New Tire Recs for '21 TRD Off Road with Pro wheels?

Picked up a set of TRD Pro BBS wheels, eventually plan to have them re-painted bronze. Currently have the stock 18" TRD Off Road wheels, with (what I assume are OEM) Michelin LTX A/T 2's. I have a set of 275/65 R18 Michelin LTX M/S 2's from my previous truck I could throw on, but I'm leaning towards selling those for something a little more aggressive and cool looking. I live in the northern U.S. with plenty of snow and ice every winter, so I figured a 3 peak rated tire would be a good idea. The LTX M/S 2's performed well in snow and ice, so looking to keep that level or performance more or less.

I compiled a bunch of options based on the stock size of 275/65 R18 in both SL and E load ratings, as well as 285/65 R18's (all E rating except for Falken makes an SL option).

I understand going from OR wheels to Pro wheels I'll be shaving roughly 4-5 lbs. Current tires are roughly 40lbs, + wheels are roughly 30lbs for ~ 70 lbs total. Guessing I could go up to a roughly 50 lb tire with the pro wheels and be around ~75lbs total without much change in mpg?

Which then eliminates most of the 285/65 R18 options (also don't really need E rated tires, only hauling I do is a ~16ft boat).

Looks wise I think I'm most drawn to the Falken Wildpeak A/T T4W's in the 285/65 R18 SL , performance wise maybe something like the Cooper Road + Trail in 275/65 R18, or a mix of performance and looks in something like the Cooper Rugged Treks.

Other thing I'm not very experience with in an AT tire is how they wear, and related to that how noise is from the get go and as they wear.

Open to any and all comments, suggestions etc.

Compiled specs:

 

I was in a similar situation until earlier this week...

Loads of SL options at 275/65 18. E-rate you don't only have to worry about the weight but the stiffer sidewalls also negatively impact the ride of the truck. The lightest E-rated tires i've found were the Michelin Defender LTX M/S2. They don't look the coolest but they are the benchmark for a great on-road tire that also performs well in all situations (except mud...). But, IMO, i you have the option between SL or E-rated, go SL.

285/65 18 is another option, as you note the Falkens are available but they are not light even though they are SL rated. The Defender LTX M/S2 is also now available in this size.

Another option (which i went with) is 275/70 18. This will bump you up to a 33" tire, which fit a stock truck on stock wheels fine. Many E-rated options here (again, the Defender are the lightest option), but a few SL options as well.
-General Grabber APT, mid 40lbs, these are standard on the Nissan Titan Pro4X
-General Grabber ATX, 46lb, standard on the F150 Tremor
-Nitto Terra Grappler G3, these will be available next month according to their website and could be a nice option. Weights and prices are not out yet.

I was very tempted to wait for the G3s, but i needed tires for a trip at the end of this month. I went with the 275 70 18 SL Grabber ATX. They are a bit hard to find, but look great while still being quiet. A lot of good reviews on them as well and they are 3 peak rated.

 

Appreciate the input! I think I will likely go with something SL rated, or in between SL and E, like a C, but not many options there. I don't do any major hauling as my parents sold their heavy boat and camper, which just leaves my mid size boat, horrendous potholes/bad road on an industrial part of my daily commute, and occasional pasture driving/bad gravel roads. From what I've read, I think for day to day ride comfort, and also weight, SL is the way to go like you suggested.

My late father in law was a lifelong heavy machinery mechanic and swore by Cooper's for price/value, but I've read they got bought by Goodyear in 2021 which would've been after his passing and may have changed his opinion. Also seen a number of reviews saying Cooper's are harder to balance/wear worse than other brands in heavier tires, not sure if that's a new thing or always been the case.

It looks like the only SL offering I see currently in 275/70 18 are the General's you've got. The only SL I see in 285/65 18 are the Falken AT 4/W's or Yokohama Geolander's. Tons of options in the 275/65 18's for SL. Decisions decisions decisions

 

Lots of choices. I was set on a 275/70, otherwise i would have considered the Cooper AT3 SL rated. Same as you noted, i've heard comments of the quality degrading and plenty of reviews from people saying the AT3 XLT became loud later in life.

The 285/65 18 Michelin option are XL rated, so they are that middle ground between SL and LT tires, more like heavy duty SL tires.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...8DLTX2XL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

 

Yeah I've got a set of Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2's in 275/65 18 that are ~90% tread life, but debating selling them for something better looks wise to compliment the new Pro wheels. No complaints about the Michelins I've ever ran, they're just kinda boring looks wise and while snow and ice performance is good, I'd imagine a 3 peak rated tire is marginally better.