Posted: 4/10/2025 2:37:56 PM EDT
[Last Edit: jpcdmd][Edited]
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I have a daily-driver 2014 Lexus GX460 on street tires and want to take the wife and kids (ages 3 and 5) to do the Alpine Loop around Telluride/Ouray/Silverton in SW Colorado in late July. Will be driving from Phoenix. Will be sticking to Engineer/Cinnamon/Imogene passes, no Black Bear. I will be bringing and air compressor and tire repair kit, and plan to air down to around 20psi. Currently looking for some 17" wheels and A/T tires, and having analysis paralysis on getting 285's or 275's in SL, C, or E load rating. My primary concern is not wanting to get a flat tire up on a trail. But I also would like some nice on-road manners so weight and comfort is a concern. Heard many people say don't run anything less than a 3-ply sidewall, E-load LT tire due to sharp rocks, and many others say they've done the trails up there for years on P-rated, 2-ply sidewall tires. Narrowed down my choices to the Toyo Open Country AT3 and R/T Trail, and the Nitto Terra Grappler G3 or Recon Grappler. Not looking for M/T or snow tires. Am I going to hate an E-load tire? Is a C-load have adequate sidewall puncture protection? |
FJB FBHO
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What size tire? E-rated? |
FJB FBHO
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Originally Posted By billth777: costco Item # 1833893 Tire Size: LT265/70R17/E Season: All-Weather Load Index: 123 Warranty: 50k miles Run Flat: No Speed Rating: S was just at $1200 installed after the rebate. Thanks. According to BFG website, your tire is almost 55lbs. Do you notice any significant ride comfort issues in daily street driving compared to a stock P-rated tire? |
FJB FBHO
Go 285 E rated and air down to 14 or 15psi. I have E-rated BFG AT KO3's on my F150. I had E-Rated 285 Yokohama Geolandar MT's on my 4Runner and currently have 37" Geolandar MT's on my Jeep.  Watch this short video on why you should air down to 14psi. The tire's puncture protection significantly increases with lower PSI.  Cooper Puncture Test Otherwise, all those roads out there are gravel roads. If you can get over your fear of heights, they are not that difficult. My Jeep on Engineers Pass:  Get a good air compressor. Napa has the best price on them: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MTWM10215C I like a 4 tire hose inflation deflation kit. I have one from Frontrow out of Canada: https://frontrowoffroad.com/  But Morflate is also popular and I use an extension hose from them: morrflate.com Carry a tire plug kit. I have plugged 5 tires with this kit over the years. I replaced the plastic box with a canvas GI surplus med pouch. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X15JJ4F Wont help you much out there if roll off a shelf road...  , but you ought to have a rear hitch shackle for a rear recovery point. I keep a Factor 55 Hitchlink 2.0 in my F150: https://www.factor55.com/p-hitchlink-2-0 And a RhinoUSA (China) Hitch Shackle in my Jeep: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WLMF23C?tag=arfcom00-20 |
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Definitely get some LT tires! I tried running the Alpine Loop in a '18 Nissan Frontier with P series off road tires and had 2 sliced side walls which ended the trip. Ran it the next year in the Frontier with Falken Wildpeak AT3W's LT(10 ply) and had no issues. A couple times when we did the Alpine Loop with our kids and nieces & nephews, we packed a lunch and ate in the Animas Forks ghost town. And definitely air down! |
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:13
1 Corinthians 16:13
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I’ve been up in the San Juan’s on 285/75r16 KO2, 315/75r16 Yokohama Geolanders MT G003 and 35/12.5r17 good year duratracs rt. All of them were e rated performed well. Engineer Attached File Imogene Attached File Cinnamon Attached File |
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Thanks for the replies. I have a good air compressor and quad hoses for airing up/down. Also have a tire repair kit. Trying to decide between the Toyo R/T Trail and Nitto Recon Grappler. The LT285/70-17 size is enticing over the LT275 but the extra 6lbs in weight and possibly having to do a body mount chop keeps me on the fence. Also, if I go 275, I can run a 265 spare, and aired up enough will be close enough to the 275s should I need to use it. |
FJB FBHO
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Originally Posted By jpcdmd: Thanks for the replies. I have a good air compressor and quad hoses for airing up/down. Also have a tire repair kit. Trying to decide between the Toyo R/T Trail and Nitto Recon Grappler. The LT285/70-17 size is enticing over the LT275 but the extra 6lbs in weight and possibly having to do a body mount chop keeps me on the fence. Also, if I go 275, I can run a 265 spare, and aired up enough will be close enough to the 275s should I need to use it. I had the body mount chop done to my 4Runner but... I'm pretty sure it wasn't needed for a 285/70's. It was needed for 35's which I never made to. I just showed the body mount chop youtube video to a local body shop and they did it cheap, even welded on a piece of steel from their own inventory. No need to buy the "kit." You could just run a cheap 285/70R17 Westlake AT tire as a spare or pick up a used spare tire off marketplace. |
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I have Mastercraft Courser CXT tires on my Jeep and my F150. I’m not claiming they are the best tire (I don’t know what is) but they are pretty quiet and have outstanding traction in most situations (never used them in snow so not sure how they would do there). Look like a MT tire but much quieter. I really like the tires and when they need to be replaced, I will use them again. https://www.mastercrafttires.com/tires/courser-cxt/24736.html |
"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
| Any AT or MT will work. A Miata made it 3/4 of the way up Imogene Pass a few years ago. It’s not that technical, unless you do Poughkeepsie or something. I’ve been running Toyo MTs but will be putting the Toyo R/T Trails on the Jeep in a few months for our yearly trip to Lake City. The MTs have lots of tread left, but have 60,000 miles on them. I’m impressed with them. |
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I went with Nitto Recon Grappler in LT285/70-17 E-Load (33") and think i made the right choice. Didn't need to do the body mount chop, had enough clearance. The tires drive very well, not harsh at all. Smooth and quiet. Completely satisfied. Glad I went with the E Load as the piece of mind on the trail was well worth it. Aired them down to around 18psi, really absorbed the rocks. Pic of Imogene Pass: Attached File |
FJB FBHO
| Good, reputable brand 10-ply’s. They might make daily driving a tad harsher but it’s worth it on the trails. I just got back from Red River. I came up on a retired couple and their grandkids with 4 flat tires on their Tacoma. This was on a nice maintained road but entirely made of sharp rocks. They were running cheap street tires and were cut up pretty bad. Plugged them as best I could and followed them to town. |