Rear Tire Question?

[Aonghus]

Forgive me for being ignorant, but I just found out today that my rear kdws 245/55/18 are backordered indefinitely.

Because my local discount tire guy took a week to find that out, he has offered to slap on some bfg gforce KDW 255/55/18 on the back instead for the price of the kdws in the right size.

Will I have any problems with these tires?

I apologize in advance for not digging through all the tire threads and educating myself piecing together this answer on my own, but Im running slicks now, and need to commit one way or the other quickly.

Thanks in advance

[SC Cheesehead]

A number of us are running 225/55/18's in the back without any problems; however, due to the difficulty in getting BFGs as well as the wearout problems they have, many of us have changed to another brand.

I've got General Grabber UHPs on mine, other folks are running Nitto 425s, others Hankook, Ventus, or Falken. Key is to make sure you go with at least a V speed rating. That said, if you're getting a good deal on the KDWs, go with 'em.

[Aonghus]

A number of us are running 225/55/18's in the back without any problems; however, due to the difficulty in getting BFGs as well as the wearout problems they have, many of us have changed to another brand.

I've got General Grabber UHPs on mine, other folks are running Nitto 425s, others Hankook, Ventus, or Falken. Key is to make sure you go with at least a V speed rating. That said, if you're getting a good deal on the KDWs, go with 'em.

I just looked up the KDW. It specifically says its not intended to run in snow. I'm in Seattle, so I may be asking for trouble. Are any of those tires you guys are running all weather?

[SC Cheesehead]

I just looked up the KDW. It specifically says its not intended to run in snow. I'm in Seattle, so I may be asking for trouble. Are any of those tires you guys are running all weather?

Where are you located in CA, northern part? How much snow do you get? I'm in SC, so snow is not an issue.

Best bet if you want input on all weather tires for your MM is either use the Search function, or just ask the tire dealer for his options for an all weather tire with a high speed rating. Selections may well be listed as high performance SUV or truck tires, but as long as they have the correct speed rating it shouldn' be an issue.

[SWOOSH]

KDWS - DWS Dry Wet and Snow (Duh, I can't figure out the K part, its probably something obvious). Anywho, I am running Kumho 255/55/18 ($116 Tirerack), no problems, even did my first burnout last night :-D

[Aonghus]

Where are you located in CA, northern part? How much snow do you get? I'm in SC, so snow is not an issue.

Best bet if you want input on all weather tires for your MM is either use the Search function, or just ask the tire dealer for his options for an all weather tire with a high speed rating. Selections may well be listed as high performance SUV or truck tires, but as long as they have the correct speed rating it shouldn' be an issue.

I moved. Its been a while since Ive been on the forum. Im in Seattle now. We got blazed with 2 feet of snow right before xmas. Ive had to run chains, and if I run wider tires, Im REALLY reticent to keep doing that.

[CBT]

KDWS - DWS Dry Wet and Snow (Duh, I can't figure out the K part, its probably something obvious). Anywho, I am running Kumho 255/55/18 ($116 Tirerack), no problems, even did my first burnout last night :-D

Wassaaaaaaaap!!! Mine are still in the trunk :rolleyes: just waiting for one of the BFG's to detonate so I can limp to a tire shop and swap them out.

[SC Cheesehead]

KDWS - DWS Dry Wet and Snow (Duh, I can't figure out the K part, its probably something obvious). Anywho, I am running Kumho 255/55/18 ($116 Tirerack), no problems, even did my first burnout last night :-D

I did not know that Casey! So DW = Dry Wet only?

K=Krappy?? :dunno:

[Aonghus]

I did not know that Casey! So DW = Dry Wet only?

K=Krappy?? :dunno:

I think that is correct. and from what im reading, even the kdws sucks in snow.

those grabbers you are running have a few reviews saying they arent bad in snow.... maybe I should try those. The problem is, if the tire gets wider, no chains... if Im stuck, Im stuck.

After being in Cali for 10 years it NEVER occurred to me that this might be an issue....

[SC Cheesehead]

I think that is correct. and from what im reading, even the kdws sucks in snow.

those grabbers you are running have a few reviews saying they arent bad in snow.... maybe I should try those. The problem is, if the tire gets wider, no chains... if Im stuck, Im stuck.

After being in Cali for 10 years it NEVER occurred to me that this might be an issue....

Yeah, can't help you any with advice on the chains.:(

You might want to consider buying a set of 16" steel rims and go with some snow tires in all four corners. A know some of the northern owners do this.

[CROWNMARAUDER]

[quote=SWOOSH (I can't figure out the K part, its probably something obvious).


I remember when BFG first released these tires & in their ads they explained that the K in KDWS means "killer".

[CBT]

[quote=SWOOSH (I can't figure out the K part, its probably something obvious).


I remember when BFG first released these tires & in their ads they explained that the K in KDWS means "killer".

