2012

I purchased my Toyota Tacoma new in June 2000. The set of Michelins on the truck are the same tires that were added by the dealer before purchase. I have been very pleased with the exceptional durability and lifespan of these tires. These tires saved my life and the life of my mother one dark night on US 1 at the Georgia-Florida line, stopping an straight line under heavy braking when a tractor-trailer rig was stopped across both lanes of the highway. A lesser tire may well have failed. This happened in 2005 and these tires are still going strong. I am only now beginning to consider replacing the tires due to age, however I check them regularly and have plenty of tread remaining and I have observed no signs of dry rot. I passed the Virginia annual safety inspection yesterday with no deficiencies noted. I have put 123500 miles on these tires and still going strong!

Initial Review, 80,000 Miles on Tires
May 22, 2012

Very long life, but traction is not great.

I tow my race car with the truck, probably 90% of my driving on these tires is highway cruising. The tires were on the truck when I bought it 5 years and 80,000 miles ago, and still have tread left. They just don't wear out.

The downside to these tires is they don't grip the road very well. It is easy to lock up the tires under moderately hard braking in wet. They are not amazing in snow either. I ordered a pair of Blizzak DM-Z3 tires for the drive wheels after getting stuck trying to pull the trailer out of its parking spot one day. I had an opportunity to drive on all 4 of these tires in a snow storm last year and the truck felt squiggly. That said, I run the front pair of these tires on my truck year round and they work acceptably well as long as they are not asked to do too much.

I swap out the rear tires for Blizzaks in winter and even so the rears are wearing out somewhat faster than the fronts. This is probably due to the front axle carrying 2,000 lbs and rear axle carrying 4,000 lbs of weight.

I'm looking at picking up a pair of Load Range E tires for the rear axle as I'm too close to the load limit for comfort. But if it wasn't for that I would get Destination A/T again in 1-2 years when mine finally wear out.

Initial Review, 15,000 Miles on Tires
May 21, 2012

Very impressed with these BFG Rugged Terrain tires! Great aggressive and tough looking tire; enhances the look of my truck and they surprisingly ride like silk. Replaced All-Terrains (also great tires) that had replaced the original O.E. Rugged Trails (that were complete junk). I'm also super impressed with how well these tires perform in the wet; they resist hydroplaning really well and grip like glue when braking cornering. The ride on-road is amazingly smooth and respectably quiet. They work well off-road too with adequate traction, but I wouldn't challenge them with anything extreme. When I had the tires mounted, I had them road-force balanced at my dealer and had an alignment done, and I rotate them every 7,000 miles to ensure that I get the most out of my tires. At 15,000 miles the tires show even wear and the tread depth measures 9/32nds. They were at 12/32nds when new, so I will probably see about 55,000 miles total before I replace them. Gas mileage has been a nice surprise too. My truck is rated 16/20mpg city/highway, and I got that with the All-Terrains. But with these Rugged Terrains I easily get 18mpg in city and 22mpg highway (sometimes just over 24mpg if I stay around 65mph). I also tow a boat/trailer package that is around 6,000lbs; these tires perform great at 35psi and grip wet boat ramps without trouble. I can't say enough about these tires. When people see them, they usually ask me about them; even the mechanics at my dealership like to come out of the shop to talk about them with me.

Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires
May 21, 2012

Better handling than the Bridgestone Dueler's that came with the truck. These hold the road better in the curves. I can go around curves with no tire squealing at speeds that made the Bridgestones scream. A little quieter on the highway too. They are a few pounds per tire lighter too which with such a large diameter tire improves braking and acceleration.

