Mud Terrains: The mud terrain or mud tire pattern is characterized by large lugs on the tire with large voids between these lugs. The large lugs provide plenty of bite in low traction conditions while the large voids allow the tire to clean itself by throwing off mud or other material when spinning thus providing a good bite on every rotation of the tire. These tires are also very popular for rock crawling as the large lugs can provide a way of gripping and pulling the tires up and over irregular rocky edges where a smoother pattern would just spin. The biggest disadvantage of these patterns is that they run rough and loud on the highway. To reduce this problem choose a tire with irregular or asymmetric spacing of the lugs and voids to reduce harmonic vibration at highway speeds. There are also situations such cold powder snow or sand where an all-terrain pattern would be better.
General Advantages:
1) Better Traction in Mud, Snow and Off road
2) A capable offroad tire that can still be used for daily driving
General Disadvantages:
1) Louder than an AT. Some are a lot louder than others. Research this point if road noise bothers you.
2) Not as good traction on wet (rain) pavement
3) Typically do not wear as long
4) May have a bumpy ride
5) Some have poor performance on icy roads.
The performance problems on ice for many mud tires is due to a lack any siping and consist of large flat surfaces, ie the ends of the tread lugs. Large flat surface on ice equals no traction and greatly lessens control as well. Some mud tires however are siped in an effort to improve their performance on ice. Siping should be a deciding factor if you live in areas that get icy roads. However, sipping can be added for a fee at most tire shops.
Discussion thread on Mud Terrains and Ice
Tires in this catagory:
1) BF Goodrich Mud Terrians -
From Vendor Site
BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KR- From LandCrusher70
2) Toyo Open Country M/T -
From Vendor Site
Kasmanff write-up from the FAQ
Toyo Open Country M/T 285/75-16
OME J's with Mr. G's up front.
Considerations:
a) Wanted an aggressive tire with decent on road manners. Was a toss up between these and MTR's, these were cheaper and rarer so I gave em a try.
b) I didn't want to re-gear and with all the hills here I would have had to if I went with 35's.
Performance:
So far these are very good on road. There is almost no noise, were easy to balance, and wear very well.
I have only made a couple of trips off road into difficult terrain, but these have performed admirably. As well as my MTR's that I had on a Heep. I have yet to air them down as I haven't had a need to.
MOJ write-up for FAQ
Toyo Open Country MT 315/75/16
1994 fzj80 2.5" Lift
Considerations for Purchase:
After running BFG A/T's on various trucks since 1992 I was ready for something different. Since I no longer use the 80 as a daily driver I also wanted something more aggressive. The BFG A/T's are excellent tires and of all the sets I've had I've never had a problem with wear or flats. I ended up choosing the Toyo's based on some reviews I read on MUD. I had a few folks say they wore better and were less noisy than the GY MTR's. Whether or not that's true I don't know as I've never owned MTR's. I also like the siping on the Toyo's and am hoping it makes them more useful in the snow and ice. They're made in Japan and the build quality looks great.
Performance:
Highway noise is very tolerable but louder than the A/T's of course. Off-road I've only had time for some mild stuff around my property. I have one loose dirt climb that I'd done several times with the A/T's. That climb involved some slipping when going up unlocked but the MT's it chugged up without a hitch. Re-gearing will be in my future but the need isn't near as bad as I thought it would be. I'll probably spend the re-gear money on other modifications instead and do the re-gear another day. Right now I'm going to focus more on accomodating 35 inch tires as the rears do rub on the mud flap on full stuff. As I put the passenger side front tire up a ledge the driver's rear began to rub on the mud flap at about the point at which the passenger rear came off the ground. The unloaded spare mounted on a stock 16x8 wheel measures 34.9. They balanced out very well. I'll edit this once I have some more experience with them.
Recommend:
Yes
3) Cooper Discovery STT - From Vendor web site
Trinny's write-up from FAQ
Cooper Discovery STT 315/75R16
This is my first set of Cooper mud terrain tires, however, I am also running the Discovery A/T's on our family van (Ford E-350). So far they have been a great tire.
Considerations for Purchase
Having owned MT/R's on a previous Tundra and not been happy witht he treadlife, noise, or balance characteristics, I wanted to find a tire that had the following characteristics:
1) Agressive yet offer a relatively quiet ride
2) Balance well without adding excessive amounts of weight
3) Excellent offroad performance, I plan to use on all terrain from Moab to mountain dirt and shale
4) I had to have a 315. I didn't want the look of a smaller size tire.
Other tires that were considered include: BFG MT, ProComp Mud Terrains, and Toyo MT.
Performance
I have had these tires on since January 2006. So far I have driven them on both wet and dry roads, in deep, wet snow, and on the rocks and mud in Moab. In all conditions I am very impressed. These tires are very quiet for such an aggressive mud terrain (althought he LX is well insulated). Excellent balance characteristics and handling on dry roads. Have run up to approx. 85mph without any significant bounce or wobble. Tends to follow ruts a bit, but typical of a tire this big. Granted the 80 is no hot-rod, but I can't get them to break traction on dry pavement.
Wet pavement characteristics are similar. Snow performance is excellent. During a recent snow run, found they dug extremely well. Performance on Moab mud and rock is also exemplary. Lugs clean well and grip great, even on wet slickrock. Ran at 18psi without any issues, and felt I could have ran them much lower to get better flex from the sidewall.
