I can see I am going to need some new tires by the time Moab rolls around. I took a big chunk out of one of my SX's on Armageddon, noticed it Tuesday because the tire went flat. Not sure if it was the gouge that made it go flat or the bead (this one has been a problem tire, I think the guys who mounted it messed up the bead). Anyway if I have to get some new tires here's my options (all TSL/SX's):

Stick with the 33 x 15.50's, buy two now and two new ones later....

Get rid of those girly tires and go 35 x 15.50's

Go 35 x 12.50's

or say to hell with it, 36 x 12.50's all the way!

Couple things, I am leaning towards sticking with what I got, the Zuk has been performing flawlessly, gearing feels perfect and I haven't really had clearance problems. I intend to shave the diffs this summer so that'll gain me another inch? But 35's would give me that inch sooner and even more when I shave the diffs. Problem is am I going to go back to feeling undergeared? Also has anyone run both the 15.50 and 12.50 wide tires? How'd it feel going to the narrower ones? My Zuk fells nice and stable now and I am worried about going narrower. Which brings up the 36 option, a longshot because I feel I will be too tall and I have no plans for extending the wheelbase. So what do you guys think?

http://www.azrockcrawler.com/_images/Dscn8746.jpg

http://www.azrockcrawler.com/_images/Dscn8744.jpg

Almost forgot, here's some pics of my rig on the current tires:

http://www.azrockcrawler.com/_images/2002/1-02armageddon/63.jpg

http://www.azrockcrawler.com/_images/2002/1-02armageddon/Dscn8604.jpg

Id Say The thing seems to go just where you point it go with what you got I wouldn't go any bigger than 35's I went from running 33x12.5 to 35x15.5 swampers you do notice the diff
it was for the better but thn as you said you feel it in the gearing
also myO2

Go with the 36's. I mean bigger is better.
Narrower tires are both easier on parts and to steer.
If you think that it will make you unstable, then get a 2'' backspaced wheel.
See you Saturday. I have some info on our club for you. ;)

Go with something lighter and more flexible than 35x15.5s. Those things were designed for HEAVY rigs. I went with 35 MTRs, or I'd go with some more pliable tire like a swamper radial or ssr, or PJDG. Yeah the sidewalls arent as tough as a SX etc., but I think the light weight of a zuk really helps the durability. Tread chunking seems to happen more on innterco type tires than modern radials. We lost HUGE pieces out of my buddys boggers.

fairly narrow tires just plain kick ass on the rocks :D

Originally posted by txranger
fairly narrow tires just plain kick ass on the rocks :D

An interesting side note. Anyone I have talked to who has competed in a rockcrawling event would run wide tires if they could fit thru the gates.

Originally posted by scwafish
Go with something lighter and more flexible than 35x15.5s. Those things were designed for HEAVY rigs. I went with 35 MTRs, or I'd go with some more pliable tire like a swamper radial or ssr, or PJDG. Yeah the sidewalls arent as tough as a SX etc., but I think the light weight of a zuk really helps the durability. Tread chunking seems to happen more on innterco type tires than modern radials. We lost HUGE pieces out of my buddys boggers.

MTR's are an interesting option, they have had sales on and off down here so the price isn't bad and they would flex much better than what I have. My biggest concern is I haven't seen anyone running hardcore trails with them, and I mean hard trails at least 4 times a month. I kept BFG M/T's alive for two years doing 1 or two trails a month. As soon as I started really hitting the rocks I ripped 3 in a month which is why I switched to the SX's. Hey, if anyone out there wants me to evaluate a set I'll put them thru the wringer at least 4 times a month :D

35's, not 15.5" Swampers though, too heavy. I think in your terrain, you'd do great with a set of 35x12.50 MT/R's. Tim's 36x12.50 SX's work excellent, but you'd probably need some lift or body work to fit 'em. 35's shouldn't throw your rigs balance off, and from your pics it looks like you might have the clearance for them.

