So my current Michelin Cross-Terrain P255/70R16's are down to the wear bars and I'm planning on spending my tax return on new rubbers (pun intended).

First of all, when my dad got these tires, he went from P235 (stock) to P255. He says I should go back down to P235 for better gas mileage. He says I'll gain 2 mpg, but I keep laughing at him. Whats a better size? I'm looking at either getting my current Michelin P255/70R16 Cross-Terrain again (lasted me 70,000 miles) or going for a set of Pirelli P2?5/70R16 STRs (which have better asthetics, IMO)

The Michelins score higher in everything, but are listed at $146 each with the Pirellis at $98 each.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compar...&startIndex=20

What would you recommend?

 

I should also point out that all the reviews on the Michelins are great while the Scorpions are all negative. I'm leaning towards the Michelins...

 

go with the michelins if you are looking for a long lasting tire.

 

Yeah, you wouldn't gain 2 mpg. You'd be lucky to gain .5 mpg...

Go with the Michelins.

 

Okay. What about the tire size? Stick with the 255's or go down to 235's?

 

Bigger tires look better 99% of the time. Go with the 255s.

 

I guess I'm a lone voice for the Pirellis. I bought a set used with about 10K on em and I've put another 34K without a problem. The reviews all talk about them flat spotting but I've never experienced this. I keep em at 40lbs psi and love the ride and the looks. I live in LA so snow and ice is not an issue for me as it may be for some.

 

i drove around in about 6 inches of snow here in NC last week with 0 problems with the stock pirelli ATR's on mine. I even pulled some people up a hill one morning. They did great, but like everyone says, when it gets cold, they have flat spots, which takes a few minutes of driving to come out. I would almost recommend anything over the Pirelli. There is nothing that is really wrong w/ them (a lot of tires will get flat spots in cold weather - so I've heard), but IMHO you would be better off with a different brand - Michelin would be a lot better. More pricey, but honestly, for my stock 20's (which just came with the truck - I would'nt ever go out and buy 20's, I'm just not into that, *tho there's nothing wrong with it, so Im not bashing anyone*) I would be lucky to find a 33" tire for around 300. They're expensive, so if you're gonna spend the money on it, make sure you get something that fits your needs and will last!

 

Here are Consumer Reports top 4 A/T Tires from their lat test:

1. Pirelli Scorpion ATR Score 79 out of 100
2. Yokohama Geolander A/Ts Score 73
3. Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo Score 71
4. Michelin LTX A/T 2 Score 68

Good luck with your decision.

RH

 

I would definatly stick with the michelins. WE have the cross terrians on a mercedes ml320 and we have got 60,000 miles out of them and this is with a alltime 4wd vehicle. I would look at the michelin LTX M/S these are EXCELLENT TIRES and have heard people get around 80-90000 miles out of a set. My dad has the ltx on his 01 supercrew and at 48,000 miles the tires are over half tread still and they are very quite no flats or anything. At discount tire for the 255's it quoted me $617.00 out the door mounted balanced and road hazzard

 

Go with any Michelin over the Pirelli's. I've had several sets of Michelin's-LTX M/S, LTX AT'S-much better than the Pirelli's I have now.

 

go with the michelins... they will last FOREVER! I had the LTX-M/S and never got stuck, they perform well (although it was never anything ridiculous). I took them off with around 40,000 on them and they have LOTS of tread left, would make it 90,000 or so easy. Good luck man!

 

For the record, I wasnt looking at the ATRs, I was looking at the STRs. And for the Michelins, I liek the Cross-Terrains, not the LTXs...

I'm not the only one with Michelins in school and so far all I hear about them are good reviews. I've decided to go with those (in the 255s), so I'm saving up a bit and plan to buy new shocks all around and give my whole 11-year old suspension a nice do-over for once.

Other than Tire Rack, can you guys recommend a nice place that offers them any cheaper? Free shipping would be a plus

TireRack- P255/70R16 (white-lettered, to match the truck): $146.00/ea PLUS SHIPPING
DiscountTireDirect- P265/75R16 (unknown color lettering): $147/ea FREE SHIPPING

whats the difference between /70 and /75? isnt it speed or weight ratings??

 

Looking at the Cross-Terrains, they scored a 90/100 out of 68 reviews, including me

 

The /70 and /75 are your sidewall ratio height. It's the % of the first # which is your width in mm. So on a 255/70-16, first you convert the 255 from mm to inches, (255/25.4=10.4") then 70% of that, so (10.4*.7=7.28") for a tire section height of 7.28".

check out this link Tire Tech info for more information.