JT4x4

The Mud Pit => Wrenching => Topic started by: BlacXJeep on December 02, 2011, 01:52:16 PM

Title: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: BlacXJeep on December 02, 2011, 01:52:16 PM
Looking to buy a new set sticky tires for the XJ to kick off the spring wheeling season. It looks like I'm not gonna be able to start building a YJ for a bit, so I will be trying to get the XJ up to snuff. I will be putting a locker up front and just running 33s, this way I won't need to re-gear or bother with upgrading the axles. Not to mention i won't need to bumpstop anymore or cut fenders. My budget for 4 tires in the 33x12.5R15 flavor is about $1000 shipped. Right now I am looking at the BFG KM2s, anybody have suggestions?
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: WillC on December 02, 2011, 03:04:31 PM
The KM2's are a good choice but they are not "sticky" tires. Goodyear MTR are nice also and a bit cheaper.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Bill3753 on December 02, 2011, 03:53:54 PM
The MTR/k's are very nice.  Andrew has them on his XJ if I remember correctly and he's done great.

Considering your XJ is not a daily driver, I would seriously think about using either radial IROK's or radial Pitbull Rockers.

Both can be had in the size your thinking about and if you watch around for a deal in the price range your talking about too.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Flex on December 03, 2011, 12:15:10 AM
i agree with bill but also consider a TSL in a radial flavor also.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Mr Rock on December 03, 2011, 12:24:38 AM
Personally, I do not like the Pit Bull's, I have seen them in bigger versions and they don't seem to flex very well.

just my two cents
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: RnnngTrails on December 03, 2011, 04:02:49 AM
IDK... those 39.5" Pitbull tires on Capt Rick's FJ40 did pretty well..
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Bill3753 on December 03, 2011, 10:03:37 AM
Rockers have to be broken in for a bit to flex good.  Rock, I'm thinking your remembering Capt Rick's and the other guy from Eastern that recently put them on his FJ.  Once those are broken in, they'll flex great.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Bill3753 on December 03, 2011, 10:06:09 AM
Nate, I agree TSL's but if you get those grove em up.  They'll bite way better then on the rocks.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: BlacXJeep on December 03, 2011, 08:13:24 PM
Im thinking you guys are right. The KM2s are decent, but aren't sticky enough or anywhere near as aggressive as I'd like them to be when compared to the others. I'm eyeballing the IROK Radials, Pro-Comp Xterrains, Pitbull Rockers, and the TSLs. It sounds like nobody recommends the Bias tires? Still a slight possibility I may go with 35s. Think I can get away with that on stock 3.55 axles and not blow em up?
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Flex on December 03, 2011, 11:48:40 PM
I think stay 33's it will allow u to have a much more aggressive driving style. And dur to u will be driving this to and from the trail I would go with radials
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: RnnngTrails on December 04, 2011, 02:16:59 AM
Found these in a 33x12 R15... SUPER STICKY TIRE

http://www.hoosiermidatlantic.com/product.cfm?InvKey=309
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: reptile610 on December 04, 2011, 02:32:45 AM
i had nitto trail grapplers on LJ and they were amazing. they're a hybrid between there all terrain and there mud terrain tires.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: BlacXJeep on December 04, 2011, 08:04:16 PM
Ok, I think the consensus is 33's. I want something knobby. If anyone finds any deals, post em' up!
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: BlacXJeep on December 04, 2011, 08:05:25 PM
Found these in a 33x12 R15... SUPER STICKY TIRE

http://www.hoosiermidatlantic.com/product.cfm?InvKey=309

 :D i hate you
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: calvynandhobbs on December 04, 2011, 08:09:05 PM
If you find something that needs extra siping you can borrow my heated grooving tool. Smaug saw me use this on my old style BFG MTs and it works great for cutting extra grooves and siping them. Cuts like a hot knife through butter.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Flex on December 05, 2011, 02:36:51 AM
http://nh.craigslist.org/pts/2692092302.html

these are a good deal.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: BlacXJeep on December 06, 2011, 08:49:27 PM
If you find something that needs extra siping you can borrow my heated grooving tool. Smaug saw me use this on my old style BFG MTs and it works great for cutting extra grooves and siping them. Cuts like a hot knife through butter.

