help me decide which drive tires to buy.

i was looking at the same issue .....saw wingfoot with kdas for 3000 out the door ....my michelin dealer did the xda2 23 ie energy treadpattern for 2400 plus another 100 for balance beads ...should get 450 back on my casings in a few weeks .....haven;t put em on the road yet but i did notice just running from my shop to my tire guy and back to the shop they seemed a little quieter but maybe after just righting the check i am hoping too much and those geos scare me you should be able to get yokos for those prices i think

 

Why do you need lugs?

 

Along with tread design and cost, also take a look at rolling resistance numbers. A very high rolling resistance can cost you more in fuel than you saved in buying the tire. Take a look at http://www.michelintruck.com/michelintruck/toolbox/FuelSavcalculator.jsp and plug in tires you are looking at to see what the rolling resistance is and how they compare. I plugged in the Toyo m567 you mentioned and the have a pretty good rolling resistance. Better than most.

As for using caps, I have used Michelin custom mold caps in the past with very good results. I have found if you run the recommended pressure for the casing that the maker recommends for what you are doing, and are meticulous about watching the pressures, you will cut any risk on using caps substantially. And I have found that having them checked for "round" after installed on a wheel, and checking balance and rejecting any cap that has excessive balance issues will cut your problems to almost nothing. You have to do your due diligence with caps. You can't just throw them on and forget them. But they can save a grip of money.

 

I love my bandag RECAPS......been running them for years..

 

I'll throw this into the mix.

I am looking for HARD numbers in fuel mileage to go with it. Folks I have talked to so far are giving me identical fuel mileages for the various tires so I haven't felt compelled to put that into the service life cost of the tire as well.

These are the tires I am considering this year for my truck.

The BIGGEST effect I am seeing people are dealing with in fuel mileage is wind. Something none of us can control.

 

### long ### the air pressue is 120 psi. a good recap like bandag will not separate.

 

I am sure that ''virgin tires'' are much better.But i am a cheap a-zz and like my bandags..I check them 2 times a week and keep that air pressure up..

 

I see more virgin tires separated on the road than recaps.

 

How is it the folks buy tires know more than the folks who make them? I have heard a lot of this "run 120 lb" stuff and it does work... sometimes. The manufacturers have recommended pressures for a reason. They have put the tire thru it's paces and know what works best for the load and the tire. I have had exceptional results, on recaps or virgin, following the manufacturer recommendation. It is argued, somewhat logically, that running the higher pressure saves fuel. But, it also does not allow the tire to flex as it should when it encounters road debris, pot holes, etc and can do damage to the internal portions of the tire. And a "harder" tire run with these higher inflations lose some of their stopping power. Usually not a problem until that soccer mom with a van full of kids pulls out in front of you and you have to lock it down. It is a balancing act. I will side towards those that have put a lot of money into development and making the tires that they might just know a little more than we do out here on what works best for their tire.