How bad are Futuras? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Pugsly · 11-04-2005, 05:06 PM

Okay, I'm switching over to a set of Futura M/T tires tomorrow. 20k miles already on the tires.

Why? 5 tires (4 with 20k miles) already mounted for $100 (I'm swapping 5 other identical rims as part of the deal).

So, it's your basic ultimate CB tire purchase.

Question, how good or awful will these tires be? For $100 I figure it will be hard to go wrong...

Old Scout · 11-04-2005, 05:09 PM

There KVT's favorite tire!

Greg Davis · 11-04-2005, 06:56 PM

Futuras were the first M/T that I put on my rig. And to be honest, for the money, they were pretty good tires! I don't think you can go wrong for a C-note.

darkstar · 11-04-2005, 07:16 PM

Hope you won't be seeing many rocks. or much sand. or dirt. or too much mud for that matter...

The rubber compound on these is so hard it may as well be made of plastic.

Greg Davis · 11-04-2005, 07:18 PM

A little siping goes a long way on those tires. And any M/T will dig down in sand, but overall, for what you pay, they're a decent tire.

pm · 11-08-2005, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstar

Hope you won't be seeing many rocks. or much sand. or dirt. or too much mud for that matter...

The rubber compound on these is so hard it may as well be made of plastic.

Alex, you must've been riding them in that Chicagoland cold...
Futura Enforcers (M/T thread) are made of by far the softest rubber I've ever seen. You can ply the lugs with your fingers. As such, they grip like crazy on the rocks. I'd say they were better on the rocks than BFG M/Ts. But, there's a downside to it - they just melt on pavement, I'd guess 15 to 20kmi lifetime.
The sidewalls are pretty thick - if you don't air down, you won't cut them up.
Unfortunately, PepBoys don't sell them anymore - otherwise I'd get another set.

Pugsly - are you through with the retreads?

darkstar · 11-08-2005, 10:35 AM

Never ran them myself, but I saw a couple of trucks with ARBs f/r that ran the Futuras struggle through stuff that others made easily... the tires were siped, BTW

FWIW

PTSchram · 11-08-2005, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstar

Never ran them myself, but I saw a couple of trucks with ARBs f/r that ran the Futuras struggle through stuff that others made easily... the tires were siped, BTW

FWIW

If I'm not mistaken, I was on one of those trips-my worn out A/Ts did as well as the futuras.

For cheap tires, I'm sold on the Mastercrafts, cheaper event han the retreads if you consider shipping. But, the sidewalls aren't real strong on the Mastercrafts-or I just hit them wrong.

volts · 11-08-2005, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pm

Alex, you must've been riding them in that Chicagoland cold...
Futura Enforcers (M/T thread) are made of by far the softest rubber I've ever seen. You can ply the lugs with your fingers. As such, they grip like crazy on the rocks. I'd say they were better on the rocks than BFG M/Ts. But, there's a downside to it - they just melt on pavement, I'd guess 15 to 20kmi lifetime.
The sidewalls are pretty thick - if you don't air down, you won't cut them up.
Unfortunately, PepBoys don't sell them anymore - otherwise I'd get another set.

Pugsly - are you through with the retreads?

Ive put almost 45k miles and they are still 70%, they are hard compound tires.
great for street not good for rocks.

Alex seen me struggle even with ARB's

Pugsly · 11-09-2005, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pm

Pugsly - are you through with the retreads?

Not sure what you mean, I have never run retreads. Lately I've been running Big O tires offroad, and Michelin XPCs as street tires.

I like the Big O tires, but don't live in a part of the country where I can buy them anymore.

pm · 11-09-2005, 03:54 PM

my bad - somebody at DW was discussing retreads about a couple of months ago, I thought it was you.

greasysmitty · 11-09-2005, 08:56 PM

I ran futuras on my scout for about 5 yrs/ 40K miles and they were fine. No complaints. They rode like mud tires… loud, somewhat squirrely in rain… but for the money they were awesome. I got them at Schlep Boys for about 65$ a piece I think. Anybody who says they’re hard though is

- they were soft as heck. Wore the sideblocks right off the front before I finally replaced them (scout had a decent amount of caster).

kellymoe · 11-09-2005, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pm

my bad - somebody at DW was discussing retreads about a couple of months ago, I thought it was you.

