Update on the the set of Bridgestone Dueller APT IV's I bought from Sears back in 2010...
Here we are 3 weeks away from the beginning of 2014 and this set is approaching 60K and they still have tread for what looks to be at least another 5K+, but I am starting the process of figuring out what to buy next. Today is our 1st significant amount of snowfall for the year (probably get about 5" or so), and I'll be out driving in it.
These APT IV's really have been excellent performers for my needs, so have to back up the original Consumer Reports review that led me to them. Lots of gravel, snow, pavement, bike hauling, trailer pulling, camping, dog hauling, short commuting, wet roads - both gravel and pavement, etc...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7166535@N05/9126207874/ http://www.flickr.com/people/7166535@N05/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7166535@N05/8936117352/ http://www.flickr.com/people/7166535@N05/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7166535@N05/8414932447/ http://www.flickr.com/people/7166535@N05/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7166535@N05/8286511536/ http://www.flickr.com/people/7166535@N05/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7166535@N05/6705970703/ http://www.flickr.com/people/7166535@N05/
Sears doesn't carry the APT IV's in my size any more (225/70/16).
I'm looking at 2 sizes for the next set of rubber - either stick with 225/70/16, or give the 225/75/16's a whirl (something visually rugged like the
Hankook Dynapro ATM's or the
BFG AT's). Both of those links are the 225/75/16's - about the max I could put on the Element, but I think they look pretty rugged and cool on both of those Elements pictured at the links.
Who knows what I will end up with, but I am going to check with the latest Consumer Reports Light SUV/Truck reviews to see what has been updated since the one I linked earlier in this thread when I was shopping for the APT IV's.
Top 5 (not sure if they all come in sizes for the Element) from the latest review were:
Cooper Discoverer A/T3 ($150)
The others, all of which tied for second place, were the...
Michelin LTX A/T2 ($180)
Hankook Dynapro ATM ($175)
Kumho Road Venture AT KL78 ($130)
Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61 ($139)
Here are both the all-season light truck tires and the all-terrain top 5 picks in the 2013 CR ratings...
* All-season light truck tires: Michelin LTX M/S2, 72; Michelin X Radial LT2, 72; Continental CrossContact LX20 EcoPlus, 72; Michelin Latitude Tour HP, 72; Michelin Latitude Tour, 72.
* All-terrain tires: Cooper Discoverer A/T3, 66; Michelin LTX A/T2, 64; Hankook Dynapro ATM, 64; Kumho Road Venture AT KL78, 64; Kumho Road Venture SAT KL61, 64.