how tall is a 38x12.50 swamper sx REALLY?

www.interco.com

Or, you could try a link that works. :flipoff2:

Interco Tire (http://www.intercotire.com)

Well, if you want to believe what's on that site, go ahead. But, I can tell you that my NON-SX 38X12.50's were 36.0" in diameter new, NOT 37.8".

From what I'm hearing, you should expect somewhere around 36.5" TRUE diameter for 38X12.50 SX. But again, that's hearsay since I've never ACTUALLY measured one.

TEX

Originally posted by TEX
From what I'm hearing, you should expect somewhere around 36.5" TRUE diameter for 38X12.50 SX. But again, that's hearsay since I've never ACTUALLY measured one.TEX


That is exactly what I measured one to be on an 8" wheel a while back...

Thanks TEX,
I know better than trust mfg. specs on tires. Thats why I was asking for the POR truth ;)

Originally posted by IndyCJ
Or, you could try a link that works. :flipoff2:

Interco Tire (http://www.intercotire.com) lol , whoopsy! jiMMy

Originally posted by TEX
Well, if you want to believe what's on that site, go ahead. But, I can tell you that my NON-SX 38X12.50's were 36.0" in diameter new, NOT 37.8".

From what I'm hearing, you should expect somewhere around 36.5" TRUE diameter for 38X12.50 SX. But again, that's hearsay since I've never ACTUALLY measured one.

TEX

Oh goody, that makes it official, I'm going with 38's for sure now. Thanks TEX :beer:

5 psi = 34.5"
20 psi = 36"
That's on a 15 x 10 MRT. Not as tall as I would like, but they are a great match for the Toy axle.;)

I know they are not 38" but I have a set of 37x13.50-17 competition claws, they measure 36.25" with 10psi.

I had a set and they measured 35" on an 8" rim at 6 lbs.

I upgraded to the 38.5" SX and they are 1.5" taller at 6 lbs and 10" beadlocks.

To stir the pot a bit more. What does a 36x12.5" measure then? my 33x12.5's measure 33.5 on a 10 wheel.

I was going to go with a 36, but now 38" for sure. Just wondering if the taller you go, the more inches you loose?

My 36's measure out at 35" on 10" rims. My old 33's used to measure 33.5 too.

Tass

38.5 v 38 SX

Another of the 38.5 for comparison

Originally posted by wngrog
38.5 v 38 SX

I think the difference is due to the width? I'm guessing one is 12.5 and the other 14.5?

Another data point. My 38x12/15 SXs measure 37.5" tall at 20 psi on 15x10 Champion beadlocks.

Paul

Originally posted by nasvik
Another data point. My 38x12/15 SXs measure 37.5" tall at 20 psi on 15x10 Champion beadlocks.

Paul
It's because you're X-treme :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by vova

It's because you're X-treme :flipoff2: :flipoff2:


he is Way X-TREME:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:


Adam,,:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Adam Ant

he is Way X-TREME:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Adam,,:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Whatever you say Pierre! :0 :rainbow: :flipoff2:

P.S. When are you going to have those seats?!?! :)

Originally posted by vova

It's because you're X-treme :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Extreme stool pusher!

Originally posted by RokHeep


Whatever you say Pierre! :0 :rainbow: :flipoff2:

P.S. When are you going to have those seats?!?! :)


I pm'd You Fawker


Give me a call I got my new seats!!!:flipoff2:


with the Anti :rainbow: person option!!

916-203-2326


Adam

Originally posted by Adam Ant



I pm'd You Fawker


Give me a call I got my new seats!!!:flipoff2:


with the Anti :rainbow: person option!!

916-203-2326


Adam

haha, ok. I'll call you. :smokin: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by nasvik
Another data point. My 38x12/15 SXs measure 37.5" tall at 20 psi on 15x10 Champion beadlocks.

Paul

If that's on your rig, you are lucky.

Originally posted by Bones
To stir the pot a bit more. What does a 36x12.5" measure then? my 33x12.5's measure 33.5 on a 10 wheel.



36" SX's usually come in right around 35", maybe a fuzz more. We always did our measurements horizonally with a rigid caliper. NON-SX 36's have about .5" room left in the 36" caliper, 36" SX's a bit more room left. BTW, I too had a set of 33X12.50 non-SX TSL's.

On 8" rims, they were a solid 33.5" even at low pressures. They would sound like they'd be almost as good as 36's since they're only a couple inches apart. But, at least in mud, there's definitely enough difference that the 36's are clearly better. The difference in 36's & 38's isn't quite so obvious, but it's still there. Now, you move up to 38.5's & that's a whole 'nuther story. HTH.

TEX

Originally posted by TEX


36" SX's usually come in right around 35", maybe a fuzz more. We always did our measurements horizonally with a rigid caliper. NON-SX 36's have about .5" room left in the 36" caliper, 36" SX's a bit more room left. BTW, I too had a set of 33X12.50 non-SX TSL's.

