Buggy tires for off-road traction?

RT · Post by RT » Thu Apr 10, 2003 9:36 am

For those other 90% of us who only see sand in a sandbox, what kind of rubber hooks up good for general purpose off-roading? The problem (as I see it) is that Mud Terrains, Swampers, and the like, are designed for vehicles that are 3 times heavier and see highway use. I'm thinking a tire with hugh separation between the tread blocks but won't burst like a french safe the first time they graze a rock or stick poking up.

The best looking rubber is that found on the 4-wheeled ATV's. They have lots of different styles that are designed to hook up in the loose stuff. It seems all we have are hard-assed truck tires with huge load ratings.

There is one tire; the Mickey Thompson Baja Pro but it only comes in limited sizes. The only one that I might be able to squeeze in without hitting the torsion tube ends is their skinny 30/7.0-15, 30 inches high, 6.9 in at the sidewall, 4.9 at the tread. That's pretty narrow for rears but they might bite better. Any comments?

GDRBO · Post by **GDRBO** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 3:20 pm

The tires with the most wins in Baja is BF Goodrich. You should be able to run a 31 inch tire on the rear. BFG has quit a range of sizes. They have a tire to fit just about anything!

RT · Post by RT » Thu Apr 10, 2003 6:11 pm

I only have maybe an inch clearance now with 235/75R-15's which are approx 28.3 inches tall. That's with the rear susp set for the correct tow-in. I could go with the older torsion caps but I also have the dual spring plates which might make finding axles pretty tough.

GDRBO · Post by **GDRBO** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 8:06 pm

Dual and single spring plates are interchangable.

Eriksport · Post by **Eriksport** » Thu Apr 10, 2003 11:35 pm

I just swapped out my non gripping destudded mud tires 235/75/15, for Big O BigFoot something-or-others, 30/9.5/15, they actually measure 29" tall. Fit pretty close to the torsion caps, but hey, works for me.

Erik

greasy__bug · Post by **greasy__bug** » Sat Apr 12, 2003 10:55 am

there was a baja in my old town that was running some baby boggers....29in tall if im right...it was a beach town with a good amount of mud and dirt trails too...he loved those tires....he also had run some ground hawgs and really liked those too...he was thinking of switching back just because they last a lot longer

bartman · Post by **bartman** » Sat Apr 12, 2003 12:21 pm

i'm using mickey thompson's baja belted 30x9.50-15 on the rear on pontiac rims with adaptors. they have a little less than an inch of clearance at the torsion bar extensions. i've heard of people running 31-10.50 on the rear but the clearance would probably be next to nothing.

they have a chevron tread, fill the wheel well nicely, and work well for the sandy/muddy trails i run on. they are bias ply so i can swap sides when they start to wear.

mt also makes it in a 30-12.50

RT · Post by RT » Sat Apr 12, 2003 9:02 pm

I've looked at the Baja Belted but they only show one size on their website, a 34 incher. Even with applicable sizes, I still feel the tread block separation is too tight given that there might be only 400lbs or so pressing down on the ground for each tire. I am still leaning toward the Baja Pro and I just found a local dealer so I'm going to pay him a visit soon.

Darceman · Post by **Darceman** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 11:57 am

I am from Vancouver and I run a BF Goodritch 325/60/R/15 tire. I don't know what the tire was designed for but it's 30" tall and 13.50" wide. You need between a 9" rim and 12" rim for them but they rock...The traction is great, they don't ever plug and they have tread on the sidewall for greater traction on rock.

whenisitgonnabreak? · Post by **whenisitgonnabreak?** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 3:28 pm

B.F.G. is owned by the French!

odie301 · Post by **odie301** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 7:35 pm

hey..i have BFGoodrich All Terrain T/As all around on my baja. i plan on using it on the street as well as some casual ditch hopping, back road busting, and maybe a little sand pit cruising...and there is that chance of mud bogging. i have 30x9.5's on the back on 15x8 rims..and i just got 235/75/r15's on the front which is on a 15x5 rim.(if i did it over again i would get a 15x6..just so u get a better fit..tires r supose to fit a 5.5" rim(min)..but they said 5 is close enough that it doesnt hurt". we have BFGoodrich tires on our tahoe and they work great for street and off roading..mainly street use..but we go hunting in some wicked stuff now and then...on that its the radial long trails...but the All Terrains have a much more aggresive tread, along w/ the side wall tread for going trough goopy mud and rocks and stuff like that. i was told by the tire store that they sell more bfgoodrich off road tires than like anything else for trucks and stuff. hope this helps ya find a tire

GDRBO · Post by **GDRBO** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 3:01 pm

My 235 BFG fronts are on 3 1/2 inch rims.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 3:57 pm

I have a pair of 31" wildcats but that is for a sandrail, not a bug

pokehater98 · Post by **pokehater98** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 4:03 pm

Guest wrote:I have a pair of 31" wildcats but that is for a sandrail, not a bug

That was me that wrote that and I just thought that I was signed in.

Darceman wrote:I am from Vancouver and I run a BF Goodritch 325/60/R/15 tire. I don't know what the tire was designed for but it's 30" tall and 13.50" wide. You need between a 9" rim and 12" rim for them but they rock...The traction is great, they don't ever plug and they have tread on the sidewall for greater traction on rock.

Do you live in Vancouver Wa??? Or is it Vancouver B.C.???

prerunner1499 · Post by **prerunner1499** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 6:01 pm

whenisitgonnabreak? wrote: B.F.G. is owned by the French!

well if thats true I'm glad I run MICKEY THOMPSON baja belted tires on my race car.
5 races, and still throwing dirt silt& rock at my competition.
then U wear out my tires I just got for free, I will put MT baja belted 30 950 back on the rear. They kics A$$!!!