Swamper vs KM2?

[BigAl]

I know we need another tire thread:sombrero:, but my search for a new tire just increased in urgency Coming home from the RedNeck Rendevous, I lost a rear tire and it cannot be fixed. I am currently running 36x12.5x15 Bias Swampers. I have been looking for a "skinny" tire, but there are really no options if I want to keep my 15" wheels and have a 35-36" tire. My jeep is never daily diven, I only use it for offroad trips, so my main concern is offroad performance. I love everything about my swampers except that they are shot with less than 8K on them. So my second concern is milage. I am looking hard at 35x12.5x15KM2s. I know they will get better mileage, but how much will I be giving up offroad? I do mud, rocks, hardpack and slately sharp rock. I run a spooled rear and detroit front. I think the spool contributed to tearing open my wornout swamper. How would a radial take the twisting generated in a tight turn with a spool?

 

[njjeepthing]

The Super Swamper SSR's come in 35x10.5x15, if that helps any.
http://www.intercotire.com/tires.php?id=9&g=1

I run KM 2's right now, and am very happy with them. Only complaint is the sidewall flex. You really have to air them down to even get a bulge in the side wall, at that point your risking popping a bead.

 

[RocKrawler]

The Super Swamper SSR's come in 35x10.5x15, if that helps any.
http://www.intercotire.com/tires.php?id=9&g=1

I run KM 2's right now, and am very happy with them. Only complaint is the sidewall flex. You really have to air them down to even get a bulge in the side wall, at that point your risking popping a bead.

Swamper SSR's blow up more than Ford Pintos in rear end collisions - I used to sell them and Swamper makes the worst radial tire. Ever. Period.

 

[Colorado Ron]

Swamper SSR's blow up more than Ford Pintos in rear end collisions - I used to sell them and Swamper makes the worst radial tire. Ever. Period.

Hmmm, Ive ran them for years without ONE problem.

 

[xcmountain80]

There is no comparison really. If you need maximum traction you need a Swamper, the SSR served me well for many years and w/o them I might not have made it at all. I have not had the KM2 to evaluate but just on lug design alone the swampers win hands down.

A

 

[BigAl]

There is no comparison really. If you need maximum traction you need a Swamper, the SSR served me well for many years and w/o them I might not have made it at all. I have not had the KM2 to evaluate but just on lug design alone the swampers win hands down.

A

That my opinion too, but I'm wondering how close a second the BFG MTs take

 

[RocKrawler]

Hmmm, Ive ran them for years without ONE problem.

I've warrantied more swamper radials than every other tire we sold combined for blowouts and separation - you couldnt pay me to put a swamper radial tire on a truck my family owns, but I'd run a bias swamper in a heartbeat

 

[Cody1771]

i run PROCOMP X-terrains 37" on 15" rims. i like them but they suck in snow

http://www.procomptires.com/truck-jeep-tires/xterrain-radial.aspx

 

[xcmountain80]

That my opinion too, but I'm wondering how close a second the BFG MTs take

I would imagine not even a close second though to be accurate I'd need to know which tire you were thinking of as they have such a large variation in patterns. I think the M16, MT, and a few others would be similar to a KM2 but a SSR, LTB, IROKS, and so on will out perform though not outlast a KM2. I would then ask if a Kralwer would be more applicable.

Aaron

 

[alosix]

Where are you doing most of you're wheeling?

Oh, and what's your def of skinny? 35x12.5 skinny? or more like 11 or 10.5?

Lately the 'popular' tires for Rausch Creek like areas have been the 37-39" Red Label Krawlers. Maxxis has a really nice comp tire if you can get ahold of them at a decent price. new they are like $530 each and the comp guys only get 50% off that so they still don't sell the used ones too cheap.

The one comp TJ we ran used the Q78 swampers on 16" wheels (they are avail for a 15 as well). They have bigger lugs than the ones you're replacing and worked surprisingly well.

The other YJ we ran used 36x13.5 IRoks. They also worked well in the comp areas, but IRoks never came with enough tread for my liking. They are a lot lighter than some of the tires out there so with the right wheel they are easier on driveline parts. They also do a really good job of conforming to rocks.


The KM2 was also getting more popular in the comps for the mostly rock areas. 35 and 37x12.50s were getting used with good success.

My Jeep sees a lot of street time, so a 'normal' tire is needed. So far the KM2 has been the best street and best offroad tire that's been on the Jeep. (Its worn MT/Rs and General Grabbers as well).

 

[RocKrawler]

The only issue with Krawlers is the relatively short life of the red compound tires if use don the street - the less grippy blue labels will last longer but not grab as well. I personally love my BFG MT KM2's, and I dont like BFG in general, but this time they got it right. It doesnt grab like an Irok, but road manners and wear are better. The Irok is my favorite tire of choice for more off road than on, and BFG KM2 for more on road then off, when you need a tire that is readily capable of both.

 

[xcmountain80]

The only issue with Krawlers is the relatively short life of the red compound tires if use don the street - the less grippy blue labels will last longer but not grab as well. I personally love my BFG MT KM2's, and I dont like BFG in general, but this time they got it right. It doesnt grab like an Irok, but road manners and wear are better. The Irok is my favorite tire of choice for more off road than on, and BFG KM2 for more on road then off, when you need a tire that is readily capable of both.

He might not have to worry about the red labels as they Aren't DOT approved (IIRC). Nut would have to agree in total to your statement, the feedback I have been getting about the KM2's is all positive and they can be used daily on the road if need be. Yes I know you can run the SSR's and other on the road but man why waste your tires.

A

 

[DrMoab]

No experience with swampers but...

In my 20 years or so of wheeling experience I have run BFG A/Ts, MTs, MTrs, Procrap Xterrains and now I have moved to a 285-70-17 BFG KM2 and I can say that hands down, they are the best off road tire I have run yet and they aren't too shabby on the highway either. The only area they are a little sketchy is on ice. If you turn sideways the tread design turns them into ice skates...literally.

One of the areas I was most impressed with this tire was on sand dunes. A local group of XJ guys went to Little Sahara sand dunes earlier this year and those tires just wouldn't stop. I was able to get places no one else could even think of. It was almost like they acted like a paddle tire.

In my book, at least until something better comes along its going to be KM2s on all my off road vehicles from now on.

 

[Xjaddiction]

I haven't ried the KM2's yet, but the SS Trxus is an excellent radial tire, that holds up very well, and get great wear milleage out of them. It also comes in 10.50 width, but I think only for the 34"...

 

[charlieaarons]

You could unspool your rear diff and put in a Detroit. I've never understood the attraction of spools over Detroits, except for cost. With a spool, one of your tires has to skid through any turn, no matter how wide. With a Detroit, it chirps maybe once and then unlocks, but if you give it power.....never mind, you know how they work.
I think a spool has a lot to do with tire wear.

Charlie