MT vs AT Tires

[cruiser_guy]

The Super swampers are great but just too much to import here into the country.

Good luck,
John

John, maybe I'll need to pick up some Super Swampers on my next years trip to Canada/USA since I'll have a set of rims here anyways. This years trip is a set of tires for the LV. Drive up on worn out tires and drive back on new!

Anybody recommend whether to run 16"x8" or 15" stock '60 series rims. I have both rims. I think I know the answer but let's hear it.

 

[Filmpros]

How about the Toyo AT's...same issue?

The BFG AT's in the snow are not very good. The snow packs in between the tread and does not self-clean very well.

 

[Scottb]

BFG KM2`s great tire for the road and the trail.

 

[canucksafari]

John, maybe I'll need to pick up some Super Swampers on my next years trip to Canada/USA since I'll have a set of rims here anyways. This years trip is a set of tires for the LV. Drive up on worn out tires and drive back on new!

Anybody recommend whether to run 16"x8" or 15" stock '60 series rims. I have both rims. I think I know the answer but let's hear it.

16X8 will give you a higher load rating. If I had 16" rims, that is the way I would go.

BTW, there is more to this debate on MTs vrs ATs. Tire design plays a big part. I notice on the Middle east dune climbing and cross country desert driving that BFGs seem to be the tread of choice - especially the dune climbing. I asked about this and the feeling was that MTs tend to quickly dig holes in the sand rather than travel on top. MTs on ice and in certain snow conditions can be down right scary unless they are studded or really well siped. Most people don't sipe them because they are afraid it will cause them to chunk out easier and they want to only have one set of tires to run all year so they don't stud them.

I still am very impressed with my cheapo Sports Kings ATs. They have stood up well on the trail - taking a few good sharp rocks and sticks to the side walls without punctures. Traction wise, they may not be as good as a MT in the deep goop but they excel in all other conditions.

 

[sandcruiser]

I've seen old-timers in SoCal/Baja who are really happy to run ATs. We used MT's and they suffered greatly on the long highway runs on 110+ days.

If you are sure you won't see much time rock crawling, I suspect AT's will be fine. If you want "insurance" carry chains. Any AT with chains will outperform any MT without chains, every time in mud or deep snow.

Not so much in rocks or icy roads

In the end, for SoCal/Baja, I'd be most focused on fuel mileage and puncture resistence, not so much on tread pattern. Have you ever looked at the tires that most trucks are running in the middle of freakin nowhere in Baja? They still manage to get where they are going (eventually).

 

[latinoguy]

I've seen old-timers in SoCal/Baja who are really happy to run ATs. We used MT's and they suffered greatly on the long highway runs on 110+ days.

If you are sure you won't see much time rock crawling, I suspect AT's will be fine. If you want "insurance" carry chains. Any AT with chains will outperform any MT without chains, every time in mud or deep snow.

Not so much in rocks or icy roads

In the end, for SoCal/Baja, I'd be most focused on fuel mileage and puncture resistence, not so much on tread pattern. Have you ever looked at the tires that most trucks are running in the middle of freakin nowhere in Baja? They still manage to get where they are going (eventually).

Precisely why I am running ATs. I will make more trips to baja than Moab, Big Bear during the winter, or go play in mud to justify HAVING to migrate over to MTs for now.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Have you ever looked at the tires that most trucks are running in the middle of freakin nowhere in Baja? They still manage to get where they are going (eventually).

You mean we can run slicks?!?

 

[Gold Boy]

toyo m-55's are working well for me, an "aggressive a/t tire" imho.

 

[canucksafari]

Any AT with chains will outperform any MT without chains, every time in mud or deep snow.

Not so much in rocks or icy roads

On ice roads, any tire with chains will hold better then any other tire. The down side, is a 800 kms run at 50 kms/hr sucks. That's why those of us that deal with real winter roads run a dedicated snow tire (aka traction tire). My NoKian winter tires are studded for added ice traction. They allow me to hold near dry road speeds on compact snow and ice.

 

[Sherpa 60]

Millen ran BFG A/T LT285/75R16s on his FJ Cruiser for the Baja 1000. Good enough for him....

 

[jorgeez]

I use BFG All Terrains in my rig since majority of my driving is on the road and I rarely do any off-roading.

__________________
Belltech Parts

 

[VTCruiser]

I currently have...

33x10.5x15 BFG ATs on stock 40 steelies:

and 255/85-16 BFG MTs on stock 60 series 16x6 chome wheels:

The AT's are my winter tires as I have found them to be much better than MT's in packed snow/ice.

The MTs are my summer/expo tires. In almost all off-road situations I prefer the MT's. I haven't wheeled the 255's yet, but I was very happy with my old 33x12.5 MTs and expect to be just a pleased with the 255s. On road the 255's are much better than the 33x12.5's but not quite as smooth as the ATs.

