[05Unlimited]

ttt .... anyone else on 285/75/16 Duratracs want to share your overall experiences with them? I'm getting really close to singling them out as my select tire and want to make sure I'm not making a mistake. Yes I know they're load range E, but that's a plus in one way becuase you get an extra ply on the sidewall to help alleviate the issue with failing sidewalls on the C load 2 ply tires. Anyone with E load Duratracs please chime in regardless of size, thanks.

[aircruiser]

Had load range Es on my truck, ride was a little harsher but not bad, I had em in 265/75/16 only reason I switched was to go bigger. Got some 15" wheels and 33x12.5x15 duratracs, love these tires, best A/T ive ever owned and they look bad ***

[05Unlimited]

Indeed they do, that's a big part of the appeal. FWIW I learned something new about the E-load Duratracs (correct me if I'm wrong please). Typically E-load tires are 10-ply at the tread. The E-load Duratracs are only 7-ply at the tread and 3-ply at the sidewall. This may explain how the 285/75/16 Duratrac I'm interested in only weighs in at 54 lbs (also sometimes said to be 58 lbs, but usually listed at 54) and is said to ride decently soft in spite of it's E-load rating. I would imagine 7 plys are quite a bit more flexy than 10 plys, so once you air down a tad more than you would with a C-load tire the ride shouldn't be too much harsher.

I still have some interest in other tires, including:

- Cooper STT D-loads (285/75/16) that weigh in at 56lbs (some say they may weigh more).
- Cooper AT3 E-loads (285/75/16) ....cannot obtain how much they weigh but they're shorter than the 285/75/16 Duratracs (32.5 vs 33.1).
- Mastercraft Courser C/T D-load (285/75/16) at 55lbs and stand 32.8" ...very well liked by users it seems.
- Yokohoma Geolander A/T D-load (285/75/16) at 57 lbs and very inexpensive! ....well liked tire again it seems (33.1" tall too, I like that).
- Nitto Terra Grappler D-load at 54lbs, 32.68" tall ...another well liked tire.

I have to be sure the Duratrac beats these other tiries in most respects before I settle on the 285/75/16 Duratracs, so more research is in order (lots of tread life left on my 31 x 10.50 Duratracs while I learn.

[05Unlimited]

Probably going to start shopping pretty hard for the 285/75/16 Duratrac, but I will keep the other 5 tires in the previous post in mind as I search that size.

Anyone else on 285/75/16's (any brand) who wants to comment on user experience please chime in, thanks.

[aircruiser]

Yes 7 ply sidewalls from what I have learned and the ride isnt to much worse. I have known people who run load range Es on the trails and have never had any issues. The sidewalls flex less yes but theres also more rim and less tires than if you were to do a 15. I would go for it just because I am assuming you are putting them on stock moab wheels and that will look legit!

[91BoD]

Originally Posted by aircruiser

Yes 3 ply sidewalls from what I have learned and the ride isnt to much worse. The sidewalls flex less yes but theres also more rim and less tires than if you were to do a 15.

Fixed

Also I learned toyo MTs only have 2 ply sidewalls too!
Most important thing I have learned is when there is a possibility of a sidewall puncture, AIR DOWN. The tires flexibility is it's natural defense against cuts.

[05Unlimited]

Originally Posted by aircruiser

Yes 7 ply sidewalls from what I have learned and the ride isnt to much worse. I have known people who run load range Es on the trails and have never had any issues. The sidewalls flex less yes but theres also more rim and less tires than if you were to do a 15. I would go for it just because I am assuming you are putting them on stock moab wheels and that will look legit!

I plan on using these Ion 171's ...about to order them actually (not from Q-tec though...but this is how they look):

http://www.quadratec.com/products/92616_5X0X_B_PG.htm

...my Jeep is black so that's part of the reasoning, along with light weight, 4.25" back spacing and a good deal I found.

Originally Posted by 91BoD

Fixed

Also I learned toyo MTs only have 2 ply sidewalls too!
Most important thing I have learned is when there is a possibility of a sidewall puncture, AIR DOWN. The tires flexibility is it's natural defense against cuts.

He didn't mean to say "sidewalls", the ply under the tread is 7-ply.

[aircruiser]

Whoops yes meant to say 3 ply side 7 ply tread. I have never had issues with the sidewalls getting punctured on mine and I ran them on my grand cherokee through the woods plenty of times and now theyre on my truck which I use for alot of backwoods driving.

