Street tires

[Ridin'GMC]

So I'm in the market for a new set of shoes. I guess my tire size is somewhat limited as they are 305/50R20. I've always ran Nitto 420s and towed with them, they have never let me down as I've been through 2 sets and each time they lasted me 60k miles. Now they're being replaced to the 420v and I can't seem to find any stores being able to get them, especially in the LT tires which has a higher load rating . I only want street tires, no all terrains since the truck stays mostly on the street besides the occasional farm lands.

I know my last 2 sets of Nitto were 120xl and they've done exceptionally well towing up to 16k. I'm not sure how the Toyo proxes III compare to the Nitto, definitely need new tires ASAP as they're getting bald and I can't wait around longer for the Nitto 420v in the LT range to come out. Any other suggestions would be great as long they can handle long towing trips (7+ hour each way).

 

[2004LB7]

I've been running the Nitto Dura grappler for quite a few years now. Good tire, runs smooth on the highway. Minimal noise and excellent load capacity for the size I chose.

I didn't see any in your size but this one has the same diameter. Not sure if you are willing to go skinnier or if this will fit your rim width



Then there is the recon grappler that is the same dimensions as yours



Both of these options have lower PSI and weight ratings to the 420v. So maybe keep looking?

 

[malibu795]

These are Cooper AT3 XLTs 20s I run the 17" on my 2500 suburban and my LMM will get a set unless I go mud tire

 

[PureHybrid]

Can you handle a taller tire? I'd be tempted to run the Dura Grappler in the 305/55. Toyo Proxes were all the rage years ago, don't think they're a bad tire but I have no idea how they handle towing.

The only non E range tire I've installed was a Cooper Zeon LTZ, (XL rated) which has your size I believe. Tire worked good for me

 

[Ridin'GMC]

I've been running the Nitto Dura grappler for quite a few years now. Good tire, runs smooth on the highway. Minimal noise and excellent load capacity for the size I chose.

I didn't see any in your size but this one has the same diameter. Not sure if you are willing to go skinnier or if this will fit your rim width
View attachment 124894
View attachment 124895

Then there is the recon grappler that is the same dimensions as yours
View attachment 124896
View attachment 124897

Both of these options have lower PSI and weight ratings to the 420v. So maybe keep looking?

Can you handle a taller tire? I'd be tempted to run the Dura Grappler in the 305/55. Toyo Proxes were all the rage years ago, don't think they're a bad tire but I have no idea how they handle towing.

The only non E range tire I've installed was a Cooper Zeon LTZ, (XL rated) which has your size I believe. Tire worked good for me

I don't think I can go a tad higher on the tire size, but I prefer not to go any less on the width. My tire size is the perfect size and looks that I've been trying to achieve. Any higher it'll rub my washer tank worse and I've already gone through 2 from rubbing a hole at full lock lol. Next tank I'm putting in, going to try to massage it with a heat gun. The truck is lowered 3" with no keys in. My first nitto had 275 width and I hated it had no sidewall bulge, made it easy to nick the wheels from potholes that's notorious all over New England.

I guess I'll keep looking around for my tire size, as far as I can see that's readily available are the toyo proxes that's 120xl, has a 3086 lb rating that's the same specs as my Nitto 420s. Just hoping they handle well in the rain like the 420 which was excellent.

 

[2004LB7]

These are some other options in 305/50/20

MICHELIN
DEFENDER LTX M/S2
305 /50 R20 120H XL BSW

FALKEN
ZIEX STZ05
P 305 /50 R20 120H XL BSW

FALKEN
WILDPEAK A/T4W
305 /50 R20 120T XL BSW

HANKOOK
DYNAPRO AT2 XTREME
305 /50 R20 120T XL BSW

ECSTA STX
305 /50 R20 120V XL BSW

 

[Bdsankey]

I've had no issues towing with Proxes ST-III. The 305/50R20 is rated at 3086# per tire with a slightly better tread life than the new 420V (500AA vs 460AA).

The Ecsta STX is another solid tire in that size.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

These are some other options in 305/50/20

MICHELIN
DEFENDER LTX M/S2
305 /50 R20 120H XL BSW

FALKEN
ZIEX STZ05
P 305 /50 R20 120H XL BSW

FALKEN
WILDPEAK A/T4W
305 /50 R20 120T XL BSW

HANKOOK
DYNAPRO AT2 XTREME
305 /50 R20 120T XL BSW

ECSTA STX
305 /50 R20 120V XL BSW

Thanks for taking your time looking up the tires. I've narrowed down to 3 tires that seems to have the best reviews after countless hours of researching. Yesterday I saw the Toyo Proxes STIII on a 17-19 L5P and realized those tires are directional although they can be unidirectional but the tire has to be dismounted/mounted to keep the staggered look whenever you rotate the tire. Hard pass on that even though they have great wear and traction.

