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Wrangler DuraTrac 265/70R17s?

10K views 19 replies 8 participants last post by  CommanderChaos 
#1 ·
Has anyone used these on an XK with a 2" RC lift?

My BFG MTs need replacing (really BAD vibration from uneven wear*) and I've pretty much settled on DuraTracs for a replacement, but they don't come in the 255/75R17 size my MTs are. I'm thinking of going for the 265/70R17s - that size is listed here (http://www.jeepcommander.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8393) as being OK with that lift and spacers (I have 1.5" spidertrax), but I'd like to hear if anyone has experience with either these tires in that size, or ANY tire in that size. I'll be ordering them online so I really don't want to worry about them not working out.

Since my first choice for supporting vendors aren't allowed to work on my XK because my spacers scare their lawyers, I'm going to order them from TireRack.com and have my friendly neighborhood speed shop install them and give me an alignment at the same time. I'd like to hear about any experiences here with TireRack as well. I've done a search here and not found anyone complaining about them and I know someone who has used them so I think I'll be OK, but would also like to hear from my Jeep peeps.


*When I last had my tires rotated (about every 5,000 miles) I noticed some really bad vibration between 64 and about 75 MPH. I took them to two separate tire shops to have them balanced and they both told me there's no point in balancing them because the treads are worn unevenly. They first said I hadn't been rotating them (I HAVE!) and one of the shops told me that the MTs really aren't made to drive on normal roads (really?). The vibration is only getting worse - steering wheel shakes like crazy and my son started humming with a clear vibrato coming from the vibrations... So I'm going to hold onto them and maybe get a set of wheels to use them when I want to get really dirty and don't have to drive too far on the freeway.
 
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#2 ·
The problem you are experiencing is cupping to the best of my knowledge. I have that problem with my MT/R with Kevlar in 265/70R17 (size has nothing to do with it but I am running the size you are asking about). I didn't really understand what cupping was but it is just what MT/Rs do on normal roads especially through curves at speed (canyons/mountains where I live). I rotate them a lot and real careful about pressure. Still cup. My friends f-350 had same problem with different M/Ts.

The CHiPs out here run Duratracs on their Durangos and Expeditions all year round. Great in all conditions. Also have a co-worker who loves them on Wrangler. They will be my next choice in tire.

As far as the size goes with the lift. I have no problems... anymore. 4WheelParts pinned my wheel wells back a lot better then they were with zip ties (unnoticeable from naked eye) after I modded pinch weld as recommended and reshaped wheel well with heat gun. So you can run the tires but it takes more then just a 2" lift.

Compare prices at 4wheelparts.com to tirerack.
 
#3 ·
The problem you are experiencing is cupping to the best of my knowledge. I have that problem with my MT/R with Kevlar in 265/70R17 (size has nothing to do with it but I am running the size you are asking about). I didn't really understand what cupping was but it is just what MT/Rs do on normal roads especially through curves at speed (canyons/mountains where I live). I rotate them a lot and real careful about pressure. Still cup. My friends f-350 had same problem with different M/Ts.

The CHiPs out here run Duratracs on their Durangos and Expeditions all year round. Great in all conditions. Also have a co-worker who loves them on Wrangler. They will be my next choice in tire.

As far as the size goes with the lift. I have no problems... anymore. 4WheelParts pinned my wheel wells back a lot better then they were with zip ties (unnoticeable from naked eye) after I modded pinch weld as recommended and reshaped wheel well with heat gun. So you can run the tires but it takes more then just a 2" lift.

Compare prices at 4wheelparts.com to tirerack.
USMCMP - thanks for the response and your service (guessing Marine Corps. MP by the handle; ain't I bright?).

Your thoughts on the cupping sound right on.

When I look at the tire sizes with the calculator at http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp, I get that the MTs I'm currently running are 32.05" in diameter; the 265/70R17s are 31.06" in diameter (1" less) so I would expect that they would fit well since they have a smaller diameter, even though they're a touch (0.40") wider.