On 8" rims, they were a solid 33.5" even at low pressures. They would sound like they'd be almost as good as 36's since they're only a couple inches apart. But, at least in mud, there's definitely enough difference that the 36's are clearly better. The difference in 36's & 38's isn't quite so obvious, but it's still there. Now, you move up to 38.5's & that's a whole 'nuther story. HTH.

TEX

And what would that story be? How do the 38.5x14.5 SXs do in mud? Only time I've seen them was on a Blazer and I wasn't that impressed, but they were kind of worn.

Originally posted by Vermont_Toy


And what would that story be? How do the 38.5x14.5 SXs do in mud? Only time I've seen them was on a Blazer and I wasn't that impressed, but they were kind of worn.

Weeeeeell, that story would be that there's a lot more than .5" between 38's & 38.5's. Even on 15x15's, my 38.5X16's were a full inch taller than my 38's (37" vs. 36"). On 10" rims, they're a full 38+". The 38.5" SX's are almost as tall, but I don't like the way they crown on 10" rims (12" are recommended on the sidewall, but that may be too wide for a 14.50 at low pressure). Even in new condition, the 38.5" SX is pretty worthless in mud compared to similar sized tires. The 35 & 36" SX are only a BIT less aggressive than non-SX of the same size. But, the 38.5 SX is just too round I guess. If mud's your thing, the 38.5X16 is WAY WAY better IMO.

TEX

So TEX, with all that being said, would you go with the 36x12.5" or 38x12.5" SX? No mud boggin' goin' on here. If they are soo close dimensionally, I'll get 36's and save a bit of green I guess. Glad I found this thread. I'm buying tires here in the next few weeks, and need to make up my mind...I mean have POR make it for me :D :flipoff2:

are regular TSL's rounded like the SX's when you get into the 38.5" range? curious b/c i will be in a lot of mud and the roundness of the SX's seems like a disadvantage. anyone have an answer? thanks!
- jake

Originally posted by JeeperJake
are regular TSL's rounded like the SX's when you get into the 38.5" range? curious b/c i will be in a lot of mud and the roundness of the SX's seems like a disadvantage. anyone have an answer? thanks!
- jake

Nope, they lay a lot flatter across the tread. The blocks are bigger & sharper also.

TEX

Originally posted by Bones
So TEX, with all that being said, would you go with the 36x12.5" or 38x12.5" SX? No mud boggin' goin' on here. If they are soo close dimensionally, I'll get 36's and save a bit of green I guess. Glad I found this thread. I'm buying tires here in the next few weeks, and need to make up my mind...I mean have POR make it for me :D :flipoff2:

Well, I think it would depend on what you want height wise. You gain about 1" with the 38 SX vs 36 non-SX. Also depends on whether rocks are in the equation or not. Or, you could go 38X12.50 NON-SX or R85 Buckshot :D:D

Personally, I wouldn't pay extra for SX's unless rocks were involved. Especially since on average they seem to be harder to balance.

TEX

If i were just running mud, it would be the R78-15 buckshot - damn those things kick ass in mud. (Insert :burrowing to china: sound here)

But I don't JUST wanna run mud. :D

As little mud as possible for me. I think I'm leaning twards the 36's to save some cash and be real close to the 38"ers.

as little mud as possible? what kind of wussy- ass comment is that? what a weenie!:flipoff2: :rolleyes:

- jake

Originally posted by zags
how tall is a 38x12.50 swamper sx REALLY?

Ah freak. Now u-all got me thinking. Now I've got to find a measuring tape.

Originally posted by JeeperJake
as little mud as possible? what kind of wussy- ass comment is that? what a weenie!:flipoff2: :rolleyes:

- jake
:flipoff2: What's the fun in driving through mud pits? Crawling is where the fun is newbie! :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Bones

:flipoff2: What's the fun in driving through mud pits?

Oh Bones, how you disappoint me. And a fellow Missourian at that. Don't like mud? You're probably a Jayhawks fan :eek: too you traitor :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

j/k

TEX

P.S. Sold my truck last night :)

Originally posted by TEX


Oh Bones, how you disappoint me. And a fellow Missourian at that. Don't like mud? You're probably a Jayhawks fan :eek: too you traitor :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

j/k

TEX

P.S. Sold my truck last night :)

Worse man, I'm origanlly from Iowa!! :barf: Don't mind going through it to get to places to crawl, but I actually break more when I go through mud cuz I have it pegged! :D

Congrats on the sale. If your ever over this way holllar

Tex, did you sell your Chevota?!?!?

Another question for ya, since you had 38.5x16s before. What's the difference between those and 39.5x15 ? Not just height and width, but tread pattern.

The Interco website info is really poor, when I want the real answers to tire questions I ask TEX! :D

Originally posted by Vermont_Toy
Tex, did you sell your Chevota?!?!?


Nope, just didn't run it this season due to the new baby in the house. She's a little older now & I just picked up an X-cab tow rig, so we're racin' again in '02 :)


Another question for ya, since you had 38.5x16s before. What's the difference between those and 39.5x15 ? Not just height and width, but tread pattern.

