OK This is my last round of tire questions. I've settled on Interco brand for $/value category aka bang for the buck. I'd consider Geolanders if they came bigger than 35.

In order of pricing (4wp) Least expensive first

Swamper TSL 38x12.5x15
SSR 37x12.5x15
TSL/SX 38.5x14.5x15
Thornbird 38.5x14.5x15
TSL Radial 38x15.5x15

Vehicle: Daily driver
Sierra offerings & Nevada desert, rocks & hard on sidewalls, slickrock twice a year and mud/snow only when I gotta.

From what I can tell:

TSL's nice gnarly tire, would hum like a $2 whore on the highway.
http://www.intercotire.com/assets/images/super_swamper_tsl-200.jpg

SSR's, I like these but I've heard of several people tossing lugs, alot. Premature wearing. Compound too soft???
http://www.intercotire.com/assets/images/ssr_sswamper_radial-200.jpg

TSL/SX Gnarliest of the Gnarlies. possibly wouldn't do best for contact patch aired down over a softer sidewall. Other side, it possibly has the strongest sidewall. Should be excellent for rocks but possibly too hard for wet traction?
http://www.intercotire.com/assets/images/sswamper_tsl_sx-200.jpg

Thornbird, relatively tame but aggressive enough to make it in consideration. Appears to may have the best highway tread design. The contact patch would be awesome for Moab. Downside, doesn't impress the 16 year old cheerleaders as much as the TSL's would. :D
http://www.intercotire.com/assets/images/interco_tsl_thornbird-200.jpg

The TSL radial, a compromise tire but has it's value on a DD however it is 100 bucks more than it's biased brother. OUCH.
http://www.intercotire.com/assets/images/super_swamper_radial_tsl-200.jpg

What I don't know is the softness or lack thereof in the compound. So I'm going to rely on what you've run or at least have first hand experiance with.

I'm tossed but leaning towards the Thornbird for the DD part. I just wonder how well the Thornbirds do in the rocks and in the case of Fordyce, wet rocks.

What's your two bits?

My vote is for the Thornbirds... I knwo most think they suck, but I have seen them do just fine, and I think they would look sweet in the size you are looking at :D

38X12.50 TSL if only rarely driven on the road. 37X12.50 SSR if DD.


Just my $.02.

TEX

38.5 x14.5 sxs thats my vote

38 sx's! SHould ride fine after the first 10-15 minutes and out of the tires you are looking at they will perform the best offroad and look sweet also!

38.5x14.5 SX's

where were the 39.5x15 TSL's not an option? just wondering...

TSL/SX 38.5x14.5x15

Wider is better. :D

This topic will get defended to the death. So maybe a poll would be a better way to see how people feel about these tires...

Oh yeah, the sx's.

Originally posted by zakk
where were the 39.5x15 TSL's not an option? just wondering... Just a wee bit big. :)
http://www.mjw.com/amigo/images/sas-show.jpg
With 39's :eek:

Hey man, the tires in that pic look like all-terrians on steroids!

Originally posted by WideJ
Hey man, the tires in that pic look like all-terrians on steroids! Very observant!

My 33" AT/KO's enlarged to 39".

Originally posted by WideJ
This topic will get defended to the death. So maybe a poll would be a better way to see how people feel about these tires...

Oh yeah, the sx's. Done Deal.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21403

Am I wrong in thinking that Thornbirds would probably kick ass if you took a groover to those long lugs (maybe grooving the lugs into 1/3's) ....Don't ask me, I'm a bolt-on bitch :flipoff2:

38.5x14.5 SX's.....

Take a groover with the blade upsidedown to the center blocks and sipe 'em. Adds flex to the carcass, keeps the rubber intact, and adds a ton to snow and wet weather traction. I was the ONLY one on a snow ride last year that didn't fight my way thru....grannied the whole day at 4.5# front and 4# rear. Even drug some guys up the hills....

FWIW, if you were shopping 4wparts, you JUST missed their free shipping deal...tho you may still be able to get the gift certificate deal.

I purchased a $220 gift cert for $200....then turned around and ordered a single 38.5x14.5 SX for my spare using that cert and getting free shipping. $200 for the cert plus $19.27 for the balance of the tire cost, FET and handling....$220 delivered is not a bad deal!

The 38.5-14.5-15s SXs and the 39.5-15-15 TSLs ride like shit on the street. However on the trail where it counts, they kick ass. I have a buddy that has the SXs and siped them, they ride a hell of a lot better on the street.:smokin:

I've got 38" SX's on my rig they work great but they dont flex all that well. I siped them, they grip like crazy.