[Noxian]

Wow that is a amazing looking tire.

[Mesaduskh1]

I purchased a set of these Last Sunday. I went with the 265/75 R16s. They ride very smooth and are not very noisy. I had them mounted with the white letters inward. I put about 150 miles on them that afternoon and was very pleased. It poured down rain a few times and they preformed well on the wet roads. I'm very happy with the tires so far. I ordered a RC lift this morning to compensate for the larger size tire. I will try to post some pictures this afternoon or tomorrow.

[CB3]

Originally Posted by Fargo

Where did you get the Territory tire? Is it another WalMart tire? I have a feeling the Duratrac, Authority and Territory are all built on the same carcus. Personally I like the looks of the Authority the best followed by the duratrac then the Territory. But since I didn't see the mountain and snowflake symbol on the Authority that puts the Duratrac at the top of my list.

I agree that the snowflake symbol is important for a couple reasons. One is that it tells you the rubber compound is grippy enough to be suitable for winter traction, and if traveling on any major freeway though the mountains, the state patrol won't let you pass unless you have a winter traction device (when the S-Patrol deems conditions warrant that). That means you must have either chains, studs, or a tire with the snowflake.

The snowflake is my preferred way to go. Then I don't have to fool with chains, can run a larger tire (since don't have to care about chain clearance), and only have to own one set of rims and tires.

[CB3]

Originally Posted by Fargo

Wow that looks like 3 new Goodyear hybrids in a couple of months time. What are they just throwing new tires out there now to see what sticks?

Actually, I think it's 4 new Goodyear hybrids, if you count the new Kevlar MTR. I think it should count as a hybrid because half it's center treads are AT design, and the rest of center and outer treads look MT to me, and it has silica in the rubber to increase grip on wet pavement, ice, and hardpacked snow. So the new K-MTR has a lot of hybrid features IMO. I think I'd call the K-MTR the most aggressive hybrid, and the Duratrac the second most aggressive.

Of these new GY hybrids, the Wrangler Territory is my personal favorite (so far) based on looks of treads and sipes. Though I like them all.

However, what are the size availabilities of each? Limited size availability has always been a downfall of hybrid tires offered by various Cooper subsidiaries, Dunlop, and Parnelli Jones. Will Goodyear do better and offer more sizes? I hope so.

Ideally, I'd like to see hybrids offered in 32 X 10.5 R15, 33 X 10.5 R15, and 33 X 9.5 R15 which I think are the best DD sizes. I hope at least we'll get them in 33 X 10.5 R15 since that's the DD size that covers the widest variety of 1/2 ton 4X4s, terrains, and climates. IMO

[CB3]

Over the last year I have lobbied Dunlop, and Cooper and some Cooper subsidiaries, to offer more sizes of their hybrids. I also lobbied BFG to make hybrids. But all those seem to have ignored me.

I did not lobby Goodyear at all (except indirectly via Dunlop), but GY is the one making new hybrids. Hmm. Well, however/whoever, I'd glad. Now please GY, give us a good size selection.

[Crockett]

from everything i have herd i would not buy this tire. i read an article that said arond 86% of the name brand things in wallmart were not made by the brand name instead walmart purchased the rights to the name and produced them itself for cheaper and goodyear tires were on that list.

[Posers]

Originally Posted by Crockett

from everything i have herd i would not buy this tire. i read an article that said arond 86% of the name brand things in wallmart were not made by the brand name instead walmart purchased the rights to the name and produced them itself for cheaper and goodyear tires were on that list.

Interesting.

[Mediarocker]

The goodyear Authority is 207 bucks here. I'm pretty sure its NOT a cheaper tire. I managed to actually handle one.. and its Thick and heavy. Just the lugs are too hard for my liking.. again.. gotta properly break em in... my BFG AT/s seem to have better grip than the authority's..

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by Crockett

from everything i have herd i would not buy this tire. i read an article that said arond 86% of the name brand things in wallmart were not made by the brand name instead walmart purchased the rights to the name and produced them itself for cheaper and goodyear tires were on that list.

I would like to read that article. That just doesn't sound quite right. First off I have a hard time believing that a company like Goodyear would sell their name to someone like WalMart knowing they are going to use it to brand a cheap or inferior tire. Most large corporations like Goodyear will go to great lengths to protect their name, image, and trademarks. Goodyear would really be shooting themselves in the foot if they intentionally let their name be put on some cheap Chinese made tire (for example). Secondly, what tire producing facilities does Wal-Mart own that could produce the tires. None that I am aware of. I believe all their tires are produced by a major manufacturer. Even if they are re-branded for the store. So what sense would it make for Goodyear to sell their name to WalMart and then WalMart has someone else build a garbage tire using the Goodyear name? That just wouldn't make sense on the part of Goodyear.

Now if Goodyear themselves made a special tire just for Wal-Mart stores that would make sense. They still have control of their name and the quality of the product that is wearing it. (Although they can still make it inferior in quality to other tires if they choose.) Because WalMart is a large volume purchaser they can also give them a discount and let WalMart deal with all the storage and distribution overhead. Now that makes sense.

If you look at the tires in WalMart you will also see that they still carry the ORIGINAL Wrangler tire. I believe its the same tread as the first Wrangler tire that came out in the early 80's or so. WalMart is the only place I have seen that still carries that tire. But who actually builds it I don't know.

