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Gold Hills Posse 4×4 Club · Folsom, CA

Downsizing

  1. Fred Subscriber
    #115 Aug 2012, 3:38 PM

    I've been thinking about downsizing my Jeep for a while now. I'm realizing I haven't really used it much in the last couple years. I've only had it on the trails a few times and when I have it's generally been the easier trails. The Jeep as it sits now is bigger, noisier and rougher riding than I care for in a daily driver/weekend runabout type vehicle so we haven't been using it for those purposes either, which was our reason for buying it in the first place.



    The new sailcloth soft top has helped a lot with noise, but now I notice how loud the tires are too. I've been working on lightening the Jeep some but that's also resulted in the Jeep sitting higher and riding rougher on the RE 3.5" coils known to be one of the stiffest springs around for TJ's. Over on JeepForum I found AEV is clearing out their TJ components so I picked up a set of their 3" progressive rate springs at a nice price ($135/pair). I'm expecting to loose a little height and also get a much softer ride. Fedex just dropped them off and I'm hoping to get them installed soon. Then I'll be able to figure out which size AT tires to go with. I'm thinking I'll probably go with 33's instead of the 35's on it now. 33's should still work well with my 4:10 gearing and auto transmission and should help get a little better gas mileage.



    As far as tires go, I've been looking around online and like the look of the Falken Wildpeak, aka RockyMountain tires. I'm thinking of staying away from the BFG AT KO's only because I've had them before and want something different. The Toyo AT's are nice but are the heaviest of all the tires I've looked at and weigh about the same as my non-Kevlar 35" MT/R's. Any other AT tires I should look at?



    Oh, another nice mod I've done recently is upgraded my front Vanco big brake kit to even larger dual piston calipers and Blaine's BlackMagic brake pads all around. The braking now is even better than when I had the hydroboost installed.



    I know downsizing isn't a popular direction but it seems to be the right way to go for us for now. Who knows, maybe I'll start a trend. :rasta: When's the next mall run? 😳

  2. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #215 Aug 2012, 4:52 PM

    Have you considered duratracs? They seem to be a good all around tire and are pretty quiet, with good tread life too.



    I own the Wildpeaks and would not buy them again. I believe the Toyo AT to be a better/quieter/longer lasting tire.



    Walmart sells a special Goodyear tire as well that looks pretty cool.



    Other possible options:

    Kelly Safari TSR

    Cooper Discover S/T MAXX

    Cooper Discoverer A/T3

    Kathleen and Brad
  3. Fred started this Subscriber
    #315 Aug 2012, 5:49 PM

    What don't you like about your Wildpeaks?



    The Duratrac's do look like a good tire. I read a lot of good things about them but also read on particular review where the guy had trouble slicing sidewalls. Goodyear actually replaced his Duratrac's with MT/R's on a prorated basis. This may be a nice dual purpose tire though. I have looked at them on a truck in the parking lot at work.



    The Toyo's may be worth the weight penalty too.

  4. Guest former user
    #415 Aug 2012, 7:10 PM

    4 years ago while searching for the correct spring rate for my rig ( I run TJ springs ) I purchased 1 each 4" lift front springs and then rated them Rubicon Express 210# Skyjacker 196# Superlift 160# so i have no doubt the AEV spring will ride better than the Rubicon Express. Mark

  5. Guest former user
    #515 Aug 2012, 7:22 PM

    I'm with you on the downsizing. Circumstances kind of dictated the sale of the 4Runner but I don't miss it a whole lot. I really like having the truck and am looking forward to it being a bit more off road capable while still working well on road. I'm still torn between the Toyos and the Duratracs. I have Toyos now and had them on the Ford. They've never let me down, but I'm all but sold on the Duratracs at this point but I hadn't heard about the sidewall issues. Our surveyors run them and I'm shocked at how well they hold up to their abuse. Heck they ran over a total station and the tires didn't even notice. 🙄 The say they're far quieter than the MT type tires they used to run and offer a pretty similar level of traction. Snow/winter traction is a huge point for me since I'll need these to get me to work in the winter and with any luck I'll be commuting uphill a bit more often.



    I've heard terrible things about the Goodyear AT tire that Brad mentions. If you want I'll try and dig out the threads again but it came off my list real quick.

  6. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #615 Aug 2012, 7:24 PM
    "FAM" wrote: What don't you like about your Wildpeaks?

    The Duratrac's do look like a good tire. I read a lot of good things about them but also read on particular review where the guy had trouble slicing sidewalls. Goodyear actually replaced his Duratrac's with MT/R's on a prorated basis. This may be a nice dual purpose tire though. I have looked at them on a truck in the parking lot at work.

    The Toyo's may be worth the weight penalty too.



    They are wearing faster than I expected. They didn't clear mud as well as I had expected. However, I bought the set off ebay (new) from Discount tires direct for super cheap. I guess I go what I paid for. My next set will be Duratracs.

    Kathleen and Brad
  7. Fred started this Subscriber
    #716 Aug 2012, 7:09 AM

    I'll try to find that write up I read about the Duratrac sidewalls. I did some quick googling this morning and couldn't find it. I did see that apparently their C rated tires have a 2 ply sidewall while E rated tires have a 3 ply sidewall. I haven't confirmed that yet, but I'm not sure I'd want to run E tires on a TJ anyways.

  8. Fred started this Subscriber
    #816 Aug 2012, 7:12 AM
    "skorch" wrote: 4 years ago while searching for the correct spring rate for my rig ( I run TJ springs ) I purchased 1 each 4" lift front springs and then rated them Rubicon Express 210# Skyjacker 196# Superlift 160# so i have no doubt the AEV spring will ride better than the Rubicon Express. Mark



    Thanks for the #'s Mark. I've read before the 3.5" RE springs were the stiffest available TJ springs. On the trail I pack a lot of stuff so it worked out well then. Unloaded the ride is a little rough though.

