What tires are right for me?

[KDXSR5]

I am doing some tire research. The purchase may not happen until next summer, but I can ask questions now.

The truck: '85 Toyota pickup, stock height, '88 rear axle, front spacers, '88 7x15 aluminum rims

The modification: 1" body lift from sky

The Question: What tires should I run?

The needs: #1) 32"-33" height; #2) skinny, 9.5-11.5 maybe 12.5; #3) radial

The reasons: #1) Will fit without too much body work; #2) higher contact pressure, theoretical better traction, fit without too much body work; #3) Daily Driver, I want these tires to last awhile

The terrain: street, dirt, mud, clay, sand, some rock, roots, snow

What I try to avoid: Ice, packed snow, deep sand

I don't care about how loud the tires are, since I usually don't allow anyone in my truck besides me and the occasional date

I was thinking maybe 32x10.50r15lt TSL Radials. Opinions?

I know most of you have tires on your vehicles. I am also pretty sure that many of you have had tires on your rigs in the 32"-33" range at some point in time. I would appreciate your tire experiences, and your ideas on what tire would work well in my application. I hope I posted this in the right place. I am tired, but can't sleep, so I am just trying to pass the time.  

Thanks in advance for any replies!!!

[red]

i've run bfg at's and they've worked great. good wear, decent in mud but its not a mud tire. grips great on dirt, good in snow,  and has worked good for me in rocks.

[79coyotefrg]

if  you  plan to daily drive this truck  dont  buy a  Interco tire,  they are too soft  to run on a daily driver

get some 33  bfg's   or   the bridgestone  MT  they last a very long time  and balance nicely

[emsvitil]

with 15 x 7 rims, the widest recommended tire is a 10.5.

That basically leaves a 33 x 9.5 and a 33 x 10.5.  (BFG ATs and Mud)


I'd probably get the 10.5 in a AT.     The advantage of the smaller width tire and the stock rims is that you can still get articulation because there's enough room under the fenders for the tire to fit without hitting,   (you don't have to raise the truck for the tires to clear the fenders)

[Tallchevy]

When I still had IFS, I had 32x11.50x15 BFG A/T's on 15x7 with a 2" body lift with minor rubbing.

[KDXSR5]

I have the Bridgestone M/Ts (30x9.50) on it now, and I need something more aggressive. They do appear to wear very well, and they did balance fairly well also, but I need something meatier. The clay roads that I have to drive on to get into the ranch have me getting stuck with these tires, turning a 30 min. drive into a 3-5 hour adventure anytime it rains. The BFG A/Ts are great tires (my dad has them on his '91 F-150), but he can't even touch the clay mud because the tires turn into giant glazed donuts. I don't know too much about the BFG M/Ts though. From what I have heard, they perform similarly to the Bridgestone M/Ts. I figure I could go with a 11.5" wide tire, because that is close enough to the 4" maximum for me. At the most, I will be putting between about 8,000-10,000 miles on the tires per year. I would love for tires to last two years, if not more. From what I have been seeing, the Bridgestones look like they will last 5 years. I have had them for about 8 months, and they are just now starting to show signs of wear. I have been balancing and rotating them every 1500 miles. Anyone used the TSL Radials? More input please!

[Rocksurfer]

I've run almost that exact setup you mention with 33x12.50's with very little rubbing. If you run 33's you'll have to pound the seam flat inside the front wheel well at the firewall. Tires of choice for street would be BFG, Goodyear, etc., etc., don't go with the exotic tires if you plan on driving it as a dd, they won't last long at all.

[DTB]

Ive had BFG muds for my last 3 sets of tires...cant go wrong 

[79coyotefrg]

looks like you might need  to check into  the  old style  "grip spur"  farmers tire,  not sure  if anyone  still makes them

also the Denam Ground Hawgs  http://intercotire.com/site.php?pageID=95&bannerID=12&vmoment=1185838936&url=http://intercotire.com/site.php?pageID=95   are a excellent  cleaning tire

but  the best trick for  red clay  is  spinning the tires fast enough to sling  the stick stuff off

[KDXSR5]

I looked at the Denam Ground Hawgs (radials) last night, and thought that would be a pretty neat tire. It looks like it clears really well. Only issue would be tread wear, and I have to drive on the interstate from town to the ranch 45 min each way at 60-75 mph (Wyoming is all hills, 50-60 up, and 75 down) about once a week during spring and summer. The clay I am talking about is bentonite. Anyone ever heard of that? It is what kitty litter and oil dry is made of. Once it rains on the stuff, It turns into a bottomless pit of slicker than snot clay that looks dry until you drive on it and end up either stuck, or in the ditch beside the road. It is terrible stuff! any other opinions/ideas?