Initial Review, 48,000 Miles on Tires
April 04, 2012

Original equipment on my 2004 F150 XLT. The front end of the truck drags a bit because of weight so inside treadwall wears a little quick from hard cornering which any tire would do. When tires were fairly new I had to hit the brakes hard at highway speed in poring and truck stayed straight and no hydroplaning. Traction in mud after 30,000 miles was so so but did get stuck in deep mud. I have over loaded my truck a few times well over the 1500 lbs, more like 2300 lbs, and the sidewalls held up but since a squishy sound comes from tires when you go slowly. (yes, more than recommended amount of weight on any tire may do that) Would I buy them again, Yes since the price is good and could probably get 55,000 miles out of them before they are completely down to wear indicator marks to replace. Pretty happy with the General Ameritrac Tr's and purchasing a new set soon

Initial Review, 29,000 Miles on Tires
April 09, 2012

My truck is on and off the road often. I am driving on highway with excellent top speed control and braking. I have did improve my ice snow and mud traction in our ozark steep hills and that is why I tryed this tire and will get another set soon; near end of tread. Alot of cornering on hills and curves is above average on wear. I wanted a softer grab for ice and good tread pattern of pavement in grass and dirt and mud. These are very good tires. I would have more tread without a teenage son sharing the truck and revelleing and having a good time as they do. He is done driving it full time now and my new set will last longer without high speed start stop and cornering. I got 30,000 plus miles of safety that I was hoping for and mission accomplished.

Initial Review, 0 Miles on Tires
March 07, 2012

I have been looking to put some tires on my truck but i have not decided yet but I have had the Firestone R4S on my other truck and they where a good all around tire on my 1994 chevy k1500 4x4. Also tried the Firestone AT had good handling with both. Firestone should have kept both and corrected the so called caseing problem. As for the person who said his tires where smoking after a long haul probably had too much weight on axle aka overloaded are draging brakes that heated everything up. I drive a 18 wheeler and yes tires do get hot but not smoking unless brakes or draging. As for all the cracks in sidewalls a deeler showed me 4 tires they tested 2 where left alone 2 had tire treatments to sidewalls guess what, the ones being treated had cracks!!! I have had other tires brands but after seeing how much weight it took to ballance the tire made me wish i had stayed with Firestone. after all when you can drive a pickup your dad gave you with 37000 miles on it at 8+ years on the r4s when i got it. and it had over 1/2 the tread left. So yes I will be buying Firestones this Summer to go on truck that i just got.

Initial Review, 1000 Miles on Tires
December 28, 2011

I LOVE THESE TIRES. I live in Montreal, Canada and needed a good snow and ice tire, but didn't want to give up on looks for my lifted Eddie Bauer Explorer. Looks wise these tires can't be beat in their category. They have a very aggressive tread pattern with a mean looking sidewall. They totally changed the attitude of my truck and I get many compliments on them. They just scream get out of the way. They could almost pass themselves off as a pure mud tire just on looks, but work fantastically in everyday driving situations. Performance wise I am beyond satisfied. I was a little nervous about using such a big, wide tire in snowy and icy conditions but believe me, that worrying was for nothing. The first week I had them they were put to the test. We got hit with freezing rain the day I installed them and the roads were like a skating rink. Highways were closed and cars were in ditches. I took my truck out to see how they would do and I was amazed. I goosed it down a few streets and stomped on the brakes. They just clawed at the ice and stopped me quickly every time, straight as an arrow. In turns you could feel them grabbing. I knew that the rear end wanted to come loose, but the Duratracs would have none of it and kept me in line every time, even when pushed hard. Christmas day was the next test. We had a lot of driving to do, both city and highway. It snowed all day and the tires simply ate it up. They love snow and slush and the traction was flawless. I never once felt them slip. My dad described the drive home in his car as scary as --------. I described mine as a walk in the park. On dry pavement they are surprisingly quiet for such an aggressive tire. You can hear them just enough to remind you that you're riding on some serious rubber, and I like that. The final question will be to see how they endure. They're still fairly new for me so I can't comment on the tread life, but if it matches the rest of the tire's performance I'll be happy. BUY THESE TIRES.

Initial Review, 1000 Miles on Tires
January 01, 2012

I purchased these tires after reading a number of very positive reviews on tirerack. So far, I have to agree with all of them. It is like my truck is brand new again! The ride is very comfortable, handling is better than the original tires, and I immediately noticed much improved braking (literally better than ever). The one thing that I would add to the other reviews is that the tires not only drive great, but they look great as well!! They made my truck look even better. And thank you Continental for offering a tire in BOTH blackwall and white lettering!! Most other tires in this class only have white letter tires, which I didn't want. Even if the letters were turned in, my truck is tall enough that they'd be seen. Continental truely thought of everything and came out with a GREAT product. Buy these tires!!!