Need new tires. A couple options

[05ls_soldier]

Hey guys, just thought I would ask for your opinions. If there are any other recomendations I would be glad to look into them! My truck is a daily driver so the swampers and TSL's that were mainly recomended to me are out of the picture! I dont know if anyone else has wheeled "down here in the Bayou" but the mud is thick, and there is no bottem to it. Also we get no snow, so siping isnt really a huge concern, as I only visit my family in Indiana 14 days out of the winter, and most the time drive the Saturn for gas purposes. My main concern is tread life, and ability to handle the mud.

1. The maxxis Buckshot Mudder


This has been said to be the favorite in my area right now. I know they dont have a very long life so I would like to stay away from that, but if they are the best I can suck that up.

2. Maxxis Bighorn Mudder


Seems to be a second favorite. I like the tread design. Looks a lot like the STT I have heard these get better mileage, and less road noise than the Buckshot.

3. Hankook Dynapro M/T


I have talked to a few guys about this tire, all have said that it holds up pretty well, and is pretty quite on road. They also said if I get in some deep mud they wont clean as well as the Maxxis will. Not to sure I like that as Im in LA and the mud here seems to never end!

4. Cooper Discoverer STT


These are my favorite tire, I have been interested in this tire since the first time I saw them. The local guys said they have seen them work really well, but most dont run them because of the cost. IMO they arent that much more than the other tires and if they will work as good or better, and last longer then it is worth the money to me!

[Philberto]

I love the Disco STT's... I run their close cousins, the Discoverer ST's



With everything said and done, I'd go with the STT's, because they look like they'd have better performance all around, including wet pavement. Just be sure you don't end up with the old version of the tire, which didn't have as much siping.

The Buckshots look like they'd be great on an offroad only rig that never saw wet tarmac, though they at least have minimal siping on the center lugs. Pricewise, they're supposed to be competitive, and not too expensive. I am concerned by the seeming lack of shoulder lugs, whereas the bighorns seem to have them.

I think someone on here is running the Hankooks, so I'll let them chime in, but I think you're right about the reduced cleaning ability vs the others. The void spaces look smaller. Could still be a good tire, depends on your terrain. Once again, lack of shoulder lugs.

The Bighorns have a long history, and are one of the few offered in 255/85/16, so that may figure into your selection. I've no personal experience, so you would be better served by checking online for reviews. General consensus seems to be that they're good, dependable tires, but you can get better ones.

To sum up, siping is still important, due to the wet weather you may get, so I'd look for a tire with siping, the more the better. The new Discoverer STT is a good tire, you may want to look at the Nitto Mud Grapplers, and you'd be better served by the bighorn (at least has some form of shoulder lugs) than the buckshots. There's also the option of the Procomp Xtreme M/T, here are the Mud Grapplers and Xtreme M/t's, respectively:

[HARDTRAILZ]

I have seen people run buckshots with good luck for years. I wouldnt hesitate to run them.

When you get up to Indiana...Look me up.

[Zero]

I think AlekG is running a set of those nitto mud tires. As for me I would highly recomend a set of Goodyear MT/R kevlar tires.

1 your a soldier so ya gotta love kevlar hahaha

2. Awesome puncture resistance

3. clean treads very quickly

4. Little to no road noise compared to a normal MT tire.

There are a lot of great reviews on this tire out there.

[05ls_soldier]

I just ordered my tires, I ended up going with the Maxxis Bighorns! 285-70R17. I got 5 of them for ~ $985. Now I really cant wait to get home! Hopefully everything will be there by then!

[janesy86]

Nice man! Sounds like when you get home your going to have a bunch of goodies to install. Can't wait to see it after its all done!

[bartonmd]

Yeah, Phil... The SST's... NOT a mud tire...

Mike

[Philberto]

Yeah, Phil... The SST's... NOT a mud tire...

Mike

You mean the STT's? Those are definitely mud tires... not familiar with the SST's you're talking about.

[Zero]

I like the siping on those coopers.

[bgwolfpack]

I like the siping on those coopers.

Where's the siping on those Coopers Z?

[Trail X]

Siping is the 'slit' down the center of the lugs.

[bgwolfpack]

Those have the appearance of siping bleeds nothing more. They are far from proper siping in regards to siping the tire for better braking, improved traction and longer wear. True siping you've never seen from a tire manufacturer.

[Trail X]

Snow tires generally have the best factory siping possible. The limitation is the "sharpness" that can be attained by the tread molds... too sharp and they can break very easily.



If you want "true" siping, you need a siping knife... which is a heated blade that can easily penetrate the rubber compound (IE, don't try it with your pocket knife).

[Philberto]

Those have the appearance of siping bleeds nothing more. They are far from proper siping in regards to siping the tire for better braking, improved traction and longer wear. True siping you've never seen from a tire manufacturer.

True, but some siping is better than no siping. I like the idea of those as compared to my current ST's, since wet weather traction is important to me during those 3 or 4 days of rain we get out here.

[Zero]

every little slit in the tread helps to a certain extent in wet weather / snow because you are adding the # edges on the tire tread. The edges are what give you the traction in lose stuff and snow and water removal.

[bartonmd]

Yeah, Phil... The SST's... NOT a mud tire...

Mike

You mean the STT's? Those are definitely mud tires... not familiar with the SST's you're talking about.

Yeah, sorry... I read the first sentence you typed, then looked at the picture you posted, and though you were touting your ATs as a replacement for an MT...

Mike

[Philberto]

Ah, gotcha... No way are my tires a replacement for an MT... They perform very well in mud and clean out superbly, but I'd be hesitant to venture into deeper mud without side lugs.