Swamper TSL vs. Trepador

[alien]

perhaps thats worth a shot... what brand are your internals and how much were they?

[hulsty]

My internals have worked fine.

On the Suzuki with bias tyres it seems that really low pressures work well on the technical stuff and by that I mean lower than 8psi which is why you need to look at beadlocks to get the most out of your tyre. At 15psi you weren't far off road pressure.

Are beadlocks really need in a zuk? I thought they'd be able to run pretty low without them.

With internals in a zuk surely you would ran waay less then 8psi, more like 0-4psi? I run down to 4-5psi in my cruiser with internals in the real sticky situations, normally at 10psi.

[alien]

the issue is the tyre holding on to the rim - we run 15" rims so theres a lot of rubber between the rim and the ground to lever it off the bead.

Im sure i can go around 4-5psi without beadlocks, but i'd be nervous about it for sure.

[ajsr]

I used to run 32 10.5 15 radials at 5psi un beadlocked and never lost one on my zook.
I dont think I'd go any lower than that without beadlocks of some sort however.

[Gwagensteve]

Are beadlocks really need in a zuk? I thought they'd be able to run pretty low without them.

There's so many variables. Some people seem to be able to run nothing and get away with it... other people loose inside beads on mechanically beadlocked tyres at 5 psi, and then there's the bead leak issue.

I run bolted beadlocks and run 5-6 psi on most trips.

Alien - I think you have it back to front - a 31 on a 15" rim doesn't have much sidewall, which is why the tyre is more likely to come off- the sidewall gets more hits up closer to the bead.

It's almost impossible to take a tyre off the bead with leverage at the tread, but very easy with leverage up close to the rim.

Steve.

[alien]

yeah kinda what i meant - the rim sits closer to the ground at lower psi. that and with a smaller tyre you tend to let the air out more to gain more footprint.

like i said, i've not had an issue at 8psi and i run tubes to stop bead leaks. At 8psi i've not manged to spin the tyre on the rim (if i did the valve would have twisted) nor break a bead... but seeing as i dont drive with a spare attached it would be pretty risky going much lower without beadlocks.

steve - any experience in ur club with internals?

[Turbo Tonka]

alien,i currently run hankook 31s on my zuk which i got cheap.When i bought it back the other month it came with some 31 treps for free at about 95% plus tread so i will be using them.Buth they do look like a pretty ordinary tyre when small.In 2 weeks ill tell you how they drive tho as im swapping them over but the tread is definately very closely blocked so i cant see them being great in the mud.

my opinion is for the same money or even less to go the bighorn if you want a allrounder and to not spend a fortune.i have run them on my hilux for over for years now in 32s and now 33s.like them on road,in the wet even,think they are great in rock but not the best muddy for mud.My hilux is heavier ofcourse but i find they wear well.

[alien]

thanks turbo tonka =)

I have looked at the bighorn in real life in a 31 and for me, well im just not sure... and the 31" measures more like 30" which kinda sucks...

[ajsr]

alien dont take this the wrong way but IT sounds a little like the looks of the tyre has a lot to do with your choice not just the size and performance?
If you want a do it all tyre it really sounds like you want a mainstream muddy
ie km2 bighorn mtr they're all good in the mud but not excellent and good on rock but perhaps not the best at it but they are the sort of thing thats going to be in the size and rating you need for the mod plate.
out side that your going to be illeagal (so why bother with the mod plate?)
or going from one extreame to the next. The swamper is probably the closest to a do it all tyre but trust be they are PIGS on the road and really I belive shoud be illeagal to run as a daily tyre .
ps dont compare the bighorns or km2's to the stt's you had, the coopers are a joke compared to the other two.

[alien]

hahaah nar i don't care if they look like slicks... if they work well i'd happy. The reason i compare to the coopers is theyre the only other tyre i've run on my zuk... unfortunately tyres arent like clothes and you can't try a few on before purchasing =) Its an expensive decision to make, and one that lasts a very long time.