Ordered new Kevlar MTRs

[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?

[Marlin]

Yep, I upgraded that POS too...now I can't hear all the rattles I have on the truck
Played with the new tires in the mud today. Made me think of driving a tractor. That thing didn't even slow down. They were completely cleared in 20 feet or so. I am happy so far.