I'm curious what everyone else thinks about our tire choice for the OBC. The event is mostly is pretty evenly based on sand, rock, water and mudd. I realize that when you have all these elements it's hard say one tire would be the best but I'm open to comments of suggestions. We plan on mounting a 36x12.50 on a 15x10 w/ 3.75" BS w/ bead locks.

One of the most important factors even above traction IMOP is punture resistance. The terrain is going to be covered moving fast most of the time with jagged rocks and sharp sticks constantly nagging us. Some guys in the past have destroyed 5 tires throughout the event!

With that being said, SIMEX tires which are considered by many to be a very good all around tire for elements that the outback presents. From what I have heard the punture resistance on them isn't half as good as others. And we can buy a set for cheap in OZ once we arrive.

Procomp is pushing their Xterrain for the OBC and touting it as the most punture resistant out of all. Not sure of the validity of their claim though. The tread is nice for sand but the lugs are too close for mudd and cleaning out. These are also on the cheaper side.

Out of left field a friend made a suggestion on the MT claws. Similar in design to the Xterrain but the lugs are spaced further apart which makes good for both sand and mudd. Not sure of pricing as I have never run them.

Then you have to think about BIAS or Radial. Which one usually offers a stronger sidewall and overall strenght? I know I had a set of LTB swampers that seemed to have decent grip and soft lugs but the sidewalls weren't that strong. Right now we are running Q78 radials which seem be tough as nails but the hard lugs make me wonder if they will be good on the rocks...?

Plot thickens, even though I am dreaming about different tires Interco gave us partial sponsorship so I would like to stay in their line. Boggers are nice but I don't know how they perform in the sand. We can certaily get another set of Swampers in 36x12.50 but which ones? There are several types available.. Radial, SSR, Original, LTB, etc.. Can anyone comment? I would think they would be good in rocks and mudd obviously but in the sand I would figure they would just bury themselves...

Then there's always going with a set of MTR's. The winner for the last event was using them I believe. Or what about Pittbull tires. Anyone seen those in action? The tread looks amazing and the side walls seem to be pretty stout.

In any event, any flaming or suggestions are being anxiously awaited.

Thanks!

If I'd rank puncture resistance to traction, I'd go with grooved 36x12.5 SX, these are the BEST, you can even keep the spare in the US :).

To tell you the truth, 37" Boggers would be the ideal choice...deflating like MAD for sand, and you're safe, otherwise, you should NOT waste time changing tires AND you should NOT have any issues in mud/rocks.

I'd choose either of these...the height advantage over, what I consider the BEST tire in traction for teh OBC, the 35x11.5 ET I, would be really nice...

My brother's run X-Terrains on a Heep for several years with no problems. But he's out west on mtn trails & rock. They doughnut pretty quick in mud. Couldn't see 'em as an OBC tire. Same w/ the MT/R.

My vote would be for TSL SXs. The best all-around of the options you listed.

36" x 12.50" TSL SX.

Steven,
Change your location! You don't live here anymore, you abandoned us.... Remember? :flipoff2:

Your main thought about the OBC is the Mud & puncture resistance. You need a tyre that can get you through some of the toughest & unbelievable water/mud sections. You want to make sure you can get through the mud as the sand shouldn't be a concern if aired right down. In some of the rocky sections you will be going FLAT OUT & those tree stumps stick out evrywhere so side wall protection is as important as tread puncture. MT bias Claws are commonly used as are the Simex ET2's. These would be my choice but if Interco are backing you then TSL SX's but I don't think they will perform as effectively as the other 2.


brooksy

37" Bogger???

Here ya go.

Steven,
Change your location!
Done

You don't live here anymore, you abandoned us....
Low blow :flipoff2:

:flipoff2: right back at ya :D

Several competitors used BFG Krawlers, including 1st & 2nd IIRC.

Several competitors used BFG Krawlers, including 1st & 2nd IIRC.

The other popular tyres are Simex ET/ET2, MTRs and Mickey Thompson Claws. I don't think boggers would give enough lateral traction when cornering.

Whatever you choose, make sure you have plenty of spares, and plenty of plugs, patches, etc...

37" Bogger???

TYRES
3.4.1 Aggressive tyres are permitted as long as they are classified for road use
Tyre sizes are limited for each vehicle to 36.5x13.5 or metric equivalent, based on a gauge with
internal dimensions of 928mm and 343mm.

Thanks for all the feed back everyone. It looks like we're going to go with a set of 36x12.50 TSL SX's. Should give good traction on the wet/muddy stuff and still be decent in rocks/sand.