[jeepdrummer]

Originally Posted by 05Unlimited

...my Jeep is black so that's part of the reasoning, along with light weight, 4.25" back spacing and a good deal I found.

what is this deal you speak of?

[steamnsteel]

I am running 265/75-16 E loads at 28 psi for my road travelling and they have worn very well, they see lots of gravel and fire roads and travelling along the old strip mine roads in Tennessee. I am very pleased with them and typically air down to 15 to 20 psi, I have not had any trouble with flats or chunking and they have a ton of miles on them. They get rotated by me about every 10,000 miles. Had C loads on the Sport and they worked just as well only the C loads seem to wear a little faster, this is an awesome snow tire. I will buy the e loads again.

[05Unlimited]

Originally Posted by jeepdrummer

what is this deal you speak of?

http://www.carolinaclassictrucks.com...eels-171c.html

I actually bought them through the member "Church" in here ("Ryan", from Carolina Classic Trucks). Got all four with new lugnuts shipped for $425 (little better than the link when you click on shipping estimate there). I'm only getting four because I plan to use the lightest 15 x 7 wheel I can find with a 33 x 9.50 lightweight tire as the spare. Don't know if he was B.S.n' me to get the sale but he said my set was the last left in the country lol.

Keep in mind our version of the 171 is 5-lug and has the more attractive and subtle (smaller) center cap, like the pic in Q-tec:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/92616_5X0X_B_PG.htm

[jeepdrummer]

^^ Nice man, I'm considering either those or the MT classic IIs. I would love a 15" if I can find one that will fit. Can't wait for some duras!

[torchd]

Yesterday I rotated my DuraTracs.

I bought them in October of last year and I've 11k miles on them so far and there is 15/32 of tread remaining still!!!

Sent from my iPhone using JeepForum

[85IrocZ-28]

I returned my 315x75x16 load range E Duratrac's after about 700 miles, they were the most dangerous tire I have ever driven on. 99 Grand at 6.5 inches on long arms. Up to 40mph, I loved them. Above that, they wandered all over the place. The lower the pressure (to have a good contact patch) the more they wandered.

The higher the pressure, the more they would slingshot out of corners requiring a couple of corrective steering actions.

My steering parts are all in perfect working order. I tried 25,28,30,35,40,45, and 50 psi. I tried multiple alignment settings (my bro can do it for free at his work).

The WJ was fine with the bfg at's, terrible on duratracs, and fine once again when the kevlar's went on.

I know that some of the guys on larger trucks had the same issues I had with that tire size, but I thought they would be fine on a jeep. Everyone that I know that runs them loves the duratrac, I wish they would have worked out. The MTR's are great, I like them even better than the old style I ran years ago. But they will not be as good in the winter as the Duratrac's would have been.

I think it is a combo of the load range E and tall side wall.

Sent from my HTC Android cellular device using JeepForum

[J03_TJ]

Originally Posted by 85IrocZ-28

I returned my 315x75x16 load range E Duratrac's after about 700 miles, they were the most dangerous tire I have ever driven on. 99 Grand at 6.5 inches on long arms. Up to 40mph, I loved them. Above that, they wandered all over the place. The lower the pressure (to have a good contact patch) the more they wandered.

The higher the pressure, the more they would slingshot out of corners requiring a couple of corrective steering actions.

My steering parts are all in perfect working order. I tried 25,28,30,35,40,45, and 50 psi. I tried multiple alignment settings (my bro can do it for free at his work).

The WJ was fine with the bfg at's, terrible on duratracs, and fine once again when the kevlar's went on.

I know that some of the guys on larger trucks had the same issues I had with that tire size, but I thought they would be fine on a jeep. Everyone that I know that runs them loves the duratrac, I wish they would have worked out. The MTR's are great, I like them even better than the old style I ran years ago. But they will not be as good in the winter as the Duratrac's would have been.

I think it is a combo of the load range E and tall side wall.

Sent from my HTC Android cellular device using JeepForum

I have the same tires and am now at 20 psi. I have no complaints on handling. Matter of fact they are the first set of tires I've had that balanced out nicely. I have a TJ, so maybe they require a shorter wheel base to make them handle handle nicely, joking of course. Surprised you were able to return used tires, did they give you your money back? Cool for you if they did.