I managed to stick myself the other day in a muddy field I should have been able to drive right through, and I need to be able handle worse than that in the weeks ahead, so it's time to get rid of the OEM tires. Toyos seem to have a good rep, so that's the way I plan to go.

Has anyone had any experience with both Toyo ATs and MTs in clay mud and can offer an opinion on their relative merits? I am looking at the MTs, but might be persuaded to go with ATs instead, if there isn't a great deal of difference in their mud performance. They seem to be more obtainable.

I've been searching for a good source for Toyo MTs in LT285/75R17. The best online price I have found so far is $275 per. Most online outlets don't seem to carry that particular size, if they carry MTs at all. Anyone know of any other sources?

Thanks.

 

I have the AT's in the same size and have been very happy with them. Granted I have not had them in the kind of mud you are refering to....they have done well in every other application. I bought mine from Tread Depot and at the time they had free shipping and were super fast with great service. I have since ordered from them again for the wives car and once again fast super quality service.

 

I'd definitely go mud tires in that type of condition. The A/Ts tread will get packed full of clay and become a slick all too fast.

I also found Tread Depot to have the best price on Toyos.

 

Thanks for the tread depot link.

 

You can also try-

http://www.tiredeals4less.com/TOYO_O...ry_MT_C176.cfm

 

If you want to deal local, Les Schuab carries Toyo's and can get you pretty much anything in their line-up. Also Discount Tire can get you Toyo's since they carry Nitto's and Nitto is owned by Toyo.

 

I just went to Tread Depot, and priced out the Toyos I got for my truck... and if you can get free shipping then that is a good price...

I got mine at a local tire dealer and payed pretty much the exact same price, only advantage for me was that price included ordering, shipping, mounting and balancing and Tax... I payed $1159 for it all, and tread depot has them for $1150.... for Toyo M/T 35X12.5X17-E tires

 

Thanks for the replies, folks. Unfortunately, the nearest Les Schwab is over 1,400 miles away, and Discount Tires is still more than 100.

Treadepot looks to be the best deal, but the MTs at $275 a piece are still a substantial premium over ATs. I can get them mounted and balanced locally for $15 a wheel, so I am looking at $1,160 total for the MTs or $844 total for the ATs.

The wife's SUV needs to be re-shod, too. This is starting to get painful.

 

I would go with MTs. Had them both on my old truck and those MTs tore it up and was a lot better than those ATs in the mud. Like both of them a lot but i would suggest the MTs.

 

Any AT will fill up and turn into a "cheater slick"(I'm dating myself) in one revolution in clay. I've barely escaped with my life when it rains in Baja clay using AT's. One trip after a night's rain,I was slipping and sliding through a little town down there and they actually applauded me. Using pure speed and momentum we climbed up onto the asphalt at which time I looked at my wife and said "Honey,I need a beer!" I'd highly recommend a mud tire.

 

I bought the Toyo MTs (35") and while they get good traction, I only got 20,000 miles on them and the 2 are pretty much shot. My truck was not aligned well for much of that but I got 30,000 miles from a much cheaper Master Courser C/T tire that was only D rated. Just another data point for your consideration. I know when I replace them I'll be going back to a cheaper tire that does just as well if not better.

 

Brand new Toyo MT's have 21/32" deep treads... thats .65" deep...

After 24k miles of alot of highway use... I still have 15/32" left, or .47" deep...

So only 3/16" of wear after all those miles, I think is pretty good... With continued driving I should be able to get well upwards of 50k to 60k out of them....

BTW, I do play a little, no major burn outs but I've been known to step into it a time or two!!!

 

Just ordered four MTs for me and four ATs for her from Treadepot.com.

Thanks to everyone who replied.