 

[80t0ylc]

Green Diamond Tires M/T

I see a lot of expedition vehicles with MT tire thread patterns. BUT, if you stick to the same size tire, why are some many expo rigs with MT tires?

Excellent question which many have already answered on this thread. For me, the quest was to find a tire that I could run year around and be prepared for anything. My rig is an expedition build, in progress. I can travel over mountain passes, requiring traction tires in the dead of winter, with out having to chain up. I can travel the scorching pavement roads in the Southwest in summer. I can power through deep mud off road, if necessary with my M/Ts. My tire of choice: GDT Icelander M/T LT265/75R16 - E. I considered the GDT A/Ts, but the biggest thing going for it, I thought would be better wear on pavement. Then my research revealed that milage expectation with the A/Ts was 30K and for the M/Ts, 50K. That seriously helped me decide in the M/Ts favor, and after reading this thread and realizing with the M/Ts I was better prepared for most situations, on or off road.

Wouldn't an AT tire make more sense?
Scenario:
More Dirt and Sand driving than rock crawling
80% Pavement 20% off highway
Socal and Baja Environment: little rain and ice...

Not for me, James. My '94 had A/Ts on it when I first bought it and most of the time, it did well, considering it has open diffs. Even in the winter on snow covered highways, it did well, but left me unsatisfied off pavement. I bought a 2nd set of Open Country M/Ts on steel rims that did fairly well off road, but were kind of squirrelly on ice and snow covered roads and extremely noisy. They're pretty much worn out now (40K +) and the Icelanders out perform both the A/Ts and the old M/Ts. They are as quiet as the A/Ts which was a very nice surprise. Here is a thread that I started and will be updating with my experiences with these tires:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/269824-gdt-icelander-265-75r-16-e-80-a.html

 

[calico kid]

Millen ran BFG A/T LT285/75R16s on his FJ Cruiser for the Baja 1000. Good enough for him....

The A/Ts work best on dirt roads at 40+mph below that well. not that effective off road. To stiff bad ride bad traction. I have a set on my 40
Yokohama made a good A/T the geo lander but it is discontinued.
I have a set on my 55
For the CA deserts the bfg M/T is in my experience the best.
I have a set on my monty. my second set. I just switched from 33x12.5 to 33x10.5s.
I have put at least 10,000 miles of socal offroad desert miles with no problems.

 

[KayakPanic]

i hope there is a backstock somewhere of Yokohama Geolandar AT/S somewhere...a snow and mud specific all terrain tire; best of both worlds.

had them on my FJ40 and they were great on everything! just checked yokohama website, they are still for sale and not discontinued. also there is a geolandar mud tire as well.

one word of caution: any wide or MT tires are going to eat it in slush, deep snow or ice...can't remmeber how many horror stories I've heard about this one...plus they are LOUD.

comfortably running Kumho Road Venture A/T (simialr to Cooper Discoverer) on my 60, but have not really put them through the ringer yet. They have worked good or great on dirt roads, and the few rock crawls I have taken them up.

 

[Family 40's]

If you are looking for a tire that will perform well in any condition besides mud, the Bridgestone AT Revo is awesome in the snow, ice, gravel, pretty good offroad, however the mud forget it. I had BFG AT's for four years before I got the Bridgestone, and it felt like I went from low end shocks to bilsteins. They are extremely smooth and are the best thing for ice and snow unless your are buying snow tires. just my .02 cents. Good luck. Oh and I am selling my 31 10.50 and putting BFG KM2's on my lil yota.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

After losing a BFG 33inch A/T to a toothpick sized splinter through the tyre wall ,I will be giving more thought to wall thickness.

BFG AT KO and BFG MT KM have (had) the same sidewalls.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

BFG KM2`s great tire for the road and the trail.

Good to hear. After 8-years with BFG AT's and no flats and going everywhere my 80's did with MT's I just made the hop to the KM2's. Just got aggressive! I needed that BFG Crawler tread pattern.

My ride is less smooth and noisy...I hope they are amazing in the rocks!

 

[REDrum]

Just picked up some GY Duratracs in a C ply, could (hope) be a nice compromise between M/Ts & ATs. Gunna prerun/recce the NE Forest Rally roads with'm this weekend, I'll keep ya posted.

 

[Rattler]

I have been running Kumho Road Venture Mts in a 32x11.50 for about 25k now. I was going to go with an AT but these were fairly cheap at the time (@$130) but have had a price increase. They perform excellent in the mud that they are designed for. The road manners are pretty decent except when there is slight snow on the road. They have been a pretty good tire all-around so far but I am looking to replace them next Spring. They are starting to get pretty noisey from a little cupping because my lazy butt hasn't rotated them in a while (seems like they need it more than other tires I have had). They are wearing good too.

I think the next ones will be Toyo Open Country MTs (maybe ATs but doubtful) or BFG ATs if an AT is chosen. I have a while so I can do a lot more research.