New 18s tires on lifted Ridge - help decide

[zuhl]

So, I currently have a Rancho lift and 18" rims with some Goodyear Wrangler SAs in 265/60/R18. This size fits well, but the Wrangler SAs are just about the worst tire I have ever experienced. I dont know if it is that tire in general or just the particular oddball size I am using. Anyway, I cannot get a smooth ride out of these no matter what I do. I have had discount tire swap out 3 of them already and it still wobbles on the highway. I have had the rims measured and tested with other tires on them and they ride fine.

Anyway, the local manager at DT offered to swap them out for me with any other set of tires I want, even trade, so long as I buy a road hazard on the new set and pay for the mounting. I think that sounds like a hell of a good deal.

So I want something that will be relatively all-terrain and fit my 18s. I have tried the Nitto Terra Grapplers in 285/60/R18 and I loved the look and size, but I could not get them to stop rubbing even with considerable grinding of the pinch weld. I also really like the Cooper Zeon LTZ in that same size, but again, I know it will rub some. My other option is a Yokaham AT-S. They make a 275/60/R18 which might be the perfect fit for this truck. I think someone has them on this site and likes them.

Any other ideas for brands I have not considered? Any ideas on how to fit the 285/60/R18s and get them to not rib? Use a bigger hammer?

Thanks!

[k757]

I assume that DT also looked at the wheels being the fault and not just the tires.

I had a vehicle that I played the tire game with DT (coincidence I'm sure). They swapped out 3 sets of top rated tires. Still no good. They then did some tests on the wheel itself... the wheels was not round. After going around and around with them, and having to convince them that the third set rode like crap, they offered to refund my entire purchase price. I was lucky that I kept the stock wheels/tires.

[zuhl]

Yeah, they measured the rims to make sure they were perfectly round and everything was fine. When they changed them out with some road tires made by michelin, it rode fine. I want all terrain tires though.

[GTKillerbee]

I have the Yokohama A/T-S on my ride, although they are the 275/60-17 on the factory rims (no lift and no rubbing at all). They handle great off-road and have a very quiet ride for an all-terrain. I initially tried the Goodyear Fortera Tripletred, but felt like it looked more like a performance tire and I was like you (wanted something that made my Ridgeline look like a 4wd truck). I'm quite sure that the 275/60-18 will be no problem with the lift, as 265/60-18's will fit w/o any adjustments at all (I've done a lot of reading on this site, so that's why I say that).

[zuhl]

Thanks for the info. I believe the 275s would fit as well. After I grinded the pinch weld, I was just barely rubbing with the 285/60-18s. And this was only when I was turning on a slope (like backing out of the driveway into the street).

I did not grind it 100% flat, but I wonder if I did, how that would work. If I completely ground off the pinch weld and then added a flat plate of reinforcement to that area to hold it together that might solve the problem.

I also think that the rubbing has as much to do with the backspacing of the wheels as the height of the tires. If I had slightly less backspacing I dont think it would stick out so far and rub when I turned.