Have driven them for approx 1500 miles and the little nubbies are barely worn off. I was also able to fit the spare in the stock location under the rear cargo area...barely. However, it did rub on the rear panhard (rubbed the paint off).
Not a true 35" tire, measures out to 34".
Recommendations
I am MUCh more impressed with this tire than the Wranglers ran previously, particularly regarding wear, noise, and balance. Performs similar to the wrangler on the rocks, however, I feel the STT is a better snow tire. I have also since found that they are lighter than the Toyo, which means easier to get rolling and to stop.
Although I have not run them for many miles, my short term recommendation if an emphatic "buy". Besides, they have cool little knights on the sidelugs
LXCRSR Thread on Cooper Discovert STT Tires
4) Cooper Discovery ST - From Vendor Web Site
5) Goodyear MTR -
From Vendor web site
6) Interco Trxxus M/T - From Vendor Site
FJBEN's writeup for FAQ
Interco Trxxus M/T 35X12.50X16
1993 FZJ-80 4" slee coils/J spring rear
Considerations for Purchase
I was looking for a "true" 35" tire to run in a mud terrain. I was also looking for something very tough with good hookup/performance traction. I have had BFG m/t's, A/t's, Goodyear MT/R's, Pro-Comp M/T's and the Michelein LTX on rigs before. I wanted a decent lasting tire, good strength and decent daily driving as I only drive around 1-2 miles a day...maybe
Performance
Not much to really add at this point as I've only had them a week. My innitial impression is that that are smooth and pretty quiet. Not A/T quiet but nice enough to tell you have a mud terrain without being annoyed. They did take a bit of weight to balance but feel fine. In the rain I noticed no slipping or weirdness, and on the highway up to 80 things feel fine.
I'll add more as I go on a few runs.
Recommend
So far yes, seem smooth and others have reported they are a tough tire, possibly hard to balance and prolly need rotated often to get the most use. I maybe put 5K on a year so thats like once a year balance for me.
I will regear to 4.88's next year although it's not *that* bad. Perfect size tire for the lift. I will check the rubbing tomorrow once the bumpstop spacers are on.
Nay write-up for FAQ
Interco Trxus 35x12.5x16 (previously 33x12.5x15)
1995 FZJ80 3" Lift
Considerations for Purchase
- Tire had to perform well in all snow conditions from extreme conditions in the Colorado High Country to hardpack around town to deep trail snow
- Tires had to be comfortable and safe for a family of six...no excessive road noise or harshness or poor handling
- Excellent rock crawling tire that can handle both rock and unexpected snow conditions in potential precarious conditions (ledge roads)
- Must have excellent lateral traction
- Reasonable road wear acceptable as mileage is 5K per year
- No smallish 315's that are the size of 34" trxus
Performance
I have run these tires three different times, two of which replaced BFG AT ko's. In a 33" size, they are as quiet as the BFG's, but dramatically outperform them in all snow conditions including hardpack. 35's are something of a different beast. You know you are running a large load range E tire, but I've never run 315 BFG AT's to compare.
Due to the much heavier sidewall, this tire can be run at about 5 PSI less than BFG AT's for the same level of handling, and I have found them to be a more comfortable "around town" tire because of this. They soak up the bumps much better.
As a snow tire, the trxus MT is simply unbelievable. I used to "white knuckle" around in BFG AT ko's, and lose traction in mild offroad conditions, and these things perform like a dedicated snow tire. I trust 4 small kids and my wife in sometimes very ugly conditions, and there is no tire I would rather have in those rapidly changing conditions.
Offroad performance is excellent and they are tough tires. Lateral traction is outstanding.
You will balance and rotate every 3K, and maybe sooner - make sure free balance and rotation is included in your purchase. Some say that no one tire does everything well. I disagree. This is a true all terrain in a true 35" size. Get to know your tire guy and you'll love this tire.
Recommend
Cannot recommend this tire highly enough for people who rock crawl in the summer and deal with snow 6-8 months out of the year on and off the trail. But it is a lot of tire and probably not the best for a daily commuter tire.
7) Buckshot Maxi Mudders -
From Vendor Site
jaxcruisers write-up for FAQ
Buckshot Maxxis Mudders
1994 with 4 inch lift
Considerations for purchase:
I wanted a cheap aggressive mud tire that would last and it had to be a 35 12.50"
I picked them up for 115 a piece installed at big chief tire
Performance
You cant hear them when your driving on the street. They self clean beautifully. I have gottent 15,000 and i still have half the tread left. They work good in rocky terrain. I run them at 45 psi and i have them on stock rims.
Recomended:
YES
8) Dick Cepec Mud Country - From Vendor web site
Quote:
Originally Posted by woody
thus far, I love them...I do a 5 tire rotation every oil change, and wear is minimal for the 20+k I have on them...the lettering on the sidewall where the raise white is gets worn thru, so some of the other letters are white. Noise is better than the BFG-MT's I ran, and on par for most AT's. These are considered an aggressive AT. Mileage on the highway is 15 or close, at 70mph...so rolling resistance isn't terrible (tho I run 45-50 on the highway, and 65psi when towing). Zero complaints on road use, regardless of weather, and none offroad either.
Of the 8-9 streetish tires I've ran in the past 10 years, these are thus far my fave's....Dunlops, BFG's, General's, Goodyears....just rotate them VERY regularly and they'll wear great. IIRC, they are made by Cooper now, so their quality went up big time a few years back.
9) Dunlop Radial Mud Rovers -
From Vendor Site
Cruiserdans Write-up