Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8940
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Its Pole Line Road time
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New Baja Tire Thread
I just finished telling my friend Victor about a near accident I had coming out of Mikes Sky Rancho just over a decade ago. My spotter was standing
upslope from the boulder that blocks the trail leading to Rancho Coyote. As I rounded the boulder, I nearly came to a standstill - my All-Terrain
BFGs had become packed with dirt, and my forward progress was almost halted - as I drifted near the edge of the cliff there.
I ran BFG All-Terrains for another year after that until I purchased my Rubicon and sold my Ford Ranger to buy parts for the new Jeep in 2003. Now,
my beloved TrXus MT tires have accumulated about 30,000 miles and are ready for replacement. Newer tread patterns and compounds exist on the
market, along with more aggressive tread patterns. So, I'm looking at the good stuff that exist run on my Jeep for those always fun trips to Baja.
My next tire size will be 34"x12.5r15 or 35"x12.5r15 - Not a stretch with the 4.10 gearing my Rubicon came standard with. Plans include moving to a
4.88 gear ratio in the future (along with chrome-moly axleshafts).
Buildup points include;
1.25" Body lift to run bigger tires in Baja
1" Motor Mount lift to compliment body lift and raise transfer case for 2" better clearance under transfer case
Beefy, new steering componentry to control tires (safely)
Brake shoes with improved stopping qualities
New Poison Spyder hood ventilation system
Stay tuned. This is my 2013 buildup thread! 
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 665
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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The money and effort that it takes to go from 33's to 35's is incredible. All for 1" more clearance under the diffs. Way too many people buy 35's,
thinking a simple lift is all they need to do. Looks good on the street. Then there is a lot of cursing the first time they hit some serious trail.
Sounds like you are doing your homework and willing to spend the money to successfully run 35's. Most people don't and then suffer the consequences.
Personally, I don't get the fascination with 35's. Is there really a situation where you can definitively say that 33's will not get the job done, yet
35's will? Haven't encountered one yet.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8940
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Its Pole Line Road time
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Because I wasn't running 35" tires, my Jeep could not climb up this pristine Chrysler 300 we found outside of Tecate along Hwy 2 at the mining
operation near El Hongo.
This would have been the highlight of my Baja trip had I been able to climb up this nice automobile!
Photo 1
Photo 2
I have to admit that running a 35" tire is more of a want than an actual need. On the typical trails that my Jeep frequents, there will be more
clearance, and I may try different trails that I haven't traveled in the past.
If I were to upgrade to a JK Rubicon, I would certainly go straight to 35" tires. So, why not with my paid-off Rubicon? Better off-road performance
is my enticement - I'll report on how much I like the change in clearance and ride height - both on-street and off-camber.
[Edited on 11-20-2012 by Ken Cooke]
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Check out these mystery tires. BFG A/T Right?
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Hmmmmm.....
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8940
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Its Pole Line Road time
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Those look like retreads.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64743
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Michelin owns BFG... so maybe that is the All Terrain TA sold in France?
I am amazed at how much the BFG is loved...
I am very happy with my Hankook Dynapro ATMs... 32" (265/75-16) and perhaps I would go from the cheaper P rated (which is what the BFGs that came on
the Tacoma were) to an LT version if I can afford it, for more mileage. These will probably need replacing about the same time as other tires I have
run in the past (besides the poor wearing BFGs that failed at 20,000 miles or less)...
In the past Toyo Open Country AT and Cooper Discoverer ATR tires lasted about 40,000 miles before I felt the tread was too thin for secure Baja
travel... I once ran Cooper Discoverer STT mud terrain tires (3 ply sidewall), they lasted the longest (45,000 miles), but the highway noise and
terrible sand driving ability won't see me buy a mud tire again... They just looked cool as an off road tire should! Looks mean something, but
function and happiness is more important to me.
Some pics of my Hankook DynaPros:
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Kenny wins. I win, the planet wins. TreadWright tires, built for me on four matched and balanced Michelin carcasses and FedExed to my door for $535.
for the set. It would have been more cool if my old BFGs cores could have been recycled back onto the road.
https://www.treadwright.com/t-For-the-Environment.aspx
I didn't buy the 'anti-slip' additive they offer for this compound as it reduces tire wear.
Before this thread catches fire...If I were not a 69 year-old, non-rock-crawling, pilot of a big diesel 4x4 with a cab-over camper, and if I had an
extra $400. to throw at a set of tires, I might not have bought retreaded casings. I promise to report any failure immediately. Such reports are not
common however. I also hope to report soon on how well they take me to the ski lodge!
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: Current
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"I am amazed at how much the BFG is loved...DK"
Kinda like Toyota's and Jeeps. 
The driver is the biggest venerable to any of these issues. Anything will break down if you're hard enough on it. I just need a tire/truck/camp-stove
to get me there and back.
The tweeks we make in a trip are what Baja is all about.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8940
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Its Pole Line Road time
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I bought the Jeep to take me "anywhere" in Baja. Previously, I drove a Ford Ranger which broke down "anywhere" in Baja. David K was my new
acquaintance on 'Amigos de Baja' when I started camping with him at Shell Island, and one day hitch-hiked my way home - begging for some help to get
the Ford Ranger back to the 'States.
I should have left the piece of junk in the SSPM Park to rot. It's all about performance and command of the land!
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