I am looking at upgrading to an 18" or 20" rim, and a new set of tires in the 35x12.5 size (either 325/60R20 or comparable 18" size).

What tires should I be looking at for 90% Highway use, and 10% Beach use?

I don't tow anything over 5k lbs, and no more than 200miles one way.

I like the Toyo Open Country MT, but they are on national backorder.

The BFG A/T KO and the Nitto Terra Grappler are about the only other tires I can find in this size...am I missing something?

The Interco Trxus MT is available, but it will wear quickly on the highway. The Interco Trxus AT is available in a 33x13.5x20, but I think that would look a little short.

Any help or recommendations would be appreciated. I just want to make sure I'm not missing a brand of tire prior to laying down $375/each for the BFG's.

Thanks in advance.

Shawn

 

I now have the Toyos and love them but I did have the ATS trxus on my old dodge and liked them better in the sand but they dont wear good and I think they are only a load range D(?). I would try calling KORE they say because they sell so many that they get their tires first. Just a thought. 4wheel parts just sent me my Toyo's in november.

 

I can find the 17" toyos, but the 18" and 20" are tough to locate...

I'll probably hold off on tires until they are available. I hear nothing but good about them!

SQ

 

Anything but the nitto's. I'm running 315/75/16 nitto's and all they do with the slightest bit of throttle in the sand is dig. You've got to be very careful with them on loose sand. Packed sand they are ok. Loose sand sucks.

 

You are running the A/T or the M/T?

And it digs? That's suprising...I would expect it to float better than stock...

Do you lower the pressure or no?

SQ

 

I'm running the AT. I don't air down. I've got them on a 10" wide wheel. There's plenty of foot print on them to drive in sand. Suckers are dang near 12" wide with a 10" rim.

 

Just reduce the tire pressure to 5 pounds and you can run over almost everything with balled tires. Personally I love the BFG M/T's... Just my .02 cents....

 

I had 35x12.50/20 Toyo Open Country MT's and didn't like them as much as my current tire- 35x12.50/17 Interco Trxus STS radials. A little loud on the highway (over 65 mph) but they do great in the sand. I usually air down to about 10-12 lbs. and fool around in 2wd & put her in 4wd only when I have to. I too do a bit of dune playing but mostly street and very little dirt.

 

Hey Wicked how are those Trxus' wearing? Ive thought about these tires as well but not many people are running them.

 

If Interco made a TrXus A/T 35x12.5R20 I would own a set of them.

As of now, I'm leaning towards the BFG A/T, but only because I can't find the Toyo Open Country M/T.

SQ

 

Check out my gallery, the BFG/MT's look , and they aren't that loud....

 

Maybe things have changed since my dune buggy days, but I doubt the sand has. You don't want traction tires in sand, the smoother the better. All a lug tire does in sand is dig.

 

If it was just sand I was worried about I'd run a paddle or a slick (if possible).

We run into a lot of debris as well. Anything from logs to fishes fins, glass, nails, remnants of homes swept onto our beach from Katrina and Rita, Hypodermic Needles, you name it. I need a tough tire, with a wide footprint....something I can air down and make it work.

One question though (being honest):

If 'traction' tires are not as good as a smooth tire in sand, then why do the BAJA guys all run traction tires? Is it due to the severity of the terrain?

Why does KORE recommend the Toyo Tire? They run the same trucks, through the dessert, with Toyo M/T's.

Also, it's tough to find an e-rated tire, wide enough for the look I want, and in a 'street' tread.

Thanks for the info though, definitely getting my mind spinning.

 

The surface of a desert off-road race course in California, Nevada, or Baja Mexico, is generally hard packed with lots and lots of rock... really hard packed with really angry rocks. There are a few silt beds, some sections of beach in Baja, a few river beds here and there that have sand in them, but for the most part desert racing out west takes place on a hard and rocky dirt surface, not sand. I can't think of any west coast desert race that has anything like a true "dune" with fine and bottomless sand. If you look at what most desert racers run, which is the BFG Baja "Project" series tire, it's not very aggressive at all. It's more all-terrain than mud terrain. Big teams get "special" tires that are anything but off-the-shelf. The R&D process at work.

I'd say any all-terrain will work good for 90% on and 10% sand. The only downside is most people don't think A/T's "look" as cool as a more aggressive mud tire.

Aloha