Best drive tires, other than Michelin?

Hate to say it but, I put a lot of miles on a set of Hankook drive tires from S. Korea. They wore good and rode good.

 

Yup they were surprisingly decent, but unfortunately made in China. There was 8 on the truck, 4 went like 250k and can probably still go more on a trailer. On the other 4, I lost one to a blowout at around 100k and was able to get a fair price for the other 3, so I replaced them all with 4 Bridgestones. But I get ridiculous discounts on Bridgestone, basically half the retail price. No reason to go with anything else at that price.

 

Have the 208 and balancers on the 93 with fs591 for steers. Took a bit for the ironmans to settle down but all 8 are wearing like iron. I'd buy em again. Think we paid just under 2k for 8.

Cooper roadmasters on the other truck that are wearing good too

 

I'm having really good luck with Falken drives these days. BI830 maybe?

@slow.rider, I agree with you on 'cheap China' but if you write everything made in China off you aren't going to have anything. Some of the best products out there, including lots you don't know about, are made there. People don't like to hear it but it's true. I'll go on reputation and reviews before I worry about where they were made. China will make whatever we pay them to make, top notch or junk, it's just that the vast majority of people just want the cheapest, so they get the junk, so entire continents get a bad wrap.

 

I didn't say I write it all off. I said I try to avoid it when possible. And you might be surprised at how often it's possible. For example, tires.

It's not about the quality. It's about the slavery. I try to avoid supporting slavery when I can. And it's not about the continent either. For example, Bridgestone is Japanese. Same continent as China, but I'll buy Japanese because they don't have slavery. Plus they're actually made in USA.

 

I'm with you, amigo. We've got a lot of slavery here too, though, basically. Lease purchase ops are basically modern sharecroppers. Anyway, I know what you mean and I agree, I don't like it either.

 

I like Bridgestones, But too expensive Firestone’s a better value, Yoko makes a good drive. Don’t care for their steers. Continentals are good, only had 1 set years ago. Made by General. Nice tire. It’s all opinion, and prior experience I guess. I’ve had good results from Chinese drives, honestly. For 1/2 price, they wear 80% . Since they all seem to dry rot on me, before wearing out. I’d just assume buy the Chinese Luggers, and replace them sooner. I’ve had Bridgestones blow sidewalls just like Chinese. But I’ve only bought 1 set of new drives in 12 yrs. Been running old steers, and occasionally some nice used Luggers, I get for $200 each. Plan on buying a set this fall though, nothing beats good drives in winter. The ones I avoid are Goodyear and Goodrich. Never liked them. I’d sure like to get another set of Continentals, but probably get Chinese, for $2200, or Firestone’s, if I can get a decent deal. $3000.For some reason my drives last a lot longer than average, from what I read. I got 400k+ from the Continentals, by far the best drive I’ve ever had. Might be wrong, that was almost 20 yrs ago.

 

HANKOOK DL12

 

I've had a really good experience with Bandage recaps.

 

Lease purchase operators have a choice, no one forcing them to do it. Poor choice for comparison.