Green Diamond MT's

[mdwyer]

Basically, the look those tires give is the only real benefit to having them unless you upgrade several parts.

*sigh* But they look soooo goooood. I had the whole conversation with the lift-shop guy, and he basicly talked me out of lifting. It must have sucked for him to talk his way out of a sale, but I really appreciated his honesty. (Plug: It was the local Off Road Innovations.)

I've yet to have any clearance problems, and it seems like lifting would just make everything worse -- ride, reliability, cost -- except the looks.

But I still can't get over how much I *like* the looks... So I still ponder it from time to time... I imagine when I'm due for some new tires, I'll also start looking for some drop brackets.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

I got home and threw the rears on first figuring I'd get the easy fit done first.

Then I put the fronts on expecting the worst...well trimming some more off the front cladding was easy..zing...gone. But, the more pressing issue was my rock-sliders. I had to cut off about 3/8" (on each side) with my carbide cutter. I used a rubber mallet to whack the bottom, rear of the fender weld back some (I thought this would be better than a sledge because it won't leave impact protrusions like a sledge might.) I took it out for a spin and the right side was good..but the left side rubbed on tight turns most of the time. Removed left front wheel again, and pounded /cut some more.

I probably need to crank the t-bars any way for off-road action and am leaning heavily towards a lift...but for now, on the road (and in my yard) they seem fine. They really aren't very noisy out on the road..that much I know already..gentle hum is pretty much all you hear and it mostly is at slow speeds...(that's with windows up for winter driving!)

Going to try them in the snow today as we supposedly got
5" over night and going to get 5" more this afternoon!

[Ldub]

Lookin' GOOD Man....
Check your gallery for feedback...

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Thanks...I laughed at the comments in the gallery feedback!

Here is some more opinions on snow worthiness:

I won't know the full capabilities of these tires until I get 1000-2000 miles on them and the granules surface; but, on plowed & snow covered roads they are great out of the box.

On bare dry roads they seem to grip fine and the noise level is remeniscent of low range while driving...I caught myself looking a couple of times to see if I was still in low range because the hum is quite similar. (I use low range alot to go up my driveway 'cause its somewhat steep.)

I found a road that wasn't plowed and had fields off to both sides so the wind had duned up the snow to about 1.5 feet deep and at slow speed..say 20-25 mph in low range they ate it up with no trouble at all.

I did hit a road that wasn't plowed..but had been heavily traveled and had about 10" of snow with ruts...I did get squirrely here and had to get out of the gas in TOD. Pulled over and put it in low lock and at about 35mph it seemed pretty stable. Any faster and the back end would kick out a bit.
I attribute this to the fact its a bigger tire than normal for snow use and that there is no siping in the tire for snow use...

On a big positive note...I had a doe run out in front of me at about 45-50mph and had to slam on the brakes and wasn't expecting them to stop so good...there was alot of doubt in my mind at the time...so when they break in they will only be better!!!

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

@ approx. 500 miles of wear on tires...some of their teeth are beginning to show









It supposed to take up to 1k miles for the full effect to begin.



*****on a different topic, I would like to send special thanks to LDub for helping me get a minor lift done on Friday. It was 34 degrees here in PA and snow on my driveway....thought "no way am I gonna lie out in that to do a 2" lift on my VX". Went inside...watched weather channel and noticed how cold it was in Fargo...thought "wow, its pretty warm here..heck..I'm going to go outside & do that lift!" LOL!

[pbkid]

hey, just a note...

be careful how far you crank your T-bars without raising the rear...

if you go past -1 rake to the front you will have drive axle problems in the long run...

bimati had this problem with his and he couldnt solve it, caused him to sell...

i found this out because i bought my ome912's from the guy who bought bimati's ride....he works at a tranny shop and he said that trooper and VX cant have less than -1 rake to the front or else they have drive axle problems...

he lowered bimati's front torsion bars and BAM problems gone....

just some advise...

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

hey, just a note...

be careful how far you crank your T-bars without raising the rear...

if you go past -1 rake to the front you will have drive axle problems in the long run...

bimati had this problem with his and he couldnt solve it, caused him to sell...

i found this out because i bought my ome912's from the guy who bought bimati's ride....he works at a tranny shop and he said that trooper and VX cant have less than -1 rake to the front or else they have drive axle problems...

he lowered bimati's front torsion bars and BAM problems gone....

just some advise...

I'm not 100% sure I grasp what you're saying completely; but, I used Independent4X.com's (2") coil spring spacers for the rear and raised the front 8 turns each side (4 turns = approx. 1"....so 8 turns = approx. 2") which should end up raising all four corner's approx. 2".

Stock I had some small rake where the front-end was a bit lower than the rear. After lifting, I still have some rake where the front-end is a bit lower than the rear. I got it aligned today, and the camber was off as expected after cranking t-bars. Thanks for the head's up! I'll keep an eye out for any trouble. So far, I had it up to around 60 today and it felt good!