Tire Suggestions

[KernHydro]

Im looking for a good 35" MT tire for my jku..I was going to get the MTR's but read alot of bad things about them... Then Started looking at KM2 But they run small and have a lite side wall and the 4 door is kinda heavy. I want to end up with a good size 35 being that the jku is alonger wheel base. I have narrowed it down to km2 37" ( really like 35.5 ) or nittos/coopers any suggestions???

[Beck*A*Poo]

I would go with the km2s they last a good long time

[TheBigDogg]

I believe the KM2's are a 3 ply sidewall, and the MTR's are also 3 ply but with kevlar, I am sure others will chime in on this, a few people are running both tires, I had KM2's before, i liked them, but with any tire, espically a mud terrain, rotate often!!!!

TheBigDogg

[Zak.Taylor]

Go 36x13.50 iroks!!!

[KernHydro]

Ive heard of irocs but I don't think I've seen them before. How do they hold up on pavement and how expensive are they? I would like to run 37s but I don't want to regear while I have stock lockers and I think I will have a shit crawl ratio with any thing over 35s

[abendx]

With you choices, I'd go KM2.

[chrisrigby]

have you considered those military take offs RGACORD is running? there bitchen especially at sub $100 per tire

[Goatman]

What's the deal with MT/R's? I guess I'm not on the internet enough. Pretty much everyone I talk to that runs them likes them. I know tons of people wheeling on MT/R's with no complaints. I do hear that some people don't like them, but no one who's running them.

[Uncle Cracker]

military draw back: they are 16.5, 16.5 push off the rim easy, so you'd need to buy dual bead lock rims also

[Desert Dog]

The KM2s are decent in rocks but run WAYYYY small. A 35 is actually a 33" tire, and the 37" KM2s are the same size as the 35" MT/R. Don't pay for a 35 to get a 33 IMO. I ran 35" KM2s on my JK after I bought it, and sold them to Henry after about 8 months and they didn't last long on his truck. I thought they were excellent in the rocks but horrible in the snow. They were very smooth and quiet on the street and balanced easily.

Bigfoot is running MT/Rs, and they hook up pretty good in just about anything and are really nice on the street. He did have a tire replaced under warranty because of a sidewall puncture, which ironically, I see a lot with MT/Rs. They wear very good and will last a long time. The biggest problem with MT/Rs is getting them; they seem to only make them once a year and when the supply runs dry, none are available for many months. This will be a problem if you need to have a tire replaced.

I put the new Maxxis radial Trepadors on my daughters TJ after reading great reviews by other off-roaders, and must admit that I find them to be very impressive. They are a directional tire and I think they hook up in the rocks better than the KM2s and MT/Rs. They are a little louder than the MT/R on the pavement, but ride just as smooth. Bigfoot was using them at Calico, and my wife was using them during the last freeway ridge run. Curtis thinks that these tires hook-up better than his MT/Rs. Just another option to think about.

I have ran Iroks for a long time because I love their off-road performance. But, be mindful that they are a really shitty street tire. They don't balance well, are loud (and get louder as they wear), and the soft compound that makes them great off-road gives them a very short life on the pavement.

[KernHydro]

[quote="abendx"]With you choices, I'd go KM2.[/quote]
Im open to suggestions.. Thats just the more known tires I have narrowed it down to.

[quote="Goatman"]What's the deal with MT/R's? I guess I'm not on the internet enough. Pretty much everyone I talk to that runs them likes them. I know tons of people wheeling on MT/R's with no complaints. I do hear that some people don't like them, but no one who's running them.[/quote]
There seems to be alot of issues with balancing and side wall problems. Some claim there unpredictable on the rocks.

[abendx]

[quote="KernHydro"][quote="abendx"]With you choices, I'd go KM2.[/quote]
Im open to suggestions.. Thats just the more known tires I have narrowed it down to.

[quote="Goatman"]What's the deal with MT/R's? I guess I'm not on the internet enough. Pretty much everyone I talk to that runs them likes them. I know tons of people wheeling on MT/R's with no complaints. I do hear that some people don't like them, but no one who's running them.[/quote]
There seems to be alot of issues with balancing and side wall problems. Some claim there unpredictable on the rocks.[/quote]



MT/R... I run. I hate!

There DILF... you finally found one!

Anyways...

I hate the MT/R because it flexes like shit, they are just have too stiff a sidewall!! I have ripped a sidewall, Randy has ripped a sidewall, and I have read/heard about others. They fold over rather than mushroom, leaving you with less of a contact patch than you should have (and possibly, this is why there are so many sidewall issues). On the street they perform very nicely.

