Tire Choice ?????

[BC Explorer]

Hey Everyone,

Well I'm thinking about changing my tires on my 1992 Cherokee which is currently running Rubicon Moabs on 245/75/16 Goodyear MT-R's.
Now these tires IMO are awesome but, this truck spends alot of time on the street and a lot of FSR's when off road.
The question is, would maybe an All-Terrain tire be better suited for what I'm doing. I do not rock crawl or mud run the truck ( the reason I'm on this forum ) and really enjoy exploring the back country and I feel I'm not using the full potential of the MT-R's.

Any feedback as to what you have found works for you would be great.

Christopher

 

[Schattenjager]

If your use is split between on and off road and you are not pushing your current tires - a good performing, long lasting choice is the BFG AT KO. I have a dedicated set of wheels with BFG Mud Terrains for when I know I am going out. But sometimes I have had a spur of the moment trip and the AT have never disappointed. They wear like iron too...

A cheaper, but very good clone of the AT is the Pathfinder ATR from Discount Tire - had a set of those on a Range Rover and was very pleased.

 

[xcmountain80]

I have had 4 sets of BFG AT's o 3 different vehicles rotated properly and always ended up with one that was a PITA to balance due to it being out of round. So finally after being fed up I bought a set of Nitto Terragrapplers in February and have 7k+ on them and love them. They are a little softer than the BFG AT's but they are also a little cheaper too. For off road tires I run Cooper STT's, affordable, tough, and actually surprisingly quiet.

Aaron

 

[mountainpete]

Christopher,

I spend a few weeks every year exploring the fireroads of BC so I have an idea of the terrain. (actually leaving tomorrow morning!) The BFG All Terrains are an excellent tire for this type of use, combined with street driving. The performance is excellent, they are super reliable from my experience and corner very well on that type of road.

The challenge comes when those foresty roads get super wet - depending on the base, they can become a mud pit. All Terrains tend to coat themselves instead of releasing the mud, which makes them not the best for long stretches of mud. I remember one stretch of road close to Kimberly after a rainstorm went through. There was a 2 km section that I could only describe as slime. A creek overflowed on to the road. Slow and steady, but made it through with a set of All Terrains.

Personally, I now use a set of siped BFG Mud Terrains. I chose the Mud Terrains because I like to push further in to those secluded lakes and sites where there is often more mud. I also wanted the 255/85 size for my truck which is only available in Mud Terrains. The siping helps with wet weather traction, but still can't match and AT on icy roads.

The bottom line question is: Do you see a lot of mud in your travels? Like you already said, you don't do mud runs. So I see no reason not to move to a BFG All Terrain.

Pete

 

[Erick Lihme]

Hi Pete,
Looks like your the fellow I can ask because we share simular terrain. The BFG Mudders are your favorite. How well do think a very skinny 7.00R15 Mud and snow would do out there, the tread is only 5.7" wide with aggressive outside lugs. Fact is my truck is light, 3200lbs, and the thinking is old school, like me, and that is to sink though the mud to get to bottom. Good or very BAAAAD idea?

Thanks

 

[mountainpete]

Erick,

That's a really narrow patch. Do you have a specific model of tire in mind because I don't know of a mud tire that narrow and still approved for highway use.

Pete

 

[Erick Lihme]

Well at least you tell me I was nuts straight out! Really, Yokohama has a 7.00R15 Y742S 5.7" x 29.8" sold on Tire Rack. Cooper off the same size in the old school studdable bias ply. Both should be should at busting snow.

 

[BC Explorer]

Christopher,

I spend a few weeks every year exploring the fireroads of BC so I have an idea of the terrain. (actually leaving tomorrow morning!) The BFG All Terrains are an excellent tire for this type of use, combined with street driving. The performance is excellent, they are super reliable from my experience and corner very well on that type of road.

The challenge comes when those foresty roads get super wet - depending on the base, they can become a mud pit. All Terrains tend to coat themselves instead of releasing the mud, which makes them not the best for long stretches of mud. I remember one stretch of road close to Kimberly after a rainstorm went through. There was a 2 km section that I could only describe as slime. A creek overflowed on to the road. Slow and steady, but made it through with a set of All Terrains.

