33x9.50 BFG Mud T/A

[Steve A]

We got our Explorer back on the road with the 6" Skyjacker lift. Now we are looking at a good trail tire for the Pacific Northwest. We encounter everything on our trails, mainly Ruts, Mud, Rocks, Boulders too! hehe. But the Ruts & Mud is the order of the day where we go most of the time. So I was looking for a 33" tire & wheel combination that could handle my particular situation best. 15x7 Factory Steel Wheel w/ 33x9.50 BFG Mud T/A's. In my choosing of this narrow tire & wheel, weight and reliabilty with clearance was a major priority. My goal with that idea is reducing the stress on the MARGINAL Dana 35 and reducing the stess on the front suspension & steering effort off road!. Does anyone else run these tires yet ?
Thanks, Steve

 

[FMExplorer]

Steve,
From all the research I have done, I wouldn't be too concerned about the Dana 35. There are plenty of people running 33x12.50 or larger with the Dana 35. Check out Zimmerman's rig on here. I hear more issues with the flex of the TTB than I do with the overall strength. Gratned - if you are doing some serious rock-crawling that axle won't be optimum. But from your description you'll be fine with 33x9.50's or larger/wider...

Jon

 

[914x4sport]

I believe its also true that Its the height of your tires thats putting stress on your axle more than the width...? True a wider contact patch will provide more traction, but if your wheels arent slipping it should be just as difficult for your axle to turn the 9.50 as it would the 12.50 . Just because the height is the same so the rev-to-rev ratio is the same..Someone correct me if Im wrong..Just my .02

 

[Clint]

i would go with at least a 33x10.50 that bfg does not make but about putting to much stress the only added stress that a 12.50 tire would make more than a 9.50 is a little weight difference go with a 10.50 or get a larger rim and go with 12.50

 

[Steve A]

Thanks guys for your comments. I know that the added stress moving weight out away from under the wheel bearings is more stressful than any thing you can do from my experiences on the front end. Plus I saw where someone from Colorado had been rubbing his 12.50's during some hard wheeling. I can't remember where I saw it on the forum. You are limited to the off set you use with your wheels which also leads me to my tires for the same reasons i stated earlier, however it is comforting to know that so many people like you guys do wheel with a 33x12.50 tire out there and it works fine for them! ps.I bought the 9.50's today wish me luck guys. thanks, Steve

 

[SteveVB]

Ive got 32-950s

Steve ,
Ive got some 32-9.50 swampers(32.3" advertised height)that I am going to run. I am having problems with the radius arm hitting the tread. It doesnt help that the swampers have the big- I mean huge!- cleats that protrude from the tread. The backspacing on the stock wheels is a bit too much. I am either going to grind the Rancho rad arms, run some spacers or look for some wheels with maybe a 1/2" less backspacing. Im trying to run the stock Navajo alum wheels now.

Post when you get them mounted. Like to hear how it turned out.

 

[Steve A]

Hey Steve, everyone
We took both of our rigs to the 2BigBroncos club run this weekend. Everyone in the club really liked HER's my Anne's Explorer. She now says the Bronco is ALL mine & the Explorer is all hers.:' ( I think i lost my co-pilot in my Bronco, ya' think? I'm glad we didn't buy another Bronco for her. Both rigs compliment each other very well! On Saturday the club picked up trash on the beach and wheeled on it too! She is still learning to drive it with the lift & tires. She did get stuck in 2wd in the sand but promptly put it in 4wd and popped right out! It did surprise me how well the 9.50's did on the sand, that was not my thought as wider is better here. Today we visited the annual mud hole. There was one stick in there, our fellow member with his 3.4v6 s10 jimmy. Anne drove the Explorer everywhere with those 33x9.50's digging and this was part of the element that would grade this set up. Next will come the trails in two weeks when we do an exploration run for "Northwest Broncofest" which is always open to ALL vehicles. This should put it to the test. Steve, with the radius arms do not cut them in any way. Get some more off set on that wheel as you mentioned in your reply. Another good idea is asking everyone for a possible off set in a new thread? and going to a good tire and wheel shop for this. Hope this helps. I'll see what I got for pics in the next couple of days. Gentlemen keep the rubber side down. And thanks for your help!

 

[SteveVB]

Hey Steve

What wheels are you running? BS and width? Did you have any problems with the rad arms. ( are yours stock or superlift?) I could take a 1/2 inch or less off the rancho arms no problem, its been done before with no ill effects. The Ranchos have large plates top and bottom that overhang the arm itself- that is what I would grind if I cant find a decent wheel to use, and it would be a small amount 1/2" or so..
Sounds like you like the combo- thats excellent.

Steve and Anne must be a popular combo- My wifes name is Anne!!

 

[Steve A]

Steve,
We think it is a good name combo too! :' ) About the radius arms I have the Sky jacker ones with my 6" lift that i also got from them. After looking at the arms i did notice a slight rub mark on the drivers side after Anne did some good wheelin' with it. From what i see so far they did not hit anywhere else and she did have the TTB off the ground several times while playing in the mud. BTW we are using the stock oem steel 15x7 wheels that came with the Explorer. I'll try to find out the true sizes of the 33x9.50 BFG Mud T/A's tomorrow. If you want later i can email you a pic of the set up if you like, or any other way you like.

 

[Marvin-the-Martian]

Steve VB,

I was thinking about getting the 32x9.50 swampers and was wondering how you liked them and if the weight of them had caused any problems for you and any rubbing issues,

Ive got the 2.5 inJames Duff stage 2 lift and a 2 in body lift.


any tips would be cool.

Chris

 

[SteveVB]

Chris

I have the tires, but they are not on the vehicle yet, I have put them on to fit them see what hits etc. I need a little more lift, either a body or suspension, and running them on the stock wheels I seem to have a rad arm rub, but am working out the bugs.

One of the reasons I like the narrower tires is that they should weigh a bit less than a wider one. Plus they should take a bit less power to push through mud,snow etc. The Super Swampers are tough tough tires though and the heavy construction is noticable when you pick them up- but for HD off road use few can beat it. I have had Swampers on other vehicles and have never been let down. I dont expect them to ride smoothly, they are somewhat difficult to balance, and when you start knocking off the cleats with use it becomes even harder. But for me they are the first choice for an offroad tire.

I will probably run two sets of tires- the swampers for the trails, and the ATS on the road , and in winter- they ride much better and are more predictable than Swampers( quieter also!)

hats some thoughts - Uh what was the question?