Re: : RE: JPOR: Tires, again....

[Obi-Wan <bvh@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jefe writes:
> One thing that folks overlook is weight. Some 
> of the coolest tires for medium strength drivetrains that I've used 
> (['ve bought and worn out 35 SETS  of tires since 1965) are the 
> 33x9.50 BFG Mud Terrains @ 44 lbs. : light and narrow.  (The 33x12.5 
> Muds are 57 lbs ea.) Tread and sidewall; tough as nails. I NEVER had 
> a flat on one of these, even running them at 8 lbs. off-road, no bead 
> locks, beating the peawadden out of them. Work very well on stock 7" 
> wheels. This is a great combo for 'muddin'. They dig right down and 
> get to the bottom of things, but will spin easily for tread clearing. 
> I got over the 'Hammers' several times with these tires very easily. 
> I'm still  a fan of the 33 x 9.50's even though after my axle upgrades
> i now run 4.10's, 36-12.5 TSL Swamper Radials on 8" rims.
> 	As you are running 4.10's, the 33 x 9.50's would be a fine 
> choice. When down the road you upgrade to heavier duty drive train 
> components, 12.50's or 15.50's (35-36's) become a good choice. Right 
> now, these would have a LOT of traction feed back on mud(or 
> anything), very much increasing your breakage vulnerability.

I've been running 33x9.50 BFG MT's on my YJ for a year now.  I
originally got them when I did the SOA on my 4-cyl YJ.  I've still got
the stock drivetrain & wanted to save money by using my stock rims.
The reduced weight was a major factor in my decision.

Those things are unstoppable in the mud we see in Kansas (rarely more
than 12" deep).  I've traversed mud pits that stopped a friend in a
similar Jeep running 33x12.50 SSR's.  I'm sure the ability to dig down
to solid ground is a big part of it.  Since they fit inside my stock
fender flares, my Jeep stays cleaner than most of my friends, too.

My big complaint with the 9.50's is the reduced off-camber stability,
since I'm now 9" taller than stock and no wider.  Going to 12.50's
would make me 6" wider, which would be a great help.  I run them at
11-12 psi, but may go lower this summer.  I'm not overly impressed
with their ability to envelop rock ledges, either.  Maybe I'm running
too much air, or maybe a 40% increase in tread width would make a
huge difference.

I plan to upgrade to dual D44's sometime this winter, and at that time
I'll probably upgrade to 12.50's of some variety.  

> I would 
> say that the drawback is that they are not very sexy, being skinny 
> and tall.

I catch grief every time I take them into Sam's Club for road hazard
work.  I'm the guy with those "skinny little tractor tires."  The
wider meats definitely look better, but hey, this Jeep isn't intended
to be a show truck.  It's intended to work well off-road.

> Dogs tend to pee on these more than 35 x12.5's  8<)

We're having trouble housebreaking our puppy.  Maybe I should be
taking her out to the driveway instead of the yard...

				-- Obi-Wan
				   '95.5 YJ, '77 Wag

-- 
Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth                               obiwan@jedi.com
"You know, he kind of looks like Yoda"  -- Jim Davis, about my baby Micah
            Anybody want to buy a Jeep XJ Dana 44 rear axle?