A tire question for my brothers in the South

[rjinga]

Hey y'all,

I'm going to need new tires on my (new to me) '85 M1009 soon. I'm guessing the driving ratio will be: 60% paved roads at 60 mpg or less; 10% interstate; 15% dirt roads and trails; 15% good ole Georgia red clay MUD after a nice rain.

I'm not a serious off-roader/bogger (yet, anyway), I'm just trying to find a happy balance between wearing out mudders on the highway vs. turning my cute A/Ts into slicks the second I hit the mud.

And I do like playing in the mud. Not your crazy "over-the-axles-bumper-plowing-a-wake-for-a-hundred-yards" playing in the mud, but maybe a few notches down.

 

[drgreg]

I have an answer, but i'm from the north.

 

[AMX]

Best is two sets of wheels/tires. Second best might be the inexpensive humvee tires. Besides at 60mpg you should have no problem buying tires!

 

[AMX]

I have an answer, but i'm from the north.

Northerners just wouldnt understand.

 

[rjinga]

I have an answer, but i'm from the north.

Well, I say I say (in my best Foghorn Leghorn voice) no disrespect intended Sir. There may be mud as bad as red Georgia clay, but I can't imagine any that is worse.

And the answer is... ?

 

[wallew]

I like my Cooper Discoverer M+S tires - work great on and off road. Price was not too bad and they had the deepest tread I could find at the 'standard' tire size for an 09

Cooper Tires - Discoverer M&S - Winter Tires

EDIT : I paid $120 per copy and that was $720 out the door for six tires.

 

[rjinga]

One tire that I thought might be a good compromise is the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac.

 

[Cucvnut]

if your going to go in the mud with an AT tire all you will do is spin in circles.
you need a mud tire for mud. that tire will be good for an everyday tire but stay away from the mud with it.

 

[palmettopredator]

I had some mastercraft Courser C/T's that I was very pleased with.

 

[DavidJBlythe]

I had the exact same dilemma. After tons of research I settled on BFG MudTerrain KM2's. Tons of people have them down here (FL) and I go mudding all the time. This is also my daily driver, so I have to consider road use. I LOVE them. My buddy just got some Cooper AT's and they do so-so in the Mud. My 1009 just crawls through anything now.

I REALLY like my BFG MTs......

Also, I did a 4" lift, and I could fit 33x12.5xr15's really easily. I didn't want to go any bigger because of the 3.08 gears. So far, I'm now the guy not getting stuck that is pulling other people out! (Although I did get stuck once... but that's another story).

BFG MudTerrain KM2's. Sorry I don't have clean pics of nice shiny black tires. I really use them, so I don't keep them squeaky clean.

 

[Boreal21]

I run KM2s on my Jeep and love them.

For your 1009, how about Treadwrights? Cheap and I know several guys that run them and love them...

31/10.50R15 CRAWLER M/T | Retread tires | Cheap truck tires | TreadWright

 

[rjinga]

I had the exact same dilemma. After tons of research I settled on BFG MudTerrain KM2's. Tons of people have them down here (FL) and I go mudding all the time. This is also my daily driver, so I have to consider road use. I LOVE them.

I really like the look of the KM2s and everything I've read about them. So you are happy with them on the paved road as a daily driver? I didn't mention, but this won't be my daily driver. Weekly for sure, and it would be nice to be explore "new" dirt roads as I find them.

 

[DavidJBlythe]

I love them on and off road! They get rave reviews as being great on the road and great in the mud / dirt. I searched the internet for weeks trying to find the best ones... I looked at cooper, Mickey Thompsons, Goodyears, and more. So many people were talking about the KM2's that I eventually settled on those. I didn't want to make the wrong choice! So far, these are some of the best mud tires I've seen, short of Super Swampers. I paid $900 OTD for four of them. If you order from desertrat.com or some other websites, you can get the ones I mentioned for 175.00 a tire. Anything under $200 is a good price, but look for the lowest.

I had Goodyear tires before and got stuck... those KM2's made it seem like a new truck.

-David

 

[Boreal21]

Mine are 33 x 10.50 x 15

FYI Discount Tire will price match any other vendor... even online vendors. I was able to have them match an online retailer for $156 per tire, have them shipped to me free of charge, and then receive a $70 rebate from Discount Tire on top of that. I ended up getting 4 tires for ~$554 when all was said and done

 

[4x4 Forever]

I had the exact same dilemma. After tons of research I settled on BFG MudTerrain KM2's. Tons of people have them down here (FL) and I go mudding all the time. This is also my daily driver, so I have to consider road use. I LOVE them. My buddy just got some Cooper AT's and they do so-so in the Mud. My 1009 just crawls through anything now.

I REALLY like my BFG MTs......

Also, I did a 4" lift, and I could fit 33x12.5xr15's really easily. I didn't want to go any bigger because of the 3.08 gears. So far, I'm now the guy not getting stuck that is pulling other people out! (Although I did get stuck once... but that's another story).

BFG MudTerrain KM2's. Sorry I don't have clean pics of nice shiny black tires. I really use them, so I don't keep them squeaky clean.

I have used both BFG ATs and MTs and both work excellent for their intended purpose. I would use the MTs in your situation.

 

[dave wells]

i use hercules trail digger they cheap but they last for ever an do great in mud

 

[SGT Estum]

I like BFG AT T/A KO's. 33x12.5R15.

 

[rjinga]

Well, I'm leaning real hard toward the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac, size 33x12.50x15 now. They are $177.00 a piece ($27.00 cheaper than the KM2s) at my nearest Discount Tire. $830.38 OTD (or less if DT matches TireRack's $151.00 online price) and then there's $70.00 in rebates.

 

[colelkhunter]

I went with something that has a great pattern wear like iron and are E rated for towing as well. Super swamper SSR radials. i am sold on them. I am using the 37-12.50-16.5's on my 1031 right now and I could not be happier. They have a little roar on the road, but the offroad capability is ALOT better than most "all terrain" tires. It goes like a sumbich in the mud, wears well, and is E rated. what more would you want? I love them

 

[4x4 Forever]

(or less if DT matches TireRack's $151.00 online price)

Watch out for TireRack, the shipping will kill ya. Last time I looked for tires, TireRack was within 20 bucks of getting them local. Its nice to see what you are getting, first hand, and worrying about warranties, etc..! Have been using Sears and/or Sams, and waiting for the rebates before I buy...