I had some rubbing with the MTs and ignored it too long, until the wheel well wore through and broke - this made some really obnoxious noises when the blocks on the tread would catch during a sharp turn, so I just trimmed the wheel well out where the rubbing was and haven't had a problem since - no apparent contact on the pinch weld. So I'm wondering why you say more than a 2" lift is necessary. I'm guessing that your lift is 4".

Don't take it as "I don't believe you," I'm just looking for a basis for the statement. I didn't go through all the size calculations above until now - I was being lazy and looking for others' input :)

I'll check out 4wheelparts.com for pricing as well.. Thanks for the tip.
 
#4 ·
I have the 265/70/17 duratracs in load range C and am very pleased with them. The wear on them has been great at 30,000 miles. I do a 5 tire rotation so I'm sure that has helped at this many miles. Most people still think the tires are new.

They will fit fine with your 2" R/C lift. I have the RR 2.25 in front and OME HD springs in the rear with stock wheels (no spacers) and get pretty minimal rub. If I turn full lock it will rub, but since you have spacers it shouldn't be a problem.

Traction off road is great. I have been mostly in mud, sand, and a few rocky areas. No idea about snow (I live in Houston) but I hear they do great. Traction is very good on wet roads as well.

The noise is definitely more than stock forteras, but still quieter than a M/T. They are even more quiet when compared to my brothers BFG All terrains..
 
#5 ·
Let me say this again another way,

What you will need is:

A 2" lift (I have the ROugh Country)
Mod Pinch Weld (Bent mine back with sledge hammer)
Reshape wheel liner (I used heat gun)

The reason being is the tire is wider plus you have a spacer pushing the tire outboard so when you turn the wheel full lock to the right or the left the outside tread is going to be rubbing that much more against that plastic in the back of the well where it sticks out from factory. See what I am saying or want pics?
 
#6 · (Edited)


This pic shows how the back of the driver side wheel is rubbing and the front of passenger side rubs a little in this position and catches on the front of liner while reversing. So with your 2" lift do the other modifications or drive your Commander straight. I was so frustrated when I first got it back from shop cause thought I would need smaller tires. I have to run at least a 265 cause 17x9 rim rather then 17x8. I dont run spacers but have 4.53 backspacing which is equivalent.
 
#7 ·
I get it USMCMP - and thanks for the pic - I really like those wheels!

Thanks for the response Aggie07. Where do you keep the fifth tire? does it fit (uninflated) in the spare tire well?

I'm going to order them later today; hopefully my XK will be rocking them by this weekend.
 
#8 ·
For a long time I kept the spare in the back of the Commander. Now I have it back in the spare tire well un-inflated and carry a small, portable tire inflater. It took some coaxing to get it to fit but it does without any real distortion to the tire.
 
#9 ·
I just ordered my tires from TireRack. Not three minutes after the transaction went through, I got a call from TireRack confirming the size of the tires and making sure that I didn't mean 245/70s instead of 265/70s and was I lifted or?? I let them know I am lifted and that I've talked to others using this size and it works so they sent it to shipping. They're estimating tomorrow or Thursday for delivery - and that's shipping ground.

Hopefully I'll be able to have them mounted by this weekend, although I was coming to appreciate the vibrating seats my MTs were giving me at highway speed :) I won't miss the vibrating steering wheel.

I'm impressed with TireRack so far...
 
#10 ·
I think you will be pleased with them. I really like the way they handle on/off road.

Will TireRack mount them with wheel spacers? With my stock wheels and lift they just barely cleared the UCA bolt. This was fine since everything moves as a unit, but I still trimmed it ~1/4" just to be on the safe side.
 
#11 ·
TireRack ships them to my installer (Slim's Hotrod shop, in this case) who are the only people in the area that could align my XK with the MTs on. I called them before having the tires shipped there to ensure that they wouldn't have a problem with the spacers and they don't..

