Mud: Which "traction" tires work best?

[MR4WD]

In BC, we run toyo MT's in stock tire size on our Superduties. BFG's just aren't that great, but they wear longer. We run our junk on everything from muskeg, to granite to ice. From just below sea level to 8000'. I Like toyo's just fine.

Personally, I've built 2 vehicles with 44" boggers, 1 with 40" swampers and a few with tire sizes in between. On my duramax, I've ran BFG all terrains, Mud terrains, and now pro-comp all terrains. I run a 33x12.50x17 in the pro-comps which are god awful scary on ice and deep snow, but they sure make the truck look pretty.

I like the width for rock roads and hauling heavy. When you're loaded with 3000 pounds in the bed and the tires DO spin, they'll move more dirt than a skinny tire. For snow, ice and mud, I'd shoot for a narrower tire.

I think cooper makes Toyo M/T clone, for cheaper which is nice. I think I'll get those next time I go tire shopping.

 

[Billy_Bob]

:agree2:
I assumed all 4wd work trucks had at least limited slip, or did, untill I started shopping for a new truck a couple years back.

When I went truck shopping, I asked the salesman which trucks had locking or limited slip rear differentials. He looked like I was the first person to ever ask this question and did not know which truck had what.

Then it was unknown if the truck I bought had this or not. I learned this was an option for this truck (Sierra 2500 extended cab long bed).

So try finding out if the truck has it or not!!!

I asked 4 different people at two different factory dealerships and some said yes it has it, others said no it does not. (Salesmen said yes, parts and service guys said no.)

I got a printout of my VIN# factory options for my truck and this listed the rear differential. Then I also got a factory service manual and from this I was able to see that there were all sorts of different differentials available for this truck, only one of which was limited slip and my truck did not have it.

The factory manual also shows where the ID number is on the differential. So now I can go to the wrecking yards and go limited slip hunting!

This is Oregon. EVERYONE should have a limited slip differential and the windshield wipers should always be on! :biggrinbounce2:

 

[ropensaddle]

When I went truck shopping, I asked the salesman which trucks had locking or limited slip rear differentials. He looked like I was the first person to ever ask this question and did not know which truck had what.

Then it was unknown if the truck I bought had this or not. I learned this was an option for this truck (Sierra 2500 extended cab long bed).

So try finding out if the truck has it or not!!!

I asked 4 different people at two different factory dealerships and some said yes it has it, others said no it does not. (Salesmen said yes, parts and service guys said no.)

I got a printout of my VIN# factory options for my truck and this listed the rear differential. Then I also got a factory service manual and from this I was able to see that there were all sorts of different differentials available for this truck, only one of which was limited slip and my truck did not have it.

The factory manual also shows where the ID number is on the differential. So now I can go to the wrecking yards and go limited slip hunting!

This is Oregon. EVERYONE should have a limited slip differential and the windshield wipers should always be on! :biggrinbounce2:

This one does, oh no chows gonna say it ain't big enough LOL.

 

[myrtle]

By far the most common tire in the woods around here is the Toyo M-55. The only thing tougher is the Michelin XPS traction but those are even more $$$.

The best thing about the M-55 is that it comes in the 255/85R16 E size which is perfect for a stock pickup giving you a slightly taller tire that fits great on the factory 7" rims.

http://marktg.toyotires.com/file/18975.pdf

Of course it's not a true mud tire but it does good enough while still getting a long service life on gravel roads.

 

[Tzed250]

While much can be said of tires what really need attention is gearing
traction locker or at least limited slip will excel in mud better on bald tires
than non locking on new Buckshots.

I love the locker in my Titan

 

[ropensaddle]

I love the locker in my Titan

Not too experianced in them but they should do well nissan and toyota
are great vehicles

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Lockers front and rear, and custom cut and grooved 15.5" wide TSL's will get you down just about any muddy road you want.

On the other truck I run a detroit locker out back and some smaller super swampers.

 

[GNAR13]

we used to use (before radials were inflated to protect their thin and weak sidewalls...) a tire called the Denman Groundhog.

Yeah..Groundhawg's and Gumbo Mudders were the ticket in the 70's and 80's. The best all-around tire for me so far has been the Goodyear MT/R. Good road manners and wear, and the only times i have been stuck with them, the frame was bottomed out and the tires were still trying to pull. Went through several CV axles 'cuz the tires wanted to pull harder than the half-ton CV shafts would let em. great tires in this nasty north florida clay

 

[motoroilmccall]

I had BFG's, Goodyears, Maxxis, Pro-Comp, Toyo's, Coopers, etc...

Around here, the Cooper STT is the best performing mud tire year round, and its a bit cheaper than anything else. I run Pro-Comp X-Terrains, and they do well in everything, but not great in anything. They do decent in snow and ice, and stop very well in packed snow. They do well in wet mud, and good in the hard clay pack we get around here. They do well on the rocks too, and pull over stumps and through creek beds well.

Thing is, there are better mud tires out there, better snow tires, better rock tires, and so on. But so far I haven't found any tire that is as good a compromise between everything as these X-Terrains.

Keep in mind, what works here may not work somewhere else, mud isn't mud, its different everywhere, and your terrain will dictate what you need.

 

[GNAR13]

Keep in mind, what works here may not work somewhere else, mud isn't mud, its different everywhere, and your terrain will dictate what you need.

:agree2: good advice

 

[KD57]

I run BFG MT's on the F-350 work truck, but really don't need them because it never rains here.

 

[wdchuck]

Was a real fan of BFG's, then bought a one ton that had Cooper STT on it, and being a two wheel drive dumping flatbed with a light rearend, I was skeptical about being in soft ground with it. Came home one night with a load of logs, dumped them, and pulling away uphill was a new experience in rutting, the rims filled up clay/mud, and I thought it was time to get the other truck to pull it out, but leaving it in 1st and let it keep going slow and it walked right out, leaving elephant turds all over the place from the dually rims.

I was so impressed with the STT's that night, my F250 received a set and between the tread pattern, narrower width than previous, and sale price, it has proved to be a wise decision. My neighbor has BFG's, and what his truck gets stuck in, in four wheel drive, mine does just fine in two wheel drive, and the only difference in trucks is the tires.

 

[TRI955]

I've had great luck with Cooper ATR's on my 2 wheel drive Ranger. With the limited slip rearend, I can just about go anywhere I "need" to.opcorn:

 

[Backwoods]

Best tire for the mud depends on whether it is your play’n rig or your working rig.
I ran a set of bias ply buckshot’s on stock 6” rims on my old 64 ford with a shortened frame. They out performed supper swampers in this Oregon clay. The supper swamper crowd called them gravediggers until I hooked onto there rigs and pulled them out of several holes on the mud run. It didn’t mater where I pointed that truck it went. It was like running those yanmar tractor tires on that truck. Down side was the tires were worn out in 10,000 miles. I switched to radial buckshots and found that I could not go near the places I had with the bias ply on narrow rims, however I got almost 40,000 miles out of them. I have tried several sets of tire over the years since then and for the mud nothing has come close.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Best tire for the mud depends on whether it is your play’n rig or your working rig...

Work only! I have enough repair expenses as it is, don't need to create more.

Every year in Oregon they have the "Mountain Mud Festival". And every year they drive them in and tow them out.

I'll just watch the others wreck their rigs. Pictures...
http://www.themud.com