Drive Tires?

[pigrider]

I am looking to buying some Dunlop or Kellys for my drives! Does anyone have any comments or helpful tips on those two? And do lug (I think that is how it's pronounced) tires last longer than straight drive tires?

Thanks

[allan5oh]

I'd be much more worried about rolling resistance then buying price or how long they last.

[lowrange]

I'd be much more worried about rolling resistance then buying price or how long they last.

:idea:

Times have changed. I wouldn't consider deep lug tires at $4.50/gal fuel. I'd probably go with something like Bridgestone's all position tire. Deep lugs = cabovers.

[GMAN]

If all your driving is on the road, then you could use either. The lugs come in handy when you are in snow or off the road, such as some construction sites.

I like the Dunlop tires. I had good service out of them. I had one set of Kelly's on one of my tractors. 9 out of 10 cracked in the side wall. Kelly would not stand behind the tires, so I will not buy Kelly tires. That was my one and only set.

[kelgar50]

Im running a set of Kelly KDA 295/75-22.5's on my truck and have about 350,000 trouble free miles on them and still have 12/32nds of tread left on them dragging a stepdeck behind me.

[GMAN]

The closed sides are supposed to get better fuel mileage than the lugs. I would buy tires for your application. If you visit construction sites fairly often or get in a lot of snow in winter, I would probably go with the lugs. I use lugs on my trucks. I don't get off the road often but when I do I think that I get better traction with the lugs. I used to haul a lot of stone out of a quarry. It was usually muddy when it rained. I don't think the fuel savings would be significantly higher with the closed sides. I would be interested in seeing a comparison. Of course, with fuel closing in or surpassing $5/gallon, 1/4 mpg could add up.

[allan5oh]

GMAN, here's a link for you:

http://www.michelintruck.com/micheli...calculator.jsp

Just punch in two different sets of tires, and voila, it does the math for you.

Some situations can save thousands a year with just a drive tire change.

[heavyhaulerss]

Deep lugs = cabovers.

my cabover has always been very good on m.p.g. 6.25-7.00 m.p.g I had the kelly kda lugs at one time. lasted 305,000 mi. had hiwy tread also. they gave me slightly bettter m.p.g. but did not last as long as the kelly's & they appeared to wear more even. I too had one blow a side wall, but was not sure if it was tire defect or something else. I think a good compromise is a all position tire.


some tires will last a long time, some will give a better ride, others wll have less rolling resistance, e.t.c. At one time I had kelly on my steers when it was time to get new ones I asked tire shop about the best steer tire choice. they would not reccommend kelly & offered me b.f. goodrich, but the b.f's cost $150.00 more per tire.


I asked if there is that much of a good difference to justify the higher price. he sais yes. so I took his advice. THE difference was like night & day. the b.f's rode so much better. It was unbelievable. not only did the b.f's last longer but it made my cabover ride almost like a conventional. best extra $$$ I ever spent on steer tires. I used to run i-65 thru ky. and back then if you rode the right lane north or south bound it was real rough. thats where my test ride came in when the b.f's were on.


I also figured this helped a whole lot in areas that I never considered when buying tires. like........ all that former rough riding & bouncing caused my air tank bracket to break, loosened all kinds of things like, lights, wires, bulbs, more things would have to be retightened more often & checked with the kelly tires. ooo... for me it's more than just price, rolling resistance, e.t.c..

[Chiefwhatdahey]

I have 302,000 on my KDA's there's 10 to 12/32nds left on em, I had one sidewall zipper with no warranty problem in the first month after that I've had no problems. I also go 'offroad' but absolutely don't go where road trucks don't belong so the issue of getting stuck is moot. I wouldn't run steers or all positions for the simple fact that I stay in the northern tier mostly year round and wouldn't trust a straight rib in snow.