Brad the tires that sploded were the fault of the drivers and FORD! Them tires were sorely under inflated. Their death was from accumulated heat build up. Back in those days I had many sets of the same tires and kept them properly inflated...without any problems.
As a result of all that happened at the time folks are now more aware of their tire pressure than before.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />
I got to disagree with you there, those tires are not to be trusted. Those wilderness A/T's were built to ford specs for a bulk order and they were underbuilt.
I have seen many of the wilderness a/t's come apart at the sidewall under very mild mannered conditions on lighter vehicles (rangers & such) that are strictly used on the highway with proper pressures and rotation done every 6K.
I was a service writer at a ford/jeep/dodge dealership when this whole fiasco happened.
just becuase it hasn't happened to you [color:"red"] [/color] , does not mean it won't happen!
I have been very impressed with the offerings from Pro-Comp lately. I have a set of their X-Treme M/T's on my 05 Silverado Z-71 and they are actually quiet for what I expected, and a 50K mile tread life is always nice too!
BJ is part right,and gettin is part right. the whole story is that firestone made the wilderness ats and told ford that they would be fine with 26 psi, and ford belived them. now tell me why would a vehicle that has been running 35 psi all the sudden just require 26? Ford and firestone nearly had another fiasco. with the steeltecs. they had under rated tires on the excursion, or the expedition. whichever one is the competition for the suburban. the tires that was put on the one tons was d rated when they needed to be e rated, to little air pressure again. I worked for firestone long enough to see what kind of product they make and learn that i will never own a firestone or bridgestone.
As for your tires i would definatly have the front end checked out first, tires are way too expensive to ruin by a 20 dollar part.Once that checks out its on to the tires. I would reccomend michelin but they are way expensive but you do get what you payfor. Goodyear makes 3 tires i higly reccomend the fortura triple tread , the wrangler silent armor,and the rt/s. they are all excellant in wet/dry conditions. The highest would be the silent armors and triple treads those are the only truck tires that I am aware of that is rated for 60k plus snowy/icy conditions. when i say snowy /icy conditions i mean they are rated to be used in severe conditions like a snow tire,but they are all season. the silent armor has an agressive tread while the triple tread has directional tread thats agressive but not as much so. they are cheaper than the michelins but just as good. The rt/s is just a really good all season tire.
Cooper also makes a good tire called the didcoverer h/t long tread life plus all season traction.The best I can tell you is look up these tires and any others mentioned or that you think of and compare them on consumer reports and so on.
