285/75R16 ******** Cepek FC II, Mickey Thompson MTZ/ATZ, Cooper S/T-C

[Redline]

Thanks P Look forward to seeing your pics.

My understanding was that Mickey Thompson purchased ******** Cepek (the name, etc.). Maybe there isn't enough demand for the tires and they will stop making offering the Cepek everywhere soon? They probably prefer to promote Mickey Thompson over ******** Cepek. The Cepek tires certainly are not popular as I have read about everything I can find on the web (USA, Australia, etc.) about the Fun Country II treads, there isn't much out there compared to just about every other tire. Oh well

Redline,
I attended the Brisbane National 4x4 show this past weekend and had a great discussion with the Queensland Mickey Thompson tire rep concerning the MTZ and ******** Cepek FCII. He was very happy with the performance and results of the MTZ in the general market so far. He also gave me a bit of news regarding Mickey Thompson and ******** Cepek. Apparently the companies have parted ways in North America. As a result the ******** Cepek FCII will no longer be available in Australia in two years...:Wow1: The replacement for that market niche will be the MT ATZ.

I did see quite a bit of FCII mounted on various rigs at the show. I'll try and post some pictures for you by end of week. I did see a staggering number of rigs with the MTZ tires though.

Cheers,
P

 

[p1michaud]

Thanks P Look forward to seeing your pics.

As promised...

A well used set on the Hannibal Equipment vehicle.

A much newer set on a very cool Toyota Hilux D4D (turbo diesel).

 

[Hilldweller]

As a fellow tire geek, how about all of the new Goodyear-family of entries in that size? I just purchased 16's for my Jeep to replace the stock 18's and am shopping for a set of 285/75-16 too.
But my spreadsheet also includes Kelly Safari MSR, Dunlop Rover M/T Maxx Traction, Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar, & Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac.
Did you look at these as well? I'm leaning toward the Dunlop or Mickey T's on price point at the moment; I found the Mickey's for $188.09 plus shipping and the 'Lops for $168.

 

[michaels]

As a fellow tire geek, how about all of the new Goodyear-family of entries in that size? I just purchased 16's for my Jeep to replace the stock 18's and am shopping for a set of 285/75-16 too.
But my spreadsheet also includes Kelly Safari MSR, Dunlop Rover M/T Maxx Traction, Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar, & Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac.
Did you look at these as well? I'm leaning toward the Dunlop or Mickey T's on price point at the moment; I found the Mickey's for $188.09 plus shipping and the 'Lops for $168.

bill, get 255s instead and be in the cool club like peter, daniel, and me!!

 

[Hilldweller]

bill, get 255s instead and be in the cool club like peter, daniel, and me!!

You missed fireside tire-talk last weekend with the TN Rover crowd. Chris (Dieselandmud) and Peter were talkin' up the 255's and I was throwing 285 back at them.

I think it might just be "a JEEP thing"...

I do know that I want/need some goodly-portioned voids somewhere in the tread pattern. The forest mud that we have is caked with leaves and other semi-organic splooge that turns my Grabbers into racing slicks and I go around in palsied circles sometimes. Luckily there are strategically placed trees that stop my impromptu spinning.
:smiley_drive:

 

[Redline]

I have only looked at the tires you mentioned in threads here on the Portal or on the web. I'm not considering them at the this time but that doesn't mean they are not great tires or the right tire for you. I think of all the treads you mentioned I like the Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac the most because it is less aggressive and a cross-over design. I have more aggressive tires in my Maxxis Bighorns. I'm personally really leaning toward the ******** Cepek FCII if I can get 285s to clear and for a tire that is fairly quiet.

As a fellow tire geek, how about all of the new Goodyear-family of entries in that size? I just purchased 16's for my Jeep to replace the stock 18's and am shopping for a set of 285/75-16 too.
But my spreadsheet also includes Kelly Safari MSR, Dunlop Rover M/T Maxx Traction, Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar, & Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac.
Did you look at these as well? I'm leaning toward the Dunlop or Mickey T's on price point at the moment; I found the Mickey's for $188.09 plus shipping and the 'Lops for $168.

