If you want the old style Mickey Thompson Baja MTZs you better get them now

[SURF RUNNER]

I've been planning on getting the Mickey Thompson Baja MTZs (285/75/16) for over 2 years now... I don't need new tires yet, but earlier this week I learned that the Baja MTZs are being discontinued and re-released as Baja MTZ P3s. I'm sure that overall the new version will be an improvement, but I prefer the more aggressive look of the older version. The old version has the tread lugs continuing onto the sidewall to form the side biters. The new version looks more like a Duratrac with a break between the tire tread and the side biters. The 285/75/16 sizes are slightly different - the old version is 33.4" and the new version is 33.0".

I like the new version and I like Duratracs (my 2nd tire choice), but I just like the old MTZ better.

I scrambled to find 4 of the old version tires at a good price and will have them mounted in Houston Saturday. I will buy a 5th for a spare in a few weeks. I realize that this isn't a long term solution since they are being discontinued, but at least I can enjoy these tires for the next several years. Just thought that I would mention it in case some of you wanted the older version.

Obviously if you already have the older version you may want to go ahead and get some spares now!

Baja MTZ

Baja MTZ P3

 

[Bandit Runner]

I agree. The old side biters look better.

 

[Bry838]

I also agree the oldies are better lookin fur sure.

I was in this same situation, kinda, a few years ago. I loved ,absolutely loved the old BFG KM's. Not so much a fan of the current KM2's! So when i found out they were discontinuing the KM style i jumped on a set of 5 instantly. Would have bought ten of them *****es if i had the finances! I sure wish they wouldnt have dropped that line entirely,(except for the 255's in a slight variance of tread pattern that jeep uses on a couple models) it was a good design that worked very well and lasted a good while, while still having a somewhat soft rubber compoud. They also ditched the bead protector feature on the KM2's which i didnt like either. So at this point the only tire i really like thats on the market is the interco irok nd's. But they are pretty spendy and dont have alot of different sizes, enough i guess but fairly limited, not alot of choice on the load rating with those tires.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

Thanks for your comments about the change in the MTZs. The new tires don't look bad, but it was an understatement to say that I was disappointed. In my opinion there is no question that the old version looks better. I am going to buy a 5th as a spare, but at sone point it doesn't matter how many spares you buy. The last MTZs (original version) were probably molded in 2015... you can buy multiple spares, but you are still buying old rubber - you can only run these tires for the next 3 to 5 years... after that you are replacing old worn out tires with NOS (New Old Stock) old rubber.

 

[Jabberjaw]

Such a classic tire. Shame to retire it. Diggin' the white lettering out look.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

They didn't really retire it - they just re-released it as a mud tire version of the Duratrac. Why not keep the Baja MTZ and release the new version as the Baja ATZ to compete with the Duratrac (or whatever they were trying to accomplish)? I'm such a sentimental and nostalgic guy I would rather run the original MTZs for 3 years than not at all. This was $1,000 I was not planning to spend today, but it was pay day and I decided that it was now or never. My current tires only had 3 or 4 months left on them. I'm not sure that I've ever spent $1,000 that fast before, but I can't wait to see them installed.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

Does anyone who has run a 285/75/16 MTZ on a 3rd Gen have a recommended psi for the highway? I can do the chalk test later this weekend, but I am just looking for a psi to tell Pep Boys for the installation. I've done a little research and so far 30 psi looks to be a good bet for even wear on the highway.

By the way, I'm getting these installed for $998 total... I thought it was a good deal.

 

[TCMach]

Does anyone who has run this exact tire on a 3rd Gen have a recommended psi for the highway? I can do the chalk test later this weekend, but I am just looking for a psi to tell Pep Boys for the installation. I've done a little research and so far 30 psi looks to be a good bet for even wear on the highway.

By the way, I'm getting these installed for $998 total... I thought it was a good deal.

38-40 psi is where I kept mine. I've gotten 35k miles out of them with a lot of hard wheeling and they aren't toast yet. I will say as somebody who has ran MTZs for 4 years now and loved them, I'm excited for the new model. I trust Mickey Thompson to make it even better.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

38-40 psi is where I kept mine. I've gotten 35k miles out of them with a lot of hard wheeling and they aren't toast yet.

[MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION]

Are you getting even wear at 38-40 psi? It seems like the tread would wear more towards the center at that psi.

 

[TCMach]

[MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION]

Are you getting even wear at 38-40 psi? It seems like the tread would wear more towards the center at that psi.

Surprisingly even to be honest. I've been very impressed with how they've worn.

 

[Bandit Runner]

I ran my 35's at about 34 psi. I got about 40k out of mine.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

I'm getting my tires installed now. The Pep Boys in Houston on Jones Rd has 4 extra 285 Baja MTZs. Mine were routed to Dallas by mistake so they has another set shipped to Houston to make sure that they had 4 here for me today (Saturday). If you are in Houston and want them go ahead and get them. Pep Boys doesn't have another full set nationwide in their warehouses. Rough Country has some, but other than that you might have to put together 4 or 5 on multiple orders on eBay and Amazon until they are completely gone.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

Blue stuff still on white letters

Blue stuff gone