6.7L Cummins Forum

I read with great interest the many replies to Tire Opinions Wanted since I once was a Methods and Standards Engineer at Firestone. I would offer the following more general information and advice when buying tires for any vehicle. First of all, there are no secrets in the tire industry. There are only a few makers of tire building equipment in the whole world. It is not uncommon to find Pirelli machines on the floor of a Firestone plant. And everyone has to make minimum USA DOT specs.

But tire assembly requires a surprising amount of hand labor. So a tire assembler can still build a tire out of bad stock, or create trapped air in the plies, or numerous other flaws since they are all paid on an incentive system (i.e. piecework rate) and the more tires they assemble that get through green tire inspection, the more money they make. Also, finished/cured tires go through a tire uniformity grading machine of some kind. This machine checks the total weight, balance and roundness. The best tires go to the automobile companies. The ones that make spec, but are less than perfect go to the retail outlets. Tires that flunk and can't be repaired become "farm tires" for non-highway use. Bottom line, the best tires of any kind you will ever get are the ones that came on your vehicle when it was new since the auto companies have first dibs on the perfect tires. Note: you can never be too sure with private brands because they can sometimes cheapen some of the specs and still conform with the USA spec sheet. My advice is always to assume that one of the replacement tires you buy is going to have a problem with it sometime before it is totally worn out. That being the case, who is going give you the least hassle when that day comes? Now that's the tire store you buy from.

Good Info and explains why I've always liked the OEM tires.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

So my question would be does that mean they get the first pick of tire also if you were to go back to the dealer to buy your tires? Or is it just the one set of tires that came on your vehicle?

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Winger
2008 2500 Silver 4x4 6 Speed Auto Big Horn Edition Volant CAI Magnaflow Muff Edge w/ Attitude
1990 Honda GL 1500 Wineberry 125,000 Miles
2005 Honda GL 1800 Candy Blackcherry 50,000 Miles