I'm really impressed with my 33" MT/R's. You'd need the 35's though to get those Massive 8" diffs off of the ground! :p

personaly i like the narrower tire, the zuk weighs about 2000 lbs and a 12.5 is pleanty of tire for that size of rig. On my yellow zuk I'm running 33x 12.5 x15 swamper tsl with 4 lbs of air and they bite great and never lost a bead using 8" rims. The narrower rim will make the tire have an arch in the tread(when aired up) which helps elemanate tire noise and allows you to run lower presure with out loosing a bead. The wider rim flatens out the tread and you get road noise. If you run some mud once in a while the narrower tire will allow you to dig down to ferm ground (as long as its not deep mud) where the wider tire will let you float on top where you cant get any traction, been their done that. Taller tires make big obsticals smaller.
I went a head and bit the bullet and ordered some 37 x 12.5 x 15 ssr' Im also going to put the sumo gears in my new rig the wife calls the MISTRESS.:D :D

Well I'll add my 2 cents worth which translates to about half a US cent. I am running 34" x 9.50 x 15 Swampers and they are great, the terrain we usually run is slippery climbs, deep mud and rock. they flex well, they are light the steering is nice and responsive and are kind to the bearings.
Another good thing about them is they are easier to stuff into the fenders when crossed up.http://www.suzuki-4wd-club.rockcrawler.com/members/images/progress/gjs-1.jpg

Chris, I'd recommend either the 35x15.50 SXs or the 35x14.50 SSRs. Me personally, I'd choose the SSRs because their sidewalls flex much better. However, having 'wheeled with you before, I know how viscious those Arizona knife-edged rocks can be, so that's one damn good reason for the SXs. Except that, having used SSRs down there in AZ and purposely trying to mess up my sidewalls for my product review article, I saw how tough they are despite having "only" 2-ply sidewalls. These sidewalls are about as thick as the SX's, only they flex better! So personally, I would chose the 35x14.50 SSRs. I definitely wouldn't go with a narrower tire, or one with a less aggressive tread pattern than a Swamper.

Bring the rest of the tires you have left down here to OK and we'll finish them off on our rocks. (see below) :D I cut at least 2 tires a year at Disney. :(

It looks like you have at least 10" wheels. 12.50's would be too narrow on 10" to work correctly aired down. I'm with zukiman, go with the 35x14.50 SSR's. They use a softer compound (than the TSL) like the TSL Radials will grab like Velcro on the rocks. You may want to groove the center Zs for a little more biting edge like you did you TSLs since they are more dominant on the SSRs.

For a near stock wheelbase (+-2") 33's work perfectly, and I believe 35's will also work well as long as you have a little extra width.

Let us know how it goes. I'm considering the 35x12.50's for my 8" beadlocks when I finish my 33's off this year...... :rasta:

35s on a 80 on wheel base will have you looking at the sky alot. i have had my share of standing my zuk straight up with 33s. i would stay shorter unless you plan to strech the wheel base out some. the best all around zuk i have been in was on a set of 32x10.5 swamper radials. that thing just kicked ass and felt way more stable than any bigger tired zuk i have built. skeet shooter runs 33x15.5 sxs on his zook, he extended the wheel base 16 last week and now he can't belive the differance. it just drives up everything he points it at. a guy we wheel with here has a 97 in w.b. zuk on 36s and it kicks ass. i had 35s on mine and it sucked its better with 33s and would be even better with 32s. i just get tired of standing it straight up when i have to smack a ledge.

Chris, if you are not dissatisfied with what you've been running, stick with the 33's. You could probably round up a couple of used ones to get you by a while longer. (BTW don't you have a spare??)

Things are looking pretty good for hooking up w/ ya at Moab. You would be welcome to try my 36's on for size to see if you like them.:D I think you have enough room under there.

Originally posted by 0ILBURNER
Chris, if you are not dissatisfied with what you've been running, stick with the 33's. You could probably round up a couple of used ones to get you by a while longer. (BTW don't you have a spare??)

Things are looking pretty good for hooking up w/ ya at Moab. You would be welcome to try my 36's on for size to see if you like them.:D I think you have enough room under there.

No spare, bought the 4 used for $300. Haven't been able to locate an extra one so before I bite the bullet and buy two new ones I wanted to think thru my tire options. If I am going to go up a tire size now is a good time.

This has been a good discussion, I saw a couple points I hadn't considered, one of them being tire flex. The SX's do flex when you push on them, they just don't look aired down when you aren't twisted up which has the added benefit of not dropping your ground clearance at trail pressure. They are a hard tire compound so the SSR's might be an upgrade in the climbing department. I am at an 85" wheelbase right now and am not afraid of hooking up the strap to the front BEFORE I try something steep like the entrance to Annihilator, my rig is a rock crawler not a rock climber :) Besides a winch takes care of that shortcoming.