I guess its possible that someone else is building the Goodyear tires for Goodyear to be sold by WalMart, but I really have a hard time believing that Goodyear would allow someone else to build a tire with their name on it. But even if they did, it is still a Goodyear tire because Goodyear is the one controlling the rights to the name. If that is the case it is a business decision by Goodyear to soil their name, with a cheap product not Wal-Mart. Wal-mart is simply the distributor. If Goodyear is doing this with one of their tires then they are doing it with others too. If that is your concern I would rule out ALL Goodyear tires. Not just the tires sold by Wal-mart. However, I do agree that even if Goodyear themself is building the tire, they could produce a cheaper tire to sell at Wal-mart. But its still a Goodyear tire. And like any tire manufacturer they will have some good tires and some inferior tires.

So in a round about way, I agree it might be inferior to other Goodyear products, but it is still a Goodyear tire. They allowed their name to be put on it. They are the ones to be held accountable to it. Not the distributor.

[+Crusader+]

Originally Posted by Fargo

I would like to read that article. That just doesn't sound quite right. First off I have a hard time believing that a company like Goodyear would sell their name to someone like WalMart knowing they are going to use it to brand a cheap or inferior tire. Most large corporations like Goodyear will go to great lengths to protect their name, image, and trademarks. Goodyear would really be shooting themselves in the foot if they intentionally let their name be put on some cheap Chinese made tire (for example). Secondly, what tire producing facilities does Wal-Mart own that could produce the tires. None that I am aware of. I believe all their tires are produced by a major manufacturer. Even if they are re-branded for the store. So what sense would it make for Goodyear to sell their name to WalMart and then WalMart has someone else build a garbage tire using the Goodyear name? That just wouldn't make sense on the part of Goodyear.

Now if Goodyear themselves made a special tire just for Wal-Mart stores that would make sense. They still have control of their name and the quality of the product that is wearing it. (Although they can still make it inferior in quality to other tires if they choose.) Because WalMart is a large volume purchaser they can also give them a discount and let WalMart deal with all the storage and distribution overhead. Now that makes sense.

If you look at the tires in WalMart you will also see that they still carry the ORIGINAL Wrangler tire. I believe its the same tread as the first Wrangler tire that came out in the early 80's or so. WalMart is the only place I have seen that still carries that tire. But who actually builds it I don't know.

I guess its possible that someone else is building the Goodyear tires for Goodyear to be sold by WalMart, but I really have a hard time believing that Goodyear would allow someone else to build a tire with their name on it. But even if they did, it is still a Goodyear tire because Goodyear is the one controlling the rights to the name. If that is the case it is a business decision by Goodyear to soil their name, with a cheap product not Wal-Mart. Wal-mart is simply the distributor. If Goodyear is doing this with one of their tires then they are doing it with others too. If that is your concern I would rule out ALL Goodyear tires. Not just the tires sold by Wal-mart. However, I do agree that even if Goodyear themself is building the tire, they could produce a cheaper tire to sell at Wal-mart. But its still a Goodyear tire. And like any tire manufacturer they will have some good tires and some inferior tires.

So in a round about way, I agree it might be inferior to other Goodyear products, but it is still a Goodyear tire. They allowed their name to be put on it. They are the ones to be held accountable to it. Not the distributor.

x2

My thoughts exactly ... I'd love to read that article too.

[Destr0]

I have a set of 31X10.5 15s on my XJ - had them for a couple weeks now and they are great tires. Good looks, not too noisy but enough humm to remind you how cool your Jeep is. Good rain traction- only thing I haven't done is any trail rides yet. Will post some pics tonight- they look really good on my XJ with 4" of lift.
Best part is due to a Wally World screw up I got mine for $70 each (mounted w/ taxes for $312)- I ordered a set of GY Tracker IIs that were on clearance for $75 a tire but they accidently sold them before I came in to pick them up. The only other tires they had that size were these new ones (came in a couple days before I did- they did not even have them displayed yet) so they gave them to me at the same price, but she put it in wrong so I got them for $70 each rather than the $75 they were supposed to be!

~K

[87Feep]

I checked out a set of these. If you look at the sidewall, is says MADE IN THE USA. That's telling me these are being built by Goodyear in the US. I don't think this is part of your magical 86% of inferior products being branded with a name.

[glockster]

Originally Posted by Mediarocker

Just the lugs are too hard for my liking.. again.. gotta properly break em in... my BFG AT/s seem to have better grip than the authority's..

What exatly does that mean???

[Mediarocker]

Originally Posted by glockster

What exatly does that mean???

Well you gotta heat em up and flex em for a few miles.. Drive on the highway for about 20 minutes, then go on a back road (with not alot of traffic) and veer left and right. This flexes the sidewalls and puts pressure on the lugs, making them more pliable. Ag tires wont like it though (AFAIK you cant do it well enough in them either.)

[Fargo]

Originally Posted by Mediarocker

Well you gotta heat em up and flex em for a few miles.. Drive on the highway for about 20 minutes, then go on a back road (with not alot of traffic) and veer left and right. This flexes the sidewalls and puts pressure on the lugs, making them more pliable. Ag tires wont like it though (AFAIK you cant do it well enough in them either.)

Wouldn't normal driving for a couple of months do essentially the same thing? Or is this something that needs to be done right away? Outside of jeepforum I have never heard of people breaking in a tire.