So I finally had these tires out and I put them through their paces. First day was up at Anthracite. A mix of coal roads, hill climbs, water holes and mud, and some rocks. I aired down to 14 psi on a mostly stock 82 FJ40 posted earlier. We did a mix of greens and blues and whatever else we ran into. In the mud they shined, I did not need to spin the tires, they kept moving with steady easy throttle and worked great. Loose dirt, side hills, whatever they held their line. They griped the rocks great too.
Day two I went out with a small group at Rausch Creek and did lots of solid Blue trails and a mix of Greens to get around. Mind you I was in a full hard top and doors FJ40 so I had to be carefully. I was able to hold lines and sidehills and keep it off all the trees. I went into deep ruts and v notches, more mud and these guys like mud/water holes. I was the smallest tired rig in the group, mostly 80's on 35's and one FJ40 on tons and 39's. The trail leader kept coming back and asking if I was ok and if it was too tuff. The little 40 did great and kept going. On the last trail, Topless for Ta-tas we took the 40 on 39's through the black loop off to the side and up the hill. After spotting him I saw a line and told the guys I was going to try it, they all laughed and said, "no way". Well up the hill I went and caught up to the 40 on 39's who had just finished the loop. Not a scatch! Tires did remarkably well to say the least. They look great after two days out on the trails. I never got stuck, pulled cable or even got a tug in the two days we went out. Good times.
Now as far as size goes, they did rub the front relay rod on left and right turns. They also rubbed the top of the rear wheel wells as well as inner wheel wells on articulation. Yes I flexed it out a bit during my two day adventure. I had almost forgot how fun and challenging it was to wheel something so small again. I remember wheeling all over Telico, all the trails in a 75 40 on 33's, it took me back in time. I have been wheeling and racing my race car on 37-40" tires for so long I took it for granite.
With all this being said, I am going to take another one of my 40's and build a dedicated STW (Small Tire Wheeler) with these same 33" tires on it but put a mild 2 1/2" lift to clear the tires along with some other mods. My 82 is too nice to beat up on the trails.
Day two I went out with a small group at Rausch Creek and did lots of solid Blue trails and a mix of Greens to get around. Mind you I was in a full hard top and doors FJ40 so I had to be carefully. I was able to hold lines and sidehills and keep it off all the trees. I went into deep ruts and v notches, more mud and these guys like mud/water holes. I was the smallest tired rig in the group, mostly 80's on 35's and one FJ40 on tons and 39's. The trail leader kept coming back and asking if I was ok and if it was too tuff. The little 40 did great and kept going. On the last trail, Topless for Ta-tas we took the 40 on 39's through the black loop off to the side and up the hill. After spotting him I saw a line and told the guys I was going to try it, they all laughed and said, "no way". Well up the hill I went and caught up to the 40 on 39's who had just finished the loop. Not a scatch! Tires did remarkably well to say the least. They look great after two days out on the trails. I never got stuck, pulled cable or even got a tug in the two days we went out. Good times.
Now as far as size goes, they did rub the front relay rod on left and right turns. They also rubbed the top of the rear wheel wells as well as inner wheel wells on articulation. Yes I flexed it out a bit during my two day adventure. I had almost forgot how fun and challenging it was to wheel something so small again. I remember wheeling all over Telico, all the trails in a 75 40 on 33's, it took me back in time. I have been wheeling and racing my race car on 37-40" tires for so long I took it for granite.
With all this being said, I am going to take another one of my 40's and build a dedicated STW (Small Tire Wheeler) with these same 33" tires on it but put a mild 2 1/2" lift to clear the tires along with some other mods. My 82 is too nice to beat up on the trails.
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