I believe it, they were killing my wallet every 10 thousand frickin' miles! ;)

[playtoyregal]

My Marauder sleeps in the garage all winter. Who would have thought that my Old Buick Regal and the Marauder would get along so well. With the BFs on my Marauder I can barely back it out onto the driveway when I need to play in the garage... That traction control fights me all the way!! If I had to drive it, I would get steel 16" and snow tires!!!!!!

[DOOM]

Im running GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 GS-D3's 255/55ZR18's on the rear as well as quite a few other C.A.M members with no issues at all :up:

[ctrlraven]

Im running GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 GS-D3's 255/55ZR18's on the rear as well as quite a few other C.A.M members with no issues at all :up:
Well that's cause your car will never see snow and barely any rain lol.

If your going to drive in snow I would recommend getting some 16" Crown Vic steel wheels and get some good snow tires on them. Your not going to find too much in winter stuff for 18" and if you do it's going to cost an arm & a leg. Tirerack.com sells a winter pkg for our car.

[Thunderace]

tire chains on the back of a mm??no thanks,get a winter beater and park the mm,or get steelies and snows.

[Aonghus]

I found a solution. 255/55/18 v rated Hankook Icebear snowtires for the back . (I simply dont have anyplace to store my 'summer wheels'). Seattle doesnt normally get much snow, and these SHOULD be good enough go get me through the normal 3-4" they get around here till the rain melts it the next day. I can run these till april, I have BFGs on backorder, and if they dont come in time, Ill buy some cheap Generals or Kumhos to run over the summer.

thanks everyone for all the insight. It helped me narrow down my options.

[Vortech347]

KDW's do not work at all in the snow. Infact you really arn't supposed to drive on dry pavement when its colder than 30* outside with them.

My friend learned this the hard way in his GTO this winter.

[DOOM]

I need NEW rear tires already! Just put these on about 3 months ago :eek: . Damn trilogy :D :burnout:

[Aren Jay]

.............................. ...

[Rollin'Thunder]

I have just over 16,000 miles on a full set of KDW tires. I hate them! The more miles I get on them, the louder they get. I don't recommend them for any weather. :shake: They have no traction in wet weather and break loose really easy even on dry streets. I live in North Texas where snow is not a problem. We have ice once or twice a year. I would not think of taking the MM out in that weather. Just my 2 cents.

[SeattleMAG]

If your going to drive in snow I would recommend getting some 16" Crown Vic steel wheels and get some good snow tires on them. Your not going to find too much in winter stuff for 18" and if you do it's going to cost an arm & a leg. Tirerack.com sells a winter pkg for our car.

Hey Aonghus (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/member.php?u=3185), I live in Seattle and did exactly what ctrlraven suggested: 16" steel rims and some saweeet all weather Nokian WRs. I plan on runnning this setup from Nov - May in Seattle, with all the dirt and rain we get. It's a little expensive, but worth the investment compared to buying a completely seperate winter beater. I used to live in MI, so these NorthWest winters are nothing!

If you need the specs I got, let me know. And we should definitely meet up some time! I've only seen one other Marauder here since I moved in Jan 2008, but rumor has it they're around.... ;)

Attached a pic with the winter rims on it.

[Bluerauder]

Im running GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 GS-D3's 255/55ZR18's on the rear as well as quite a few other C.A.M members with no issues at all :up:
BTW -- I've had the 255/55ZR18 GoodYear Eagle F1 GS-D3s on the rear for about a month and I know that they are supposed to have "excellent" dry and wet traction. Maybe it is just me; but the rears seem to break traction much easier than the OEM 245/55ZR18 BFGs in my opinion especially in wet conditions. In 5 years, I only had the back step out on me once unintentionally. So far, it has happened twice in less than a month with the GoodYears. Only about 6 inches to the right on a straight from a stop -- but OUT nonetheless. Maybe I am not yet comfortable with the GoodYears. :dunno: Or maybe my right foot has gotten heavier?? :dunno:

[ckadiddle]

So far I have had stock OEM tires, KDW2s, and now kadiddlebabe's MM has Dunlops on the rear. So far my overall observation is that regardless of what you put on, performance tires (even supposed all-weather varieties) tend to be less tractiony in the rain than any tires I had on crown vics or , in the older days, chevy caprice wagons, and chevy van.

I think there is a compromise on less traction on wet road surfaces to get the softer compound that sticks to the road for good dry sunny road traction. We have to be very light-footed in rain here, with a slightly modded 03 and a tuned only 04.

[Ms. Denmark]

Yeah, can't help you any with advice on the chains.:(

You might want to consider buying a set of 16" steel rims and go with some snow tires in all four corners. A know some of the northern owners do this.I have 17'' steelies with staggered Perelli snow tires for my winter driving. They got me through the winter. Coming off on Monday.:banana:

[Bluerauder]

I have 17'' steelies with staggered Pirelli snow tires for my winter driving. They got me through the winter and down to Louisville and back. Coming off on Monday.:banana:
There ^^^^ I fixed it for you.