Height & width oddly enough is about what you'd expect from the stamp on the side. The 38.5 really is about an inch fatter if you put 'em both on 10" rims. It REALLY balloons out on super wide wheels though - more so than the 39.5. I had my 38.5X16's on 15X15's & they were ~18" wide on those. They were only 37.0" tall ballooned out like that. On 10's, they're right at 38". The 39.5's come in just a fuzz under 39" on 10's, and from all appearances, about an inch narrower than the 38.5's just like the sidewall says they should. Tread style is pretty much identical on both. It's really tough to tell one from the other at a glance if they're both on 10" rims. The 38.5 has just a slightly more "squatty" appearance.

I'd have to say the 38.5 kind of looks like a "scaled up" 35X15.50 TSL, where the 39.5 LOOKS narrower in proportion.

HTH

TEX

okay so while we're on a thread about mud tires....

what about q78 swampers and buckshots? are they really 35" tall with weight put on them? are buckshots decent for trails and stuff besides mud?

TEX, are you thinking of taking on an apprentice??? haha

Originally posted by WillyPete
okay so while we're on a thread about mud tires....

what about q78 swampers and buckshots? are they really 35" tall with weight put on them? are buckshots decent for trails and stuff besides mud?

TEX, are you thinking of taking on an apprentice??? haha

My Q78 TSL's are right at 35" on 15X7's at ~15lbs. That's on the truck, but measured horizontally (across the tire, not up&down). I built a rigid, C-shaped caliper of exactly 35" & my Q78's require just a TEEEENY push to get them through the calipers. Buddy of mine has the 16" version & all 4 of his are ~.5" taller.

I've never run these anywhere except in competition mud bogs & drags, so can't help ya with their trail performance :)

TEX

hmmmm so 36x12.50x15s are about 35" on a truck, and so are q78s... but the 78s are listed as 35.5 and the 36s are listed as 36.3. eeeenteresting.

i think i'll stick with q78s, i don't need new rims that way :D

thank ya tex

The 36's actually are a fuzz bigger - ~35.5" measured horizontally (guestimate as I've always checked those with 36.0" calipers). Not enough difference to worry about height wise. And actually, I stepped down from 38X12.50 non-SX TSL's - those measuring EXACTLY 36.0" horizontally on 15X10's. Despite losing an inch in tire diameter, my truck performs even BETTER in deep mud on the Q's thanks to them being narrower & DEEPER :smokin:

TEX

Now it gets interesting to me. I want to go to 38 x 12.50 NON SX TSLs - question is are they really any bigger than the 36 NON SX TSLs.

I have the 35 x 14 x 15 TSLs and they are too heavy. Thats one of the reasons I don't want the SXs - weight.

But because of gearing, I want a tall tire...

SO what is the real difference between the NON SX TSL in

Q-78
36"
38"

Other choices...?

Jim

What width rim would you recomend for the 38x12.50SX tire?? Its starting to beome apparent that this is the critical issue for performance on and off street. BTW, I have both 15x8s and 15x10s, which will flatten the tread out the most, perform better, and wear better??????

Just to add another measurement to the mix. We mounted a set of 38/12.50 sx's on 10" rims today and they measure exactly 38" tall.

Tass

Originally posted by TLCObsession


SO what is the real difference between the NON SX TSL in

Q-78
36"
38"

Other choices...?

Jim

From my experience, the "real" horizontally measured diameters of the above are:

Q78 - 35.0"
36 - 35.5"
38 - 36.0"

This all for 15" rims. The 16.5 version of the 38 is at least .5" taller & the 16" version of the Q78 is .5" taller than the 15" version of the Q.

The really important measurement is the 27/32's fo tread depth on the Q78 :smokin:

BTW, Q78 Buckshots are slightly taller than Q78 TSL's & R85 Buckshots are ~ the same diameter as 38X12.50 TSL's, but slightly narrower. Both sizes having 28/32's of depth.

Sorry I didn't see this when you asked.

TEX

tex,i have run both the q-78 and qr-78(radial).i like the tread depth of the non-radial,but they flatspot bad and wonder all over the road.and also the ride is stiffer,my set now are the radial version.i really like these tires,so much smoother and better driving.so it is a hard choice which one i would get again.i also found that the radial is taller by close to an inch over the bias.the bias bites very hard in deep mud,but for the trials i stay on the radial has worked better,and work very good when aired down.now my problem is my tires are worn out again,and i want something taller.i have though about the r-78,but i have never had a set of swampers and really want some.i would like somthing around 37 or 38 in.tall but skinny and not to heavy for my toy.i really like the look of the 38.5x11 boggers,but they might be to much for my truck.i guess i will take a tape measure with me to the tire store and make up my mind on the spot about what tire to get then.well i guess i will shut up now:D

My 36x12.50x15 TSL Radials measure exactly 36" on a 7" wheel. They are very narrow though. I measured a 10.75" section width with a 9" tread width. Not sure if that will help you any, I noticed that all the discussion was about bias ply tires.