Truck Suspension

Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires
April 07, 2013

I have always prefered a Michelin tire, and have had great service from them over the years. The prices are high, and I have wondered if part of that is paying for the name? A few years ago, we purchased a new truck with General tires on it, and the tires performed flawlessly. In fact those 11 year-old Generals were are currently on a farm trailer, and show no signs of dry rot, or other problems. After much thought, I decided to give these Generals a try. These tires are very quiet and smooth. They have great resistance to hydroplaning, which is a feature that I like a lot. The tires are not great in the snow, but than a V-8 powered RWD car is not so great in the snow either. I have a designated AWD winter vehicle, so winter traction does not matter to me. We live in the mountains with lots of winding roads, and tires get punished around here. I have the car set up with a stiff aftermarket suspension, so it rides harsh and corners like a sports car. The car no longer handles like a traditional Crown Victoria. Infact this car has seen an AutoCross track more then once... The OE tires where very soft and the car had a tendency to oversteer with them on it. These tires take the curves very well. So far they have passed the test. I plan to purchase three more sets, one for my wife's Crown Vic, and two sets for our two vintage Pontiac Trans AM show cars. For the price, nothing else compares. General seems to have hit the mark!

Initial Review, 42,000 Miles on Tires
March 14, 2013

Our Touareg came with 255/60-17 tires from Dunlop. They were throw-aways well before 20K miles. The corners wore off quickly and they became very noisy. This is with the tires inflated to their maximum suggested cold pressure. The replacements were the same size, but from Goodyear. They, too wore the corners off in about 20K to 25K miles and became noisy. Again tire pressure was maintained at the top end of the cold pressure range. The third set was yet another manufacturer and the same size. Same story.

So, for tire set #4, I went to the alternate size 235/65-17 and bought the Generals. It was my guess that the wear problem was suspension related relative to the tire width. These narrower profile tires were better in snow, wet and hard pack/ice. They handled just fine on a 5000 pound truck, but not quite as responsive as the wider, lower profile tire. They've been more than acceptable for towing (5000# fully loaded car trailer) and fine for City/Highway driving. Further, they've been far more comfortable and quiet throughout the 40+K miles so far.

We've gotten more than twice the milage out of these Generals than we got out of any of the previous tires. The product is excellent, but the change in tire profile is what has saved these tires. They aren't as wide and haven't sheered off the corners at all. Treadwear across the entire face is very uniform.

So, if you own a Touareg and are fed up with tire wear, noise and harsh ride, consider going to the taller, narrower profile. There's not much downside and the improvement is very good. Further, the speedometer is spot-on accurate with these tires compared to the original lower profiles. I gave the Altimax Generals mostly 9s with a couple of 8s and 10s. These have by far been the best tires yet in about 120K miles of driving. They probably will see us through the Summer and Fall, but will be replaced before next Winter.

Initial Review, 38,000 Miles on Tires
February 21, 2013

Came standard on my King Ranch - very familiar with Pirelli, we have Pirelli tires on 3 fine German automobiles, including their respective sets of winter tires. These are quiet and smooth, even at highway speeds. Handling is superb in the dry and still pretty good in the wet. Sure they spin now and again when you pull away from a standstill in the wet, but it's a truck, with a suspension that has to cover a pretty wide range of loads. They do a pretty good job of handling everything from dry pavement to ice and snow, winter tires would be better in ice and snow, performance tire better on dry pavement, but they're a pretty good compromise, performing well across the spectrum. I'm used to changing my P Zeros at 10 to 15,000 miles, so I'm delighted these are only partially worn at 38,000 miles. They're coming on for 4 years old, I might need to replace them before they wear much more, mainly because of the rubber aging and hardening. I'm a big believer in sticking with the brand that the OEM fitted, so I'll replace them with the same.

Initial Review, 11,400 Miles on Tires
January 05, 2013

These tires have never ridden very well. There's a slight shimmy at 70+ MPH. I've had them rebalanced several times, and inspected, they tell me there's nothing wrong with them. I had the GM dealer replace the two front wheel bearings, inspect the suspension, no issues. The truck has only 47,000 miles on it. I won't buy these again, and may replace them before they wear out.

