n00b question on off-brand tires on a used 4R

I recently bought a 2018 4R. The 4R came with Ironman All Terrain tires and the truck currently has just under 36,000 miles. Are these tires OK or should I probably replace them given the mileage? In doing some research I can see that reputable brands have around a 50,000 mile warranty so I am wondering if these are pretty near the end of their usefulness?

My day to day driving is pretty minimal driving around town, not much if any highway driving, but I do plan to take the truck offroading in the desert and through snow in the mountains. So I am not too concerned about road noise given the minimal amount of highway driving, but I am most concerned about driving in the snow so I would prefer an AT tire that is good in snow.

Also, along those lines, is there a set of chains you would recommend for driving in the snow? I know there are times when they are required so I want to be prepared.

 

Welcome to the forum, this may help your search.
https://www.4runners.com/threads/snow-chains-for-a-2020-trd-off-road.16430/

 

Look for all terrain tires with 3 peak mountain snow flake stamped on the side wall. From what I use BFG KO2, Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac have this symbol. There are few other tires have it.

Goodyear is new to me but for both KO2 and Wildpeaks I've experienced ice and there's very little you can do other than listening to ABS music and feather brakes. May be chains would help but I have no experience.

 

Welcome to the forum. Much like parenting, your 4Runner doesn't have a set of hard rules in every case

However, tire depth and age of tire determine it's level of usability.

Get a ruler out, if the tread is 4/16th of an inch or less, if there appears to be excessive cracking in the treads (in the valleys...indicates dryrot), and check the date of manufacture on the tires. It should be printed on the sidewall somewhere, and you might have to look up the "manufacturing code" for a specific tire, so look for Ironman tires and see.

If all that checks out, and you don't see anything concerning on the tires, they are probably fine. But for piece of mind, you can swap them if you're looking for a different tire or look.

 

I had Ironman's on mine when I got it at 57k. One of them was bad from the factory and I replaced them WAY early with Load-E rated Kuhmo's. Happy I did.

 

Thank you, I just ordered a pair of snow chains recommended in the thread.

 

Let us know which ones you ordered, and how you like them when you get them.

 

Thanks, good to hear from someone who has some experience with this particular tire. In looking at some reviews I can see that Ironman does not advertise a lifetime mileage for the tire, which is too bad even if it is a budget tire. Given the fact it is not rated for snow and is likely getting long in the tooth mileage wise, I will probably end up replacing them.

Have you used the Kuhmo's in snow? I haven't researched them so I have no idea if they are even supposed to be good in snow.

Thanks again for your reply.

 

Will do. I ordered these but they are on backorder so I will not be able to test them out until next month.

Link: https://www.etrailer.com/p-TC2326.html

 

I have, and they're incredible in all aspects. Snow, rain, noise, traction.

 

Anyone recommend a good video for me to learn things like

• How to pick right chain set? There are on road vs offroad ones.
  
• How to pick the right tightening mechanism ones?
  
• How to install on the 4Runner? (I hear not to install on front?)
• How you can practically use them in a scenario like on a trail you get snow halfway up the mountain so do you use the moment you hit the dirt when its not freezing cold? (I know I like to snow wheel but I'm a tropical island boy, so stepping outside of the car is not my fav.) vs how you use them on road? (do you only install them where it show chain station on the side of the highway?)

May be this sounds dumb but I've read complicated things about chains so I got discouraged. If there is a 4Runner / FJ video on this I'd be glad to watch and learn.

 

Thanks again. This is the only AT tire I see on Kuhmo's site. Is this the one you have?

Link: https://kumhotireusa.com/us/global/...2-0004&returnType=L&idcate=MC000115&iditem=43

 

Just to point out, those aren't stock tires, meaning they were replaced more recently than 36k ago. Pure speculation here but the stock Nittos should have been good for 36k easy so those Ironmans are actually probably pretty new. I'd compare tread to a new one and if they are decent and otherwise check all your boxes, keep running them, personally.

 

This is a great point, they actually look like they are in pretty good shape.

 

Look them up and find out what the tread depth is. Then, get a tread depth gauge (they're cheap) and see how much tread has been worn off.

Just a side note, but rotating the tires every 5K miles will help increase their life and they will wear more evenly.

Btw, Welcome to the forum!

 

Thanks for the reply. I am going to go ahead and get a good pair of snow tires as we will be spending a decent chunk of this winter in the mountains. I don't really care for the ride of the Ironman and that's just putzing around town.

 

Check out Nokian Hakkapeliittas for snow tires. They're the bee's knees!

 

Those are the ones. Just be sure to get "Load E" rated ones. They make two versions.

 

Thank you! I found them locally and so far I can say I definitely like the ride much better than the Ironman All Country ATs. Looking forward to testing them out in the mountains later this month.