I was wondering what kind of tires you guys run? Any tires you guys like a lot, should stay away from, etc...

I am about to by a new set here soon.

97 TJ 3" lift. 33x12.5x15

Goodyear MT/R's.

Joel

What/how/where do you wheel? Drive it daily, if so how far? Lotsa questions you need to answer first :)

Tires are a compromise.

Many agree that the trade-offs Goodyear made with the MT/R match their requirements, therefore they like them. Some do not, so they don't.

For me the MT/R is a good value. They are fairly quiet on the road, handle the rocks well, can be aired down to 8psi without probs and resist punctures moderately well.

The Tire Rack has some useful data, with a bit of luck this link should take you to the MT/R.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wrangler+MT%2FR&partnum=325QR5WRMTROWL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

Chris L.

I have Pirelli, and well they suck. The rocks eat 'em up and they hydroplane like a pontoon boat.

Black Rubber...........









Seriously though, I agree with the Goodyear MT/R's They rock!!!!

Jason

What/how/where do you wheel? Drive it daily, if so how far? Lotsa questions you need to answer first :)


It is a Daily Driver, Mostly do more trail/Rocks. I drive on average 30 miles a day or so.


I have the BF MT/R's right now. I havnt really had any problems, Just wondering if there is better I should think about. Price is somewhat of a concern.

I have 32" BFG mt's and I like them alot. Excellent traction in mud, snow, rocks. A good strong tire I think . Wear is moderate and they're not too loud on the freeway..............which I don't care about tire noise pollution.

MT/R's
Stay away from Dunlops, and/or any tire CETROV has previously owned/ :D

I have had problems with BFG M/T tires in the past. Lots of holes in sidewalls, not just my rig, but others that I travel with as well. The Goodyear MT/R has a outstanding sidewall, particularly in the 16" sizes. Downside is that they are heavy, and hard to balance (compared to the BFG's). For me (90% street, 10% trail), the MT/R's are worth the trade off to get the better sidewall.

Sounds like the Goodyears seem pretty popular and durable... I am getting some prices right now.

Another question.. Is it bad,(or does it matter much) to run two different sets of tires. I have BF's now and I am only going to replace two tires.

It messes with my Chi. ;)


I think tire maintenance is almost as important as brand/style. Rotate and balance all the time. It's vital with heavy tires. If you don't you'll hate yourself in the morning. Just sayin'

ROTF :)

That was funny Mikey!

MT/r's all the way...Just bite the bullet and get the set:P where ever you buy the tire, dont forget to buy the non prorated warranty at Americas Tire.

Tam :)

Like was said above, lots of choices - especially in 33x12.50. Over the last 10 years (this Jeep) I've run 33x9.50 BFG All Terrains, 32x10.50 Swamper radials, 33x10.50 Swamper radials and 35x12.50 BFG MT's (current tire). Got my current tires for $200 total - used. So far, no complaints.

Swamper was by far the "toughest tire" I've had on this rig - might go to a 38" bias ply next time around. Depending on how set you are on 33's, might be worth it to invest in Goodyear MT/R's.

FWIW, all the Big Bear trails can be done with 4" of lift and 33x9.50 All Terrains :)

Like was said above, lots of choices - especially in 33x12.50. Over the last 10 years (this Jeep) I've run 33x9.50 BFG All Terrains, 32x10.50 Swamper radials, 33x10.50 Swamper radials and 35x12.50 BFG MT's (current tire). Got my current tires for $200 total - used. So far, no complaints.

Swamper was by far the "toughest tire" I've had on this rig - might go to a 38" bias ply next time around. Depending on how set you are on 33's, might be worth it to invest in Goodyear MT/R's.

FWIW, all the Big Bear trails can be done with 4" of lift and 33x9.50 All Terrains :)

Hey Jeff,

Here's what I've heard about Swampers:

Tough, very tough
Flat spot when sitting in the garage, and then vibrate like crazy
Noisy
The side wall is *so* strong that it won't wrap around the rocks until you get down to 3psi, which requires beadlocks. (The MT/Rs get all squashy around 8psi)

Can you comment - you already said tough ;)

Interco have another tire the SSR Series Super Swamper Radial. Anyone have any experience with these?

http://www.desertrat.com/interco/interco.htm

Interco's naming convention is confusing please be specific, thanks.

Chris L.

Avoid the SSR. Too heavy, weak side walls, and the lugs like to seperate on them

I love my BFG MTs! :)

BUT.... they are the first MTs I have owned and have not done any serious off-road in them.

I know if you plan on doing any mud, a lot of people do not like the Goodyear MTRs.

Just my .02

So my wallet is telling me to just get 2 BFG 33x12.5 because the 2 that I have up front are about 70% tread. BUT. I have been noticing on the better tires that there are a few chunks taken out of the sidewalls and a little tear in the sidewall.

I will be going back and forth until I am at the counter purchasing the tires.

Big price difference between 2 and 4 tires. Pretty decent price difference between the BFG's and Goodyears as well.