Initial Review, 800 Miles on Tires
September 26, 2010

I wouldn't normally post a review until I had put more miles on a set of tires, but thought I would in case there's anyone else out there like me not wanting to spend a fortune on tires but still wanting good handling. Frankly, Firestone would have been the last brand I would normally have bought due to my perception that the company has had too many quality problems, but I honestly don't know if that's accurate or not. At any rate, being in a low budget mode right now I went for these due to the incredible price, the outstanding reviews by owners on this site, and with winter coming up. The reviews are what convinced me. Living in middle Tennessee we don't get the serious snows like in other parts of the country, but last year we got several that were pretty heavy for our area and with some serious ice a couple of times. Nice to know reviewers rank these very high for that type driving in case we get some this year. The tread on these is very deep and aggressive, and look great on the truck in the blackwall. A little squirm when cornering but to be expected on a new tire with deep tread. Rain handling is awesome. They do have a little highway hum, to be expected with a winter tire, but I have a louder than stock exhaust so who cares? The ride quality is pretty good, and this truck has a pretty stiff suspension. They make them in an LT (light truck) 10-ply model, but I got the passenger rated ones since I don't haul much or tow anything. And if anyone is considering going one size wider than the stock 255-70/17's on a 2007 F-150, the 265-70/17's I bought fit fine and with plenty of clearance at the rear shocks and the front suspension arms, and a very minor amount taller. I'll come back and do a follow-up after more miles and more weather. (If you're going to order from these guys, check out Spencer at extension 690, a really professional guy . Got the order right and to me in two days.)

Initial Review, 50,000 Miles on Tires
October 30, 2012

LOUD NOISE WARNING!

I loved these tires when I first got them, in fact I bought another set for our other car. They gave good traction and were quiet, but after 30,000 miles they have become so loud that I can't stand driving my car. I rotate my tires and have no suspension problems. I first thought my wheel bearings were going bad, I had them checked and they were fine.

If you read the reviews here, you will see that as these tires wear they become very noisy (like a large truck).
I will have to replace these tires before they are half worn! I will not buy again.

Initial Review, 50,000 Miles on Tires
October 04, 2012

On the advice of several friends who run them, I purchased a set of these tires 285-70R-17 for my 2002 Ford 150. The above ratings are based on my experience these tires at 50,000 miles and with a variety of other AT and Mud Tires.

Folks these are rocks star mud tires that can handle highway driving without being too obnoxious. They are not formula 1 tires but they are predictable on-road...I have no complaints regarding their on-road performance.
Off-road is where they shine... On at least 3 occasions, I have driven across fields, stopped and backed up to other trucks that were stuck before putting my truck in 4wd and pulling them out. (Yes I was showing off and yes I couldn't resist coating their trucks in a rooster tail of mud... at least one of these trucks now runs the same tires.) I have driven thru wet woods cutting deep ruts, hitting stumps and loaded with firewood countless times and driven thru snow dragging the undercarriage. I am still amazed at the difference in off-road permformance vs AT tires.

They will last if you rotate them and have good shocks and tight suspension/linkage...50,000 miles with half tread is pretty common. Be warned...Ignore rotations and maintenance and irregular wear will occur.

Initial Review, 30,000 Miles on Tires
July 31, 2012

I've had these tires for 2yrs and they are about due for new ones. I personally like the tires, but the ride is not great for my truck. This could be a truck issue. I have not tried other tires to check and see though. Have driven a truck like mine but 4x4 stock, but with bf goodrich tires and the ride is 100xs better than my truck, could be 4x4 suspension is more heavy duty, I dont know though. Also, pulling a 23' malibu ski boat out of a semi steep boat ramp, the tires would not grip well and spin. I havent been in snow or ice and in rain traction is not great, but is good. The price is great and wear isn't terrible for the price!

