Big fat 80....Michelin XLs?

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GXO

GXO

GXO
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As you all know the Avocado is a fatass. I run loaded for trail at about 6000# or so on a normal basis, and I want to get a tire setup that can be a bit more "robust" when on the trail. I have done a lot of research and have found that even an Irok or TSL will most likely bow at the sidewall very early in my airing down (~20# or so). This means I have to run higher pressure with less sidewall flex than I would like.

So, I got to thinking about my big dumb truck being a heavy weight and thought:

Hey, if she is big, get big truck tires! I can get Michelin XL 11.00R16 tires for less than $1000 shipped and get those puppies on there. This would mean that I could take the pressure down to 15-18 for trail runs, lose little to no height, and still deform the sidewall on obstacles. I know that they aren't the "best" but they are super tough, cheap, and leaps and bounds ahead of my MTRs which I now hate.

The other upside is that since they are 38" tall and only 11" wide I should be able to use them with the existing bump stop setup. I honestly don't care if the rub for the few months I would run them until I could get the 6" springs from slee.

What do you all think? Here is a pic of what the tread looks like for those that have never seen them:

XL1600R20new.jpg
 
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no real knowledge on the XL's other that they look cool as hell. There are a lot of local sources that can get the tire for you too. I have a database of Michelin truck tire company's through work. I do know that about every military off road vehicle runs these with success.....lots of Pinz's run them too. Here are some local vendors in ATL that could possible get them for you. I can probably get you a data sheet on them as well. That tire will definitely handle the weight...it's rated @ about 4500 lbs per tire.

SPEEDCO....
Business Phone: 404-362-1224
WOODS TIRE CENTER
Business Phone: 404-366-2698
HILL TIRE COMPANY.....
Business Phone: 404-361-6337
ATLANTA COMMERCIAL TIRE....
Business Phone: 404-675-9998
TCI.....
Business Phone: 404-361-0130
SNIDER TIRE, INC......
Business Phone: 404-629-2652

if you need more just let me know. Also what soured you on the MTR's I see so many people running them. I would like a tire with a good combo of off road manners as well as on road durability.
 
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Dan your going to need a new transmission, transfercase, new driveshafts, regear the diffs, 30 spline longs inners and outers and figure out how to keep from sheering studs before I would go to something like that. Your not driving a 40 and with the way you wheel and the weight of your vehicle we are going to have to give you a ride the first 100 yards on the trail. Can you say portals?
 
those are some super tall crazy looking military tires. Its going to be interesting to see what is to come of them, good luck. Are you going to do some beadlock wheels?
 
A guy on pirate has these for cheap and I'm thinking of running them, but first I need to find an upgrade for my rear axle...nobody makes an upgrade for the 80 rear do they?
 
i've heard of two other guys running those tires. I think at one time clownmidget was running them. What i gathered is they are a hard compound and even aired down to 5psi and they still had full sidewall and didn't bulge at all. I also, as stated, they are heavy.

I honestly have considered running those tires, i just couldn't find a set for a decent price near me.
 
MSGGrunt has em up in MA. maybe he could give you some real world feedback. Hes running 6'' and 2'' BL.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/member.php?u=4938
there is a military surplus site w/ lots of goodies out of fayetnam, ill see if i cant find the site.
 
I plan on upgrading the front to longs and change my style. I know I can spin them with the gearing I have now, braking, etc. I am also putting in a non-e-locker rear end and going to an aussie locker with chrome back there as well.

The 6" springs will clear them and will be ordered. I have the chrome rears now. If I can source these I can put them on, have 38s (which I was planning on anyway), and get the sidewall that I need. I can honestly say I am one of the heaviest 80s out there. I spoke with MSGrunt and he is happy with the tire. The XL has a MUCH softer compound than the XZL, and I like the look.

If I can get em cheap I am all over it! :)

Worst case I sell em, get Iroks, and would be otherwise set to run them.
 
Trollhole said:
Dan your going to need a new transmission, transfercase
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Nope, they work fine for the need, and I will be getting some crawler gears in the t-case next year.

Trollhole said:
new driveshafts, regear the diffs,
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Done, running beefy DC shafts front and rear now, diffs have 4.88s, front e-locker, rear soon to be non-elocker for added strength.

Trollhole said:
30 spline longs inners and outers
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Super set will be ordered in March from Bobby. I already have poly performance rears.

Trollhole said:
figure out how to keep from sheering studs before I would go to something like that.
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I will be retapping the studs to run 100 series studs.

Trollhole said:
Your not driving a 40 and with the way you wheel and the weight of your vehicle we are going to have to give you a ride the first 100 yards on the trail. Can you say portals?
Click to expand...

The recent crap I have been through with the rear end has taught me that my wheeling style will be changing. I will try an obstacle (any) once or twice, then either winch or give up and turn back/bypass. I have spent too much money on repairs to worry about beating on things.
 
SCJO06 said:
those are some super tall crazy looking military tires. Its going to be interesting to see what is to come of them, good luck. Are you going to do some beadlock wheels?
Click to expand...

No beadlocks out of the gate. I can't afford everything all at once. I will be going to a double beadlock once I get a tow rig in a year or two.
 
erymer said:
Also what soured you on the MTR's I see so many people running them. I would like a tire with a good combo of off road manners as well as on road durability.
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thanks for the info.

The MTRs flat suck in our SE clay and mud. They don't clean for crap unless you keep the wheel speed up and then you run the risk of breaking more...ask me how I know :)
 
alkaline747trio said:
A guy on pirate has these for cheap and I'm thinking of running them, but first I need to find an upgrade for my rear axle...nobody makes an upgrade for the 80 rear do they?
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If by upgrade you mean chromoly? Poly Performance has them from slee for about $450 shipped for the rear set. I have them and they are high quality.
 
concretejungle said:
What i gathered is they are a hard compound and even aired down to 5psi and they still had full sidewall and didn't bulge at all.

I honestly have considered running those tires, i just couldn't find a set for a decent price near me.
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They are going to be stiff. Like I mentioned, each tire is load rated at 4500 lbs. x4 means that it will handle a 18K lb vehicle. with a 6500 lb 80 series riding on them, you can imagine how it'll feel.

And if you are looking for a dealer in this area Alex, I can hook you up with that too. I'll check on pricing here as well and let you know what I can find. :grinpimp:
 
Looks like the hard compound i was thinking was the ZXLs. I have been considering a set of these for a while. I look forward to your feedback.

http://www.militarytires.com/

check out the top speed on those suckers! 62 mph..... :(
 
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not my DD so top speed isn't a big deal...with 38s I won't be spinning that fast anyway :) Plus, I bet I can beat that spec! ;)
 
concretejungle said:
I honestly have considered running those tires, i just couldn't find a set for a decent price near me.
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Alex,

Here are the Michelin truck tire vendors in our area:

SNIDER TIRE.....
Business Phone: 800-528-2840

PIEDMONT TRUCK TIRES.....Business Phone: 336-668-0091

TCI KERNERSVILLE.....
Business Phone: 800-822-8473

PIEDMONT TRUCK TIRES (high Point).....
Business Phone: 336-841-3206

 
Here Alex...this guy has a bunch and is over in TN and has some used for very reasonable prices:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=554057

I am buying his XL set with 60% tread and another for a spare with 50% for about $800 shipped. I can then sell my 35s pretty easily to offset, then buy my 6" springs and new shocks in early March :)
 
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