Dual Purpose Tires

[mjonesjr84]

I'm looking at moving to a 35" tire and would like to have something that can be a dual purpose tire; off-road (trail & rocks) and something that will do good on the street. My TJ is quickly becoming less of a daily and more of a frequently drive on the street, but more drive on the trail. I have been going back and forth on the tires below.

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MT
Cooper STT Pro
Thunderer Trac Grip MT Tires

I currently have 33" Baja Boss AT's and love them. They are awesome on road and have performed better than expected on the trail.

I know several who are running the STT Pro's with very good opinions on them. They seem to do well all around. They don't seem to be loud on the road. I'm a big fan of Cooper tires as well as their other brands.

We have a set of the Thunderer Trac's on a F-350 brush truck at the VFD. They have done well off road and seem to not be very loud on the highway. Obviously, a brush truck doesn't get driven much when it rains. We do use it when it snows for other things and it does well. There are only around 4,000 miles on them and they still look new.

Cost is somewhat of a factor. I can get 5 Cooper's for $2,400 or 5 Thunderer's for $1,065.

What are your thoughts. I know opinions are like butt holes, but some of you I value what you think.

 

[macleanflood]

Throw KO3s into consideration.

My ten cents. And I'm not helping your problem of deciding. =)

I've had K02s and KM3s. Really love BFG.

-Mac

 

[Apparition]

I’m a big fan of Mickey Thompson as I have Baja Bosses on all my 4x4 vehicles. 35” AT’s on the F350 and 35” MT’s on the running LJ, 40’s for the non running LJ.

They were $410 each recently installed on the Truck. Was originally quoted $365 but that warehouse was out of stock.

 

[macleanflood]

Wife loves her 35" Mickeys on her JK. A set cost $1000 more than BFGs. I don't love them $1000 more.

-Mac

 

[mjonesjr84]

Throw KO3s into consideration.

My ten cents. And I'm not helping your problem of deciding. =)

I've had K02s and KM3s. Really love BFG.

-Mac

I don't want the KO3's. I like the BGF AT, but living on a gravel road, they hold rocks like a stripper holds dollar bills.

I’m a big fan of Mickey Thompson as I have Baja Bosses on all my 4x4 vehicles. 35” AT’s on the F350 and 35” MT’s on the running LJ, 40’s for the non running LJ.

They were $410 each recently installed on the Truck. Was originally quoted $365 but that warehouse was out of stock.

The Baja Boss MT is on the list, I just forgot to put it on the original post. I have the Baja Boss AT in a 33 now and love them. They performed much better than expected a few weeks ago on the trail. The AT's I have now have about 15k miles on them and still look new.

I have considered going to 37's, a 1.25" body lift, and regearing after the first of the year. There are a set of 5 almost new BFG KM3's on aluminum Beadlocks some what local for $2k that I've been considering. I figured I could sell the wheels and sell my tires and almost recouped the cost.

 

[Apparition]

I don't want the KO3's. I like the BGF AT, but living on a gravel road, they hold rocks like a stripper holds dollar bills.


The Baja Boss MT is on the list, I just forgot to put it on the original post. I have the Baja Boss AT in a 33 now and love them. They performed much better than expected a few weeks ago on the trail. The AT's I have now have about 15k miles on them and still look new.

I have considered going to 37's, a 1.25" body lift, and regearing after the first of the year. There are a set of 5 almost new BFG KM3's on aluminum Beadlocks some what local for $2k that I've been considering. I figured I could sell the wheels and sell my tires and almost recouped the cost.

IMO 37’s are a problem sized tire.

To do it right for 37’s you probably have axles for 40’s, if you don’t then you should stay with 35’s.

 

[mjonesjr84]

IMO 37’s are a problem sized tire.

To do it right for 37’s you probably have axles for 40’s, if you don’t then you should stay with 35’s.

Care to elaborate why 37's are a problem size?

The reason I'm considering 37's is the local set and some of the events that I would go on require at least 37's.

I don't think my axles are an issue since I have the ECGS Dana 489's (JK center with 3"x1/2" axle tubes. I wouldn't want to go any bigger than 37's unless I trusted them.

 

[Apparition]

Care to elaborate why 37's are a problem size?

The reason I'm considering 37's is the local set and some of the events that I would go on require at least 37's.

I don't think my axles are an issue since I have the ECGS Dana 489's (JK center with 3"x1/2" axle tubes. I wouldn't want to go any bigger than 37's unless I trusted them.

Do 489’s have TJ knuckles with TJ ball joints? If so they don’t hold up to 37’s.

 

[Wildman]

Care to elaborate why 37's are a problem size?

The reason I'm considering 37's is the local set and some of the events that I would go on require at least 37's.

I don't think my axles are an issue since I have the ECGS Dana 489's (JK center with 3"x1/2" axle tubes. I wouldn't want to go any bigger than 37's unless I trusted them.

What does ECGS rate as the MAX tire size for those axles? What ball joints does it run?

