Tires for 25,000km road trip - suggestions?

[Grungle]

So I have a question that requires some "local" input - although I'm sure it's going to be one of those threads where everyone has a different opinion. But that's OK, at least I'll have a starting point...

I'm about to head off on a trip around North America (see here):
http://www.delica.ca/forum/grungle-s-au ... tml#p20791

We've been in the Rocky Mountains for the last 6 months and our snow tires (which have been great) aren't coming with us. We're heading back to Vancouver in a month, and while we're there we want to store the winter tires for when we return and get something a little more suited to the driving we're going to do.

My question is - what TYPE of tire should I be looking at?

With all the highway driving a pair of mud terrains are clearly out of the question.
I want something that will give me a good amount of grip in mud, will handle rocks without tearing apart, but still be quiet on the highway. Does such a tire exist? A friend recommended the BFGoodrich ATs - any comments?
We have a set of chains too, if that makes any difference.

We plan on hitting some back roads...we'l be doing a lot of camping and hiking, so we certainly wont be on sealed roads all of the time.

My other question is regarding where to get them. Do some tires over here come with a warranty? If so, I'm guessing it would be advantageous to get them fitted somewhere that has outlets in the States as well (in case we have a problem with them). Does Fountain Tire do this?

These tires are going to keep us alive for the next 6 months, and for some reason I trust you guys more than I do some bloke at a tire outlet trying to get rid of old stock...

[jessef]

#1 choice

BFG 30x9.5x15 AT KO's for highway/gravel use.

They wear well and are though as nails. They don't have the smooth ride like all season's but would be my #1 choice for a long distance on/off road trip.

Buy them from costco so you can take them into any costco along the way's to rotate/balance and replace if needed.

Jesse

[Green1]

without knowing how "off-road" you intend to get it's hard to say, All-season tires would be fine for small amounts of off-roading (it's all I've been using so far) and will give you the best highway ride. All-terrain tires would be more of a compromise towards off-roading.
In either case you don't want winter tires or mud-terrain tires, and with the unpredictable climate around here I would never recommend summer tires.

so the choice boils down to a good A/T or a good All-season tire.

[BCDelica]

Having BFG AT's has really sold them for me, they wear well. Old favorite was Michelin LTX AT's, not as mud'able as the BFGs but quieter and long wearing. IMO both are the roughest tires we've owned, the only ones that haven't flatted from gravel road running.

Both tires like frequent rotating for even tread life, consider buying from a chain like Costco and have them rotated for free at any branch. The Bellingham Costco quoted me $130 per for 30x9.5x15 BFG ATs mounted, half the price of one here. $140 for 31x10.5x15's.

[The Pinkfingers]

We just ordered BF Goodrich A/Ts for our delica. Mind you, we're not doing a 25k road trip. If you're going mostly on road, and a little bit off road, then you might be satisfied with all seasons, especially if you're carrying chains for higher altitudes. They will certainly be a smoother, comfier, quieter ride than the BFs.

The Nokian Vativa A/T are actually an all season (exact same tire as their all season), so they might be a good compromise - a tougher all season.

But if you're planning on doing a good chunk of off-roading, then BFs, for the reasons BCDelica listed. However, I think BFs don't wear chains very well (can a BF owner confirm?). Mind you, you probably won't need chains because they are very good in the snow.

[BCDelica]

The Nokian Vativa A/T are actually an all season (exact same tire as their all season), so they might be a good compromise - a tougher all season.

But if you're planning on doing a good chunk of off-roading, then BFs, for the reasons BCDelica listed. However, I think BFs don't wear chains very well (can a BF owner confirm?). Mind you, you probably won't need chains because they are very good in the snow.

From the results of our long term Delica test drive; Delica A wearing 235/75x15 Nokian AT and Delica B shod with 30x9.5x15 BFG AT. Both wear very well and as excepted each tire is better where you would assume it would be. And to answer the above question, the BFGs will wear more with chain use do to the knobby tread.

[delicat]

Costco had a good highway Michelin 30" that would fit the Delica quite well for a long road trip. (Even better, cross the border and buy/install them States side, you'll save lot's of $$$).

I'm sure you guys will go out off the beaten path once in a while but I'm even more certain that you'll cover a lot more ground on paved road. So a decent hwy truck tire will save you on fuel cost and road noise. They will do fine on dirt road and will get you out of trouble for the possible rare encounters.

It's simply a give and take thing. Give up a little on the offroad and get a lot back on civil manners for paved road...

I've done a lot of road trips with my faithfull aircooled VW's and didn't have no BFG A/T. I had hwy tires or all-seasons. I've lugged over 60 000km of road trips in the last 8 yrs. Went down to Baja on a few occasions, many time down south in the states and even more times across the country to visit my folks in Quebec. Never had a flat tire. I didn't think I'd admit to it but here's a funny story... On my last trip across Canada, on depart day I noticed a 4" nail in my rear tire. I did 5000km before getting it repaired and in the entire process only added a total of about 20lbs of air... My wife couldn't believe I knew all along when I showed her the nail!

