Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: The Machinist on January 30, 2009, 09:24:08 AM

Title: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: The Machinist on January 30, 2009, 09:24:08 AM
Hi there, just wondering what tires you are running and what you think of em??  Want to buy a set of trail only rims and tires this spring, just trying to decide what to get.  Not to worried about highway noise or ride.  Have been running baja claws for a year, they are awesome in snow and climbing hills.  Didn't like them much in the mud, they cleaned good but didn't dig.  Would just spin and throw mud everywhere, suck on ice.  Are TSL's any good in snow and hill climbing?  I think thats what I will get, just wanted to know what you guys who have tried them thought of them and other tires.  Just an off road tire, nothing that will see pavement except to and from the trail.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: XJHERO on January 30, 2009, 09:44:11 AM
Hi there, just wondering what tires you are running and what you think of em??  Want to buy a set of trail only rims and tires this spring, just trying to decide what to get.  Not to worried about highway noise or ride.  Have been running baja claws for a year, they are awesome in snow and climbing hills.  Didn't like them much in the mud, they cleaned good but didn't dig.  Would just spin and throw mud everywhere, suck on ice.  Are TSL's any good in snow and hill climbing?  I think thats what I will get, just wanted to know what you guys who have tried them thought of them and other tires.  Just an off road tire, nothing that will see pavement except to and from the trail.  Thanks.
Tsls are great for everything but  snow, ice, pavement.

i run em in the spring summer and fall  lots of traction.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: AV.NINE on January 30, 2009, 10:04:52 AM
As far as a 33" tire goes, LTB is the best I have ever run. I think any person who has run them will confirm. They clean well and dig, lots of side wall lug, and good on side hills.

Of coarse theres always boggers, but I prefer the LTB's over them.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: Bnine on January 30, 2009, 10:14:54 AM
You money would be better spent on some quality beadlocks and quality rubber.

Unless you have enough money to beadlock both seasons tires of course.

You will get better all around performance by running really low pressure in a good radial tire then you will running moderate pressures in a purpose built tire like a swamper.

Meaning, with the beadlocks you can run 1 tire that works good in snow, mud, ice, loose climbs, and rocks.

If you just put swampers on steelies, you get good mud perfromance, and moderate to poor performance everywhere else. If you beadlock swampers they will work a bit better in the loose and climbing, but will still suffer in the cold because of compound.


Best all around combo I know of right now is a quality beadlock (walker evans, PSC, AEV), and high end radial like a Toyo.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: AV.NINE on January 30, 2009, 10:24:55 AM
You money would be better spent on some quality beadlocks and quality rubber.

Unless you have enough money to beadlock both seasons tires of course.

You will get better all around performance by running really low pressure in a good radial tire then you will running moderate pressures in a purpose built tire like a swamper.

Meaning, with the beadlocks you can run 1 tire that works good in snow, mud, ice, loose climbs, and rocks.

If you just put swampers on steelies, you get good mud perfromance, and moderate to poor performance everywhere else. If you beadlock swampers they will work a bit better in the loose and climbing, but will still suffer in the cold because of compound.


Best all around combo I know of right now is a quality beadlock (walker evans, PSC, AEV), and high end radial like a Toyo.

Good call!  8)
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: The Machinist on January 30, 2009, 10:49:41 AM
Anyone run maxxis trapadors?  Bead locks sound good, will have to see if they are in the budget.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: AV.NINE on January 30, 2009, 10:50:58 AM
Anyone run maxxis trapadors?  Bead locks sound good, will have to see if they are in the budget.

Talk to frenchy, he's selling internal bead locks 4 for the price of 3.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: Hi Lo Silver on January 30, 2009, 11:22:22 AM
I haven't done a research on this myself to confirm but I always thought bead locks were illegal on street and highway.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: AV.NINE on January 30, 2009, 11:26:18 AM
I read the traffic act the other day and didnt find anything related to this.

BTW Internal bead locks are legal everywhere.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: cLAY on January 30, 2009, 12:08:50 PM
IROKS work well everywhere but wear out quickly if they see a lot of rock or pavement.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: sn4cktime on January 30, 2009, 03:20:55 PM
My quick beadlock research:
Well, just rolled through the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, with Motor Vehicle Tire Safety Regulations (Federal) and the Traffic Safety Act (Alberta) and didn't come across anything SPECIFICALLY against external beadlocks.  However, and it would be how you could get fines, the wheels must be put through a proper testing process.  AKA be DOT or CSA approved for highway speeds to be used on any public road.  Most of the testing for a wheel seems to be aimed at "bead unseating" which of course is kind of a moot point here.... and the rest is aimed at the tire.  So that'd be lawyer territory there.

