MT tires also OK for rocky stuff?

[e9999]

I have no serious practical experience with real off-road tires.

Besides getting there on the freeway (but this is not my DD), my main OR use is desert and mountain roads, mostly dirt roads with lots of smallish rocks or projections (a few inches size) and patches of sand or dirt. NO serious Moab style crawling (yet), basically mostly expedition style driving. No serious plans on doing much mud stuff.

I have always assumed that "MT" tires were intended primarily for mud style terrain and generally have more open tread for self-cleaning. But recently I read an article/ad about BFG tires that was claiming that their MT tires was also great for rocks. (But perhaps they meant for more rock-crawling type of stuff?)

So, anybody have comments (and experience) with MT tires on rocky terrain? Suitable or not?

How about my own use as described above? OK for that? I was going to get BFG A/T KO but should I also consider MT tires?

thanks
Eric

 

[Doc]

On BF Goodrich's website they go on and on about how their MT/KO's are circumnavigating the globe. All kinds of roads, all kinds of terrain (on a rover). So- based on company propaganda I'd say they are the ideal tire for any kind of terrain.

With really bad roads with large rocks and what not you might get the tread torn up a bit more than a conventional tire as the large lugs are biting into things, but that's about it for down sides.

My Firestone Destination MT's are very quiet on road- and seem to have a large advantage over BFG A/T's in mud, which I'm more likely to encounter in my area than rocks or sand.

 

[Beowulf]

Eric,

In general, an A/T will be one magnitude more noisy than the stock LT's and an M/T will be one or two magnitudes more noisy than an A/T.

The GY MTR's and the BFG M/T's do very well in desert, dirt, and rocky mountainous roads. The "MTR" in the GY stands for Maximum Traction, Reinforced. Both the GY and BFG's are sticky off-road tyres.

The BFG A/T's are an excellent compromise tyre. Good wear mileage, good off-road, good on-road. They are not excellent at anything. I ran them on and off-road for over 2 years and was very pleased with the tyre's performance.

The BFG M/T's and GY MTR's are excellent off-road, good on-road (albeit more noisy) and will give you decent wear mileage.

IMHO, the advantage to you (based on your intended use) of an M/T vs an A/T would be in sidewall protection. Even in small rocks you will get the occassional sharp rock that will seek and destroy your tyres. The BFG A/T's are notorious for sidewall punctures and the problem is exacerbated when aired down.

If you get an M/T style tyre and intend to do a lot of on-road (i.e, wet, snowy, hot concrete, hot bitumen, etc.) then give some thought to getting them siped. Siping will prolong the life and dramatically improve the on and off-road "stickiness" of the M/T and the MTR.

-B-

 

[e9999]

thanks for info.
Why do you think that the MT tires offer better sidewall protection? is that because of protruding lugs?
(I thought BFG AT had unusually good sidewall strength...)

And you don't end up with rocks chewing things up between the big lugs on the MTs?

so basically yall saying that MTs are not only good for mud then?

GY MT/R rated a bit higher than BFG MT on tirerack surveys...

E

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I'm just back from a week on the Rubicon and here's my take on this tire thing. Mud Terrain are great for everything-except mud. In mud they suck. For rocks, boulders, and virtually any other off-road terrain in the West, Mud Terrain tires are the hot ticket. My MT/R's have made 5 trips through the Rubicon, and I had my first flat this trip when the valve stem sheared off-the side wall strength on the MT/R's is excellent. I have BFG MT's on my FJ60 and do not like them. They are much louder than the MT/R's and feel more squirrley under heavy braking. I have minimal off-road experience on these tires but everyone who looks at my 60 tells me the BFG MT's have weak side walls.

Back to Eric's question, though, the BFG AT's would be perfect for the uses you describe and you will get better tread wear and a quieter tire. They work fine in Moab, but are a little light weight for the Rubicon and other similar Sierra Trails that are mostly rock and boulders. If you want MT tires I would reccomend the MT/R's over the BFG MT's but that is just personal opinion.

I have never tried swampers, but I have not been impressed with their performance on the Rocks of Moab or the Sierras. I suspect back East where there is more water and mud, they may be a good choice if mud is your pleasure. I hate mud, myself.

 

[alia176]

Just curious, is there a significant weight diff between the same size MT/R vs MT KM? Does anyone what a 315 75 16 mud tire (BFG or GY) might weigh on a stock 80 rim?

Ali

 

[upcruiser]

I'm on my second set off BFG MT's and have had good experiences with them. One of my main concerns was tire life which is why I chose them over the MTR's since I heard that their life span is much shorter. My biggest complaint is probably on icey conditions, but I'm planning on getting them siped which I'm hoping will help.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

Yea, i've got the bfg mt/km's and for trail driving, rocks, and on road and off road they are great. (kinda loud though for a DD tire) They kinda suck in mud, but then again i'm used to boggers if i'm going to be in any heavy gross crap. For them to be of any help in mud, you have to really get them moving fast to self clean. But if your looking to do rocks and stuff to that nature, from what i've heard, and the very very small amount of driving i've done on rocks, they did a very nice job. I'd recommend those or the a/t's if your going to be on rocks. But if you going to hit mud, dont do a/t's.

-Bryan

 

[Lars]

The type of offroad use you mention is how I would describe the roads here in AZ .

"smallish rocks or projections".

I've keep having an issue with MT's and small rocks getting up in between the lugs and puncturing the tires.

MT's are good for crawling but if it's grated dirt trails then go with an All-Terrain.

 

[Augie]

MTR are one of the best winter tire. It even beat my Bridgestone Revo on ice/snow.

Tire wear wear might be a concern if you live in hot climate. I live in OH and my MTR last more than 40K miles that is with about 80 degree average summer heat. If you said the 80 are not your daily driver then mileage are not a concern and MTR are better all round tire than BFG MT KM from my experience.