So simply think where you'll be using most of those tires and buy accordingly...

Have a great trip!
David

[Green1]

Both wear very well and as excepted each tire is better where you would assume it would be

Nokian vs BFG... for those of us who don't know what to assume, what is better where? they're both A/T tires, and I have recently thought that I would most likely be going for either one or the other to replace my current tires, but hadn't decided which, from your experience which one does what things better?

On my last trip across Canada, on depart day I noticed a 4" nail in my rear tire. I did 5000km before getting it repaired and in the entire process only added a total of about 20lbs of air... My wife couldn't believe I knew all along when I showed her the nail!

May I recommend a tire repair kit? they're about $10 at walmart or canadian tire and handle nails and screws extremely well... easy repair, and will last the life of the tire (I've used them a few too many times....)

[delicat]

On my last trip across Canada, on depart day I noticed a 4" nail in my rear tire. I did 5000km before getting it repaired and in the entire process only added a total of about 20lbs of air... My wife couldn't believe I knew all along when I showed her the nail!

May I recommend a tire repair kit? they're about $10 at walmart or canadian tire and handle nails and screws extremely well... easy repair, and will last the life of the tire (I've used them a few too many times....)[/quote]

Even cheaper at Princess Auto but the 4" nail worked out as a great plug for the entire trip, not bad! (I do have a plug now).

Cheers,
David

[BCDelica]

Both wear very well and as excepted each tire is better where you would assume it would be

Nokian vs BFG... for those of us who don't know what to assume, what is better where? they're both A/T tires, and I have recently thought that I would most likely be going for either one or the other to replace my current tires, but hadn't decided which, from your experience which one does what things better?

The Nokian are quieter and smoother riding (stands up to chains better thou), but in these bricks, come on. They are the better ice tire. The BFG's are much better off road and snow, but not ice, and wear marginally better IMO. New BFG At's are nasty rock throwers in the wheel wells till the knobbies soften up.

On my last trip across Canada, on depart day I noticed a 4" nail in my rear tire. I did 5000km before getting it repaired and in the entire process only added a total of about 20lbs of air... My wife couldn't believe I knew all along when I showed her the nail!

May I recommend a tire repair kit? they're about $10 at walmart or canadian tire and handle nails and screws extremely well... easy repair, and will last the life of the tire (I've used them a few too many times....)

My dearest drove from Nanaimo to Campbell River, comes in the house to tell me something was horribly wrong with the Toy van; nope just a foot long piece of plywood with two 3-4 inch nails holding it to the tire. Patches are awesome, since carrying em haven't used my spare in over 10 years. Even better is often you help out others by carrying them; eg last year, Delica Harrison run - 4runner with no spare needing five plugs, and a Dodge pickup in the boo that sunk to the bumper with a flat and no access to the spare.

[konadog]

Patches are awesome, since carrying em haven't used my spare in over 10 years. Even better is often you help out others by carrying them

How true! A few years a ago I had finished work, which for me means dumping a load of brush at the dump's brush-pile (read mine field of nails), and headed off to the nearby trails with dog. Got out of the truck and noticed a nail poking out of the corner of my tire "Rats!" I said as I pulled it out to a gush of air I quickly stuffed it back in and procedded to get my out my spare. Just as I was digging out my jack a big 'ole pickup pulled in with a friendly and helpful Redneck and he and his patch-kit had me sorted out in a couple of minutes. Never gave that patch a second thought and ran it until the tire wore out. Really good idea. Having a pump on board is pretty slick too, should one lose too much air to run before setting the patch...

[The Pinkfingers]

Both wear very well and as excepted each tire is better where you would assume it would be

Nokian vs BFG... for those of us who don't know what to assume, what is better where? they're both A/T tires...

As I mentioned, the Nokian Vativas are, in fact, all seasons. This was confirmed by two separate Kal Tire outlets. Whether you order the A/T or all season Vativas, you get the exact same tire, same tread, same everything. That's why they are quieter and better on ice, but not as good on mud and snow as the BFGs.

[josh]

At the end of the day, its only a 25,000 km road trip... most tires will get a heck of a lot more than 25,000km on them... so buy ones that will suit your driving style. Road trip or not, you always want to have great tires. (or at least I do) I drive over 25,000 km each summer on "local" road trips in the northern region of BC. Most people would never run the 31" BFG MT's like I do when putting on that many miles, but it suits my needs.

Yeah, so anyway... i figure just pick a tire. Worst case senario you have to use your spare!

Josh

[after oil]

ive got the nokians on two vehicles. the gmc tracker (sold yesterday ) has been a great off roader with the nokians and also good on the hwy. i took the nokians off my nissan pickup to put on the deli. they were just fine in the pickup too. i never got stuck in it (2wd)