Maybe I'll have to nurse these along till after Moab so I can try your 36's, you could toss my 33's on yours and go :grinpimp: down the main drag in Moab, nothing like a little low rider action :D

Originally posted by JackA
Go with the 36's. I mean bigger is better.
Narrower tires are both easier on parts and to steer.
If you think that it will make you unstable, then get a 2'' backspaced wheel.
See you Saturday. I have some info on our club for you. ;)

Hey Jack, know of anyone with Toy rims and some 35's I could borrow for a short trip up Raw Deal? I'd like to see how the gearing feels before I totally write off going bigger. Also what do you guys think of the Baja Claws? I noticed Larry and Mark running them and they seemed to hook up good, really good on that slick stuff out on the Lost World (first waterfall). Tracy had some 37's on his buggy on Armageddon, they seemed to work but from what I heard he usually runs something bigger, just didn't get a chance to change em out.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by okcrawler
[B]Bring the rest of the tires you have left down here to OK and we'll finish them off on our rocks. (see below) :D I cut at least 2 tires a year at Disney. :(

QUOTE]

:eek: I can see with muddy rocks you guys would get up enough wheelspin to really groove the tires :D

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler
Maybe I'll have to nurse these along till after Moab so I can try your 36's, you could toss my 33's on yours and go :grinpimp: down the main drag in Moab, nothing like a little low rider action :D


:grinpimp: :grinpimp: :grinpimp: I need to get me some Bump in my Trunk - Oh Crap! I ain't got 'no trunk anymore! :eek:


On this side of the Mississippi, nearly Everyone I have met that tried the 'Claws did Not like them.:(


I run my 36's with basically no air in them. They do flex - I will post a pic of them on my garage floor this weekend.

Not sure if I'd want to try a bigger 15" wide tire on the 'Yota axles......

Originally posted by 0ILBURNER
On this side of the Mississippi, nearly Everyone I have met that tried the 'Claws did Not like them.
A buddy of mine runs 33x12.50 Radial Claws. (Not sure if you were looking at radial or bias) and doesn't particularly care for them. They're at least an inch narrower than my 33" MT/Rs are - both on 15x8 wheels.

Also, with MT/Rs you can run fairly hight trail pressure, since they flex so well. I aired them down to 11PSI to start off with, and ended up airing them UP to 14 because they looked like they were halfway flat. But that's on a 3700lb. rig. I dunno what they'd do on a 2700lb. Zuk.

Anyway, if I make it out to Moab in March, you're more than welcome to try out my 33x12.50 MT/Rs (assuming you lone me something to roll on instead) for a day or so.

Originally posted by Yota_san


Anyway, if I make it out to Moab in March, you're more than welcome to try out my 33x12.50 MT/Rs (assuming you lone me something to roll on instead) for a day or so.

That would be cool. I could probably scrounge up the original 215-75's my Zuk came with for some really good :grinpimp: action :laughing:. Seriously, I'll have at least 33's on when I go. People in the campground are going to think were playing musical tires.

Originally posted by Yota_san

Anyway, if I make it out to Moab in March, you're more than welcome to try out my 33x12.50 MT/Rs (assuming you lone me something to roll on instead) for a day or so.

Yota,

Game plan change - April = Moab.

I will be heading out Sat. the 13th & returning Monday the 22nd. The wife & I are making a true vacation out of the trip & will be doing quite a bit of sightseeing. Sorry:(

Originally posted by 0ILBURNER



:grinpimp: :grinpimp: :grinpimp: I need to get me some Bump in my Trunk - Oh Crap! I ain't got 'no trunk anymore! :eek:




Hey now, we don't talk about that foo foo stuff on this board :D

I haven't seen anyone running hardcore trails with them, and I mean hard trails at least 4 times a month.

This is what finally sold me on MTRs...in July of 2000 (yes July, and yes I won't ever do that again) I went wheeling with a bunch of guys in Johnson Valley and Jason Bunch was with us with some of the first production MTRs, and I asked him how they had been holding up. He was amazed because after about 5 trips to the Hammers, no cuts, no chunks. I saw him again in November in Montrose and he was still running the original 4 tires, after going to the Hammers many more times and winning the 24 hours at the Hammers. He had been running them white letter out (guess there is no such thing as free tires), and the severe use had eroded all of the black and made them into white walls!!! but still no cuts and no chunks, just a few shallow slices and all of the knobs were less "edgy". The same four tires took him to the finals. IMHO thats pretty friggin good for $155 ea.

Originally posted by scwafish


The same four tires took him to the finals. IMHO thats pretty friggin good for $155 ea.