I may be leaning towards the Falken Zeix STZ05. Also adding the General G-MAX AS-07, I do have personal exerience on those tire as I've had them on my 09 Malibu and they were exceptional tread wear and handling, handled like a champ in the snow and rain. Kumho Escta STX also has very similar reviews as the Falken and General tires. Nitto 420v is still on my list as well if my shop can get them in the 120XL as the F load rating are backordered for months.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

I've had no issues towing with Proxes ST-III. The 305/50R20 is rated at 3086# per tire with a slightly better tread life than the new 420V (500AA vs 460AA).

The Ecsta STX is another solid tire in that size.

Thanks for your input, I was not aware of having better tread wear on the toyos. I really did put Toyos on the top of my list until I noticed in person and read reviews to mount/dismount for the staggered tread pattern as they perform the best in that direction. Did you have to dismount/mount the tires to keep them staggered? Maybe I'll change my mind on them lol

 

[Bdsankey]

Thanks for your input, I was not aware of having better tread wear on the toyos. I really did put Toyos on the top of my list until I noticed in person and read reviews to mount/dismount for the staggered tread pattern as they perform the best in that direction. Did you have to dismount/mount the tires to keep them staggered? Maybe I'll change my mind on them lol

When I rotate they stay on the same side of the vehicle. If I have uneven wear in the front I address the worn-out component and dismount/remount since they're directional.

I can't say I've had that be an issue.

 

[PureHybrid]

I'm honestly surprised you've got that many miles out of the Nitto 420

 

[Ridin'GMC]

I'm honestly surprised you've got that many miles out of the Nitto 420

Proper tire maintenance goes a long way even while beating on it. I mostly do highway driving and some city/town driving, 100 miles a day so that's why I get so many miles out of the tire lifespan. Every oil change or sometimes every other oil change, the tires get rotated.

 

[JoshH]

I never had much luck out of the 305/50R20 tires I ran. I ran 2 sets of Nitto 420s and one set of Cooper Zeons. They were all XL load rated tires, and none of them lasted more than 20k miles. They ended up wearing the center of the tire extremely fast like they were overinflated even though I ran them at fairly low pressures (40 front and 35 rear). I ended up moving to a 285/55R20 load range E Terra Grappler and got 45K miles out of 3 sets.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

Skinnier tires with a higher load rating usually gives you more mileage out of the tire. Also a huge factor is the asphalt abrasiveness, the rougher the asphalt the faster your tire wears out. Heat also plays a factor too. Pretty common in the southern states, I barely could get 40k out of my tires when I lived in AZ and their roads are quite rough in some desolate areas. It was pretty interesting to see how much my fuel mileage would drop, the road noise would be noticeably loud enough when the asphalt surfaces are rough and I see a 1-2 mpg drop on a long ride from San Tan Valley to Tucson in AZ on the back roads through Florence. Highway roads are usually smoother and nets the best fuel mileage and best tire wear.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

I've decided to go with the Toyo Proxes STIII. Slapped them on Friday and drove it around. Had a heavy rain that day I slapped them on and it did remarkably well in the rain, not a single hydroplane and did exceptionally well in the corners. Road noise isn't loud at all. Rode pretty smooth compared to the Nitto 420s. Although I did notice the tire compound seems to be a tad softer than the Nitto 420s, hopefully I can get 50k out of them.

 

[Bdsankey]

I've decided to go with the Toyo Proxes STIII. Slapped them on Friday and drove it around. Had a heavy rain that day I slapped them on and it did remarkably well in the rain, not a single hydroplane and did exceptionally well in the corners. Road noise isn't loud at all. Rode pretty smooth compared to the Nitto 420s. Although I did notice the tire compound seems to be a tad softer than the Nitto 420s, hopefully I can get 50k out of them.

Based on wear ratings the Toyo is a harder tire.

Nito is 420 wear index rating, Toyo Proxes ST3 is 500 wear index rating.

 

[Ridin'GMC]

Based on wear ratings the Toyo is a harder tire.

Nito is 420 wear index rating, Toyo Proxes ST3 is 500 wear index rating.

Ah I was not aware that the 420 was the actual wear index rating. Learn something new every day. Otherwise I'm happy with the tires so far.