I think you are talking about me. I have retreads from www.high-tec-retreading.com and oddly enough the retread skins are Big-O like Pugsly uses. So far I have been very happy with them on and off road. I am heading out to the Saline Valley next week so I will see how they hold up to some rock crawling we will be doing.

Pugsly · 11-10-2005, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellymoe

So far I have been very happy with them on and off road. I am heading out to the Saline Valley next week so I will see how they hold up to some rock crawling we will be doing.

Wish I were coming out with you - we're off to Moab next weekend, but that is as far west as we are planning on going for this trip.

kellymoe · 11-10-2005, 10:24 AM

Pugsly,

I am chompin at the bit to go. It has been awhile since I have been out there. Will be exploring petroglyph sites near Steele Pass on the way out. Have fun in Moab.

Kevin

pm · 11-11-2005, 02:03 PM

Kevin, that's right - it were you, it's yours and Pugsly's avatars mixed up in my head. Wonder why...
Wish I had time to come over to DV - I really want to drive around the Panamint ridge. Missed this year's RR...

kellymoe · 11-11-2005, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pm

Kevin, that's right - it were you, it's yours and Pugsly's avatars mixed up in my head. Wonder why...
Wish I had time to come over to DV - I really want to drive around the Panamint ridge. Missed this year's RR...

You going to make RR6? I think it will be in March this time.

pm · 11-11-2005, 05:49 PM

Is it going to be at DV again? I'd love to.

kellymoe · 11-11-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pm

Is it going to be at DV again? I'd love to.

Yes, Panamint Springs will be the basecamp. Everyone had a great time last year. Lots of fun trails.

LRover · 11-15-2005, 10:07 AM

For what it's worth, Cooper Tires made the Futura for Pep Boys and is still making the same tread pattern. I always had good luck with them. Now if you want to talk about hard rubber in tires, how about the old BFG MT...

rover4x4 · 11-15-2005, 11:14 AM

whats the biggest metric size those futura are availible in

Keith Armstrong · 11-15-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellymoe

You going to make RR6? I think it will be in March this time.

Blast, can't make in late April then eh??? After tax time would be nice

I don't suppose it gets hot by then or anything??

KAA

pm · 11-15-2005, 02:04 PM

nice.
I've been planning one little 2500 mile trip around SW, including the DV - need to see how the times line up (or not). RR in March would probably be better for me.

... there are still a few of my LWB's parts scattered over the road in DV...

kellymoe · 11-15-2005, 03:29 PM

The march date is still up in the air. It was suggested by the Vegas Club but is not set in stone yet. I will post the date as soon as it is decided.

Pugsly · 11-16-2005, 06:10 PM

Spent $40 to balance the MTs today, boy was that money well spent. New brakes, rotors, air shocks in the past week - it's like driving a new vehicle.

I tore into the center console today, installing a new dualband transciever in the p38 (had one in the defender for a while). There is no place to easily add anything inside the p38, grr...

11-04-2005, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pugsly Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Member # 32247 Location: USA Posts: 238	How bad are Futuras? Okay, I'm switching over to a set of Futura M/T tires tomorrow. 20k miles already on the tires. Why? 5 tires (4 with 20k miles) already mounted for $100 (I'm swapping 5 other identical rims as part of the deal). So, it's your basic ultimate CB tire purchase. Question, how good or awful will these tires be? For $100 I figure it will be hard to go wrong...

11-04-2005, 05:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Old Scout IH/Rover Moderator Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 17 Location: Aptos,Ca Posts: 13,402	There KVT's favorite tire! __________________ I like beer. On occasion, I will even drink beer to celebrate a major event such as the fall of communism or the fact that the refrigerator is still working." BUY MY BOAT http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/misc-...e-history.html

11-04-2005, 06:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Greg Davis Rock God Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11066 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,245	Futuras were the first M/T that I put on my rig. And to be honest, for the money, they were pretty good tires! I don't think you can go wrong for a C-note. __________________ "Wrinkles Only Go Where The Smiles Have Been" - Jimmy Buffett

11-04-2005, 07:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
darkstar Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13047 Location: Libertyville, IL Posts: 2,572	Hope you won't be seeing many rocks. or much sand. or dirt. or too much mud for that matter... The rubber compound on these is so hard it may as well be made of plastic. __________________ Surplus industrial supplies for sale. Lots of good stuff for your rig, cheap: fasteners, automotive electrical supplies, etc: CLICK HERE.

