Sumitomo Encounter AT All Weather

[Snagglefoot]

Getting ready for winter. Decided to go for All Weather tires to avoid changes. This is for my 2008 3/4 ton “ CIA” Suburban. They are LT 265 70 R 17 with the Mountain Snowflake rating and load range E. They have a 16/32 thread depth with all the sipes going to that depth.
Here are some shots.

 

[nthach]

The tread almost looks like the Falken Wildpeak AT3W.

 

[Slick3914]

I see a lot of sipes that will be gone early in the tires life.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I see a lot of sipes that will be gone early in the tires life.

Are you talking about the side view? The sipes are 16/32 deep and go right to the base of the treads. From the side there is a short slot but the sipes are way deeper than that.

 

[02SE]

The tread almost looks like the Falken Wildpeak AT3W.

Sumitomo owns Falken.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Here is some info on Sumitomo/Falken.

 

[GSCJR]

I've owned Falkens and was happy with them. Granted, it was a long time ago, when they were still Made In Japan.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I've owned Falkens and was happy with them. Granted, it was a long time ago, when they were still Made In Japan.

I should mention my new Sumitomos are made in Thailand. This doesn’t bother me at all as it would have been Sumitomo engineers who looked after the installation of the factory. I’ve seen Goodyear Wranglers made in China.

 

[daves87rs]

Nice!

 

[CKN]

What are the noise level like?

 

[I<3oil]

The tread almost looks like the Falken Wildpeak AT3W.

Looks more like Goodyear Wrangler ATs

https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/tire...dventure-with-kevlar/2732-75817770700000.html

 

[Snagglefoot]

What are the noise level like?

They have a light hum, but not like mud tires. The lugs are in 3 straight lines which helps reduce noise in my opinion, vs some AT tires that are not oriented in straight lines. Then there is one more line of bigger lugs on each side.

 

[k1xv]

Brands and locations of manufacture have little association these days.

My Corvette has USA made Nitto tires. My BMW has Nokians that were made in Russia. I had Brazilian Goodyears, and Michelins and Yokohamas made in the USA. And Continentals made in Eastern Europe.

 

[Delta]

These are definitely a "sleeper" 3 peak all terrain. Can definitely see the Wildpeak in them, which as another member mentioned they're the same company.

Definitely looking like my next truck tire; my last set of Cooper's left me disappointed.

 

[GSCJR]

I should mention my new Sumitomos are made in Thailand. This doesn’t bother me at all as it would have been Sumitomo engineers who looked after the installation of the factory. I’ve seen Goodyear Wranglers made in China.

I did a tire repair on a BFG today, it was made in China.

 

[Gladtojoin88]

They have a light hum, but not like mud tires. The lugs are in 3 straight lines which helps reduce noise in my opinion, vs some AT tires that are not oriented in straight lines. Then there is one more line of bigger lugs on each side.

View attachment 247476

My pet peeve is when a mechanic is too lazy to remove the stickers

 

[CKN]

My pet peeve is when a mechanic is too lazy to remove the stickers

I would worry about them bring balanced correctly- personally.

 

[Gladtojoin88]

I would worry about them bring balanced correctly- personally.

The balance I question if they couldn't manage to take off the stickers that are now stuck in the tread due to being driven on .

 

[Snagglefoot]

The balance I question if they couldn't manage to take off the stickers that are now stuck in the tread due to being driven on .

Actually, the stickers were gone in 50 miles of driving with no evidence they were ever there. I’ll bet management told the mechanics not to spend time peeling off stickers.

 

[GenSan]

That tread is deep!