I ran the KM2 for a short while before selling them to Pete. I think he is very happy with them, other than some chunking issues he complained about.... he can chime in with his opinion since I only ran them for a short while and he's had them for two years or so now. I actually liked that tire a lot... it really performed on the rocks and I feel it flexed at 15 better than the MTR does at 3 (the lowest I have run either at).

Other choices....

I have run Swampers on my rigs prior to this one and would be running them on my heep if there was a better selection in 17.

I am running some Nittos on my tow rig now... only 1k miles on them, but they seem really nice. Not sure its a great tire for off road nor do I know if the other models are as nice?

I have run many of the old BFG mud terrains and always liked them too.

That is what I have experience of in off road tires.... mostly havre run the Swampers, then the BFGs. I'll likely go back to either of the two when these MT/Rs give out.


DD did state somethings that are good info. The BFG sizing issue (and it affects more tire manufactures than you might think) and the lack of availability on the MT/Rs (enough reason not to get them). I guess, you have to decide what you want in a tire.... pure wheeling, pure street, or somewhere in between. Then you have to decide how old you are, as mud tires make noise and ride rougher (my toys are obnoxious and my DDs are clam and relaxing.... but then again, I am OLD!! ).

Good luck man and let us know what you decided on and what you think of them.

[chuckanut105]

The KM2's are great. They have great road manners and kick ass in the dirt and rocks. I cant say anything for mud or deep snow, I ran them in 6-10" of snow and had no problems. I can run 25-15# and they flex nicely on my 2 door JK. Like Brad said they do chunk pretty bad if you spin them on sharp rocks and they do run a little small but I found only a 1/2" so my 35's are really 34.5. Thats at 32psi on a 17x9" rim. I dont know why people say the run smaller there arnt any tire that I know of that are dead on for size even the manufacture states that. I love them and will be buying another set when these where out. Im about 40-50% left and about 20,000mi on them I dont think thats bad for an offroad tire. Oh and no side wall issues yet (knocking on wood). Hope this helps.

[chuckanut105]

So keeping this thread going has anyone seen pitbull rocker radials on the trail? I know they are fawking expensive at $450 for 37s on 17s. For one they have a great reputation for doing everything good and well they are one of the coolest looking tires out there. Just looking at the options.

[Goatman]

[quote="chuckanut105"]So keeping this thread going has anyone seen pitbull rocker radials on the trail? I know they are fawking expensive at $450 for 37s on 17s. For one they have a great reputation for doing everything good and well they are one of the coolest looking tires out there. Just looking at the options.[/quote]

They are quite possibly the worst traction tire available. Those that I know that run/ran them hated them because of the lack of bite. Of course, my perspective is on a buggy when most are running stickies. On a buggy, Pit Bulls are horrible.

[Goatman]

[quote="abendx"][quote="KernHydro"][quote="abendx"]With you choices, I'd go KM2.[/quote]
Im open to suggestions.. Thats just the more known tires I have narrowed it down to.

[quote="Goatman"]What's the deal with MT/R's? I guess I'm not on the internet enough. Pretty much everyone I talk to that runs them likes them. I know tons of people wheeling on MT/R's with no complaints. I do hear that some people don't like them, but no one who's running them.[/quote]
There seems to be alot of issues with balancing and side wall problems. Some claim there unpredictable on the rocks.[/quote]



MT/R... I run. I hate!

There DILF... you finally found one!

Anyways...

I hate the MT/R because it flexes like shit, they are just have too stiff a sidewall!! I have ripped a sidewall, Randy has ripped a sidewall, and I have read/heard about others. They fold over rather than mushroom, leaving you with less of a contact patch than you should have (and possibly, this is why there are so many sidewall issues). On the street they perform very nicely.

I ran the KM2 for a short while before selling them to Pete. I think he is very happy with them, other than some chunking issues he complained about.... he can chime in with his opinion since I only ran them for a short while and he's had them for two years or so now. I actually liked that tire a lot... it really performed on the rocks and I feel it flexed at 15 better than the MTR does at 3 (the lowest I have run either at).
[/quote]


Well, there you go.

One of the things I see and hear on MT/R's is that they hook up without excessively low tire pressures. Obviously, the lower pressure you run the more chance of sidewall puncture. But, tire experience is very subjective. Mostly, I figure if a tire isn't a sticky it basically sucks.


I hear about so many sidewall punctures that I loose track of which tire. I ran the old MT/R's, two sets 35's and 37's and cut one or two of them (repairable) while wearing out both sets, yet I sold that Jeep to a friend and he's cut so many MT/R's I lost count, both 35's and 37's. Pit Bulls are tough, and yet I know guys who have cut them.

