I'm starting to look for new tires for my silverado 1500. I've had good luck with the cooper at3's but am considering the copper rugged trek. I can get my factory size in the XL rating, but if I go up a size 10 plys are available. I know the 10 ply is what everyone is going to recommend but it's almost 40 dollar difference in price per tire. Wondering if anyone has any experience with both for a comparison on driving Montana gravel roads.
XL vs LT tires
- Thread starter Tiohunter
- Start date
Carl 9.3x62
Well-known member
What is XL? I like to use 10 ply, even on my tacoma. May be overkill but I haven't had a flat yet. I'm thinking of trying the rugged trek as well.
Hilljackoutlaw
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2019
- Messages
- 6,508
A flat or 2 and you will go 10 ply and never look back. When I first moved west I had 3 flat tires in 2 years on hunting trips. Switched to 10 ply and haven't had a flat since. That was 7 years ago.
7mm08mo
Well-known member
Spend the extra 40 you won’t regret it.
Carl 9.3x62
Well-known member
Yeah after looking it up, I wouldn't go with XL, it's a passenger car tire. Get an LT in either a D or E rating.
That's what I figured the concensus would be. I never heard of the XL tire either till I was looking this year.
steveshuntn1
Well-known member
Just put some cooper at3 LT 10 ply E rating tires on my Titan xd. Very smooth ride and better mpg than the oversized tires the previous owner had on it. I can’t stand flats!
SD_Prairie_Goat
Well-known member
another vote for 10ply. That extra $40 is cheap compared to wasting a day repairing a flat. Or having to buy two new tires because the flat can't be repaired and the remaining axel tire is too worn down to match up with a new tire....
That's what I run on my Sierra. They tend to collect stones but everything else performance wise is good.
KB_
Well-known member
yea personally wouldn't even gamble with a passenger car tire if your driving dirt roads all the time. Get an E rated tire and be done with it.
325 WSM
Member
Cooper S/T Maxx, great traction, quiet on highway
I think the XL rating is a slight step up from the P rating, but still doesn't hold a candle to a 10 ply tire. If you use your truck offroad and haul things a 10 ply is really the only way to go IMO. You can also adjust the air pressure to soften up the ride around town if you'd like.
S-3 Ranch
Well-known member
I live on a mequit tree , cactus , rocky ranch , E rated tire or be ready to do some walking, nothing worse then two flats @ same time
get a tire plug kit and a cheap air pump also
my 2ct worth if you ever drive off pavement
KB_
Well-known member
Yea I have one of those air pumps that plug into the truck with a long enough hose to reach each tire. Comes in handy for more then just your truck tires.
I just checked and mine have 20k on them in 2 years and are feeling worn. NM dirt roads.
They are loading with mud recently, like badyears do...
10 ply and 2 flats. Screws and lag bolt.
Rotate and save for new ones. Yikes.
Tires do you no favors, if I can't get to the hwy.
Durango Mike
Well-known member
Go 10 ply, on one hunt in Montana we had a rented GMC Blazer and my truck woke up to find 3 flat tires on the Blazer after a day of driving on ranch roads. The truck had no issues with 10 ply on the same roads. The old line that the difference between a rental car and a 4 wheel drive is that a rental can go anywhere didn't work we had to buy some tires!
I guess if your tires never leave the pavement that might be ok.
I guess if your tires never leave the pavement that might be ok.
I’m sure they would. Mine spend a good bit of their time off road with no issues.
antlerradar
Well-known member
There is a difference in what dirt/gravel roads are made of. If the roads are surfaced with clinker/shale don't even attempt them with XL rated tires. The clinker will cut through them like a knife through warm butter. The blue stuff is much less forgiving than the red. There is a reason the natives used the blue to make arrowheads.
I would never drive our roads without 10 ply tires. I change enough flats as it is.
I would never drive our roads without 10 ply tires. I change enough flats as it is.
Last edited:
