Best place to buy DuraTracs?

[binare]

A snow tire is not a mud tire. A snow tire is designed to pick up snow, snow sticks to snow. A mud tire is designed to shed mud, mud does not stick to mud. Duratracs are a hybrid of snow and mud, they do both marginally but will usually outperform a dedicated tire doing what it wasn't designed to do. In short, most MTs suck arse in snow and most ATs suck arse in mud. Id take Duras anyday over any other AT I've tried, Hankooks and BFs. But they are still marginal at best in any given situation, they are just a more aggressive AT then norm, no magic involved.

I got my tires from tirerack, paid high for shipping and only reason it was worth it was the rims I also ordered.

[BUKI]

OK.  So as stated I have 5 Duratracs.  All with side wall damage.  Never really had an issue with the tread in mud clean out better then any other a/t tire. my tires are all BRAND NEW 16-18/32nds show room is 18.  GoodYear is GOODWILLing me the money back for a set of MT/rs.  They do not have to do this as there is no warenty on offroad tires.  Because of this I am now a goodyear guy for life .  The Duratracs are GREAT for ice and snow covered roads.  But if you wheel with them NOT a good idea.  I am the same guy who said "Duratracs could do no wrong" Until the 2nd sidewall went pssssssss.  These sidewalls are ticking timebombs.  Its not a matter of "ARE" they gonna blow, but when.  IF you plan on wheeling (even mildly) DO NOT Buy these, step up to the MT/rs.  But for a pickup that only sees road use, AMAZING.  


Im getting my 35" MT/Rs in a week or so. yipee

[Kanueh]

Hey Mike I see the problem....you have a finger stuck in your sidewall!

[Drambuie89]

I too looked at the duratracs when I wanted a new set of 31s. Decided to be different and went with the TrXus Mts. No regrets yet. Kal Tire in Cochrane helped me out with a decent deal for those.

[w squared]

I started running studded Duratracs because at the time I was driving 100km per day on the deerfoot. For winter driving on the road, and winter wheeling, they're great. They chew through deep snow almost as well as a real MT, and are outstanding on ice. For me, it was worth getting a dedicated set of winter tires because of all the highway driving.

What I will say is that they are NOT a real MT. The few times that I encountered mud instead of snow on the trail while running those tires, I found that they would only do about 75% of what my Toyos will do. Most significantly, they are very poor at holding side-to-side when compared to the Toyos.

But like Johnny says, they do a great job of sticking to ice.

[specialk]

Decided to be different and went with the TrXus Mts. No regrets yet.

You will...   When they are new, they are an ok tire.  At about 50-60% tread, they will let you down.

[yukonflyer]

Some good info here about the Duratracs, not to much BS either.

So I'm wondering what people consider to be to much wheeling for them? How are you poking holes in the sidewalls? or are they just cracking when air'd down on rocks? How low a pressure are people running them? is there a known cause of the sidewall issue or are people just asking to much of the wrong tire?

I'm asking cause I'm thinking about them as my next tire on my JKU and a friend just put a set on his family bus and has been running them on his TJ without problems. (both leave the pavement as does my JKU)

I'm knew at this (as some have pointed out on the sales forum) and am just looking for useful info. Thanks

[specialk]

Good question and the answer comes down to the person behind the wheel.  Duratracs will hold up fine if you 'leave the pavement'.  They are a quality tire.   BUKI's driving style and the trails/lines he attempts are not represented in this post.    All we can assume (sorry man) is that he choose the wrong tire for the type of wheeling he likes to do.

If you are exploring trials are McLean and Waiparous and gravel roads in AB/BC, I would not imagine that there would be many issues.   If you want to start picking the hardest line through an obstacle (even in those areas), I would look at a different set...

There is such a wide range of what people consider "wheeling"...  you need to really look at the type of driving you do, or plan to do, and get the best tire you can at that point. 

[WagoneerXJ]

Also keep in mind that Toyo MT's are heavy tires. My 285/75/16 Toyo MT's weigh 69 lbs, without rim. I didn't realize this when I bought them. My XJ absolutely hates them. I took them off for now, and run 33" BFG AT's on the street, jeep is much happier and can keep a decent speed.

[BUKI]

So I'm wondering what people consider to be to much wheeling for them? How are you poking holes in the sidewalls?
 Quite easily. Now remember that my 33/12.5/15 are only a 2 ply sidewall 2 were on stumps 1 was on the edge of a rock the other 2 I HAVE NO IDEA.
or are they just cracking when air'd down on rocks?
 NO, again less than a year old BRAND NEW
How low a pressure are people running them? 12-15, mostly 15is there a known cause of the sidewall issue YES, Just google them
or are people just asking to much of the wrong tire?  They were marketed as an offroad tire, so I'd say no,

[BUKI]

BUKI's driving style and the trails/lines he attempts are not represented in this post.    All we can assume (sorry man) is that he choose the wrong tire for the type of wheeling he likes to do.

This is very true, I like the skinny pedal.
Don't discount this tire.  There is no such thing as the ULTIMATE EVERYTHING tire.  There are trade offs for every one.  the epic BAD point to this tire is the weak sidewall.  BUT if you own a JK your rich enough to replace them . 
Back on topic, AS I stated the 15s I own are only 2 ply.  Check your size you might get 3 or more
Personally if I was as RICH as you  I would buy a set of these studded and a set of muds for wheeling.  I can't even imagine a set of duras studded

[Spinalguy]

i have owned Toyo OC MT's in 37x14.50 on a 03TJ, Loved them onroad and offroad. Gravel, hardpack snow shined.
then i put some Nitto Trail Grappler MT's in 35x12.50 on my 97 dodge ram. Out performed the Toyos in every way.
Both are heavy though, as has been mentioned.

If you casual wheel than the best tire for you is BFG AT. i have run many sizes on 3 different rigs. Onroad very good but i still give the edge to the Nitto onroad. BFG are cheaper (Costco) and lighter.

[bloodfart]

i stumbled over some kijiji adds of people selling duratracs... one thing that stood out, in the adds they are mentioning 9 and 10 ply for the duratracs (probably depending on size)... that is a lot no? from what i've read, the toyos are 10 ply also 

[binare]

Sidewalls aren't 10 ply, wouldn't need air if they were.

[cLAY]

I see in the pic you had Load range C tires. I wonder how well you would have done with "E"s?

What load range are the Toyo MTs people are referring to? Are we comparing apples to apples?

I always try to get the heaviest load range that I can for off road tires.