 

[mjonesjr84]

Do 489’s have TJ knuckles with TJ ball joints? If so they don’t hold up to 37’s.

Yes they do, but the C's have been strengthened. I know a set of Rubicon axles that have had the BJ's upgraded with the TJ knuckle that has beat the hell out of it and still is great.

 

[mjonesjr84]

What does ECGS rate as the MAX tire size for those axles? What ball joints does it run?

They don't list one, unless I'm overlooking it.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-2...ion-tj-xj-zj-front-bolt-in-axle-assembly.html

I have the Spicer BJ's in mine with the chromoly shafts.

 

[Wildman]

They don't list one, unless I'm overlooking it.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-2...ion-tj-xj-zj-front-bolt-in-axle-assembly.html

I have the Spicer BJ's in mine with the chromoly shafts.

This discussion comes up now and then. I'd talk to them and see what they say about max tire size.

I have a Ford HP44 so my knuckles are different than the TJ/JK knuckles. I ran a TSL SX 38" tire and did OK and I'm now going to try a M/T Baja Pro XS 38x13.5x17 tire out on that front axle and see how it does. I'll have to get a bigger axle soon though either way since I'm having to run spacers on my current axle.

 

[Apparition]

Yes they do, but the C's have been strengthened. I know a set of Rubicon axles that have had the BJ's upgraded with the TJ knuckle that has beat the hell out of it and still is great.

The smallest axle I own is my Currie HP44 they say it’s good for 37’s and I don’t believe them so it won’t get larger than 35’s. If I go bigger I’ll sell it and get another Currie 60.

 

[mjonesjr84]

This discussion comes up now and then. I'd talk to them and see what they say about max tire size.

I have a Ford HP44 so my knuckles are different than the TJ/JK knuckles. I ran a TSL SX 38" tire and did OK and I'm now going to try a M/T Baja Pro XS 38x13.5x17 tire out on that front axle and see how it does. I'll have to get a bigger axle soon though either way since I'm having to run spacers on my current axle.

I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they say.

I did find a set of almost new Baja Pro XS tires on a 35x13.50 for $2k. I think I can get away with a 13.50 tire since I am running 1.5" adapters to get to the 5x5 bolt pattern. My brother is running the non-DOT XS' on his JK and they do amazing off road.

 

[mjonesjr84]

The smallest axle I own is my Currie HP44 they say it’s good for 37’s and I don’t believe them so it won’t get larger than 35’s. If I go bigger I’ll sell it and get another Currie 60.

Do you think they wouldn't warranty it with 37's?

 

[Wildman]

I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they say.

I did find a set of almost new Baja Pro XS tires on a 35x13.50 for $2k. I think I can get away with a 13.50 tire since I am running 1.5" adapters to get to the 5x5 bolt pattern. My brother is running the non-DOT XS' on his JK and they do amazing off road.

What amount of backspace rims do you have? You have to be careful running spacers or adapters when it causes you to have too little back spacing and the rim not centers over the ball joint. It's part of my reasons for needing a new front axle. I narrowed my HP44 to Waggy width so could now use a stock width HP44 which was 65" WMS instead of my current 61" WMS. But if I'm building a new axle it'll either be a custom width Dana 60 or a Hibryd Dana 44/60 ( Dana 44 center section with Dana 60 outers). If I went to a Dana 60 front axle I'd have to look at moving up to 40's...

 

[mjonesjr84]

What amount of backspace rims do you have? You have to be careful running spacers or adapters when it causes you to have too little back spacing and the rim not centers over the ball joint. It's part of my reasons for needing a new front axle. I narrowed my HP44 to Waggy width so could now use a stock width HP44 which was 65" WMS instead of my current 61" WMS. But if I'm building a new axle it'll either be a custom width Dana 60 or a Hibryd Dana 44/60 ( Dana 44 center section with Dana 60 outers). If I went to a Dana 60 front axle I'd have to look at moving up to 40's...

Not sure the backspacing but they are -12mm offset. Including the adapters, they are 1.75" moved out farther than the wheels they replaced.

 

[Wildman]

Not sure the backspacing but they are -12mm offset. Including the adapters, they are 1.75" moved out farther than the wheels they replaced.

You need to check what your back spacing is. I'd guess you're going to be pushing it with 13.5" wide tires. I haven't had mine off-road yet so I can't say how well the XS tires do. Just finishing off a engine swap so hope to be taking it for it's first trail run the beginning of next month.

 

[mjonesjr84]

You need to check what your back spacing is. I'd guess you're going to be pushing it with 13.5" wide tires. I haven't had mine off-road yet so I can't say how well the XS tires do. Just finishing off a engine swap so hope to be taking it for it's first trail run the beginning of next month.

From what I've seen of them, they do great. Granted, the ones I've seen perform were stickies and not DOT.

This has gotten wildly off the original topic .

 

[Apparition]

Do you think they wouldn't warranty it with 37's?

Never once considered a warranty on something I’m actively trying to break.