Can't argue with That :D

But I can't help but think that whatever tore the chunk out of that Interco tire would have SHREDDED a Goodyear tire....:nuke:

Toyotatoddy
Unregistered User
(1/13/02 9:51:38 am)
Reply 33 SSRs for sale
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My buddy has a set of 33 14.50 ssrs for sale. They have prob 75% tread left. He is asking 650 for the set. They are mounted on some real nice alum. wheels. I dont know what kind but he is asking 1100. For them mounted on the wheels. I can get pics if anyone is interested.

ToyotaToddy
Unregistered User
(1/13/02 9:53:20 am)
Reply 33s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The tires are in Knoxville.

Toyotatoddy
Unregistered User
(1/13/02 4:44:15 pm)
Reply 33s
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email me at Tcox6108@aol.com

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler
I can see I am going to need some new tires by the time Moab rolls around. I took a big chunk out of one of my SX's on Armageddon, noticed it Tuesday because the tire went flat. Not sure if it was the gouge that made it go flat or the bead (this one has been a problem tire, I think the guys who mounted it messed up the bead). Anyway if I have to get some new tires here's my options (all TSL/SX's):

Stick with the 33 x 15.50's, buy two now and two new ones later....

Get rid of those girly tires and go 35 x 15.50's

Go 35 x 12.50's

or say to hell with it, 36 x 12.50's all the way!

Couple things, I am leaning towards sticking with what I got, the Zuk has been performing flawlessly, gearing feels perfect and I haven't really had clearance problems. I intend to shave the diffs this summer so that'll gain me another inch? But 35's would give me that inch sooner and even more when I shave the diffs. Problem is am I going to go back to feeling undergeared? Also has anyone run both the 15.50 and 12.50 wide tires? How'd it feel going to the narrower ones? My Zuk fells nice and stable now and I am worried about going narrower. Which brings up the 36 option, a longshot because I feel I will be too tall and I have no plans for extending the wheelbase. So what do you guys think?


Chris,

if you go with Bigger Tires you will need to change your gearing, and make room for them.....do your 33's hit the body now?

I know the ARCA guys get Goodyear Tires (MTR 37's) and they seem to work great...... this weekend Sunday & Monday they are on sale at 1/2 price.......so you could get 37's for just over $200 each. and with thier warrenty.....if you pop one..it's replaced!

Ronnie's 35's work better than any other tire I have seen (for Arizona Rocks) they are on sale too....for only $131 each!

Originally posted by Arizona Zuk


Chris,

if you go with Bigger Tires you will need to change your gearing, and make room for them.....do your 33's hit the body now?

I know the ARCA guys get Goodyear Tires (MTR 37's) and they seem to work great...... this weekend Sunday & Monday they are on sale at 1/2 price.......so you could get 37's for just over $200 each. and with thier warrenty.....if you pop one..it's replaced!

Ronnie's 35's work better than any other tire I have seen (for Arizona Rocks) they are on sale too....for only $131 each!

lol what body? Plenty of room up front and I believe another two inches of tire will fit in back, if not I have a sawsall. How's the warranty work? Discount will cost you nearly $40 for a tire replaced under warranty, cost of mount/ballance and new warranty for the new tire. I haven't seen Ronnies rig run in a while, I'd like to watch and see how the tires perform.

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler


lol what body? Plenty of room up front and I believe another two inches of tire will fit in back, if not I have a sawsall. How's the warranty work? Discount will cost you nearly $40 for a tire replaced under warranty, cost of mount/ballance and new warranty for the new tire. I haven't seen Ronnies rig run in a while, I'd like to watch and see how the tires perform.

Goodyear's warranty is free replacement....no charge......even if it only has a nail hole in it....they do not patch or plug them....you get a free new tire!

Ronnie drives his every day to work...sold his GRSII and is using a stock t-case, until he can get a set of Sumo 6.1's for Moab. He will also need to up-grade from Zuk axles....they break too easy!

Originally posted by Arizona Zuk


Goodyear's warranty is free replacement....no charge......even if it only has a nail hole in it....they do not patch or plug them....you get a free new tire!

Ronnie drives his every day to work...sold his GRSII and is using a stock t-case, until he can get a set of Sumo 6.1's for Moab. He will also need to up-grade from Zuk axles....they break too easy!

That's not a bad deal then. I guess I would have to carry a spare. If your going to swap his axles before Moab you better get going! Hows your swap coming along?

Chris you can borrow mine. They are not perfect. But would give you an idea if you'll like the 35s. I still have not started on the new body. So you could borrow them for a week or two.