Initial Review, 300 Miles on Tires
June 27, 2012

2001 Camaro SS
Performance Springs, Koni Shocks & Struts, Performance Tubular Lower Control Arms, Performance Tubular Panhard bar, 35mm Front Sway Bars/22mm Rear sway bar, Subframe connectors.

My suspension is tuned for corner carving performance and these tires are TERRIBLE! It felt as I was driving an old land boat! My stock truck felt safer than my car. These tires felt dangerous to drive on in corners and any speed on the highway. Enroute to work I take a curve at 85mph safely with good tires and I could barely drive 60mph with these on the same curve.

The size is 275/40 17 on my car. Different size tires might have a better performance.

Road noise is virtually not there. Didn't drive in snow or rain.

These do have a 30 day return policy which I took advantage of.

Good luck in choosing the correct tire.

Initial Review, 6,000 Miles on Tires
July 05, 2012

I replaced a NEW set of Continental DWS tires as I had the feeling that they were just a bit to soft for the suspension set-up on the Mazda3 GT which for anybody out there that dosent know Mazda -this suspension is very very firm .in 2010 it was revised to be more ameniable to regular driving yet still has its roots in a performance setup .
Given that the DWS are great tires but fro the right car/ and proabably Truck/ Minivan even better . They were all-around dry-wet-snow hence DWS so I saw that Bridgestone had a new tire the S-04 and the metamorphisis was immediatly noticeable and I cringed while waiting to hit my first road imperfection or pothole because the car is unforgiving with performance tires , alas --I hit road damage and it ate it up without a jarring hit as if I had rolled over a small grenade . My pervious experience with some Yokos that were very hard gave me to blowouts from pothole hits while relatively new ......but these S-04s have been prerforming far beyond my expectations ---gripping like a cat in panic mode and forgiving enough to let you drive in urban enviroments without constant fear of that imminent pothole from -------- that leaves you wondering how much damage that did to the bushings , alignment or tires? These hold like glue and make me pine to get out and just drive even to work ---It makes the car handle like I believe it was engineered to by the Mazda techs . Many may laugh that have thier "bmws" or audis or other cars that people just assume are the best handling cars out there , but those that know Mazda know what I talking about .
I had a chase thru a nasty set of chacanes near the ocean with a Lambo G and the guy could not shake me as he clearly forced me to yield and let him pass as I did --but he never got away from me til we hit the straights where the extra 450hp made the diffirence ,,,but in the twistys he was sweating bullets in amazment or shock ? great tires.

Initial Review, 99,999 Miles on Tires
May 11, 2012

Tire very quiet for off-road tire. Excellent handling tire (Beefed-up suspension on Tundra). Highway and around town handling is great. They got me through the snow/ice in Sequoia, sandy beaches in Mexico and off roads in Arizona, Baja California, Utah and Southern California; I broke tires in for first 500 miles as recommended. Rotated and checked pressure regularly, I think this has paid off (very important). I've put them through some fairly aggressive driving and tires have handled extremely well. Truck drives and handles like a dream with these tires! If you have the money, buy these tires. Highly recommend. Tundra has153K and tires 107K!!! I am replacing with the same tires.

Initial Review, 50,000 Miles on Tires
May 14, 2012

These were great overall. My truck only has 15 inch wheels so the profile is a bit tall, despite this the steering on curvy highways felt very sharp and controlled. Off road, they never let me down, even in deep mud or on steep hills. In snow they did well, and I never felt hydroplaning until the tread got pretty low. My only complaint about ride comfort is that in very cold weather I felt a bit of vibration, though this could also be the bushings in the suspension. Aside from that they are pretty smooth as far as off road tires go. I've put about 50,000 miles on them so far and still have some to go, probably going with these again.

Initial Review, 6000 Miles on Tires
January 05, 2012

Unfortunately, the truck these tires were put on was totaled in an accident less than 9 months after getting the tires. But, they performed well in the short time they were in service, excellent snow and wet traction! Low noise for an all terrain tire - major surprise. Bottom line: even though my Ranger was 2wd, it had 4wd suspension and ride height and performed better with these tires than with even the OEM Firestone tires!