Falkens or BFGs...looking for feedback.

[ShadowsPapa]

Just as an FYI, Duratracs are Goodyear.

OOPS - yeah, I was looking up tires and had BFG in the search and just copied what I way.
Yeah, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac. I even had a picture of them up to go by and mis-typed.

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[ShadowsPapa]

It's interesting that there's been talk of the Falkens cupping and the BFGs not cupping. I have a set of Rubicon spec KO2s on factory wheels in my barn right now that have 5,000 miles on them and they're already cupping. You can visually see it, and you can run your fingers over the outer tread and feel the step up between sipes.

Conversely, I put nearly 30,000 miles on a set of the Falkens in the same size (285/70-17) on a 6,000 lb. F-150 and they showed no feathering, cupping, or poor wear at all. They were also $630 for the set, vs. $1,000 for the set of BFGs.

Feathering is toe wear - toe is incorrect. Cupping can also be due to alignment and other issues. I've not seen tires cup that there wasn't some vehicle-related thing going on helping them to get there. Not that it's impossible, but improbable.
If a tire is round and true and alignment great and balance spot-on - they should run and wear true as well.
Different tires will have different "stickiness" and stiffness that will work better or not so well for a specific vehicle's alignment - in short, some tires will deal with things being off better than others, and toe can work fine for one set of tires and yet another will feather because there's different "pulls" or rolling resistance.
Personally, if I had a set of tires that cupped - I'd look for things aside from the tires themselves first. Swapping tires and saying "these didn't cup" may simply mean a set gets along better with the vehicle or methods used to balance and so on than another.

 

[Desert Outlaw]

My only gripe is the OEM tire size is so small. Otherwise,I would run my Falken AT3Ws with the lift that is going on in a few days. I run Falken AT3Ws on my TJ Rubicon and in all but slushy shelf roads, the AT3W works very well. The sidewalls are Baja proven, the tread doesn't chunk, the size is MUCH TALLER FOR A 35" than BFG, and the price is fair.

Baja Mexico - no tire shop for miles!

 

[BRAVOZULU9]

That's great feedback gents, thank you. I think I'll just keep the second set of BFG take-offs I bought and leave the Falkens on for now as we're approaching JAN here in Northern VA. We'll see how they handle the wintry mix we get here.

 

[WXman]

Feathering is toe wear - toe is incorrect. Cupping can also be due to alignment and other issues. I've not seen tires cup that there wasn't some vehicle-related thing going on helping them to get there. Not that it's impossible, but improbable.
If a tire is round and true and alignment great and balance spot-on - they should run and wear true as well.
Different tires will have different "stickiness" and stiffness that will work better or not so well for a specific vehicle's alignment - in short, some tires will deal with things being off better than others, and toe can work fine for one set of tires and yet another will feather because there's different "pulls" or rolling resistance.
Personally, if I had a set of tires that cupped - I'd look for things aside from the tires themselves first. Swapping tires and saying "these didn't cup" may simply mean a set gets along better with the vehicle or methods used to balance and so on than another.

Well that all goes without saying. Of course poor alignment will result in poor tire wear.

I think the idea in this thread is that some tires are more prone to cupping and feathering than others. A mud tire will cup really fast compared to a highway tire. But even within the same tire category, some brands or tread designs will be more prone to it than others.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

But I'm sure for a few dollars the locals would be happy to help!

Well that all goes without saying. Of course poor alignment will result in poor tire wear.

I think the idea in this thread is that some tires are more prone to cupping and feathering than others. A mud tire will cup really fast compared to a highway tire. But even within the same tire category, some brands or tread designs will be more prone to it than others.

Rubber compounds, tread design (even in same class or category), construction techniques........... we all recall years ago Firestone had some issues, each has had their bad day.
In 5 years those that tend to cup will have been changed or replaced and that company will be ahead of those it was behind.
It's why, like with trucks, I tend to be brand loyal only to a certain extent - I like Chevy but if someone THAT year had something a bit better or Chevy had problems, I'd look elsewhere. That's why I have owned multiple truck "brands" and have different tire brands on each vehicle I own - the best for that vehicle for that need at that time. The Korean made tires on my WJ are very highly rated and do great in all kinds of weather, wet roads, etc. I have Firestone on my SX4 - they are the second set since I put it on the road - the first set of tires was junk on all but perfect smooth dry roads. I left them on a whopping 10,000 miles and got rid of them. The firestones on it now are great for snow, ice, dry, wet, whatever, but they are sensative to alignment issues and with the stiff springs under the front of the car, I can't get camber in spec and that makes the other angles tough to maintain so they feather a bit and have a small amount of cupping. Not sure others wouldn't do the same with the ultra stiff suspension the car is on now (even cracking A-Pillar seam again)


Am following this as I'm still looking to get better winter tires under my Overland - not impressed with the stock tires unless it's a good dry smooth highway. They are truly highway tires.

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