Knowledge base: Pickup tires

[Bay Arean]

I hafta put new tires on my compact garage pickup. That is, a truck that sits in the garage most of the time and I just used it for goin to the dumps, recycling, occasional lumber purchases.

The last time I took it to the mechanic, the guy got all alarmed and told me the tires were over 20 years old and kind of dangerous to put any load on.And one does have kind of a sidewall bubble. He said I'd get a ticket if a cop every stopped me and looked at em.

Anyway, it's a 4WD old 92 Mazda so I wanted to get something a bit aggressive (it has mud-n-snow tires on it) but I don't need top o' the line because if I do, engine will probably die on me and make me feel foolish. Just passed smog test again, miraculously. Ms BA is constantly trying to get me to get rid of the old thing or give it to Kars4Kids. She just doesn't understand about guys-n-trucks (and some gals, I nervously add).

Should I go to an independent that advertises truck tires or to a chain? The answer might seem obvious but I just don't know, and the nattering nabobs at Yelp aren't gonna help on this manly pursuit....

I;m gonna pull the trigger tomorrow. Is Big O any good? I'm wary of Firestone... There is a specialty truck place in Richmond who I've seen for years. Thing is, I can't spend days driving around so any quick info is appreciated. I have to recover a deck and am planning on a big lumber purchase. The idea of a blowout with the lumber rack full is distasteful.
Thanks.

 

[TheRobSJ]

Really anything will be better than 20 year old tires with bulging sidewalls.

WhTs the budget for this little venture?

 

[byke]

I'd really recommend just going to Costco and getting some Michelin something-or-other street oriented tire. If snow/rain were a super high priority, then it's clear choice for me with the Bridgestone Blizzaks. They're really soft though, you can flip through the grooves like a stack of cards, so not a great summer commuter tire. Perfectly fine for the occasional use truck though.

 

[Bay Arean]

Thanks. I dunno, Rob, can I keep it under 200 a piece? (PS. Rob, you sound like my mechanic friend! Ha)

Byke, right, I will never commute on the things. I may retire it to the ranch someday but it really does not get daily use.

I just didn't know if Costco would have anything that wasn't premium (I haven't ever bought tires there).

Do any independents ever sell low mileage used? I mean, if some bro just had to have some ultra-extreme sporty thing on his Nissan Tonka, I'd take the garden-variety bro castoffs. I asked at one place near me but they didn't.

 

[byke]

For sure check CL and your local tire shops if you want used, but under $200ea is pretty easy for good new tires.

 

[auntiebling]

if costco has anything that fits they're hard to beat. for a ranger, they probably have something on the shelf and if they don't they can get it in a day or 2

Premium is not their wheelhouse (had to use that one here..) high volume passenger car tires that can be installed while the owner is buying 5 gallons of mayoniase is. Ranger tires should be easy

 

[afm199]

Big O is not the best deal.

There are tons of good tires out there for that pickup, it's basically a Ford Ranger, iirc.

Hankook will make some good ones. Try Orozco in Berkeley.

 

[afm199]

Thanks. I dunno, Rob, can I keep it under 200 a piece? (PS. Rob, you sound like my mechanic friend! Ha)

Byke, right, I will never commute on the things. I may retire it to the ranch someday but it really does not get daily use.

I just didn't know if Costco would have anything that wasn't premium (I haven't ever bought tires there).

Do any independents ever sell low mileage used? I mean, if some bro just had to have some ultra-extreme sporty thing on his Nissan Tonka, I'd take the garden-variety bro castoffs. I asked at one place near me but they didn't.

You should be able to shoe that beast for $100 a tire or less.


205 70 14, right?

https://www.amazon.com/Hankook-Optimo-H724-Radial-Tire/dp/B00B06P0EY

I buy my tires online and pay $15 a wheel to have them mounted and balanced.

 

[Bubba_s]

For this truck in particular (almost never used) I'd slap some used tires on it. Please don't spend 200 a piece on tires that will get old way before they get used up.

Now, pretending to be your wife: "Honey, you should sell that thing. We won't have to pay for Ins. reg. and think of all the room in the garage! We can finally get your beanie babies collection out of the spare room! You can just rent a truck once or twice a year. You want me to make you a sammie?"

