Need some tire advice - Specific driving conditions

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Canon_Bob

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Hi All, I just recently traded in my 2008 FJ Cruiser for a 2014 4Runner Trail with KDSS. Nice vehicle, and a nice "comfort" step up from the FJ. I'm now trying to dial it in for my specific use. I am a professional Nature/Wildlife photographer and frequently find myself dealing with Florida mud, swamps, and sugar sand. No hills or rocky terrain to deal with here, but I frequently drive hundreds of miles between locations (so good highway performance is a must as well). I'm also always alone on my trips, so getting stranded is a bad thing.

On my FJ, I went through quite a few different tire types....none of which were "perfect" for everything. The last set I had on it were Nitto Terra Grapplers. They were great on the road, but not so great (just ok) in the mud. The mud tires are, of course, great in the mud, but HORRIBLE on the highway....especially on wet roads.

My requirements are something in the AT class, with a more aggressive tread, and good siping for wet road safety. I'd like to go as tall as I can on the stock wheels and without a lift kit (I just don't want to hassle with lifting the KDSS system), and without rubbing. I don't care about highway noise, but unless you know of a mud terrain tire that isn't dangerously slippery on Florida highways, I'm just not going there again. Any good ideas?
 
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I like my KM2s, and I get them siped to help deal with icy winter roads. They're very quiet for an MT and I haven't found any terrain at any time of year that they haven't performed well on. We get some torrential monsoon rains a couple times a summer, and I haven't felt uncomfortable with them at all.

If that's still too MTish for you, maybe the Wrangler Duratrac or Cooper ST-MAXX? They're both a hybrid AT-MT pattern. I can attest to the Duratrac doing well everywhere I've taken it (mud, sand, snow, rock, etc), and the Cooper looks just as effective. Give 'em a look.
 
KidVermicious said:
I like my KM2s, and I get them siped to help deal with icy winter roads. They're very quiet for an MT and I haven't found any terrain at any time of year that they haven't performed well on. We get some torrential monsoon rains a couple times a summer, and I haven't felt uncomfortable with them at all.

If that's still too MTish for you, maybe the Wrangler Duratrac or Cooper ST-MAXX? They're both a hybrid AT-MT pattern. I can attest to the Duratrac doing well everywhere I've taken it (mud, sand, snow, rock, etc), and the Cooper looks just as effective. Give 'em a look.
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I currently have Goodyear Duratrac's and just moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast (similar weather patterns). We get summer downpours pretty much daily that these things eat right up. Haven't been able to make them slip on pavement yet in the rain. I'm pleased with them offroad as well. In my mind they're the best of both worlds.
 
I had Duratracs for a couple of years and while they're good on the road and for some rock crawling, they don't self clean very well and turn into slicks pretty fast in the mud. Might be worth waiting for the new Toyo Open Country Xtreme to see how they perform. A friend of mine had Toyo Open Country MTs and he said they did really well on the highway for a mud tire. Personally, I have Goodyear MT/Rs. They work great off road and I find they're good enough for a daily driver as well. They aren't siped, so they don't stop as well on wet pavement but the large tread voids keep me from hydroplaning. They are definitely not quiet tires and wear quickly on pavement.

Since you're heading out alone I'd also look at different self-recovery options too. The right tires will help keep you from getting stuck easily, but not entirely. Maybe look at hidden winch mounts if you don't want to go full on steel bumper, a Hi-Lift jack, and something like Maxtrax. Some of it isn't cheap, but still less than the price of a single L-series lens (guessing from your username that you're a Canon shooter).

Also, make sure to check out the http://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-topic/132750-**photography-talk**.html thread in the off-topic section. I'm sure a lot of us amateurs would love to see some of your work.
 
Intruder said:
I had Duratracs for a couple of years and while they're good on the road and for some rock crawling, they don't self clean very well and turn into slicks pretty fast in the mud. Might be worth waiting for the new Toyo Open Country Xtreme to see how they perform. A friend of mine had Toyo Open Country MTs and he said they did really well on the highway for a mud tire. Personally, I have Goodyear MT/Rs. They work great off road and I find they're good enough for a daily driver as well. They aren't siped, so they don't stop as well on wet pavement but the large tread voids keep me from hydroplaning. They are definitely not quiet tires and wear quickly on pavement.

Since you're heading out alone I'd also look at different self-recovery options too. The right tires will help keep you from getting stuck easily, but not entirely. Maybe look at hidden winch mounts if you don't want to go full on steel bumper, a Hi-Lift jack, and something like Maxtrax. Some of it isn't cheap, but still less than the price of a single L-series lens (guessing from your username that you're a Canon shooter).

Also, make sure to check out the http://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-topic/132750-**photography-talk**.html thread in the off-topic section. I'm sure a lot of us amateurs would love to see some of your work.
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Thanks - I've been doing this a LONG time, and could probably write a book on solo back country recovery/survival. My recovery and survival kits are quite extensive, as I usually have to get myself out of any jam I find myself in. My best piece of kit is the one sitting on my shoulders though ;-) I have a hi-Lift permanently on the roof rack, and a portable winch in the kit. Most of the places I go render a winch useless (nothing to hook to), but the hi-lift is indispensable. breakdowns and getting hung-up or stuck are the most frequent issues. Although I'll say this....my FJ Cruiser NEVER left me stranded! I was always able to get out eventually. Hoping the T4R can live up to that record :-)

FYI - You can see my photography work on my website at Catcher of Light, Inc. - Catcher of Light, Inc. . I'll check out the photography thread.
 
Thanks all. The Duratecs look like a possibility. I also like the idea of waiting on the Toyo's. No big rush, as the stock Dunlops are doing "ok" for now, but I certainly wouldn't try the nasty mud with them. The mud here doesn't cling like the mud where I'm from (SE Montana), so it doesn't tend to clog up the AT's as bad as you might think. You just need good lugs/sidewall cleats to get traction in it. It's usually more soupy that sticky...unlike the infamous "gumbo" mud from Montana. Sugar sand is another story....you need to stay on top of it.
 
EDIT: hah I missed your last post [MENTION=112983]Canon_Bob[/MENTION], took too long to reply

Sugar sand has a total different requirement than mud/swamp. You need a wide flat less aggressive tread that minimally disturbs the surface of the sand, ie flotation. MT or hybrid MT type tires cause too much surface disturbance to work well in that environment (unless of course they are really worn). The best tires I have driven on dunes with, apart from paddles, have been worn down BFG ATs. (the difference between new tread and worn ATs is 10 fold different)

To solve the mud/swamp isssue when running AT's get a full set of chains...and a winch ;)
 
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