I dont not want to hijack this thread, but it is obvious that you guys have questions involving specifically the Goodyear G614s and the G114s. So you guys that are disinterested, please forgive the long post.
My 114s have 3/4 inch of tread, after that they can be regrooved by a qualified shop for another 1/2 inch of tread. The 614's are not advertised as regroovable, but Goodyear classifies the 614s carcass as very retreadable.
http://www.goodyeartrucktires.com/tires/details.aspx?prodline=160007
The 614s have 1/2 inch of tread, which allows them to run cooler, this goes to carcass integrity. Once the 1/2 inch of tread is gone then its time for new ones or to have them "retreaded." I would not buy retreads on the onset, but I would have my own retreaded/recapped (grind the tire to the carcass and re apply the traction layer) if it came to it, and if it was worth it.
Retread process,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2_NYEvNrw0
Regrooving Process,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEkuILJGNJY
I do not have experience with the 614s, but I have studied them, they can be inflated to 110 lbs and support 3750 lbs each, and are good to 75 mph, your rims are probably rated for the 110 lbs pressure, if not then thats a problem, my 16 inch rims were rated for the 110 psi and 3750 lbs load. So I could have gone with the 614s. In retrospect that would have been a good and inexpensive choice for my rig.
On this forum, one contributor noticed that his G614s only had 1/2 inch of tread left. He said he had only travelled about 20,000 miles and was disappointed at their performance. I explained to him that the tire came with only 1/2 inch of tread to begin with, he became very happy that he did not have to change them, and became impressed with them. Its a purely anecdotal story, but yet a good story about the 614s.
I did get to see the 614s on a high end rig, I liked them and they were clearly substantial tire and certainly more substantial than the BlowMax tires or any other 80 psi 3450 lb tire. And generally speaking they were obviously an appropriate tire for the rig. Its only speculation, but I'm sure that the handling is improved with this class of tire. They certainly stand proud, the excessive radial pooch out at the bottom of my blowmax always concerned me.You wont see this with a tire inflated to 110 lbs.
The upshot is if you want the most for your rig without changing out your 16 inch rims, the 614s or equivalent (3750 at 110 lbs) are PROBABLY the tires you seek. If you are willing to change the rims, then perhaps you want to look at 17.5 inch rims and the G114s or equivalent. But a rim change and a tire change is EXPENSIVE. Im happy with my 114s but I think I would have been just as happy with the G614s.
BUT you cannot know what you want, until you weigh your loaded rig. If any one wheel exceeds or approaches the 3750 weight, you have a problem that will have to be addressed. There are guys on this forum that can tell you how to most efficiently weigh your rig. There may be a link to a print out for this purpose. This is one of the most overlooked steps in understanding your tires, I weighed my rig loaded, and wet. You might be surprised at what you find when you properly weigh your rig. Find out how to most efficiently weigh it before you go to public scales, you will be under pressure there and you will come home having spent more money than needed, and a whole handful of unnecessary weight tickets to look at. Perhaps someone will jump in on the weighing subject.
