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tires that actually survive caliche, what are yall running on the lease
Started by george_west_roughneck on Sep 20, 2025 in Truck talk
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george_west_roughneckOPDerrickhandGeorge West, TX16 posts, joined Sep 2025
#1
third sidewall this year. 2020 F-250 XLT 6.7, 88k, still on the Transforce AT2s it came with from the fleet, LT275/70R18 E. lease roads between George West and Tilden, fresh caliche with that sharp rock on top the county puts down every spring. every one of the three was a sidewall cut, not a puncture, so no plug, new tire, 300 bucks a corner.
what do the water haulers run? i keep hearing Cooper ST Maxx and Toyo AT3. anybody put the new KO3 on a lease truck yet? i would rather spend more once than keep feeding the tire shop.
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caliche_road_kingDerrickhandKarnes City, TX22 posts, joined Sep 2025
#2
ST Maxx. three sets so far across two trucks, 275/70R18 E. thickest sidewall of any AT i have run and i have not cut one in four years of the same roads you are on. they are loud at 70 on 181 and they wear fast in the rear if you leave them at 80 psi empty. drop the rear to 60 with an empty bed and they go 45k for me.
they also pick up a rock in every tread void and throw it at whoever is behind you. warn your buddies.
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powerstroke_fleet_techDrillerOdessa, TX33 posts, joined Sep 2025
#3
fleet side of it. the fleets around Odessa spec the Michelin LTX or the Transforce because the fleet program price is around 160 a tire and nobody in the office ever drives on caliche. sidewall cuts on caliche are mostly a pressure problem. 80 psi in a load range E on an empty 250 turns the sidewall into a drum and the rock finds it. run the door placard number for empty and you will cut fewer, whatever brand you buy.
also check what your fleet card will actually pay for. a lot of you are buying tires out of pocket that the company would cover if you asked the right person.
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dually_on_the_leaseFloorhandCarrizo Springs, TX12 posts, joined Sep 2025
#4
on a dually it is worse because the inside rear is the one you cannot see. i run the Ridge Grappler LT235/80R17 E on the 3500 and the sidewall is decent, but twice now a rock has wedged between the duals and cut the inside tire from the inside out. once a week i pull the truck on the lift at the shop and look between them. found a fist sized rock in there last month. that is the dually tax.
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midland_water_haulerFloorhandMidland, TX9 posts, joined Oct 2025
#5
we run 130 bbl vac trucks so different world, but the pickups that follow us out are on ST Maxx or the Toyo AT3 and both hold up. the AT3 is quieter and about 40 bucks a tire cheaper at the discount place on Loop 250. ST Maxx is tougher on the sidewall. if most of your day is pavement between pads, AT3. if you live on the lease, Cooper.
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george_west_roughneckOPDerrickhandGeorge West, TX16 posts, joined Sep 2025
#6
went with the ST Maxx, 275/70R18 E, 1,340 out the door for four at the tire shop in Beeville. mounted last saturday, 700 miles on them. the pressure thing was real. i had 80 all the way around because that is where the fleet guy set them and never touched them again. 65 front and 60 rear empty now and it rides like a different truck. loud on 59 though, caliche warned me.
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cummins_flatbed_wesDerrickhandBeeville, TX19 posts, joined Sep 2025
#7
late, but for the record the ST Maxx has the extra sidewall ply, cooper calls it armor tek, and the fleet spec Transforce does not. that is the whole difference and the reason for the price. the construction details are on coopertire.com if you want it from them instead of us. and yes they throw rocks, my windshield has a star from following caliche out to a pad in june.
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