MTR with Kevlar

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Running high air is NOT an option down here for a leaf sprung rig. Even 21 psi is too high.
This rock is unforgiving
 
I just find the ride much smoother with around 12-15lbs in the tires. Even the coil sprung trucks agree that the ride and handling on gravel is much better, especially when you hit washboard.
 
I just find the ride much smoother with around 12-15lbs in the tires. Even the coil sprung trucks agree that the ride and handling on gravel is much better, especially when you hit washboard.

I won't argue with the nice ride at 15 psi, especially on the chatter board. Oh, and coils only equal a cushy ride when you got cushy coils and shocks :frown: or are fully loaded.
 
I tend to be lazy and not air down unless I am going to be on the terrain that requires it for at least a couple hours. Perhaps that is what has saved me from punctures. Even this past week, I was too lazy to let the air out and was at 40 PSI when bush wacking. IRRC, most skidders run 35-40 PSI and they are always on terrain where a stick puncture is likely.


Sorry John, that's bad logic. An aired down tire is more puncture resistance than one aired up. The tire has more give/flex with less air in it.
For example, take a balloon that is deflated and poke it, and it will most likely flex quite a bit before popping. Then take the same balloon (if possible), fully inflate it and poke it with the same object, and it will most likely pop right away. YMMV.
 
Sorry John, that's bad logic.

That's what my wife usually says. But my sidewalls are much thicker than a ballon. ;) I did air down going into Hale on Sunday but not much. I just went down to 26psi from 40psi. It takes a hell of a long time to air down 4 tires that much. Of course on Harrison W FSR and Hale all you got to worry about is sharp rock. The bypasses I took up in Princeton were littered with deadfalls and sticks. Guess I just got lucky. I did take some sticks to the sidewalls but they just glanced off the Yokahamas. Could be something for Myth Busters to test.
 
"be careful about wheel placement when picking your way through an obstacle".

brilliant - well that never occurred to me ! :flipoff2: WTF they think we are that stupid.
 
For next year I am looking at the Cooper Discoverer SST, however I want a tire with the rotation and balancing package.
The MTR with kevlar I have are over-spec'd in size for my little rig - and the sidewalls are no stronger as Utah sticks have shown me.
 
they all say that ....
 
Tire update

Since I got back from Churn I rotated my tires and took a tread depth reading.
They are all generally about 14/32, which compares to 19/32 new with 34,500 km. since Feb 2010 when new.
Although the tread is wearing very well the rubber compound is a relatively hard so they do tend to chunk out on steep gravel and of course the sharp edges are all gone.

Overall they are wearing well.
 
How about these: https://plus.google.com/u/0/109212702662471324306/posts
Pilfered from a post by Peter Straub:
For those that don't recall... these are 12.50R20 Michelin Military XL's. They are radials, and have 4 steel belts in the tire, plus, amazingly, another steel belt in the sidewall. This makes them all but indestructible. They have had the center lugs sipped. They are rated for 2000kg each at 50psi.

Peter is building this truck to circumnavigate the world... really. If he had a build thread it would be mind boggling, yet the BJ doesn't look special from the outside

Edit:
Found hid build thread
https://forum.ih8mud.com/70-series-tech/594941-ziplock-ready-expedition.html#post7640574
 
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