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Question:

I replaced my 255/70R/16 with Goodrich.  My Wilderness AT had only 16,000 miles.  Just put them in my basement waiting and hoping for recall.  I replaced all 5 tires for $108 at Sam’s Club plus tax and installation. Peace of mind more than anything.  Has anybody else just replaced the 16 inch tires just for peace of mind? — Gary Loren – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >     I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I > bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give me > a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL > LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother > ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of > the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones. >     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the tires > were on sale at 109. > Before you buy.

Response:

>Has anybody else just replaced the 16

I just  purchased 265X75X15 to replace the blasted Firestone WIlderness HTs on my Sport Trac.   Even though not recalled, my tires were made in the VD , suspect, plant and I did it for the peace of mind. By the way I went with B F Goodrich Long Trail, the ones that Consumer Report just rated tops. And they are great.  They handle MUCH better that the Firestones. JohnC

Response:

I asked the same question to Michelin.  And they told me that by the end of this year they will have an AT tire in this size in LT and P ratings. Michelin is kicking themselves for not having the tire available sooner! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My beef is that the LTX A/T does not come in the 255/70 R16  WHY?????? > I would get them in a heart beat over the M/S   but I dont see the > point if going with the BFG ATs for $50 more per tire.  Am I making a > mistake?   I only get off road once or twice a year and nothing > serious, but then again I dont want to be a "girlie man". > Before you buy.

Response:

Thanks for the info….but a day late and a dollar short…pulled the pin and got the M/S  Actually I am just happy as a pig in u know what…those Wilderness ATs SUCKED compared to these.. and I do almost all my driving on paved roads… was just being stubborn about the AT thing but I am pefectly happy! > I asked the same question to Michelin.  And they told me that by the end of > this year they will have an AT tire in this size in LT and P ratings. > Michelin is kicking themselves for not having the tire available sooner!

> My beef is that the LTX A/T does not come in the 255/70 R16 WHY?????? > I would get them in a heart beat over the M/S   but I dont see the > point if going with the BFG ATs for $50 more per tire.  Am I making a > mistake?   I only get off road once or twice a year and nothing > serious, but then again I dont want to be a "girlie man". > Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Response:

I have the very tire you say does not exist in the Sears version, "Michelin XC LT4". NTB (owned by Sears) also sells them. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My beef is that the LTX A/T does not come in the 255/70 R16  WHY?????? > I would get them in a heart beat over the M/S   but I dont see the > point if going with the BFG ATs for $50 more per tire.  Am I making a > mistake?   I only get off road once or twice a year and nothing > serious, but then again I dont want to be a "girlie man". > Before you buy.

Response:

Everything I have ever read has said that the Michelin XC LT4 is equivalent to the Michelin LTX M/S which is not the same tire as the LTX A/T. The LTX M/S is available in the 255 70R16 size wheras the LTX A/T is not. Because of that reason, I got the LTX A/T in the 265 75R16 size rather than downsizing to the 245 75R16. Robert > I have the very tire you say does not exist in the Sears version, "Michelin > XC LT4". NTB (owned by Sears) also sells them.

> My beef is that the LTX A/T does not come in the 255/70 R16 WHY?????? > I would get them in a heart beat over the M/S   but I dont see the > point if going with the BFG ATs for $50 more per tire.  Am I making a > mistake?   I only get off road once or twice a year and nothing > serious, but then again I dont want to be a "girlie man".

Before you buy.

Response:

 . > Everything I have ever read has said that the Michelin XC LT4 is > equivalent to the Michelin LTX M/S which is not the same tire as the > LTX A/T. The LTX M/S is available in the 255 70R16 size wheras the LTX > A/T is not. Because of that reason, I got the LTX A/T in the 265 75R16 > size rather than downsizing to the 245 75R16. > Robert

 .  . Here is a handy little tool http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html Tire Size Comparison [A]Specification(size)  [B]Sidewall  [C]Radius  [D]Diameter [E]Circumference  [F]Revs/Mile  [G]Difference  - Stock [A]255/70-16 [B]7.0in [C]15.0in [D}30.1in [E]94.4in [F]671 [G]0.0%  - Possible Replacements [A]265/75-16 [B]7.8in [C]15.8in [D]31.6in [E]99.4in [F]637 [G]5.3% [A]245/75-16 [B]7.2in [C]15.2in [D]30.5in [E]95.7in [F]662 [G]1.4% —– dan  . Before you buy.

Response:

My beef is that the LTX A/T does not come in the 255/70 R16  WHY?????? I would get them in a heart beat over the M/S   but I dont see the point if going with the BFG ATs for $50 more per tire.  Am I making a mistake?   I only get off road once or twice a year and nothing serious, but then again I dont want to be a "girlie man". Before you buy.

Response:

That sort of makes sense, but not really.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The Michelin name is much more saleable than, say, "Kenmore" or > whatever, and Sears didn’t want to lose that. However, to separate the > selling price to Michelin dealers from what Sears pays, Michelin could > very well want use a separate designation. By the same token, Sears > selling price then becomes less comparable to other retailers selling > the "same" tire and they may want it designated differently. This > practice is not uncommon for manufacturers when selling to high-volume > purchasers. >   =Vic= > Bear Gap, PA > I do wish someone would explain to me why the Sears version of the Michelin > tires have a different designation…if they were NOT using the Michelin > name, it might make sense. Are their Whirlpool washing machines different > than the Whirlpool washing machines at Circuit City? Then why are the > Michelin tires different than the Michelin tires at other tire stores? > Bernie Newman

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >     I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I > > bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give me > > a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL > > LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother > > ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of > > the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones. > >     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the tires > > were on sale at 109. > > Before you buy.