  9. Guest former user
    #916 Aug 2012, 8:25 AM

    I am running 35" Wildpeaks on my JK. Not sure I will buy them again but for a daily driver tire that works well in the rocks once in a while and are inexpensive they are hard to beat. I agree they are not great in the mud and I did not do enough snow to comment. On most trails I have been on this year they have done well. Does not look a serious off road tire.

  11. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #1116 Aug 2012, 9:12 AM

    I paid 880 for my set of 4 wild peak tires (they are 1000 now on e-bay). Duratraks were 1600 for 4.

    Kathleen and Brad
  12. Fred started this Subscriber
    #1216 Aug 2012, 9:56 AM
    "BKGM Jeepers" wrote: I paid 880 for my set of 4 wild peak tires (they are 1000 now on e-bay). Duratraks were 1600 for 4.



    What size tires did you buy? America's tire lists the 33x12.50x15's that I'm looking at as: Falken Rockymountain's @ $179 each, Duratrac's @ $194 each.

  13. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #1316 Aug 2012, 11:05 AM
    "FAM" wrote: [quote="BKGM Jeepers"]I paid 880 for my set of 4 wild peak tires (they are 1000 now on e-bay). Duratraks were 1600 for 4.



    What size tires did you buy? America's tire lists the 33x12.50x15's that I'm looking at as: Falken Rockymountain's @ $179 each, Duratrac's @ $194 each.



    305 55 20 tires are on my Tundra, about a 34x12.50 tire.

    Kathleen and Brad
  14. Fred started this Subscriber
    #1417 Aug 2012, 8:51 AM

    I've made up my mind (for now until I change it again 🙄 ) I'll give the Duratrac's a try. They seem like a good compromise between on road and light off road capabilities.



    Now I have to get to work and get my springs installed so I can get the tires on. I've already got someone interested in my 35's. 😀

  15. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #1517 Aug 2012, 9:46 AM

    I can't even give my 35s away. 😈

    At this point I'd sell them for any reasonable offer or even trade for Jeep stuff.

    I used to wheel a lot. . .
  16. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #1617 Aug 2012, 12:53 PM
    "JohnDF" wrote: I can't even give my 35s away. 😈
    At this point I'd sell them for any reasonable offer or even trade for Jeep stuff.



    Are they a 17" rim or an 18" rim size?

    Kathleen and Brad
  17. Fred started this Subscriber
    #1717 Aug 2012, 1:29 PM
    "JohnDF" wrote: At this point I'd sell them for any reasonable offer or even trade for Jeep stuff.



    Turn them inside out, spray paint them then set up a booth on the side of the road and sell them as planters. 😛

  18. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #1817 Aug 2012, 1:36 PM
    "BKGM Jeepers" wrote:

    Are they a 17" rim or an 18" rim size?

    18" which is probably why nobody wants them. I'll probably end up puting them on my truck.

    I used to wheel a lot. . .
  19. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #1917 Aug 2012, 3:15 PM

    I have 20's on my truck but 17s on the Jeep.

    Kathleen and Brad
  20. Guest former user
    #2017 Aug 2012, 5:17 PM
    "FAM" wrote: This isn't the Duratrac review that I read earlier but there are many comments about the sidewalls. http://www.offroaders.com/reviewbox/sho ... roduct=789 Overall people seem to be very happy with them though.

    Sounds like you have decided but I'm curious how much sidewall technology varies brand to brand. Both the duratrac and toyos have 2 ply polyester sidewalls. I wonder if people are complaining about the duratracs because they're pushing the tires harder than people are pushing the toyos. Maybe an MT would have been a better choice for their application.

  21. Guest former user
    #2117 Aug 2012, 5:19 PM
    "JohnDF" wrote: I can't even give my 35s away. 😈
    At this point I'd sell them for any reasonable offer or even trade for Jeep stuff.

    A pirate reasonable offer or an actual reasonable offer because I still have plenty of things I would be willing to part with. 😀

  22. Guest former user
    #2217 Aug 2012, 6:55 PM
    "FAM" wrote: I've made up my mind (for now until I change it again 🙄 ) I'll give the Duratrac's a try. They seem like a good compromise between on road and light off road capabilities.



    This may help make your decision easier!



    http://www.treadlightly.org/page.php/goodyear-rebate

  23. Fred started this Subscriber
    #2317 Aug 2012, 7:06 PM
    "Bender" wrote: [quote="FAM"]I've made up my mind (for now until I change it again 🙄 ) I'll give the Duratrac's a try. They seem like a good compromise between on road and light off road capabilities.



    This may help make your decision easier!



    http://www.treadlightly.org/page.php/goodyear-rebate



    Nice! Thank you. I just signed up. When I priced the tires on America's Tire website they're (or maybe it's Goodyear) offering a $60 debit card too.

  24. Fred started this Subscriber
    #2418 Aug 2012, 1:03 PM

    New springs are installed. It sits about 1" lower in the back and 1/2 lower in the front - about what I was expecting. The ride is much smoother.



    Duratrac tires are ordered and I get them installed Thursday.



    Next I need to order some new shorter shocks. There's not much up travel with the ones on there now.

  25. Fred started this Subscriber
    #2523 Aug 2012, 12:19 PM

    The new 33x12.50x15 Duratrac's are on the Jeep. My 15 mile assessment is I like them so far. There's a slight hum but I didn't have the radio playing at all. Tires on the 2wd Lincoln pickup next to me on the highway were louder than the Duratrac's. Getting into the Jeep is easier too. The Jeep still looks good but does look much more mild than it did. That's ok though as that was the goal.

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