BW - Sweet ciped Boggers BTW. I've heard about that. It allows the lug to grip a lot better in most situations eh? I've also heard people cipe them and run them in reverse...

Those Boggers aren't siped, they're grooved.

Get the center lugs on your SX's siped, the outer lugs grooved. Oh yeah, take two spares and a hole-plug kit.

Don't balance with BB's or sand or any other shiat, get them traditionally balanced (trust me).

Doesn't the truck need to be on a boat like NOW to make it to the event?

Doesn't the truck need to be on a boat like NOW to make it to the event?

I was wondering the same thing. How late can you leave it.

brooksy

I was wondering the same thing. How late can you leave it.

brooksy

Maybe they are flying it over?

We are shipping the first week in March.

Check that the reg's allow grooving.
Here (Sweden) the tyres need to be road legal.
MOT does not allow grooving, hence grooving not allowed in street driven comps.

Just a heads up.

T

Our OBC Challenge truck leaves next wednesday..

Gonna have to spend the entire weekend finishing details and washing it... They're very very picky in Oz about clean trucks.... Somthing about non native... ahhh... Oh yeah! plants...

We are using Simex Extreme Trekkers 35/12.5(?) 15's On USA 6x6 Double beadlocks.. Nice looking wheel for all the greif they got..

Hey Keith. From what I've heard that $500.00 cleaning fee at customs is pretty much a given and a free-b for the Aussies. Fawkers! :flipoff2:

We've got the photoshoot with LRL Mag at the end of this month. Still to do is paint job, new wheels and tires [on the way] and some more internal fit-out. Looks like I'll be fitting new front axles in OZ.

BTW, weren't you going to sleeve this second snorkel pipe to fit the top correctly? I thought that's what took so long... I just checked it last night and it's a hair under a 1/4" to small OD. ???

How long does it take you guys to diss and re-assemb those beadlocks?

The idea of putting the two snorkles together with an over the top tube and running it into the side of the engine compartment "early" sorta confused the matter. Not knowing exactly what you guys were up to i figured I would only complicate matters to do much more.. Anyway I also assumed you guys had a welder and could easily slice off a bit of the extra tube, slot it and weld it on the end for the mantec cap, but if you had the over the top pipe at 2.5 that wouldn't be desirable. getting 2.75" Exhaust tubing is impossible here... Probably there too.. Heck I didn't charge you for the work.. Long distance custom is nearly impossible..
The beadlocks take about 20/30 minutes each to assemble if you are in a hurry.

Yeah LRM is nagging Normie for a couple articles as well... Need to work more than write..

Red,
Are you building this truck without a welder???

The idea of putting the two snorkles together with an over the top tube and running it into the side of the engine compartment "early" sorta confused the matter. Not knowing exactly what you guys were up to i figured I would only complicate matters to do much more.. Anyway I also assumed you guys had a welder and could easily slice off a bit of the extra tube, slot it and weld it on the end for the mantec cap, but if you had the over the top pipe at 2.5 that wouldn't be desirable. getting 2.75" Exhaust tubing is impossible here... Probably there too.. Heck I didn't charge you for the work.. Long distance custom is nearly impossible..
The beadlocks take about 20/30 minutes each to assemble if you are in a hurry.

Yeah LRM is nagging Normie for a couple articles as well... Need to work more than write..
Ok, I want to see Pics!!:D

Those Boggers aren't siped, they're grooved.
Get the center lugs on your SX's siped, the outer lugs grooved. Oh yeah, take two spares and a hole-plug kit.
Correct they are grooved. Siped and Grooved what a great IDEA! I'll have to try that :grinpimp:

lwg, Would it matter if I was. :grinpimp:

bw, it's not done yet. We may not have the time to complete so it might be awhile before photos are around.

lwg, Would it matter if I was. :grinpimp:

bw, it's not done yet. We may not have the time to complete so it might be awhile before photos are around.

The lastest rumor is that a lot of competitors are going with the 37" Procomp X-Terrain's this year.
They fit into the size limits set by CCDA and have great puncture resistance.
Steve Hobbs did a whole Outback Challenge with no punctures one year!

Yeah, Pro Comp is really pushing their tires... Offering us a set at a very good cost... Norman being Norman turned them down, preferring his Simex ET's

Kinda wished he would have got them as the look like the might be a good bit better in sand..

Keith they hit us up as well. We were already in bed with Interco though. :( I think they would be better in the sand but for the mudd the lugs are too close IMOP. I would rather run with the Simex or SX's for the rocks/water/mudd and just bag the hell out of em in the sand. Our 36x12.50's and new 15x10 beadlocks should be here this weekend.

SX SX SX all the way