After 48K unpleasant miles on Wild Country XLTs (one tire was replaced because it wouldn't balance & another always caused my '04 F-150 to pull right when located at the front), I recently installed General Grabber HTS tires after checking all the usual sources for reviews, ratings, value, etc. However, I failed to notice an asterisk next to my size when reading some tech specs on the 265/70/17.
For the next several days, I noted that I was continuously having to adjust my driving style when slowing, approaching a stop, pulling into a parking space, coasting (level or downhill), approaching another vehicle from the rear, i.e. any occasion when decelerating. My truck seemed to be freewheeling with little off-throttle rolling resistance. I went back to check the tire's tech specs and found that I was unaware at purchase that the HTS had General's Eco-Ride tread compound for greater fuel mileage and twin, ultra-high tensile steel belts.
Even if I had read that info earlier, I probably would have disregarded it as a marketing device. But in practice, the HTS tires are a vastly superior improvement with much less rolling resistance and likely better mpg. The trade-off may be increased brake wear.
For the next several days, I noted that I was continuously having to adjust my driving style when slowing, approaching a stop, pulling into a parking space, coasting (level or downhill), approaching another vehicle from the rear, i.e. any occasion when decelerating. My truck seemed to be freewheeling with little off-throttle rolling resistance. I went back to check the tire's tech specs and found that I was unaware at purchase that the HTS had General's Eco-Ride tread compound for greater fuel mileage and twin, ultra-high tensile steel belts.
Even if I had read that info earlier, I probably would have disregarded it as a marketing device. But in practice, the HTS tires are a vastly superior improvement with much less rolling resistance and likely better mpg. The trade-off may be increased brake wear.