We run MT/R's on the race Jeep because overall they seem to have the best reputation for the combination of traction and durability. Of course, we cut one in KOH, but that almost doesn't count. They are also free, but that doesn't count, either. We could have had Falken's for free as well, or a super racers deal on Maxxis. I have to keep my eye on the non-sticky radial Treps, that's an interesting combination. I wonder about street driving for most, or desert handling and weight for racing, we did consider running them.

[Desert Dog]

[quote="chuckanut105"]So keeping this thread going has anyone seen pitbull rocker radials on the trail? I know they are fawking expensive at $450 for 37s on 17s. For one they have a great reputation for doing everything good and well they are one of the coolest looking tires out there. Just looking at the options.[/quote]
I was going to get a set of them because they look cool and have tough sidewalls like the TSLs. That was until my trip to Moab last year for the JKO runs. Almost any tire hooks up in moab, even street tires, but the Pitbull Rockers were having trouble on everything - even with good drivers and well built rigs. After this experience, I no longer have the desire to own them. They are sponsors on most off-road forums, so get pushed a lot by forum ownership. There are better tires for less money.

[Frylock]

I havent had much experience with other tires, but my toyo MTs have held up pretty good. No punchures or poped beads yet and they have been through some nasty stuff. Calico did chunk them a little and it seemed like I was having a harder time then most up a icy freeway ridge trip. I have no real gripe with them. Back tires have 30k miles on them and are about half way down, most of the sipping is gone. Fronts I had replaced but it was due to a real bad allignment. Road noise is about as quiet as you can get for a 35" MT tire.

Just another tire you can look into.

[chuckanut105]

Thanks for the info about the rockers. Ya they have looks that could kill but if they cant back it up whats the point.

[KernHydro]

I have decided to try the nitto trail grappler 35 x 12.50 Because of price, truer size and heavy side wall. The downside to this tire ive read is noise, tread wear and they run alittle heavy (but that what a heavy rig needs...) Im not concerened about tread wear because ill probably want 37s soon

[abendx]

Stop... don't pass go and don't collect profit. Dude... if you got 37s on the brain already... get them. Why waste cash on 35s??

[KernHydro]

[quote="abendx"]Stop... don't pass go and don't collect profit. Dude... if you got 37s on the brain already... get them. Why waste cash on 35s??[/quote]
I know, Belive me I want to but I have spent count less hours researching and stewing the idea over and my lodgic and the old timers tell me to rock the 35s. There is more than just buying bigger tires. I want to get my money's worth out of the rubi gear( lockers and axels ) before I spend money to replace them I only have 5500 mi on my rig and im pretty new to wheeling so it seems that I should spend some time on the 35s to cut my teeth then move up to 37s +. If I jump stright to 37 I will need to regear, get Molly's and wait for my lockers to fail which the factory's will sooner than later. Then I lose the regear money, and also the Molly's because I would go to arb and 35 spline at that point. So in my mind It will cost about an extra 3000+ to run 37s now and then later I will have to respend it again.

[chuckanut105]

[quote="KernHydro"][quote="abendx"]Stop... don't pass go and don't collect profit. Dude... if you got 37s on the brain already... get them. Why waste cash on 35s??[/quote]
I know, Belive me I want to but I have spent count less hours researching and stewing the idea over and my lodgic and the old timers tell me to rock the 35s. There is more than just buying bigger tires. I want to get my money's worth out of the rubi gear( lockers and axels ) before I spend money to replace them I only have 5500 mi on my rig and im pretty new to wheeling so it seems that I should spend some time on the 35s to cut my teeth then move up to 37s +. If I jump stright to 37 I will need to regear, get Molly's and wait for my lockers to fail which the factory's will sooner than later. Then I lose the regear money, and also the Molly's because I would go to arb and 35 spline at that point. So in my mind It will cost about an extra 3000+ to run 37s now and then later I will have to respend it again.[/quote]

You will want to re-gear with the 35s as well trust me. I espically if you have an auto. The lockers and axles will handle 37's just fine as long as you dont well like a mad man.

[KernHydro]

I have the 6 spd and the lockers will hold up alittle while but they do stretch after some use and then the locker cracks and also they get stuck alot it's already kinda starting to stick alittle. I want to wheel the piss out of the stock shit first. I guess I could just run 37 and hope for the best. I am building everything up pretty well. I will have king coil overs front and rear and 1350 drive shafts rock sliders warn 9500 17" bead locks this month and I have a loose plan for phase 2. arb, 35 spline, dyna track front, higher gears and 37s.
Maybe next year if I don't completely ruin it this summer...

[chuckanut105]

I have the 6sp too An X with 3.21 gears and no lockers the gears will hold up just fine. But you will enjoy wheeling more with lower gears the JK is not very light and trying to hold on a rock. I end up having to spin the tires more than I like due to the lack of gearing. Just my .02