Thoughts/Opinions on my next step

[Wind_Danzer]

Goodyear MTR vs. Maxxis Creepy Crawler vs. BFG Muds ~ tires

Steel vs. Aluminum - wheels

The time has come for me to seriously consider the next step in things. I have basically a whole 3.5 RE lift ready to go onto the Jeep. In talking to DsrtJeeper who has now seen me wheel my Jeep, knows I'm soft on the go pedal and have somewhat of a clue on how to do things when faced with an obstacle, he thinks I should step up to the 35" tire/wheel combo. I want to be there also.

I have seen the Maxxis Creepy Crawler in person and just love the looks of that tire. Does anyone have any idea how well it does on and off road?

I have seen the Goodyear MTR on numerous occasions and it seems to be the most common one out here anymore. I like them, they do take a beating and hold up well on and off road.

The BFG Muds (the newest version) are nice too but I don't know much about them. How do they do on and off road?

Now for wheels. I have to be budget conscience. I like the idea of aluminum as it's lightweight, looks good, and harder to get out of round (normally they just crack and you're screwed :D ). I also like the idea of steel as it's lighter on the wallet, looks good but the downfall is they can post to be problematic when you scratch them up or ding them just right and then you can never get them balanced just right again.

Also, what is a good size wheel to run a 35x12.50. I was thinking 15x8 but would a 15x10 be better? I believe Eric said the 15x10 would be better.

Does anyone know of a good aluminum wheel that is right around 50 to 75 bucks? Feel free to laugh at that price as I am probably pushing that but I want to try to stay within 1000 ~ 1200 for everything. :(

My Jeep is one of my modes of transportation but it is nice to supplement it with a motorcycle so it doesn't see the bulk of the driving it use to back in NJ.

Currently I am running 31x10.50 BFG AT's (which after last weekend, I would consider running again... now come tomorrow, it could be a different story) and stock 15x7 wheels.

Thanks all!! :)

[DsrtJeeper]

Jamie;
I just prefer the 15x10 rims for a cheap way to gain a wider stance. The 15x8's are just fine also. ;) Those Maxxis tires have my interest peaked as well.

[Wind_Danzer]

I know you like those tires too and I'd like to get them to see how they work relative to your MT/R's. Plus it would be nice to have someone to compare it to close by so you can see more then by word of mouth.

[Stu Olson]

I perfer the 15x8" wheels as I believe they hold a bead better in an air down situation when compared to a 10" wide wheel. An 8" wide wheel, with a 3.5" backspace, will give you a pretty wide stance, IMO.

In regards to the Crawlers, I've "heard" they are a soft tire and so the mileage life is shorter than some would appreciate. If they stick as good as folks say, they probably are built from a soft compound and will wear faster.

Wheel styles are always a tough choice....so many to choose from. What ever you pick, just stay away from the black steel wheels...the $35 specials....they do seem to bend a bit too easily and will forever never balance correctly again (let alone mention death wobble problems).

[BRUZR]

What ever you pick, just stay away from the black steel wheels...the $35 specials....they do seem to bend a bit too easily and will forever never balance correctly again (let alone mention death wobble problems).
Stu, are you saying that a particular kind of wheel will play a role in the cause of the Death Wobble, or are you referring to how easily they bend and are, therefore, harder to keep in balance (...and not just the material is made of)?

[Linda]

Discount has a knock-off Eagle alloy wheel which is probably in your price range. The 16x10 8-bolts cost me around $90 each. I am sure the 15" 5-bolts are cheaper. They have a neat machined finish which isn't exactly mirror-like.

Since you are planning on going to a larger tire, I would also look at 16s and 17s. Yokohama makes a C-rated 16 and I think some other tire makers are doing that now too. One reason for the suggestion is if you plan on putting on larger brakes (to stop the added wieght and resistance of the larger tires) you may as well have the extra room for them. :)

[Wind_Danzer]

Discount has a knock-off Eagle alloy wheel which is probably in your price range. The 16x10 8-bolts cost me around $90 each. I am sure the 15" 5-bolts are cheaper. They have a neat machined finish which isn't exactly mirror-like.

Since you are planning on going to a larger tire, I would also look at 16s and 17s. Yokohama makes a C-rated 16 and I think some other tire makers are doing that now too. One reason for the suggestion is if you plan on putting on larger brakes (to stop the added wieght and resistance of the larger tires) you may as well have the extra room for them. :)


Hmmm, didn't think about the larger wheel idea. Do you have a link to this knock off Eagle wheel.

Stu, can you post the name of the tire you have again, I have memory issues so of course I can't remember them. Thanks for the tuning today and the conversation. :)

EDIT: I seem to have read that someone has gotten 1/2 the tread life after only 9000 miles on the tire though he uses it as his DD. I also have a motorcycle that I like to ride so I will probably only do 100 miles a week (at most) on the Jeep. It will probably be less then that since I'm usually gone 4 days a week.

[DsrtJeeper]

A big misconception in my eyes is the 15x10 not holding a bead well. I wheel with three other guys who utilize 15x10's with 35-37" tires with no problems whatsoever. As a matter of fact; none of us has ever lost a bead. I think it comes down to the driver in the end. My buddy was told his Dana 35 would never hold up to 35" tires. He finally broke an axle on Anaconda after 5 good years of wheeling on his stock 35. Not bad odds in my eyes.
Basically; it all comes down to what works for your driving style. In the end; you need to be the judge. ;)

[Linda]

Discount sells the wheels under their own brand. Rick Beer would know about them.

