Maria went almost two years on the Good Year GS/A's that we bought with wheels.  With winter coming, we took a look at the tires and found that there was about 6/32" of tread left.  That's only about 2/32" of useful tread, and for my tastes, useless for snow.  So I started the search for new tires.

I wanted to find some "like new" take-offs from someone who purchased a new Jeep and immediately installed larger tires and new wheels.  Unlike last time when I hit some right away, I went begging.  I looked at several tires barely better than the ones I was replacing and finally accepted that I was going to have to buy new tires.

Coincidentally, 4-Wheel Drive Hardware were having one of their "Free Shipping" sales with an added $75 off offer on BFG's.  I took a drive down to Sam's Club and priced them there for comparison.  The tires were $20 more each, and would have tax added on for about another $7 each.  So even before the $75 sale price, they were going to cost me $100 more.  The rest of the online sellers worth checking were more expensive so I ordered them online.

The delivery was a little protracted.  The shipping company realized their full-sized trailer-truck wasn't going to make it into my neighborhood without some trouble so we arranged a roadside pick-up.  That turned into a several hour wait on a marginal snow day.  But the driver was blameless and nice so it was no big deal.

I took the tires down to my local National Tire and Battery shop that always treats my well and had them installed with the lifetime rotate and balance guarantee.

The tires just barely fit.  I went with 30" x 9.5" x 15" which also affects the speedo a tad.  But the tires are known for great wear, great traction, and they look good to boot.  So we shall see how we do when it snows!

Here's some info from Tire Rack:

The All-Terrain T/A KO ("KO" stands for Key benefit On- and Off-road) is BFGoodrich's Off-Road All-Terrain light truck tire designed to deliver go-anywhere traction along with improved durability and wear. The All-Terrain T/A KO was developed to meet the needs of pickup truck and sport utility vehicle drivers who desire the confidence and control to really drive their truck whether they are on or off the road.

On the outside, the All-Terrain T/A KO features an aggressive, high-void, all-terrain pattern with interlocking tread blocks and innovative siping to provide traction and handling on- and off-road. "ShoulderLock" upper sidewall traction bars maximize "aired down" traction and help provide the clawing action necessary to dig down to provide traction and steering control in deep dirt, mud and sand. The tread design is computer optimized to generate less noise. On the inside, the All-Terrain T/A KO features twin steel belts on top of BFGoodrich's TriGard (3-ply polyester cord sidewall plies) construction for strength and durability. Single strand beads (a single strand of bead wire is continuously wrapped multiple times until the desired strength is provided) enhance the tire's fit to the wheel to improve uniformity and ride quality, while rim protectors molded into the lower sidewall help shelter the tire and wheel from off-road hazards, especially during "aired down" situations.

Most BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires were designed to meet the industry's severe snow service requirements (and are branded with the snowflake-on-the-mountain symbol).

 

Size Service Description Load Rating	UTQG	Max Load	Max. Inflation Press.	Tread Depth	Tire Weight	Rim Width Range	Meas. Rim Width	Sect. Width	Tread Width	Overall Diam.	Revs Per Mile
30X9.5 QR15  104Q  C		1985 lbs.	50 psi	16/32"	36 lbs.	6.5-8.5"	7.5"	9.4"	NA	29.5"	705