Damn, Chris. Looks like you could get by a couple months or so just testing other people's tires/wheels on your rig!:D :D


I'm OUTTA HERE Maybe I'llhave something "interesting" to post on Monday.......:grinpimp:

Originally posted by kongs4x4
Chris you can borrow mine. They are not perfect. But would give you an idea if you'll like the 35s. I still have not started on the new body. So you could borrow them for a week or two.

That would be great! I'd like to take a run up Raw Deal and the new upper section. Should be able to feel out the gearing and put the tires into some really big holes and see how stable they feel. You had 34 x 13.50 Baja Claws right? Can I call you next week at the shop?

Oh yeah, is this Mark? :D

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler


That would be great! I'd like to take a run up Raw Deal and the new upper section. Should be able to feel out the gearing and put the tires into some really big holes and see how stable they feel. You had 34 x 13.50 Baja Claws right? Can I call you next week at the shop?

Oh yeah, is this Mark? :D

we drove about a Mile past the end of the last turnout on Raw Deal....if you find a lockout hub up there...it's mine!

I'll let you try out my 38's. Wouldn't that be fun.:D

get the 36's or 38's ;)

Yes this is Mark. You can call me at the shop 602-944-2411

Originally posted by JackA
I'll let you try out my 38's. Wouldn't that be fun.:D

The :girly: said no more mods to fit tires, so I'll have to fire up the sawsall when shes at work :D

Originally posted by kongs4x4
Yes this is Mark. You can call me at the shop 602-944-2411

Thanks man. And guys, he knows my voice so don't get any ideas :D

Some tire observations from today. Two of us had 15.50 SX's and two of us had problems on some of the climbs, mainly the really steep ones where two tires had to climb at once. All the rest had 12.50 tires (which climbed real good on everything) except Brian and his 14.50 Boggers which did good where the SX's did not, although he was using the gas pedal a lot with those stock axles :eek:

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler
Some tire observations from today. Two of us had 15.50 SX's and two of us had problems on some of the climbs, mainly the really steep ones where two tires had to climb at once. All the rest had 12.50 tires (which climbed real good on everything) except Brian and his 14.50 Boggers which did good where the SX's did not, although he was using the gas pedal a lot with those stock axles :eek:

so you did make it through the Old Anaconda part?

nice report on your site.....I'm working on being worthy of those trails.....lol

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler


my rig is a rock crawler not a rock climber :) Besides a winch takes care of that shortcoming.

you can have both, ya know. and winchin isnt wheelin, tis winchin. i would vote for 36's and extend that WB, you wont regtret it and your rig would look soooo cool with 36's......brad

Originally posted by BRBx4


you can have both, ya know. and winchin isnt wheelin, tis winchin. i would vote for 36's and extend that WB, you wont regtret it and your rig would look soooo cool with 36's......brad

WB is overated.

thats what I thought till I stretched mine 16"

i agree lengthen it and go with the 36x12.5's. they work really well. :D

How many pictures would you like to see of LWB vehicles hung up on stuff I went right over? Check out the latest Intimidator run, waterfall the same as my wheelbase yet I didn't get hung up going over, all the LWB rigs that didn't take the extreme line to the right landed right on their frame rails with 35, 36 and 38" tires. Remember were' talking AZ trails here. The terrain where you wheel may have a totally different optimum setup.

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler
How many pictures would you like to see of LWB vehicles hung up on stuff I went right over? Check out the latest Intimidator run, waterfall the same as my wheelbase yet I didn't get hung up going over, all the LWB rigs that didn't take the extreme line to the right landed right on their frame rails with 35, 36 and 38" tires. Remember were' talking AZ trails here. The terrain where you wheel may have a totally different optimum setup.

you have a very good point. if your wb works where you are then run it. also you have stated that the 33's work for what you need. if it aint broke don't fix it.:D

I'm going to be running the 36 sx's mainly cuz I have them left over from my 4runner (still 95% tread) and that little bit of height is nice there pretty heavy though I'd say 100lbs mounted. I'm grooving the hell out of the center lugs to help them flex a bit more and also installing bead locks so I can air down real low. They seemed to flex better than my 33" tsls on my 4 runner.If they don't work I'm going to go 35" boggers (I'd go mtr's but we've got to much mud and roots mixed into our rock.

Originally posted by Azrckcrawler


WB is overated.

that may be, but it does help on steep stuff and keeps you from having to hook up a winch before you try big climbs.....

Originally posted by high5
i agree lengthen it and go with the 36x12.5's. they work really well. :D

Yes I did, and Yes they DO :grinpimp:




36x12.50x15 TSL/SX sitting in the garage - 2 psi.

http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/53-667719-SXflex.JPG