Personally, I now use a set of siped BFG Mud Terrains. I chose the Mud Terrains because I like to push further in to those secluded lakes and sites where there is often more mud. I also wanted the 255/85 size for my truck which is only available in Mud Terrains. The siping helps with wet weather traction, but still can't match and AT on icy roads.

The bottom line question is: Do you see a lot of mud in your travels? Like you already said, you don't do mud runs. So I see no reason not to move to a BFG All Terrain.

Pete

Hey Pete,

Well I have come across this exact situation and thanked my self for buying the MT-R's, I have been told by few buddies about siping the center of the tire to improve my wet weather traction. I think that I will been sticking with my MT-R's right now which still have about 90% tread left and maybe mount some AT's on a steel set of wheels that I have.

Also were are you headed for your trip and for how long?
We have six trucks going out next weekend for 3 days doing lots of backcountry exploring.

Christopher

 

[mountainpete]

Ah! Those are Fuso tires aren't they? I believe they are primarily designed to be rear dually tires. Do you have rims that will even fit them? You need a really narrow rim!

Personally, those aren't the tires I would choose. They would be a bit too squirrelly driving around the city/highway for me...

Pete

 

[mountainpete]

Hey Pete,

Well I have come across this exact situation and thanked my self for buying the MT-R's, I have been told by few buddies about siping the center of the tire to improve my wet weather traction. I think that I will been sticking with my MT-R's right now which still have about 90% tread left and maybe mount some AT's on a steel set of wheels that I have.

Also were are you headed for your trip and for how long?
We have six trucks going out next weekend for 3 days doing lots of backcountry exploring.

Christopher

Christopher,

I siped my BFG Mud Terrains straight across. It made a HUGE difference on wet roads but they are still a poor winter tire. I wouldn't hesitate siping them if you see a lot of wet pavement - especially if you have that much tread left.

My wife and I are headed out tomorrow morning. We'll head from Calgary via the Crowsnest to the Kootenays. Depending on what time we leave home, we would like to spend the first night at a campground somewhere around Christina Lake. Then we are going to head down in the US towards Seattle as we have never driven through there and my wife wants to do some shopping. Then we will head back up into Canada and just relax by some lake somewhere. No big plans - just more of a super relaxing time. Want to be back home by Saturday night.

Pete

 

[Erick Lihme]

I guess I'm nuts. There only about a 1% difference in the aspect ratio between the 235/85R16 and the 7.00R15. These are considered a commerial tire, yet Yokohama does not specify for dually. It's an old school size that has been use for years on trucks. Well, I hope they work good in mud, because I can hardly resist them. Recommended rim width is 5 to 6.5 " I believe my stock rims are 7". There could be a problem here.






Ah! Those are Fuso tires aren't they? I believe they are primarily designed to be rear dually tires. Do you have rims that will even fit them? You need a really narrow rim!

Personally, those aren't the tires I would choose. They would be a bit too squirrelly driving around the city/highway for me...

 

[Erick Lihme]

Pete,
I hear you on that squirrely part, seeing that you knew these were Fuso tires, must of heard some report about that. Well, this is not reassuring.

My stock rims are only 6" wide, so these can fit.. I'll try to justfy why I'm nuts.

The aspect ratio is not really all that out of line, it's just it's strange size 7.00R15 for this day and age. The driving around here is slow, perfect for my old truck, and busting snow is a concern as plows are irregular expect for primary roads. 235/75R15's try to ride on top and snow builds up in front stopping the truck. LOTS of wieght meaning PSI, or skinny is needed to make it. This is a light truck. Either that or go flotation, and that can get one in deep, and should one sink, the truck is high centered.

These things are intended to be mainly a winter tire. I drive like an old man and there is little traffic down here in the winter. Biggest problem is deer. An addtional benefit might be the ability to handle the mud back on the forest roads during spring or near marshes. These are not cheap and certainly not for most people. I've used skinny tires with only hwy tread with good effect in the snow.

Appreciate the heads up on the squirrel part, perhaps they'll only be good in the snow.