So, if you can find a beadlock with proper weight rating (which isn't a problem unless you drive a tank), is deemed a proper wheel to tire size ratio for diameter and width, and is CSA or DOT approved there's nothing I can see that a cop could possibly give you a ticket for.  Unless Calgary has some specific bylaw concerning them.

I also agree with Bill about beadlocks.  I've seen a few sets of Walker Evans, and even a set of internal Stauns on the trail all running around 5-7 PSI.  None of them had any issue tearing through mud, and they weren't all on M/T's either.  I personally like the idea of internals more just because they'll balance a bit easier, and are lower maintenance.  But externals tend to be bullet-proof.

I love my BFG KM2's.  Only got stuck once since slapping them on.  Not sure if that's because they work that much better or because they're 35x12.5' vs my old stock 30x8's and it's just that much more surface area and lift.  They shed mud well, nice side lugs, awesome on the road (use them on the DD).
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: adamnigh on January 30, 2009, 05:13:55 PM
I really like my 36x12.5 TSL SX's great in mud and snow, not so good on ice, but just dont drive like a moron on the rode and their fine ;D
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: WhiteOut on January 31, 2009, 12:43:29 AM
I have about 10k on my BFG KM's and they still look almost new.   Havent gotten stuck one with them on and after sipping they grip good on the road, in snow and decent for an MT on ice.

My next set will be KM2's
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: Bnine on January 31, 2009, 09:30:38 AM
  I personally like the idea of internals more just because they'll balance a bit easier, and are lower maintenance.  But externals tend to be bullet-proof.


It all depends on what rim you are using for internals, and what type of external beadlocks you run, and of course what tire you run.

Putting a swamper on a steelier with internals will still get a bad balance.

Spending the big bucks on a rim like a walker will give excellent balance. I dont even balance walkers when combined with a good quality tire. Denise's jeep on toyo's and walkers would not vibe until after 120km/hr, unbalanced.

In the end, it all depends on the application. Tire quality is always the biggest factor, but rims can make a pretty big difference as well.

Its really hard to put that kind of money out upfront, but in the end, it actually pays for itself on jeep front ends because of the reduced wear on balljoints and unit bearings.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: sn4cktime on February 02, 2009, 01:38:45 PM
Putting a swamper on a steelier with internals will still get a bad balance.

Oh agreed.

Do you run with shot inside any of your larger tires Bill?  If so, does it work well?
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: Bnine on February 02, 2009, 02:14:13 PM
I dont, I have freidns that do.

I run toyo's, if I really needed balance I could put on weights, but I get very little vib from my 38 x 1450's on trail ready beadlocks up to and inc 60mph. So I've never bothered to even attemp a balance of any kind.

Internal weights (pellets, sand, etc etc) are ok, but only work at higher speeds. Pretty much useless until after at least 30km/hr.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: BlackYJ on February 02, 2009, 02:31:44 PM
The major reason that beadlocks are not approved by DOT is because a lot of beadlocks weld on a locking ring to an approved rim, ie trail ready on MT Classics.  Once the rims is modified the rim looses it DOT approval and the beadlock companies are not spending the money to get the rims re-approved.  Here is a good website about beadlocks by AEV, http://aev-conversions.com/products/wheels/beadlock_info.php (http://aev-conversions.com/products/wheels/beadlock_info.php)

As for mud tires, I love my SSRs but Interco.  Nothing can beat the TSLs when it comes to mud but the SSRs are more street friendly as they are a radial and have a little siping. 
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: cLAY on February 02, 2009, 05:36:31 PM
I dont, I have freidns that do.



Internal weights (pellets, sand, etc etc) are ok, but only work at higher speeds. Pretty much useless until after at least 30km/hr.


I run BBs inside my IROKs. Being that they are bias ply tires and often get a flat spot on the bottom when they sit for awhile its about the only way to balance them. No vibes at  any speed other than the lugs humming once they warm up. If the Jeep sat for quite awhile and I pull straight on the highway they vibrate for a km or so till they warm up and the flat spot gets worked out.
Title: Re: Age old question, mud tire review?
Post by: esi on February 02, 2009, 09:28:31 PM
I like the MTZs they have better grip on ice than some of the actual snow tires I've rode. Ice traction should translate into rock traction. They'll pull you through alot of mud as well, not just throw it everywhere, actaul side wall lugs to not just there for looks like some other tires out there. I thought about trying a set of trepador's but unless you get into the comp. sizes they don't sport much for sidewall lugs either. If you want some pricing on any PM me. I can get you prices on most oof the other tire brands as well.