7000th Tire Post....

[tarbe]

Hey Guys

Hate to do this, but the posts I've reviewed from my searches are not addressing my question, so here goes:

I've been out of cruisers for 7 years, but just bought my third last week (97 FZJ80). I have an OME 2" heavy on the way and have been pondering tires.

I'll be daily driving, and my idea of offroad is Moab, Blanca Peak and the like. Also have to survive the thorns of South Texas during hunting season. I used to play in the mud, but got tired of the maintenance and clean up!

Given that I'll be on road a lot and in the rock mostly when off, can you chime in on your idea of a good tire? I'm guessing things have changed a little since I bought my last set of Swampers in '96. They were great offroad, but I need something more civilized this time around.

Thanks in advance for humoring me on my first post here. BTW, thinking either 285-75 or 295-75...don't want to go any taller 'cause I don't want to re-gear at this point.

 

[cruiserdan]

My vote would be GY MTR in 305/70/16.

 

[Beowulf]

BFG A/T ko in 285 or 305 is a nice compromise tyre. After that you'll move to something more aggressive. The favorites in the aggressive tread patterns are being discussed in this thread.

-B-

 

[Junk]

My answer was about to be

Then I saw your TLCA # of 2620. Dang that is low and very cool.

Talk to the LSLC guys and find out what they prefer for the thorns etc. Swampers still rule offroad, but some get by with MT/R.

Welcome back to cruiserhood.

 

[Riley]

I went with 2 sets with the offroad being MTRs. I drive a long ways to the trails so I need resonable road manners. I've been totally satisfied with the MTRs. Today they were outstanding on the rocks and loose stuff.

I'm a happy camper. Went with the 305s as well.

 

[REDDER1]

BFT AT 295's....I got them..i love them because they are FAT!

later..
joe

 

[tarbe]

Thanks for the replies. Honestly, I was looking at the BFG AT and the Goodyear MT/R the most at this point...sounds like they are both a top tire for what I am doing.

I'm concerned the 305 will bog me down. My last cruiser was a hard-core built 40, but before that I had a '91 FJ80. This '97 clearly benefits from the extra half-liter and the extra 12 valves, but I don't want to push my luck. I guess noone would recommend them if they thought they turned the vehicle into a dog...

On road, can anyone compare mileage and noise levels between the BFG and the MT/R? I'd guess the BFG would win in both categories, but give something up on the trail in the deal.

Thanks again for the help,

 

[Riley]

Tim - are you thinking of 2 sets of tyres? If you are then mileage and noise shouldn't be a concern. Thats a couple of the reasons why I don't run the MTRs too much around town. Also braking, handling, wear.

I'm no expert on this and basically built my 80 last year with the advice of the guys here. I did used to have a 60 with AT tyres and I remembered that it was touch and go in a few spots.

My MTRs are basically new and the noise factor is pretty good. Also if you keep the pressure up, I bet the milege is OK. As they wear, I assume they will get more noisey.

If you can swing the 2 sets then I really suggest it. In the long run it doesn't cost you that much extra. In fact over 10 years it's probably cheaper cause you're not wearing expensive MT tyres when driving around town (at least that's what I told my wife).

They are a pain to swap around though. I recal C-Dan can swap his in 20 minutes (including the speed-o correction). Last time it took me 45 minutes, not including mounting the spare or correction gear. . Mind you some of that time is digging out the tyres from behind the junk in the shop.

I can notice the lack of power with the 33"s as well so that's a factor. Fine for heading to the trails and around a town between tires changes but I woildn't want to keep it that way all the time. When driving long family vacations to non-wheeling locations, I really like having the street tires on (safety, noise, cost, braking, passing ect).

Of course it looks way cooler with the MTRs.

Riley

 

[tarbe]

Well, you guys got me thinking about the two set scenario. The stocker 275-70-16 Michelins have decent tread on them...they'll probably look kinda silly with the OME springs but it would be a waste to let them just sit. Once they wear out I could go up to 285-75 Michelins for every day (on the factory wheels) and save the more aggressive tires (on steel) for hunting season and on-purpose wheeling trips.

If you drive 500 - 1,000 miles to a wheeling destination, do you really haul 4 tires/wheels in the back amd then swap once you get there?

Cheaper in the long run, eh? My dear wife is always willing to save money!!!

 

[Riley]

I swap at home, the longest trip I would ever consider is MOAB and that's a long way from Vancouver. Even in that caseI doubt I would hall MTRs in a trailer. One of the great things of MTRs over Swampers is that you can long distance drive in them.

Don't let me kid you, a second set will cost a fair bit to get started (for sure with OEM steels) but then you are set. I use the LTX for everyday and they are great. If you've got lots of tread on them, why toss them?

 

[Doc]

Check into the Firestone Destination MT's. I have them in 285-75-16 (33's) and love them. Very substantial tread design, used exclusively at the trucks in the local gypsum mines arond here. Apparently good in rocks- and thick enough to not get puntured the first step off road.

 

[tarbe]

I drive 500 miles round trip to the ranch I hunt on. I can't imagine hauling an extra set of tires and then swapping them to drive 6-8 miles on the ranch (typical for a 1 - 1 1/2 day outing). I usually get to the gate at about 10pm on Friday. No way I'm swapping tires in the dark 2/3 mile from camp after a long day at work and on the road! I think I am going to have to compromise and get one set that will do triple duty....highway, thorns and rocks.

I saw a big Dodge with MT/Rs last night....those are pretty darn aggressive tires! Just looking at the high void tread one would think they are pretty loud and would not wear too well. They sure did look good, though!

I keep coming back to the BFG AT. I know they pretty much stink in the mud, but I try to stay out of mud. Given what you all know about my "needs", do you think there is a better compromise tire for the non-mud guy?

Thanks again for all the input,

 

[GXO]

MTRs will surprise you on the road, not nearly as loud as the "look"

 

[Riley]

It's really surprising how quiet the MTRs are. I was really apprehensive about how loud they would be before I bought mine. But they're great, my wife was driving the 80 today with the MTRs on and she didn't notice the noise level at all.

I agree 100%, no need to trailer MTRs, that's silly. I just like using LTX for around town ect.....

Another reason for 2 sets is that the MTRs are expensive and it's nice to save them for off-roading trips.

 

[tarbe]

....my resistance is weakening.

Ok, anyone have enough miles on the MT/R to swag how many miles they'll be good for? I realize the variables are many.

Would be a shame to buy $200 tires and have them last 25,000 miles

I drive 20,000 miles a year with 19,750 of those on pavement!

Man, those MT/Rs look sweet!

On the other hand.......(Fiddler on the Roof)

 

[Riley]

Do a search on the expect life/miles. I recall some difference of opinion but perhaps 20K to 30K.

If you drive that much/year and it's 98% hwy, think about 2 sets. I figure my MTRs will last 8 years unless I start going to MOAB.

 

[nyk438]

I read somewhere that the Mickey Thompson baja claw tires (pretty sure thats what they're called) seemed to fair best against the thorns of southwest texas....

 

[Mike S]

I have been running MTRs on and off road for the past 11 months. No problems, and the on road noise factor is not so bad - much quieter than Interco TSLs.

Mike S

 

[mtycruiser]

BFG AT/KO are a very good compromise on and off road, they last many miles and you do not need to change them to go off road.

 

[Brentbba]

Something not discussed - for those that have gone from the stock LTX's to the BFG, Firestone, Goodyear AT, MTR, etc.

Any appreciable decrease in your mpg with these tires compared to the street LTX?

Given my driving, really don't think the BFG AT will do anything for me except add the bling look of the more aggressive tire over the LTX.