11-04-2005, 07:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Greg Davis Rock God Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11066 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,245	A little siping goes a long way on those tires. And any M/T will dig down in sand, but overall, for what you pay, they're a decent tire. __________________ "Wrinkles Only Go Where The Smiles Have Been" - Jimmy Buffett

11-08-2005, 10:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
darkstar Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13047 Location: Libertyville, IL Posts: 2,572	Never ran them myself, but I saw a couple of trucks with ARBs f/r that ran the Futuras struggle through stuff that others made easily... the tires were siped, BTW FWIW __________________ Surplus industrial supplies for sale. Lots of good stuff for your rig, cheap: fasteners, automotive electrical supplies, etc: CLICK HERE. Last edited by darkstar; 11-08-2005 at 10:36 AM.

11-09-2005, 03:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
pm Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Member # 19245 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 112	my bad - somebody at DW was discussing retreads about a couple of months ago, I thought it was you.

11-09-2005, 08:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
greasysmitty Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Member # 54166 Location: Moscow (no, Idaho) Posts: 62	I ran futuras on my scout for about 5 yrs/ 40K miles and they were fine. No complaints. They rode like mud tires… loud, somewhat squirrely in rain… but for the money they were awesome. I got them at Schlep Boys for about 65$ a piece I think. Anybody who says they’re hard though is - they were soft as heck. Wore the sideblocks right off the front before I finally replaced them (scout had a decent amount of caster).

11-10-2005, 10:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
kellymoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Member # 23246 Location: Somewhere in the Saline Valley Posts: 283	Pugsly, I am chompin at the bit to go. It has been awhile since I have been out there. Will be exploring petroglyph sites near Steele Pass on the way out. Have fun in Moab. Kevin __________________ 1988 Land Rover 130 Crew Cab "there are no stupid questions, just inquisitive idiots"

11-11-2005, 02:03 PM	#16 (permalink)
pm Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Member # 19245 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 112	Kevin, that's right - it were you, it's yours and Pugsly's avatars mixed up in my head. Wonder why... Wish I had time to come over to DV - I really want to drive around the Panamint ridge. Missed this year's RR...

11-11-2005, 05:49 PM	#18 (permalink)
pm Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Member # 19245 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 112	Is it going to be at DV again? I'd love to.

11-15-2005, 10:07 AM	#20 (permalink)
LRover Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Member # 13149 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 143	For what it's worth, Cooper Tires made the Futura for Pep Boys and is still making the same tread pattern. I always had good luck with them. Now if you want to talk about hard rubber in tires, how about the old BFG MT...

11-15-2005, 11:14 AM	#21 (permalink)
rover4x4 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14681 Location: North Carolina Posts: 61	whats the biggest metric size those futura are availible in __________________ uh........

11-15-2005, 02:04 PM	#23 (permalink)
pm Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Member # 19245 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 112	nice. I've been planning one little 2500 mile trip around SW, including the DV - need to see how the times line up (or not). RR in March would probably be better for me. ... there are still a few of my LWB's parts scattered over the road in DV...

11-15-2005, 03:29 PM	#24 (permalink)
kellymoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Member # 23246 Location: Somewhere in the Saline Valley Posts: 283	The march date is still up in the air. It was suggested by the Vegas Club but is not set in stone yet. I will post the date as soon as it is decided. __________________ 1988 Land Rover 130 Crew Cab "there are no stupid questions, just inquisitive idiots"

11-16-2005, 06:10 PM	#25 (permalink)
Pugsly Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Member # 32247 Location: USA Posts: 238	Spent $40 to balance the MTs today, boy was that money well spent. New brakes, rotors, air shocks in the past week - it's like driving a new vehicle. I tore into the center console today, installing a new dualband transciever in the p38 (had one in the defender for a while). There is no place to easily add anything inside the p38, grr...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode