Need Tires - Suggestions Please

9

96Mystic

Member
The Lightning is in need of tires. I use the truck as a daily driver, but it's main function in life is to tow my Open Track Whore around the country. I went to the Tire Rack and noted they no longer stock the OEM treads. For my application (i.e. a reliable tow truck), could someone suggest an appropriate tire.

Thanks in advance.
 
If you want some pretty decent tires and are mainly towing with the truck, not like corner carving or anything, I'd recommend the Goodyear Eagle GT II's. Decent and cheap priced. Good dry grip (not as well as a Z rated of course) and actually pretty good wet grip, too. You can get them for like $70 some dollars a tire from the tirerack. I got mine from a local tire dealer here for $100/tire mounted and balanced. I want to say tirerack's price is around $73 or so per tire (before shipping).

BTW, nice garage ya got there. 2 SVT's must be nice.
 
I have the Bridgestone Dueler HTS's and I'm pleased with them. They are wearing well with excellent dry and wet weather grip. They have a directional treadpattern with a fairly wide lug. They don't give them away though. It all depends on your funds, but I'm pleased with these so far and I've got about 23k on them at present. A pretty clean looking sidewall too.

Chris
 
I have to agree with MO351,..........You can't beat the Good-Year Eagle GT II's for the price! You get a lot for your money, granted they're not the best out there, But DEFFINITELY the best bang for your buck!

I have them on mine and have close to 25k on them,.......still a lot of tread left and a heck of a lot better (at least in the rain) than the OE Firestones IMO !
 
The GTII's are a pretty good tire. Only thing I towed on them was the 17ft camper, I had it up to 75 and it didn't sway or anything. I need new tires for my L too, I'm eather going with Nitto555's or BFG Comp TA's. For my drag tires I'm getting a set of 275/50/15 Nitto555R's
 
I have the GTII's I like them I have about 33k on them front 50% back 40% tread last 10k have had blower on but they are still lasting pretty good:D
 
I just bought falken 275-50-17 for christmas,from the tire rack.these tires look great on our lightnings,they make it look more like a high performance vehicle.just a little lower profile,and a little wider too.tread design is really neat.it handles a whole lot better ,great in rain and great traction,plus its 420aa rated.But they cost a little more than gt2,they are worth it.
 
Thanks for all the replys so far - you guys are great.

Cost is not a concern to me. I am more interested in the performance of the tire and it's ability to carry a load. If I remember right, the only reason the Lightning was rated lower in towing load than a normal F-150 was because of the tires (?). I use a weight distributing hitch, but I am still concerned about the tires.
 
I bought the falken tires as well. I had sears price match tire direct. This way I got the lifetime balance and road hazard. The good thing about these is they are rated to carry a load and still maintain the sport tire design. The model is the falken zexs01. Check them out on tire direct.
 
I have the BFG's on mine. I heard they have better life than the goodyears but never ran them myself. 110 from discounttiredirect.com last year. feel just fine in the rain and snow. should tow the same as the firestones.
 
not even close. You will have to print the add from discount tire. You should have two papers. One of the price of the tires. And one of the shipping on the tires. The price I got was $106X4. Should be right around $600. I got mine for $515 because my gf works there.
 
Hey Nate i was going to get the nittos too,but the tread wear is only 300,the guy at tire rack told me they will only give you 25 to 30 thousand miles tops.were as the falkens will give you 45 to50 thousand.for the price they charge for these tires i had to go with the longer lasting tires.hope this helps you.It might have been higher on the falkens,i just remember it was alot more miles for the falkens.
 
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I Hate GOODYEAR tires :mad: , BUT, the ones that are on my truck haven't been bad at all. No cupping, noise, and other things that I have had happen with past goodyears. I even towed a 8500lb backhoe & trailer combo with those tires and lived to tell about it.

Tire Rack has them for about $70 so if money is a issue......
 
Yeah I seen that tread wear rating lastnight after I posted that. Then on www.victoriatire.com I found they do have the Falkins in 275/60/17. I'm thinking of maybe going with 275/60 for the rear and 275/50 for the front, MAYBE. What I also seen on there site some of you guys might be interested in. They have this chrome wheel exchange, if you want your stock rims chromed check it out.
 
You do know that these tires are directional dont you.they only spin one way,so you wont be able to rotate your tires for maxium wear.with two different sizes.I bought 275-50-17 all around they look real good.
 
Billssvt, Do the 275/50/17 look good??Is your truck lowered any??I would like to drop mine 1' in the front and 2' in the rear.The 275/50's would still fit right??Is there any way I can tell if my truck has been lowered any before I try to do it?
 
The tires i got look awsome,it does lower the truck alittle.Ilike mine the way it sets ,you could lower it like you want,and they will fit.
 
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