My main purpose in writing this was to help answer a PM, but I got a little long-winded so I figured I'd open it up to a discussion of pizza cutters... Flatbillers, poseurs & desert runners start your own threads.
Because I do more trail riding and expedition camping in rock/granite/light mud environment, my priorities for a tire include:
*
1. streetability, since most monthly trips are 300-500 miles to the trails.
2. have minimal adverse wear on steering & suspension components.
3. fit without rubbing through full articulation and range of turning.
Since I don't do any desert/sand running, I have no need for floatation.
Because of the areas I wheel in, I generally prefer three tires:
Street and mild wheeling I use BF Goodrich A/T KO's... as tall and skinny as I can get... currently running 33 x 9.5 (32.7 x 9.5). They have good siping, a relatively strong 3 ply sidewall and a stiff shoulder that lets it work well aired down. I wheeled these 33x10.5's on my 80 aired down to 10 & 8 PSI (F&R resp.) without issue on both granite & rocks.
For
little street, mostly trail (but can get me to the trail) I like the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R's- arguably the toughest sidewall out there, airs down great and not bad on the highway... becomes very smooth with Dyna Beads. They are kind of soft and therefore tend to wear and chunk easily, and sadly they don't come as tall & skinny as I like but they are a great tire for their purpose. I would like to find something as streetable as them, and as tough as them, but in a 34 x 9.5...
For
no street, swap at the trail head tires: pretty much any of the Interco TSL's... currently looking at the Special Service Super Swamper TSL in a 34 x 9.50 (33.8 x 8) for trail-only tires for my 40.
I think the three real benefits of tall & skinny are:
1.
The benefit of better contact pressure, which is an advantage in most surface conditions. Skinny tires are great offroad tires, putting more pounds per square inch on the ground for better traction.
2. The clearance it gives... narrower allows fitment with less lift.
3. It is easier on your steering components- turning a firmer contact patch equates to less resistance and therefore less stress, and you are more likely to find a free track for a skinnier tire that might otherwise jam a wide tire. Unless you are going to be "Joe Harcore Rockcrawler", you aren't gonna air down your everyday tires (on your beadlocks) to 3-4 PSI to wrap rubber over the top of a rock. (Remember, I am talking about dual-purpose tires here- if you have beadlocks and trail tires, more power to you! you'll still do better with skinnies though.
)
So, any questions/thoughts/comments/recommendations on pizza cutters?
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