 

[Redline]

P's FCII Pics

Thanks for the Pics P

I really like the Fun Country II tread. I had a long conversation with a tire engineer at Cooper on Thursday. Some of what he shared was a little 'over my head' but I understood much of his answers and comments and took notes.

Some of what I learned is directly related to the Cooper S/T (and S/T-C) and FCII treads in this thread as that's what I was asking about, and it would probably be best posted here. Other stuff was interesting and doesn't specifically apply to this thread, and may be better in the Toyo MT tread (tire pull theory) or in a new “Tires 102” thread? I just have to make the time writing the posts.

Cheers

 

[Redline]

Fun Country II

Yesterday I received an enthusiastic endorsement via PM on an FJC forum in favor of the ******** Cepek FCII.

******** Cepek now has a little $75.00 mail-in rebate for buying a set of four... might be getting close :sombrero:

 

[Hilldweller]

I got these, btw. Quiet and sure-footed; best tire I've ever run so far.
Goodyear hit a home run with this puppy.

 

[Redline]

I love it when aggressive tires are perceived as quiet... modern design magic. They look different too.

How much weight/how well did they balance?

 

[Hilldweller]

I love it when aggressive tires are perceived as quiet... modern design magic. They look different too.

How much weight/how well did they balance?

Not much weight; I attribute a lot of that to the 22 pound wheels. The technicians at Discount Tire were equally impressed by the lack of balance weight as they were by how difficult it was to get the sidewalls on the wheel --- sort of like a low-profile race tire.

 

[kstover]

Hilldweller,
These Goodyear MT/R Kevlars are load range "E". Aren't thay a little stiff for something as light as a Jeep?

Keith

 

[Redline]

******** Cepek Fun Country II

Last week I sent a PM to a gentleman on the FJC forum regarding his DC FCII tires hoping for some more intel on this not-so-popular tire that a few people really like. With his permission I'm posting his response to my questions. He said he is a lurker here, said he loves the forum. :sombrero:

Questions:

Can you share some additional details about your FCII treads?

Noise (or lack of it?)?

Traction?

I assume they are not great in deep snow or mud?

What other tires have you run on your FJC to compare them to?

I'm seriously considering a set in 285/75R16 for my 06 4Runner.

Looks like a great tires but there seem to be few people running them so there is little info available from users.

Thanks in Advance!

James

His Answers

James,

I have run many many different tires on all of my various LandCruisers and my FJC. I have never been so all-around happy with a set of tires as these Fun Country II tires. Period. They are the best tire I have ever run.

They are actually very good in deep snow...went to Keystone CO this Christmas and drove all over every snowmobile trail I could find...really shocked the snowmobilers as I was the only truck on the trails...snow well over the front bumper and I just kept plowing along.

I have had them in pretty decent mud ( half way up the tire) but I don't like mudding the FJC ( mud is just too damaging to trucks) they performed in moderate mud as well as any tire I have had in the past.

They are great in sand, and on rocks.

They are terrific on every road surface...wet or dry. In fact, I was a little leery of how they would be on wet pavement and they are better than the BFG All Terrains I had prior...and better than the Bridgestone Dueler H/Ts that came on the truck...I have never had ANY tire slip, hydroplaning, or sliding with these.

As to noise...There is a slight hum at 40+ MPH but no more than the BFG All Terrains and certainly not as much as the BFG Mud Terrains....I kind of like a little "tire singing", but not an excessive noise...these are not excessive in my opinion.

Here are the tires I've had:

Buckshot mudders
Buckshot Radial mudders
BFG All Terrains
BFG Mud Terrains
Bridgestone Duelers
a few others I'm sure

These are my Favorite tires...getting good mileage from them and plan on replacing them with exactly the same when these are used up.

Mine are 285/70R17 and do not rub anywhere with my OME 3" lift

Hope this helps you in your decision

All the best

 

[Redline]

I'm getting very close... the 285/75 FCII are calling me to put them to work. :smiley_drive:

Maybe in a few weeks I can spend the money.

 

[Haggis]

I'm getting very close... the 285/75 FCII are calling me to put them to work. :smiley_drive:

Just buy the FCIIs already. You're gonna be very happy with them.