 

[Bay Arean]

Thanks all. I never end up getting the "great" deal so I appreciate some resources. Not sure of size, I'm here at work. The tires are kinda hard to read, too. The guy who owned it before actually changed the rims to something slightly bigger than stock and that's why the speedo is inaccurate. I got the original rims in the basement along with the skid plates. It used to live in Susanville and was owned by a prison guard. It's got separate keys for everything!!! Minimal paint left, camper shell, with an outside the shell lumber rack. In short, beautiful! My son calls it "blasty-ass pickup" because of the racket it makes. Fuel injection too! Its a B2600i. I might sell it to one of you if you ask nice!

 

[Bay Arean]

For this truck in particular (almost never used) I'd slap some used tires on it. Please don't spend 200 a piece on tires that will get old way before they get used up.

Now, pretending to be your wife: "Honey, you should sell that thing. We won't have to pay for Ins. reg. and think of all the room in the garage! We can finally get your beanie babies collection out of the spare room! You can just rent a truck once or twice a year. You want me to make you a sammie?"

Yeah. She even wants a ping-pong table. Which we once had and got rid of when we got said ve-hickle. I;ve been somewhat tempted to give up on occasion. But it's a TRUCK!!!!!

When we first moved into that house, I used to rent a truck at Doherty's. I got fed up at 75 a pop, but I understand the logic. The last straw was fighting a FasTrak ticket from the stolen plate off the front that was used on the day I just happened to rent it.

 

[auntiebling]

oh, more costco stuff

research what tire you want before you go in so you have some idea of what a Good Price is. Costco will be close, but buyer beware ya know. theyh will not install a tire size other that what is recommended in their database for the vehicle unless you bring in the wheels separate from the vehicle. in that case, the road hazzard warranty doesn't work. this is likely irrelevant for you.

 

[Bay Arean]

oh, more costco stuff

research what tire you want before you go in so you have some idea of what a Good Price is. Costco will be close, but buyer beware ya know. theyh will not install a tire size other that what is recommended in their database for the vehicle unless you bring in the wheels separate from the vehicle. in that case, the road hazzard warranty doesn't work. this is likely irrelevant for you.

Thanks because like I said, it has different than original rims. This alone just saved me a fruitless trip on a busy Saturday.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Costco > Michelin Defender LTX M/S.

edit - might not have them in that size though 205 is pretty small. Nvm.

 

[Bubba_s]

Yeah. She even wants a ping-pong table. Which we once had and got rid of when we got said ve-hickle. I;ve been somewhat tempted to give up on occasion. But it's a TRUCK!!!!!

When we first moved into that house, I used to rent a truck at Doherty's. I got fed up at 75 a pop, but I understand the logic. The last straw was fighting a FasTrak ticket from the stolen plate off the front that was used on the day I just happened to rent it.

Agree with the "It's a truck" part. I think my move is going to be convincing one of my kids to get a truck... So I can borrow it :laughing

 

[Bay Arean]

Agree with the "It's a truck" part. I think my move is going to be convincing one of my kids to get a truck... So I can borrow it :laughing

The other thought was to get rid of it, sell my beloved 4Runner and get an actual newish truck so I could pull a trailer of some sort. But man, I dont wanna get into all that bs. It's paid for! And has charming rattles because the windows are all messed up.

 

[2legs2wheels]

+1 on costco.

 

[afm199]

The other thought was to get rid of it, sell my beloved 4Runner and get an actual newish truck so I could pull a trailer of some sort. But man, I dont wanna get into all that bs. It's paid for! And has charming rattles because the windows are all messed up.

I sold my 95 Ranger about two years ago, and I still miss it. I could actually fix it when it broke, and it had charming oil leaks.

 

[scootergmc]

My son calls it "blasty-ass pickup" because of the racket it makes. Fuel injection too! Its a B2600i. I might sell it to one of you if you ask nice!

Previous B serious owner. Give us the all the specs...

 

[scootergmc]

it's basically a Ford Ranger, iirc.

That didn't happen until '94.