Sounds good Roger, I was gonna inquire about that.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: RnnngTrails on December 07, 2011, 05:03:10 AM
Found these in a 33x12 R15... SUPER STICKY TIRE

http://www.hoosiermidatlantic.com/product.cfm?InvKey=309

 :D i hate you

Love you too! ::)
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Bill3753 on December 07, 2011, 05:48:14 AM
Those Pitbull Rockers Nate posted the link to are a great deal.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: BlacXJeep on December 07, 2011, 09:10:25 PM
yeah man, I'm gonna try to get them
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Bill3753 on December 09, 2011, 04:56:44 AM
Awesome.  I think those will be great for you.

Next, you need this:

 http://albany.craigslist.org/pts/2697874989.html

Your front needs seals and an Aussie minimum right?  A little more then that would cost and you'll have a rebuilt axle, lockright, Superior brand 4.10's, and chromoly shafts.

Then, sell your locked 8.25, pick up an Explorer 31 spline 4.10 geared 8.8, and swap it in.

Combine those axles with those tires and you'll be able to get on it without much worry.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: gearhead1985B on December 09, 2011, 08:25:00 AM
Awesome.  I think those will be great for you.

Next, you need this:

 http://albany.craigslist.org/pts/2697874989.html

Your front needs seals and an Aussie minimum right?  A little more then that would cost and you'll have a rebuilt axle, lockright, Superior brand 4.10's, and chromoly shafts.

Then, sell your locked 8.25, pick up an Explorer 31 spline 4.10 geared 8.8, and swap it in.

Combine those axles with those tires and you'll be able to get on it without much worry.

that axle is most likly a lp axle since it is coming from a tj
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Bill3753 on December 09, 2011, 05:03:46 PM
Correct, it would be a LP 30.  It would still be a good deal though.  His current LP 30 needs work and I know he wanted to do an Aussie locker already too.

You could buy this one, already rebuilt, with Chromo's for just a little more then rebuilding his current axle.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Flex on December 09, 2011, 05:30:27 PM
Not that it matters but just a correction his current axle is a HP.
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: BlacXJeep on December 09, 2011, 07:00:09 PM
Thanks Bill, but I couldn't justify $700 on a dana 30 LP. Besides, mine is an HP, which should be stronger, and my 29 spline 8.25 isn't much weaker than a ford 8.8. I think i'll just make it easy and stay with 3.55s, since I eventually plan on starting a YJ project. At that point I will start with no less than 1 tons, and 36s, but we will have to see what kind of job the wife finds and get settled into a house before I can start anything like that. With that being said I ran the half tread, 33x12.5 ATs for a while with 3.55s, without a locker, and I got by, so this will undoubtedly be a huge improvement!
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: Bill3753 on December 09, 2011, 10:58:35 PM
Not that it matters but just a correction his current axle is a HP.

Stupid unibody rigs.  Never like the rest of us. ;D

Thanks Bill, but I couldn't justify $700 on a dana 30 LP. Besides, mine is an HP, which should be stronger, and my 29 spline 8.25 isn't much weaker than a ford 8.8. I think i'll just make it easy and stay with 3.55s, since I eventually plan on starting a YJ project. At that point I will start with no less than 1 tons, and 36s, but we will have to see what kind of job the wife finds and get settled into a house before I can start anything like that. With that being said I ran the half tread, 33x12.5 ATs for a while with 3.55s, without a locker, and I got by, so this will undoubtedly be a huge improvement!

The ad says $700, but the title says $600.  I think he dropped the price.  That said, the design on yours being a HP front is stronger, but the factory gears are not as good a Superior's.  To me, that makes them about even.  The biggest selling point for this axle to me is the fact that it has the locker and chromoly's already installed plus it has been rebuilt.  You won't have seal issues or anything else like that if you were to get it.

Heck you could get it and then we could swap the lockright, chromoly axles, and all the newer rebuilt ball joints, brakes, and bearings to your axle.  Then you keep your HP 30 w/ 3.55's, gain a locker and chromoly's, and get new ball joints, brakes, and unit bearings in the process.  I am almost positive the parts, shafts included, on a HP 30 can swap to a LP 30.

Now, with all this in mind, you are 100% correct that just the tires alone will be a massive improvement.  I just like this idea because with the newer parts and chomoly's you'd be able to get on it and not worry too much about breaking the front out from under it.  
Title: Re: Suggestions for new tires?
Post by: BlacXJeep on December 10, 2011, 08:36:49 PM
unfortunately even if i did want to do this, I couldn't justify it to the wife, after buying the tires Nate posted. Besides that I just bought a new laptop, and I'm gonna owe Nate for the work hes doing, with the seals, aussie, paint and whatever other goodies you guys are doing.. I'd rather know that you guys just did the seals freshly and just run what i got, without having to swap the axles out etc.