[79coyotefrg]

yea  i had a set of GroundHawgs on a 80 chevy,  they took forever to wear out  and  i drove it  as a daily driver

if  i can find a dealer here locally  i'll get some next time around  for my truck

[KDXSR5]

I'm thinking that the 32x11.50R15LT Ground Hawg ll would work fine for me. The width is the only thing that I am worried about with these. Plus, I am pretty sure I cannot find them locally...hmmm....I'll look around. Any other ideas?

[79coyotefrg]

http://www.coopertire.com/html/products/tires_lighttruck.aspx?page=discoverer_stt

[KDXSR5]

Those look interesting.  Still might be a little too wide, but idk. They look expensive. If I remember right I got the Bridgestone M/Ts for $56 a tire. They remind me of the Toyos and the Goodyears. Has anyone used a TSL Radial? If not, I might buy them and review them for future reference. But this is still all a year down the road at least, so who knows what might be out by then. Maybe some more aggressive BFG M/Ts? Who knows.

[79coyotefrg]

i  recently bought a 32 cooper  to replace a  blowout,  $120  mounted and balanced

considering the BFG's  in that size  are  around $180  i'd say the coopers  are  on the lower end of the price range

[DTB]

what about yokohama geolanders or firestone destination MTs? just throwing them out there

[KDXSR5]

I'm not too sure about the Geolanders. I thought about those too. I just have never seen anyone run them here. The Firestones would be just like my Bridgestones, wouldn't they? I don't think they are all that different. I guess you are right, 79coyotefrg, they are pretty cheap compared to the BFGs. How did you blow it out?

[79coyotefrg]

i ran over a  railroad spike

[79coyotefrg]

look at www.tirerack.com  they  offer reviews  of tires  from people thats had them

[KDXSR5]

Ouch! Ill check it out later, its almost supper time, thanks for all of the help and info!

[DTB]

look at www.tirerack.com  they  offer reviews  of tires  from people whose idea of wheeling is pulling up on the curb at starbucks

fixed 

[KDXSR5]

 

[Shamb]

i'd vote for BFG MT's or Goodyear MTR's..

Who's that other brand that makes a MTR look alike thats popular now?

Gotrocks is running them on his 4runner, nice looking tire.. I hear they do well on/off road.

[TurtleTappers91]

I Always ran BFG M/ts on my toyota and samurai, and they are great for a dd/trail rig/work truck. I switched to Mickey Thompson baja MTZ on my toyota and I love them, they are REALLY tough...The sidewalls are stronger than the BFG and they grip rocks better.

[KDXSR5]

  Doh! I got a flat yesterday. But, I got it fixed! So... anyone have something to say about the TSL Radials? Has anyone seen the new BFG M/Ts? I saw them on the back of my newest Petersons. They look almost exactly like the Krawlers, but they have siping, and are more civilized looking.

[hudlenutz]

My vote would be the bfg mud in a 33x10.5, or maybe the LTB...

The new bfg looks good.  It might also make the price of the originals go down a bit?

[bigarms23]

i would run a 33x10.50 tsl radial they should fit

[KDXSR5]

I heard somewhere that the ifs trucks came with more height from the factory than the solid axle trucks. Is there any truth to this? Or is there some other reason why bigger tires can fit on stock ifs trucks than stock solid axle trucks with no modification? Maybe torsion bar cranking? I really like the TSL Radials. I would go with the Ground Hawgs, but they cost quite a bit when compared to the TSL Radials. Plus, they are directional tires, which makes rotating them a pain in the butt.

[79coyotefrg]

but the Hawgs  wont need  rotating,  i WISH  i had another set

[Red_toy]

Where can I find those BFG's? No one seems to be carrying them yet.