I'm going to have an alignment done with the new tires since it's been a while and the XK's not tracking dead straight (although that could be the MTs talking, too).
 
#12 · (Edited)
Has anyone used these on an XK with a 2" RC lift?

My BFG MTs need replacing (really BAD vibration from uneven wear*) and I've pretty much settled on DuraTracs for a replacement, but they don't come in the 255/75R17 size my MTs are. I'm thinking of going for the 265/70R17s - that size is listed here (http://www.jeepcommander.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8393) as being OK with that lift and spacers (I have 1.5" spidertrax), but I'd like to hear if anyone has experience with either these tires in that size, or ANY tire in that size.
I have a Rocky Road 2.25" lift. I just had Toyo Wild Country M/T's installed in that size. In the last two weekends, they've had a good workout. Labor Day, we were in the Colockum Wildlife Wilderness, and last weekend, I attended the PNW Jeep Meet & Greet in Little Naches. The things are unstoppable, and ho-hum rocks nicely.

I cut pieces from the thin plastic fender well material, and haven't bothered with the pinch weld yet. I have Ultrasport wheels, so the spacing's different. The Duratrac isn't quite a meaty as the Toyo M/T, so you probably won't have any problems. Have the tire store do a test fit like I did. I don't know what the factory wheels will do with tires that big. I do know that my tires are slightly past the fender flares, where the OEM 245's on factory wheels were a good 2'' inside the flares. That does in fact, make for about a 4" wider track for stability.

BTW, one of my gripes for a long time has been the tame tread that you can only get with ANY tire less than 265-whatever. I like to play, and got tired of ''all terrain'' tires that should be named ''some terrain, sometimes kinda' sorta" :badrazz:





I'm going to have an alignment done with the new tires since it's been a while and the XK's not tracking dead straight (although that could be the MTs talking, too).
Yeah, you can't take your eyes off the road for very long with M/T's. Such is the nature of the beast. :)
 
#13 · (Edited)
Duratracs = sweet

With my mods (see below) they run GREAT! I have pics in my public album, I will try and post here.
 

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#14 ·
Got them installed.

The difference in the ride is like night and day - especially the way the MTs were vibrating the hell out of me. And they're a lot quieter than I remember the MTs being before they went crazy on me. And I think they actually look more aggressive and bada$$ than the MTs.. I'm happy. Mostly.

Bad news is that the shop found both of my upper ball joints, the left lower ball joint and the left hub bearing were all bad! They couldn't replace the upper ball joints so I need new UCAs and they have to be ordered so couldn't be fixed yesterday. I had the other work done and ordered the UCAs from discountautoparts.com - they had them for around $85 each, as opposed to the stealership who wanted $250 each.

The mechanic said he was surprised at how bad they were with only ~50K miles on the XK. I'm wondering if the MTs being so bad caused the failure?
 
#16 ·
Glad you like the tires, but sucks about the ball joints!

Have you thought about going with the JBA upper UCA's? I am just waiting for my upper UCA's to go out so I have more of an excuse to get these!

They are more expensive but look like they are well worth their money. Especially since they have a replaceable/serviceable ball joint.
 
#15 ·
Once the steel bands break, or there is enough vibration it will prematurly(sp?) wear out your steering, bushings, and can cause some weird problems. I waited waaaayyy too long on my Pathfinder, and ended up replacing almost everything up front.
 
#18 ·
Hey Crunchy, I have 3 stock upper arms sitting in my shed. You can use 2 of them if you want until you save up enough cash for the jeepin arms. I took them off to put the jeepin arms on. One of them is only a few months old. When and if you do get the jeepin arms jjust send them back or send them to another member in need.
 
#19 ·
D-nice, that's an awesome offer but the parts are on a FedEx truck and will show up this Tuesday. I'll just get them on and look at the heavier ones after I can bump out some of the dents this experience has put into my Visa card..
 
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