Response:

It makes perfect sense.  Sears can sell their XC LT4 tires and everyone else can sell their LTX M/S tires without competing directly.  Either one can claim that they’re not the same, and technically they’re not.  There is a slight difference in the tread.  Same reason why Costco and Sam’s get the X-Radial LT name.  They do it with washers, dryers, refrigerators, mattresses, etc.  I used to sell Sealy mattresses.  There were four models at 3 different stores with – you guessed it – 12 different names.  It’s all marketing and all the mfrs do it for their larger clients.  Circuit City does it to get out of their price comparison warranty.  If the model numbers don’t match, it’s not the same.  Of course they’re the only ones selling that particular model number, even if the other model is identical. Marketing 101.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> That sort of makes sense, but not really. > The Michelin name is much more saleable than, say, "Kenmore" or > whatever, and Sears didn’t want to lose that. However, to separate the > selling price to Michelin dealers from what Sears pays, Michelin could > very well want use a separate designation. By the same token, Sears > selling price then becomes less comparable to other retailers selling > the "same" tire and they may want it designated differently. This > practice is not uncommon for manufacturers when selling to high-volume > purchasers. >   =Vic= > Bear Gap, PA > > I do wish someone would explain to me why the Sears version of the > Michelin > > tires have a different designation…if they were NOT using the Michelin > > name, it might make sense. Are their Whirlpool washing machines > different > > than the Whirlpool washing machines at Circuit City? Then why are the > > Michelin tires different than the Michelin tires at other tire stores? > > Bernie Newman > > >     I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I > > > bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give me > > > a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL > > > LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother > > > ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of > > > the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones. > > >     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the tires > > > were on sale at 109. > > > Before you buy.

Response:

The Michelin name is much more saleable than, say, "Kenmore" or whatever, and Sears didn’t want to lose that. However, to separate the selling price to Michelin dealers from what Sears pays, Michelin could very well want use a separate designation. By the same token, Sears selling price then becomes less comparable to other retailers selling the "same" tire and they may want it designated differently. This practice is not uncommon for manufacturers when selling to high-volume purchasers.   =Vic= Bear Gap, PA – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I do wish someone would explain to me why the Sears version of the Michelin > tires have a different designation…if they were NOT using the Michelin > name, it might make sense. Are their Whirlpool washing machines different > than the Whirlpool washing machines at Circuit City? Then why are the > Michelin tires different than the Michelin tires at other tire stores? > Bernie Newman >     I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I > bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give me > a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL > LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother > ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of > the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones. >     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the tires > were on sale at 109. > Before you buy.

Response:

I got 5 with no major difficulty (had to wait one week for the tires). Then again, since the P255/70R16 tires aren’t officially recalled, there’s no ‘official’ shortage. Tom Teixeira – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I was very lucky to get not only 4 but 5. I suspect that they’ll limit > purchases to 4 until the shortage is over.

Response:

I do wish someone would explain to me why the Sears version of the Michelin tires have a different designation…if they were NOT using the Michelin name, it might make sense. Are their Whirlpool washing machines different than the Whirlpool washing machines at Circuit City? Then why are the Michelin tires different than the Michelin tires at other tire stores? Bernie Newman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >     I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I > bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give me > a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL > LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother > ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of > the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones. >     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the tires > were on sale at 109. > Before you buy.

Response:

They only had four – I will get a fifth when its available…. > I got the same (16 inch Michelin/Sears XC LT4) tires about 3 weeks ago and I > agree…they are great. The only downside is dealing with Sears! But the > tires ARE great! Did you get 4 or 5 tires?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->     I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I > bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give me > a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL > LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother > ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of > the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones. >     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the tires > were on sale at 109. > Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Response:

I was very lucky to get not only 4 but 5. I suspect that they’ll limit purchases to 4 until the shortage is over. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > They only had four – I will get a fifth when its available…. > I got the same (16 inch Michelin/Sears XC LT4) tires about 3 weeks > ago and I > agree…they are great. The only downside is dealing with Sears! But > the > tires ARE great! Did you get 4 or 5 tires? > >     I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I > > bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give > me > > a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL > > LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother > > ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of > > the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones. > >     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the > tires > > were on sale at 109. > > Before you buy. > Before you buy.

Response:

    I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give me a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones.     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the tires were on sale at 109. Before you buy.

Response:

I got the same (16 inch Michelin/Sears XC LT4) tires about 3 weeks ago and I agree…they are great. The only downside is dealing with Sears! But the tires ARE great! Did you get 4 or 5 tires? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >     I have a 98 EB V-8 with the non recalled 16 tires. Last week I > bought the Sears version of the LTX/MS (no one else could even give me > a delivery date, let alone real tires) – I think they are named XCL > LT4 – Wow what a difference – no more road noise and a much smoother > ride – But to be fair – I must attribute that to the tread design of > the MS tire verses the AT design on my firestones. >     I’m saving the AT’s in hope of recall expansion – FYI – the tires > were on sale at 109. > Before you buy.

Response: