Ordered new Kevlar MTRs

[Riff Raff]

MARLIN--- That's super news!!! I was kinda' hoping you'd go huge and get the tall 285/75R18 (35" O.D.), but the 275/70R18 (33.4" O.D.) will be fine I'm sure. Everything I've read about them is outstanding with bullet-proof toughness (perfect for your kind of wheelin').

You ought to mount them White Letter "Out", so they show motion while driving and be showy while the VX is parked. You could also watch them rotate in the reflection of the big store front windows in the mall (that's always fun). Spending that much money on tires; I'd want to shout it out to the world, so mount 'em White Letter "Out"!!!

BTW-- Billy, there are two(2) types of G/Y "M/T-R's". The two(2) types are totally different and have different tread patterns. Which specific model do you have???
A: M/T-R
B: M/T-R with Kevlar

[Marlin]

MARLIN---

BTW-- Billy, there are two(2) types of G/Y "M/T-R's". The two(2) types are totally different and have different tread patterns. Which specific model do you have???
A: M/T-R
B: M/T-R with Kevlar

The Kevlars just came out in Aug09, so he has the original MTRs. But I am sure running them lowered air pressure and on trails takes its toll. Since I oly put 5K a year on my truck, these tires should last me as long as my engine lasts. I ordered two more General AT2s and I am switching the two best remaining from my truck to my wife's new 2010 F150. The not so good nicked up 3rd AT2 will become my spare. no more bald donut!!!! It is kind of a sad day, once I get the locker installed, the neon lights and the new tires, there isn't much left to do to the old girl. I am going to work a new bumper, something that will conform to the headlight/grill pattern. I have a lifter ticking, but it has done that since day one. Never could clearly hear it with the exhaust leak, but now that is fixed and I can hear plain as day. No problem though, she runs like a champ. I have some stuff to do to the wife's truck, install the dvd player, upgrade crappy factory speakers, lift kit, digital rear view and sensors, and maybe a few other things. Then its all over!!!!!!!!!!!

[VX KAT]

MARLIN--- That's super news!!! I was kinda' hoping you'd go huge and get the tall 285/75R18 (35" O.D.), but the 275/70R18 (33.4" O.D.) will be fine I'm sure.

Riff, as you frequently ask.....what have you been smokin'?...."hoping you'd go huge"...I'm confused, is the same Riff I know?....

And Marlin....I thought it was imperative to keep your spare the same O.D. as your new tires to prevent screwing up the TOD? 33.4" new tires vs. 32" old.

[Ldub]

Riff, as you frequently ask.....what have you been smokin'?...."hoping you'd go huge"...I'm confused, is this the same Riff I know?....

I was waiting for the "rotating mass/unsprung weight manifesto" too...WTF?

[Riff Raff]

My tire theory is this-- if a VX'er ain't gonna' listen to reason by keeping individual maximum tire weight to no greater than 44 lbs each; and is hell-bent on getting excessively heavy tires, then I say "GO BIG; or, GO HOME!!!"

Thus, my ultimate recommendation for MARLIN was the G/Y M/T-R with Kevlar in 285/75R18 (35" O.D./65 lbs) in BSW and mounted on the Stock OEM 18x7 rims which would greatly help reduce front wheel well rubbing issues to a bare minimum due to the OEM rim's proper offset/backspacing. For MARLIN's "spare", I would recommend the very skinny and lightweight 35" O.D. Mickey-Thompson sand tire of "Baja Pro" in 35x10.0-15 (35" O.D./40 lbs) (Part #2555) and sells for $220 each at www.PerformanceParts4Less.com. This combination remains my best recommendation for MARLIN.

However; despite my best efforts, MARLIN chose the smaller 275/70R18 (33.4" O.D./63 lbs), and saved a whooping 2 lbs per tire. For a "spare", he'll use a 32" O.D. Grabber AT2 from his previous VX set. Yes; it doesn't match the O.D., but as long as it's installed on only the front axle, then it should be OK in an emergency. With the beefy M/T-R with Kevlar, I suspect MARLIN will never get a flat no matter how hard he tries (then again, MARLIN can find a way to break anything).

[Ldub]

My tire theory is this-- if a VX'er ain't gonna' listen to reason by keeping individual maximum tire weight to no greater than 44 lbs each; and are hell-bent on getting excessively heavy tires, then I say "GO BIG; or, GO HOME!!!"

However; despite my best efforts, MARLIN chose the smaller 275/70R18 (33.4" O.D./63 lbs), and saved a whooping 2 lbs per tire.

So NOW what...

Marlin has to go home?......

[Marlin]

Riff, as you frequently ask.....what have you been smokin'?...."hoping you'd go huge"...I'm confused, is the same Riff I know?....

