I decided on getting the Sumitomo Encounter HT's but ended bringing them back and I'll explain why in a minute. I spent a lot time researching the Sumitomos, because there isn't a lot info on them in spite of the great reviews. The main items I was looking for a new tire was a highway tire, a tire with the same weight as the one I was replacing to maintain my current mpg, and a tire I could tow with. These tires are still a passenger tire but XL, which is higher than the stock Pirellis I was replacing. This Sumitomos met my criteria plus the were dirt cheap! That should have been a warning sign.
The tires look good, they ride good and the are quiet but they fail miserably in the tow/load category. The tread compound used in this tire is too soft and tires are squirrelly under load. They were worse than my stock tires towing my travel trailer. Also the rear tire tread measured 0.025 inch less than the spec of new after only 2,000 miles. Sumitomo offers a 30 day test period to try out the tires, unfortunate for me a wasn’t able to tow my 6,000 travel trailer until after this time was up, but my tire guy was gracious enough to still take them back and I bought a set of BFG ko2s from him. (I want to mention that somehow the Sumitomos are rated at a higher load capacity of the BFGs.) Yes the BFGs are not a highway tires, and they are almost 10 lbs heavier per tire, but wow what a difference in towing. I feel so much more confident now when I tow my trailer. LT tires need to come on any truck with a towing package.
