Tires for CO trails/Moab (other than MTR's)

[RedRunnertc]

I think I still have quite a bit of life in my tires, but they are a pretty mild A/T and when they wear out, I'm looking for something more aggressive. I want to stay with a tall/skinny for now as I want to minimize/eliminate any need for lift. MTR's are not available in any of these sizes. I'm currently considering the 255/85-16 Trxus M/T as I have heard they are very quiet on the road and have sufficient siping for winter here. Looking for reports for on and offroad performance, wear, noise, etc.

[fjcruzer]

I got the BFG MT's and road noise is not a problem. I pinched one against a rim at Bangs Canyon over a month ago. The rim was dinged and the sidewall separated about 1mm deep in a wedge. No penetration and have been running it since on highway to and from Bangs again and Moab for three days.

As for snow... hard flat faced lugs... not so snow friendly, but I'm guessing that's part of the trade off for durability... Hence snow tires

[FJGrandJunction]

As Fjcruzer mentioned about the TrXus tires, talk to Stagecoachco about 'em. He's running them currently...I had regards about going with BFG A/T K/O's 285/70/17's when I changed the shoes on my FJ, but aired down to 20 PSI, I've yet to find something they couldn't tackle....Erm that is besides mud!

[Jacket]

yea - most of of the 255/85's I've seen are the BFG MT's, and a couple of Maxxis Bighorns. I've never run either of them, but I've seen great reviews. But as you know, tire opinions can be all over the map....

One of the Expeditions West Tacomas is running Bighorns, and he gave good reviews of them on and off road.

[hawkonthewing]

Originally Posted by fjcruzer

I got the BFG MT's and road noise is not a problem. I pinched one against a rim at Bangs Canyon over a month ago. The rim was dinged and the sidewall separated about 1mm deep in a wedge. No penetration and have been running it since on highway to and from Bangs again and Moab for three days.

As for snow... hard flat faced lugs... not so snow friendly, but I'm guessing that's part of the trade off for durability... Hence snow tires

All right, folks, I'm going to really go against the grain here. I think automatically airing down to 10 to 20 psi as soon as you go off road is BOGUS. You heard me. Airing down subjects your tires to the kind of damage you are talking about in addition to sidewall tears. I have actually aired UP LT tires such as BFG MT's to 40 or 50 psi just to avoid this kind of damage. I figure that if I fail to get over a particular problem because of traction, I'll can always air down for that situation. For the rest of the time, why ask for trouble?

As for snow, I have always found MT's to be great in deep snow and slush. It's ice where they do not excel. It's not that they are bad, they just don't excel.

Speaking of tires, what have ya'll heard about Coopers?

[Lysmachia]

Interesting take Hawk...

I would say for some of the trails we run in c-rado that is pretty true. However many of the trails I run in Tippy will be shorter but a LOT of obstacles. But Troy runs his at a pretty high PSI because his sidewalls aren't the greatest and he does awesome... so you do have a point!

[g34rh34d]

Originally Posted by fjcruzer

I got the BFG MT's and road noise is not a problem. I pinched one against a rim at Bangs Canyon over a month ago. The rim was dinged and the sidewall separated about 1mm deep in a wedge. No penetration and have been running it since on highway to and from Bangs again and Moab for three days.

As for snow... hard flat faced lugs... not so snow friendly, but I'm guessing that's part of the trade off for durability... Hence snow tires

I had BFG MTs on my 73 bronco. Awesome tires for off road, 3 ply sidewall, very puncture resistant.

As far as the comment on snow performance; simple. get them siped. it is a night and day difference. I have ran them both ways, and trust me, if you get the inner tread siped (leave the outside lugs intact to minimize chunking out the lugs), you will be very happy with this combination.

FWIW

[hawkonthewing]

Originally Posted by g34rh34d

I had BFG MTs on my 73 bronco. Awesome tires for off road, 3 ply sidewall, very puncture resistant.

As far as the comment on snow performance; simple. get them siped. it is a night and day difference. I have ran them both ways, and trust me, if you get the inner tread siped (leave the outside lugs intact to minimize chunking out the lugs), you will be very happy with this combination.

FWIW

I agree. About 80% of why I'm a BFG fan is the puncture and tear resistent sidewalls.

Wow, that siping is a thought. I am pretty sure that one of my old sets I had siped and it seemed to help (although I'm a little fuzzy on that). I didn't realize you could just do one side. That's interesting. It might not work for me though because I cross rotate my tires, which may get us into another whole subject.

So what about Coopers? Anybody heard anything?

[hawkonthewing]

Troy, What are MTR's?

[RnCTaco]

Hawk,
when g34rh34d said inside I belive he means sipe the inside two treads and leave the outsid two treads alone (33x10.5 have four treads). This would mean that whatever way you rotate the tires would be fine.

[RedRunnertc]

Yeah - maybe CENTER is a better description than inside.

Goodyear MTR's. What it seems EVERYONE is running ...

[fjcruzer]

Saw lots of MTR's in Moab, and the new Toyo MT looks gnarly and were on two of our rigs there, but it looks like they are all sized BIG...

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/AT-MT...en-Country.htm

There has been a little discussion about the Cooper STT's in the blue room and they look like a nice compromise: lugged with a little siping.

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...ght=cooper+stt

As far as airing down goes, I never aired down until recently and there were very few places I couldn't go. However, now that I've been doing some crawling and working obstacles as much as just wheeling, airing down has made a huge difference, especially on the slickrock.