And Marlin....I thought it was imperative to keep your spare the same O.D. as your new tires to prevent screwing up the TOD? 33.4" new tires vs. 32" old.

I believe that this only might matter to TOD in the front. I have been running a 32" on one side and a 31" on the other rear since Oct. No problems. As for running it on the front, I will have manual hubs and the front will be free wheeling except on trails anyway. I think there may be a lot of unjustified crazy no different size tire hype. I couldn't find anywhere that anyone put theory to practice.

[Triathlete]

As long as the smaller tire is placed in the right place...no problems (just like the donut spare).

[Ldub]

I have been running a 32" on one side and a 31" on the other rear since Oct. No problems.

Since you'll be replacing it with an Aussie Locker, It won't matter that two different size tires on the rear axle will prematurely wear out the clutch packs in the LSD.

[Marlin]

Well, it took 4 hours, but finally got the Kevlars mounted. They do not stretch and you have to get em warm to get a bead set on them. Boo!!!!! As for the tires, all I have to say is that they are awesome!!! Relative to my vehicle, my handling went from a 5 to a an 8. The stiff sidewall helped immensely with body roll. The noise went from a 7 to a 5. I am not knocking the AT2s, but these tires kill them on ride and sound. Of course, for the price of one MTR you can get two AT2s, so you figure out what its worth. Here are a few pics. I need to do some pounding/cutting on the front cladding, but no biggie. I know, I need to quit being lazy and get a license plate mount.

[handeeman]

Looking good Marlinstein.

[Riff Raff]

Well, it took 4 hours, but finally got the Kevlars mounted. They do not stretch and you have to get em warm to get a bead set on them. Boo!!!!! As for the tires, all I have to say is that they are awesome!!! Relative to my vehicle, my handling went from a 5 to a an 8. The stiff sidewall helped immensely with body roll. The noise went from a 7 to a 5. I am not knocking the AT2s, but these tires kill them on ride and sound. Of course, for the price of one MTR you can get two AT2s, so you figure out what its worth. I know, I need to quit being lazy and get a license plate mount.

Congrats MARLIN, they truly look awesome. It looks like you went muddin' even before you cleaned off the blue protecive white letter covering, LOL.

I agree with your comments regarding better corner handling & slightly lower highway noise levels when comparing to your previous set of lightweight Grabber AT2's.

The lightweight C-Load Range AT2's are only 6-ply in the tire sidewall, when compared to your stiff E-Load Range 10-ply M/T-R's with the added rigidity of Kevlar which gives an additional 35% more sidewall stiffness probably close in comparison to an F-Load Range (12-ply) tire. It's no wonder they needed to be heated-up before mounting, and will have zero tire roll when cornering. The super stiff sidewall M/T-R's will simply skid around a corner before they even attempt to tire roll.

The reduction in tire noise on the highway is quite apparent due to the tight-knit tread pattern near the center. It's a well designed tread to be highway quiet with the center rib portion, and offer superior off-road traction with it alternating shoulder lugs. The lightweight AT2's have 5-rows of traction lugs across the entire tread width and do not have a center rib or a tight-knit center tread portion like the M/T-R's to offer enhanced highway noise reduction.

While the VX OEM tires weighed only 34 lbs each; the Grabber AT2's at 44 lbs each, your M/T-R's are significantly heavier at 63 lbs each (almost 30 lbs each over OEM). Since your VX is focused to be more of a "trail rig", the added tire weight is a tradeoff in order to gain offroad toughness. You're a smart guy, so I know you'll take the necessary precautions when driving on the street with those much heavier tires.

Yes; as you said, the M/T-R's are exactly double the price of an AT2. For your kind of serious off-roading you need a tough tire that can withstand your type of abuse, and I'm confident the M/T-R is exactly the right tire "for you" regardless of price.

I can't wait to hear your report on how they perform offroad. Please keep us posted, as the new G/Y M/T-R with Kevlar is truly a unique tire with unique capabilites. Again, congrats on your purchase; they look simply stunning.

Lastly, consider the License Plate holder from JCWhitney that simply inserts into your 2" receiver hitch with the angled-up taper to retain your departure angle. Get the JCWhitney "illuminated" License Plate bracket to illuminate your plate at night and your done.

[Triathlete]

All this talk about tire noise...didn't your VX's come with a stereo?

[Ldub]

MARLIN---
You could also watch them rotate in the reflection of the big store front windows in the mall (that's always fun).

And as an added bonus, you might get to crash test that bumper...

[etlsport]

as far as i know goodyear doesnt put white lettering on tires that have to be mounted in any specific direction.. like their fortera line only has white lettering on the non directional tires, same with their car tires that have the whitewall option, of course the biggest goodyears i typically see are 285/75/16 wrangler silent armors, so may be different with the MT-Rs if you have any Q's about them i can call our rep monday to ask about it