Interested it getting a set of mickey thompson MTZ Tire 36x15.5R15. They will spend most of their time on the street and will hit the trails sometime. Nothing crazy just trail riding and sandy areas. Any one every run these tires? Any comments? Any suggestions to a similar tire. Something aggressive looking but good on the street. Thanks
CK5
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Mickey Thompson MTZ Ever try them?
- Thread starter Drumer73
- Start date
How They Work
We took the tires and put them on our '94 YJ for many miles of testing. After getting the pressure dialed in for our test Jeep (15 psi front and rear) we drove them on-road for about 800 miles before wheeling them. The tires started off quieter than most mud tires we've tested, but by the 200-mile mark, they were comparable to most of the other popular radial mud tires we've run in this size.
We then took them out in the mud, and that is where these tires shine. With less wheel speed than we considered normal, the shoulders and sidewall lugs were able to stay clean and keep us moving forward. The center of the tread cleans out much like any other mud tire. That is, bring the wheel speed up and it'll clean out.
It was similar in the sand. Whether it was dry or wet, the shoulder lugs and sidewall lugs shed sand like it was Teflon coated at any wheel speed. In the deeper wet sand, again we'd have to kick up the wheel speed to keep the center lugs cleaned out.
In the rocks, we aired them down to 8 psi. We didn't get much of a sidewall bulge out of them - then again, with 15 psi being the street pressure, we didn't really expect to. They gripped fine in the rocks, but we should have aired them down further. For a heavier rig, we expect this won't be a problem. Also, with a three-ply sidewall, and full six-ply tread (even on our C-load range test tires), we don't think that sharp rocks will pose much of a problem for these MTZs.
On-road we got the chance to test them in some monsoon-like conditions and found that they stop as well as most of the other new mud tires. With the siping on the tread of the tire, we expect them to stop well until the sipes are worn through. We did have problems with hydroplaning, but we attribute that partly to the light weight of our soft top, four-cylinder powered YJ and partly to the fact that with standing water on the highway from 1 to 3 inches deep, most any tire will hydroplane.
Bottom Line
In the mud, these tires are awesome. With very little wheel speed, they will clean out and keep you going. For sand, it's much the same deal, but they will start digging in the deep, loose stuff if you don't pay attention. On-road, they are a bit on the noisy side, but the only way to hear them on the highway is to turn the radio off and stick your head out the window. Otherwise, they can be heard around town from 20 to 40 mph but the sound isn't overpowering.
We took the tires and put them on our '94 YJ for many miles of testing. After getting the pressure dialed in for our test Jeep (15 psi front and rear) we drove them on-road for about 800 miles before wheeling them. The tires started off quieter than most mud tires we've tested, but by the 200-mile mark, they were comparable to most of the other popular radial mud tires we've run in this size.
We then took them out in the mud, and that is where these tires shine. With less wheel speed than we considered normal, the shoulders and sidewall lugs were able to stay clean and keep us moving forward. The center of the tread cleans out much like any other mud tire. That is, bring the wheel speed up and it'll clean out.
It was similar in the sand. Whether it was dry or wet, the shoulder lugs and sidewall lugs shed sand like it was Teflon coated at any wheel speed. In the deeper wet sand, again we'd have to kick up the wheel speed to keep the center lugs cleaned out.
In the rocks, we aired them down to 8 psi. We didn't get much of a sidewall bulge out of them - then again, with 15 psi being the street pressure, we didn't really expect to. They gripped fine in the rocks, but we should have aired them down further. For a heavier rig, we expect this won't be a problem. Also, with a three-ply sidewall, and full six-ply tread (even on our C-load range test tires), we don't think that sharp rocks will pose much of a problem for these MTZs.
On-road we got the chance to test them in some monsoon-like conditions and found that they stop as well as most of the other new mud tires. With the siping on the tread of the tire, we expect them to stop well until the sipes are worn through. We did have problems with hydroplaning, but we attribute that partly to the light weight of our soft top, four-cylinder powered YJ and partly to the fact that with standing water on the highway from 1 to 3 inches deep, most any tire will hydroplane.
Bottom Line
In the mud, these tires are awesome. With very little wheel speed, they will clean out and keep you going. For sand, it's much the same deal, but they will start digging in the deep, loose stuff if you don't pay attention. On-road, they are a bit on the noisy side, but the only way to hear them on the highway is to turn the radio off and stick your head out the window. Otherwise, they can be heard around town from 20 to 40 mph but the sound isn't overpowering.
Np. I was researching them a little while ago.
I have them on my TJ and really like them. Balanced well and run smooth. They do follow gooves in the road but that is more due to their width. I've taken it to Pismo a few time and they float really well in the sand. Overall I have been very pleased and would buy them again.
Bigk5chevy
Newbie
i have not had any exprience with them yet but i have not heard anything but good about them! Have you looked into the toyo open country m/t's
DEMON44
Low-Tech Redneck
I ran a set on my '98 dodge they were really good for a big heavy powerful truck.
the new "in" thing is the Toyo's they're more money and basically the same thing.
the new "in" thing is the Toyo's they're more money and basically the same thing.
whyth20rydn
Registered Member
Have them on my FJ40 and just burned up a set on the K5. They were pricey at first, lasted a hell of a long time. So they worked out just right. If it hasnt been said, road noise-wet traction-icey traction-ease of balancing were all great on the K5. I did run them at 34psi and rotated about every 4K. So every old change.
I've been running them for a little over a year on my '95 two door yukon and am very happy with them.
Decent wet/ice/snow traction for a mud tire. low noise, didn't hit my mileage hard at all compared to what I was afraid of.
-Ben
Decent wet/ice/snow traction for a mud tire. low noise, didn't hit my mileage hard at all compared to what I was afraid of.
-Ben
wheel400
1/2 ton status
I have them on my 75 gmc k-25 and the have done pretty well,I have driven with them in the snow and they have no problems with it.
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I have had them for a while and they are awsome tires. I love them! My truck is mostly on road but off road they perform magically. Loose sand they tend to dig, but mud and dirt they really shine. Along with on road manners, not too loud, excellent wet traction, excellent snow/ice traction, and dry traction holds the road pretty well. This tire is definately better than the BFG A/Ts I used to have.
DEMON44
Low-Tech Redneck
theres was mine. they held up great.
Thanks guys, Good to see nothing but positive comments. I was a little hesitant at first but now I think there gonna be the ones I get Thanks
I have looked into the Toyo MT and I really like them, they are my first choice,but they don't have them in the size i want. I want a 36x14.5or15.5 they only have a 35 and a 37, They say the 37 is really 36.7 and they say the mickey thompson it 35.9, I'm just worried that the 36.7 won't fit on my blazer with a 6" lift. The MT's are a sweet looking tire and I have heard mostly great things about them, the only bad thing people said is the price and that they were a very heavy tire(stress on steering and trans).
I have looked into the Toyo MT and I really like them, they are my first choice,but they don't have them in the size i want. I want a 36x14.5or15.5 they only have a 35 and a 37, They say the 37 is really 36.7 and they say the mickey thompson it 35.9, I'm just worried that the 36.7 won't fit on my blazer with a 6" lift. The MT's are a sweet looking tire and I have heard mostly great things about them, the only bad thing people said is the price and that they were a very heavy tire(stress on steering and trans).