[Mad_Medic]

I have 315/75R/16 MTR's on mine with the stock wheels and I love them! I haven't seen a better tire if you plan on using them both on and off road. A bit pricey, but I think they are worth it. I have about 20K miles on them and still over 3/4 tread left.

Just my opinion...

[danno]

I have 37 in MTRs.

These tire perform extremely well off road in all of the conditions I have so far tested them (AZ, Moab, Oklahoma, Texas, Rubicon). In addition, they are on my daily driver and so far I have about 40,000 miles on them with about 30% tread left (not 30% before they are bald, but 30% before they hit the wear indicators. The trick has been rotating them every 3-5 K miles.

I would not even consider another tire after my experience with the MTRs.

By the way, I have 15x10 Black RockCrawler (4wheelparts) rims. They are all bent now. The next set of tires will be on 17x9 inch aluminum rims (probably Walker Evans or Robby Gordon beadlocks). I like the 10s but the rims' edges get pretty scraped up on the trail. I would like the sidewalls of the tires to protect the rims a bit more.

[Wind_Danzer]

Danno,

Good point about the edges. Not so much of an issue other then cosmetic but still a good point. Of course who am I to talk cosmetic, my Jeep finally had a bath in about 2 years and the interior is still a mess. :eek: :D

Thanks for the experiance you posted with the MT/R's. How have they handled when wet for you? I've seen them recently up at Payette Draw and they weren't a happy tire when wet.

Seems the MT/R is the best wearing tire out here right now, everyone has nothing good to say about that and I have been told to avoid the Creepy Crawler due to the soft properties it possesses.

Hmmmm...

Oh, I gotta call Rick Beer too I forgot.

[1BLKJP]

I am rolling 35" Baja Claws on 15x10 rims and have yet to pop a bead either. I usually air down to 7-10 lbs. I agree with the others that you are going to tear up the edges on them, but mine are aluminum and it hasn't bothered anything. Besides rock rash is cool.

I mainly went with the 10 inch rims because when I step up to 37 or bigger Baja Claws they are going to be 13.50 tires. Plus I like the little wider stance on the off camber spots.

Danzer, I think most tires are pretty pissed when it's wet out on the rocks. Unless you are running a soft bias ply tire like the grappler, Krawlers and such.

[danno]

I agree with 1BLKJP most tires have trouble with wet in the rocks.

I can tell you that out of all of the tires that I have owned in the past... SS SX, BFG Muds, Dick Cepek MC II, Goodyear Wrangler MT, MT Baja Claw and BFG AT.... The MTRs perform better in the wet from my perspective than all of them except the BFG ATs on wet pavement.

I can tell you that the Baja Claws frightened me on the wet rocks especially in off camber situations. It seemed that the lateral traction is poor and the tires seemed to slide to the side more than any other tires that I have owned. I would not want these tires on the Table Mesa Lower Terminator white line obstacle if my tires were damp (I have done it in the rain with my MTRs.

As far as tearing up the sides of the rim, I really don't care that much about cosmetics, but when the rims scrape the rocks it creates some really sharp metal shards along the edge of the rim. I have cut myself a couple of times just brushing against the rim. One of the guys at Discount Tire took a good chunk out of his hand as well. I actually had to take a file to them to try to take some of the edges off. I am thinking that a bit narrower rim (like a 9 or 8 inch) may keep this from happening as much.

[BRUZR]

I am thinking that a bit narrower rim (like a 9 or 8 inch) may keep this from happening as much.
I don't know, but my 15x8 Rock Crawler wheels are pretty chewed up too. I run 35x12.5x15's with them.

[DsrtJeeper]

Darn Payette Draw bit me again!!! :rolleyes: Just had tires rotated and balanced and they found a chunk missing out of the inside of one wheel. I knew I hit hard, but....... :eek:

[1BLKJP]

I agree with 1BLKJP most tires have trouble with wet in the rocks.

I can tell you that the Baja Claws frightened me on the wet rocks especially in off camber situations. It seemed that the lateral traction is poor and the tires seemed to slide to the side more than any other tires that I have owned. I would not want these tires on the Table Mesa Lower Terminator white line obstacle if my tires were damp (I have done it in the rain with my MTRs.

As far as tearing up the sides of the rim, I really don't care that much about cosmetics, but when the rims scrape the rocks it creates some really sharp metal shards along the edge of the rim. I have cut myself a couple of times just brushing against the rim. One of the guys at Discount Tire took a good chunk out of his hand as well. I actually had to take a file to them to try to take some of the edges off. I am thinking that a bit narrower rim (like a 9 or 8 inch) may keep this from happening as much.

Yeah, Danno I have faced a little of that before with them. If they can't bite then they move sideways until they can. I have been through white line when it is a little wet and a couple of times I was almost a little wet myself.

And I have the same problems with my rims. I have to do the same thing. But like Dan said I think that anyone is going to have that problem scraping rocks.

[BRUZR]

Yeah, it's bad...I can't even polish my rims anymore!!! :p The dang rag gets caught on the barbs...

Edit: You guys know I'm BS-ing, right?!! :D