Tires for all around use... BFG or MTR's (1 Viewer)

If it were you in my shoes what would you run?

  • Step up to 35" Goodyear MTR's

    Votes: 34 37.0%
  • Stay at 33" but run Goodyear MTR's

    Votes: 7 7.6%
  • Step up to 35" BFG MT's

    Votes: 18 19.6%
  • Stay at 33" but run BFG MT's

    Votes: 33 35.9%

  • Total voters
    92

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Joined
Sep 8, 2003
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Bozeman, MT
Howdy-

So I am in the market for something a bit more streetable than my Super Swampers... I am running Thornbirds (I know, I know) in 33x12.50

I am looking at a radial for sure, probably 35x12.50, and this rig is my daily driver. However, I do expect to see some fairly rugged trail use in Colorado and Utah. Mostly logging/fire roads, with some trips to slick rock. All the while running on the pavement.

I have 4" of lift and I am going to cut my virgin fenders out back. They rub really bad a fully articulation right now and 35" will not clear at all without it.

Is there any other real drawback for running 35's? I am wondering how my axles, brakes, and steering will react to such a big tire. My engine is fresh with plenty of power, but will I need to regear?

Thanks in advance.

Rezarf
 
I'm going with 35" MTRs on my 40 so obviously that's what I voted for, a regear would certainly help. Maybe install some slightly longer greasable shackles while you're at it, a good steering stablizer and replace any rubber bushings with poly units.
 
With a four inch lift i would also entend the rear bump stops so you don't get into the fender wellw in the back, the 35's will occasionally grab the front lip of the front fenders, I also like the MTR's, excellent tire, Larry
 
I have the BFG 33x9.5 with a 4" lift and I LOVE 'EM. I got the idea from Landpimp and they are just great. Thinking about an ARB rear air-locker just for fun though I haven't gotten stuck yet.
 
I have been running my 35" BFG's for about a year and a half and I love 'em. They can suck in the mud but I have no complaints. The tire wear is really good and they hold up pretty well to chunking from off road use. My 40 is also my daily driver so it sees a lot of highway miles. The tires are pretty quite on the road.
 
Doug_S said:
I have the BFG 33x9.5 with a 4" lift and I LOVE 'EM. I got the idea from Landpimp and they are just great. Thinking about an ARB rear air-locker just for fun though I haven't gotten stuck yet.

"cept we can't get the BFG MT in 33x9.5 anymore...

:frown:
 
35 MTRs really run small, they are like a 34, you could easily fit them. I ran 35 swampers (which are really big for a 35) with a sagged out 2.5" for ever. Rubbed but oh well, more up front that in the rear. But with 4" lift you should be more than fine with 35 MTRs, they are a way WAY better tire than either of the BFGs. There is a reason that BFGs last a bagillion miles, because they have a rock hard rubber compound.
 
bustanutley said:
There is a reason that BFGs last a bagillion miles, because they have a rock hard rubber compound.

What's wrong with that? For a DD i vote BFG MTs - you should save a bundle as well.
 
I have had all the mentioned tires, I was a BFG fanatic with BFG muds on all my previous trucks, a friend has a tire business and pushed the MTRs on me, I compared the sidewalls and tread and wow what a difference, the BFG's has thin sidewalls and was fairly stiff, the MTR's are thick beefy and flexable, Spent a weekend at the HDR in Barstow, put a throrn through the side of one BFG all terrain and one MT, the MTR did not have any issues at 14 psi, Besides the Krawler tire or what I have seen of the Nitto Grappler, the MTR is the best tire for the money and it shows on runs these days, alot of built and not so built rigs are running them, The MTR's are having some roundness issues of late, alot of people having trouble balancing them, FYI and MTC
 
I like the MTR's on this 40 I just picked up. Drove over an hour out to camp last weekend, and they were a little noisy, but not 'Thornbird' noisy...(I've had 2 sets of Thornbirds and LIKED them a lot).

Hell, I've got another set in the shed.


MTR's, but stay at 33's. Although, the 35's do run small, so it's up to your wallet.
 
I have had 35" MT/Rs on a 40 with a 4" SUA for the past 4 years. IMHO they are the best compromise tire for those that drive rigs on the street AND the trail. They are not the best street tire (no siping) or the best trail tire (hello...RADIAL!) But I think they are the best if you want both in 1 tire.

-Rick
 
LilRicky said:
They are not the best street tire (no siping) -Rick

And it is simple enough to have them siped at the tire dude's place.
 
I ran 35'' BFG MTs for the last 4 or so year and they are a great tire. I just stepped up to 37'' MTRs and I love them. BFGs are great but the MTR is slightly softer and has a better sidewall. You can't go wrong with either one though.
The size is up to you but I would shoot for the MTR and the M/T second.
 
BFG is the best :flipoff2:. I slashed this MT on a dull pine limb :mad:. I'm now running MTRs and have been driving through and over stuff that I'm sure would have laid open a BFG.
slashed BFG.jpg
 
I have 33/12.50 on new parts cuuiser i just bought steers llike s*** wouldnt let my ST bernard drive it
on my restored criser tryed to buy 33/9.50 but found cost 189.00 ea , got bfg 33/10.5 at 137.5 ea at tire rack.com mud terrain never driven them yet see to posts up good luck skinney is better in snow / ice cuts to pavement better / however iu run blazzack/brigestones in winter ,cant be beat untill spring i wore a set out $400+ in one summeer because i was lasy oops
 
Anyone had both... noise levels

To those of you who have had both tires, which one rolls quieter on the road?

Mud tires, noise... I must be silly for asking this.

Rezarf <><
 
Tahoe Dude said:
I have 33/12.50 on new parts cuuiser i just bought steers llike s*** wouldnt let my ST bernard drive it
on my restored criser tryed to buy 33/9.50 but found cost 189.00 ea , got bfg 33/10.5 at 137.5 ea at tire rack.com mud terrain never driven them yet see to posts up good luck skinney is better in snow / ice cuts to pavement better / however iu run blazzack/brigestones in winter ,cant be beat untill spring i wore a set out $400+ in one summeer because i was lasy oops

Tahoe,

Did your English teachers all have a high rate of suicide? Punctuation works man - Crikey!

How many times did your St. Bernard ask to drive?

Are you sure the steering wasn't the center pivot, or sloppy steering box, TRE's, bushings, etc???
 

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