Hey Jeff,

Here's what I've heard about Swampers:

Tough, very tough
Flat spot when sitting in the garage, and then vibrate like crazy
Noisy
The side wall is *so* strong that it won't wrap around the rocks until you get down to 3psi, which requires beadlocks. (The MT/Rs get all squashy around 8psi)

Can you comment - you already said tough ;)

Interco have another tire the SSR Series Super Swamper Radial. Anyone have any experience with these?

http://www.desertrat.com/interco/interco.htm

Interco's naming convention is confusing please be specific, thanks.

Chris L.

I ran the radial "TSL Radial" Swampers. Never had to ait down past 11 psi - usually ran them at 13 (with a dana 60 in back, I wasn't giving up any more ground clearance)

VERY hard tire to debead on a 7" aluminum rim (managed ONCE). Not any louder than my MT's. Will consider the tire in 36x12.50 possibly when tire time comes again :)

What do you guys think, or have you guys had any experience, with the Xterrains?

If you do rocks, there is no comparison, MT/R all the way. I've seen Procmp, BFG, Swampers and many others, nothing compares to a MT/R when it comes to grip and durability.

I ran the radial "TSL Radial" Swampers. Never had to ait down past 11 psi - usually ran them at 13 (with a dana 60 in back, I wasn't giving up any more ground clearance)

VERY hard tire to debead on a 7" aluminum rim (managed ONCE). Not any louder than my MT's. Will consider the tire in 36x12.50 possibly when tire time comes again :)

Thanks Jeff, good info.

Like I said earlier, lots of things to take into consideration. Rim width vs. tread width is another issue - you can run more air pressure with a 10" rim than an 8" rim at optimum profile, the tire will be more stable on the road - but it will also debead substsatially easier (desert racers have run 33x12.50's on 7" rims for longer than the internet was here).

Collect opinions (which you're doing) and then balance them against whether the offeror of said opinion is in the same situation. (Rig/driving style/trails). Bear in mind that for EVERY tire out there, there will be a group that loves them - and another that hates them :) Optimizing your tire choice for say, Johnson Valley would be foolish if you're driving the rig to work and back every day - and only hit JV once a year :)

Another thing you can do is look into used tires. There's a lot of wheelers that just have to run the "latest and greatest" tire de jour. Some deals to be had if you're patient.

I actually found a great deal on some MT/R's today. I think I am going to pick them up this week.

Thanks for all the great info.

I hope I get them on before Big Bear next weekend.

Go to america's tire co. and buy their warrenty!!!! You'll thank me later

Well, that is where I am buying the tires. The prices were about 80 dollars cheaper than everywhere else I researched. I couldnt believe it. And yes. I will purchase the warranty.

what'd you pick 'em up for and how many did you get?

I got them for 179 per tire. 33x12.5x15 x(4) = 716.
It was about $100 (I think) for insurance on all 4 tires.

Everywhere else i checked they wanted to charge me about 230 per tire! not including mouting and balancing!

I am hoping I didnt miss anything.

Go to america's tire co. and buy their warrenty!!!! You'll thank me later
American Tire is great, I had a blow out on My Blazer, BFG 33x15 AT's took the tire in to have it replaced and the guy noticed that I had 2 tires that were weather cracked. Repalced 3 tires for little over $80. :)

I am going to go pick them up here in a bit. I am stoked. My first brand new set of Mudders all the way around.

I have mudders now, but they were on the Jeep when I bought it.

New tires are VERY exciting :) CONGRATS!

Youre going to love your MTR's. It will change your wheeling experience. Ask anyone thats gone from having something else to MTR's. When I got them, everyone asked if I got locked :P

I bought mine a while back, and the warranty has replaced them all the way around :D

Tam :)

I am going to go pick them up here in a bit. I am stoked. My first brand new set of Mudders all the way around.

I have mudders now, but they were on the Jeep when I bought it.
MT/R's are not mudders. They are maximum traction radials.

MT/R's are not mudders. They are maximum traction radials.

I didnt know that. Good to know.

Kinda funny cause when I went to Goodyear to get a quote for the tire I asked them what it meant and the guy said Mud Terrain Radials. I guess they should do their homework before selling their own tires. ;)

i see i am late but here is my opinion, if i could do it over i would not have gotten rid of the MTRs i went to the ssr tsl radial which are like has been said very hard to balance vibrate crazy and i can here them thru the soft top with the wind blowing and the radio on i run them at 25 psi on the road all day everyday havent really had them off road but what little i have they grip to hard in the mud for my poor little four banger, but on the road my four pop will spank them in first to second shift on wet pavment is like i am on ice. since i so enjoy the rocks and climbing them i think i may stick to the mud well maybe not MTRs and hit the rocks, and one little more how can they be mud terrains when spun in the mud even at 60 to 70 on the speed o my jeep wont clean them out. just a little wondering

Its been said to stay away from Dunlops. I disagree. We ran 30x9.5 radial mud rovers for over 2 years with no problems at all. They grip well and had decent flex in the sidewalls. We currently run 33x12.5 Remington ( a subdivision of Dunlop) Mud Brutes and we are very happy with them. What I like best about these tires is that they cost $35-50 less per tire than MT/R's. Now MT/R's are excellent tires, possibly the best all-around tires out there, but I don't think they're $200 a set better. Bottom line: get the tires you like best and remember to get a set of five so you have a good same size spare. Most places will try to sell you sets of 4 not 5.