Specific Tire Questions; Claws, SX\'s.
Mickey Thompson Baja Claws in 31x11.5
Super Swamper TSL/SX in 31x13.5
1- Will these bias ply tires flex and conform to rocks well under the weight of a mostly stock Samurai?
2- AND if you've run these tires on the road did you find them acceptable for short daily around-town trips and for the occasional jaunt on the freeway to get to the trail?
I've researched this until it felt like my eyes were bleeding. There wasn't much that I found on this board and most of the stuff I did find was for other (heavier) vehicles.
I know bias plies aren't what a guy wants for driving around on the road -- I had them on my first car and I had them on my '53 CJ. But, in pursuit of a tire with strong sidewalls, I'm willing to trade off some on-road manners but only as long as the tire is safe on the road! If it grabs ruts and grooves like crazy then it's not the tire for me, no matter how strong it is. If it just goes "bump - bump - bump" on cold mornings and is loud, I can have that.
The reason I'm asking is new tires are in the future. What I'm running now are the Bridgestone MT's 30x9.5's. I've had them for three years and the lugs (other than some small chunking) are hardly worn. The sidewalls are scraped, gouged and cut. They still hold air, but now that I've run them, I think they are too hard for good traction on rocks, too narrow for the occasional sand, and the sidewalls are too soft for sharp rocks and sticks we have out here. I'd also like to go to 31's.
Don't get me wrong, radials would be great -- preferred even, and I may be over-reacting because in three years I haven't put a hole in the tires I have. I've been accused of fretting too much over stuff like this and maybe that's what I'm doing.
What do you all think?
Mickey Thompson Baja Claws in 31x11.5
Super Swamper TSL/SX in 31x13.5
1- Will these bias ply tires flex and conform to rocks well under the weight of a mostly stock Samurai?
2- AND if you've run these tires on the road did you find them acceptable for short daily around-town trips and for the occasional jaunt on the freeway to get to the trail?
I've researched this until it felt like my eyes were bleeding. There wasn't much that I found on this board and most of the stuff I did find was for other (heavier) vehicles.
I know bias plies aren't what a guy wants for driving around on the road -- I had them on my first car and I had them on my '53 CJ. But, in pursuit of a tire with strong sidewalls, I'm willing to trade off some on-road manners but only as long as the tire is safe on the road! If it grabs ruts and grooves like crazy then it's not the tire for me, no matter how strong it is. If it just goes "bump - bump - bump" on cold mornings and is loud, I can have that.
The reason I'm asking is new tires are in the future. What I'm running now are the Bridgestone MT's 30x9.5's. I've had them for three years and the lugs (other than some small chunking) are hardly worn. The sidewalls are scraped, gouged and cut. They still hold air, but now that I've run them, I think they are too hard for good traction on rocks, too narrow for the occasional sand, and the sidewalls are too soft for sharp rocks and sticks we have out here. I'd also like to go to 31's.
Don't get me wrong, radials would be great -- preferred even, and I may be over-reacting because in three years I haven't put a hole in the tires I have. I've been accused of fretting too much over stuff like this and maybe that's what I'm doing.
What do you all think?