[hawkonthewing]

Originally Posted by fjcruzer

As far as airing down goes, I never aired down until recently and there were very few places I couldn't go. However, now that I've been doing some crawling and working obstacles as much as just wheeling, airing down has made a huge difference, especially on the slickrock.

I agree. Slickrock or sand are the obvious cases where it makes sense. I have just noticed a tendency for some to automatically air down to very low pressure as soon as they leave the pavement. I think it's good to keep in mind that, in many situations, air pressure is your tires only defense. I am just saying air down if you have to; but if you don't, keep some pressure in your tires unless you really enjoy buying tires.

[hawkonthewing]

Originally Posted by RnCTaco

Hawk,
when g34rh34d said inside I belive he means sipe the inside two treads and leave the outsid two treads alone (33x10.5 have four treads). This would mean that whatever way you rotate the tires would be fine.

Originally Posted by RedRunnertc

Yeah - maybe CENTER is a better description than inside.

Center. Oh yeah - you mean outside of the tire - not outside of the truck. Got it. I still had no idea you could do that. Cool!

Remember that white paper on Expeditions West? I think he was saying that traction on an uneven surface such as rock was better if you had more edges. Maybe siping improves traction for crawling as well as on ice.

[RedRunnertc]

Yeah, I would LOVE to try a set of Blizzaks in Moab...

[hawkonthewing]

Originally Posted by RedRunnertc

Yeah, I would LOVE to try a set of Blizzaks in Moab...

So there's your answer. Now you can hang up this thread and go buy tires

[DriftinCO]

I found the Cooper Discoverer STTs to be incredible on trails.

[RedRunnertc]

Well, I don't think they would be that great all-around and in the summer heat, you could probably watch them wear out before your eyes!

[hawkonthewing]

Sorry Troy, I thought you were totally jerkin' my chain about the Blizzacks. Yes, it would be an interesting experiment. And I can imagine a set in Moab about July. It might be like having tires made of chocolate.

[hawkonthewing]

Thanks Drifter,
I have a local tire dealer I like and since he is a Cooper dealer he can't buy the BFG's at competitive prices. I have liked a couple of sets of Cooper all weather type LT tires I have owned but haven't wheeled with them. I was wondering if I should take a risk on the SST's. I guess I'm mainly concerned about whether the sidewalls are as tough.

[RedRunnertc]

No, I would LOVE to try them, just want it to be on someone else's dime! LOL

I think it would be funny to show up all the guys with big tires when they stick like glue!

On a serious note, I don't know why a tire mfg doesn't make a tire specifically for slickrock with a stupid soft compound, tons of siping, and colored red (or at least something other than black that won't show up on the rock as much)

[hawkonthewing]

Originally Posted by RedRunnertc

On a serious note, I don't know why a tire mfg doesn't make a tire specifically for slickrock with a stupid soft compound, tons of siping, and colored red (or at least something other than black that won't show up on the rock as much)

Yea, I can dig it. Something biodegradable that you could grind up and put in your flower pots. My Sierra Club associates would love that. Whoops, sorry, that was on a serious note.

Seriously though, it is an interesting point. But also kinda' fun

[Lysmachia]

I think Troy's red tires are an aweome Idea! They would look sexy once I paint my truck Moab Camo....

[hawkonthewing]

Originally Posted by Lysmachia

I think Troy's red tires are an aweome Idea! They would look sexy once I paint my truck Moab Camo....

No way - fa git a bout it. I wan the red tires fo ma cherry FJ. You and da sex is gunna halvta wait, baebi.

[DriftinCO]

I've wheeled on the sharp rocks in AR and the trails out here with them. Can't wait to get to Moab with them. I know they are heavy tires, about 55lbs each. But I don't remember what the sidewall ply is. I've only had one flat with them and that was a big as* screw jammed into the center of the tread that was picked up on the road somewhere local.

And with this heavy wet snow we had yesterday, not even a real challenge.

[Lysmachia]

Originally Posted by hawkonthewing

No way - fa git a bout it. I wan the red tires fo ma cherry FJ. You and da sex is gunna halvta wait, baebi.

Oh whateve' baby! I will school you with my MOAB colors!

[hawkonthewing]

So Lysmolly,
What's up with this storied "truck"? Is it real or just a mirage on the Moab desert? I want proof. I want a link to a thread that reveals all. I want to know the plan. I want a picture I WANT TO SEE THIS RED TIRED TRUCK WITH MOAB CAMO!

[Volcom]

Originally Posted by hawkonthewing

I agree. Slickrock or sand are the obvious cases where it makes sense. I have just noticed a tendency for some to automatically air down to very low pressure as soon as they leave the pavement. I think it's good to keep in mind that, in many situations, air pressure is your tires only defense. I am just saying air down if you have to; but if you don't, keep some pressure in your tires unless you really enjoy buying tires.

I personally enjoy the smooth ride when you air down a tire off-road. Driving a leaf sprung truck and high air pressure would not be a fun day

I serious doubt that airing down a tire for 5-10-15 miles offroad 3 times a month would do anykind of serious damage to a tire. I don't recommend driving down the hwy aired down but off road, I always air down.

[Volcom]

Super Swamper LTB's all the way

[Lysmachia]

Originally Posted by hawkonthewing

So Lysmolly,
What's up with this storied "truck"? Is it real or just a mirage on the Moab desert? I want proof. I want a link to a thread that reveals all. I want to know the plan. I want a picture I WANT TO SEE THIS RED TIRED TRUCK WITH MOAB CAMO!

Well I am not sure when I will get the chop and all the painting done but it should be done before Moab! (In september that is)