How about a new subject? Tires.

[rubicon4wheeler]

has anyone had any experience with the tsl/thornbirds? the description (written by the sales dept) sounds great.

They are total, complete, utter garbage.

Seriously. You'd be better off with any other tire.

[rubicon4wheeler]

I figured my statement was a little bold without any explanation of why the Thornbirds are so horrible. Any search on Pirate4x4.com will dig up a zillion responses, but just to give you an idea of the general consensus, I'll quote a couple of the opinions from this one thread:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422201

if you are in snow and on ice I cannot imagine a worse tire choice.

The thornchickens, or thorn turds, fail to preform anywhere as far as im concerned. Ive seen them get clogged almost as soon as they hit the mud.

Thornbirds suck for any terrain, even on road as they get louder than boggers over time - they ride like poop as well, alot worse than you'd expect an "AT" to ride. Basically they're poser tires as they do look good, but that's about it.

The only time I saw Thornbirds grab was when a guy got sideways going up a hill that everyone with normal tires got straight up... he went right over on his lid. Them side lugs will grab when they finally slide into something.

I actually owned a set of T-Turds. Got a deal on a set of almost new 33s. Shoulda wondered why they were such a good price. By the time I got to the first trail head, I hated them. Hated them worse by the time I had slid, spun, and basically bashed my way up a trail I had run without incident with bald 33x9.50 BFG MTs. The only saving grace of T-Turds is rutted trail. They can climb out of ruts like nobody's business, and if you can get the side of them against something you can claw your way forward or back.
I had them siped and even wet pavement was spooky. They grab lines in the road and will drive YOU. My bronco is very street friendly, and it drove like herding cats.
Snow, ice, wet clay, and dirt with spit on it are all good places to hate these tires. God forbid that you piss in front of your tire and try to drive forward.
I actually felt bad when I sold these tires for a small loss instead of cutting them up to use as pushbar material.
Enough said?

Thornbird / turds' SUCK. I notice that the only ppl who really use them are rednecks who don't know poop about trucks. My buddy had a set on his 2000 Dodge 2500 4x4 v-10 turck. He had the worst luck in the world with those things. I used to think they looked kinda badass but after seeing them in the mud, god do they suck. They clog in like first 2 secs and all you can count on after that in mud is wheelspeed. Never seen them in the rocks or in sand. On the street, Ive seen them fall apart after being driven only about 3000 miles. They get hot real quick. The lugs are about the only good thing cuz they make climbin up the side of the truck a little easier to get poop outta the bed or for gettin under da hood. They should all be used for high school football practices. THORNBIRDS SUCK. PERIOD.

[Erik712m]

I've been happy with Nitto Mud Grapplers

[rubicon4wheeler]

I've been happy with Nitto Mud Grapplers

What size? Even the 33x11.50-16 is a bit short and wide for the Pinz, unless you've mounted them on a wider aftermarket wheel.

[ka]

aHAHAHAAAaa... rubicon4wheeler, thanks for the awesome response. that was funny as hell. got a full set of data re the chicken turds as well.

[Erik712m]

[quote="rubicon4wheeler"][quote="Erik Maybee"]I've been happy with Nitto Mud Grapplers[/quote]

What size? Even the 33x11.50-16 is a bit short and wide for the Pinz, unless you've mounted them on a wider aftermarket wheel.[/quote] I have 33x12.50-17 i thaught they made a smaller tires 33x10-16

[rubicon4wheeler]

I have 33x12.50-17 i thaught they made a smaller tires 33x10-16

You have that size on a Pinz?

Here's Nitto's sizes & specs:

http://www.nittotire.com/#index.tire.mudgrappler.sizes

[Erik712m]

yep i'm one of two guys that bought Scotts after market rims

[rubicon4wheeler]

Cool! Can you share any photos?

[ka]

are there more of these wider rims around? how wide are they?

is there a down side?

[rubicon4wheeler]

are there more of these wider rims around? how wide are they?

is there a down side?

More stress on the wheel bearings, less tire clearance = more fender rubbing, increased steering effort, more mud all over the side of the truck.

But those with the aftermarket wheels can probably tell you more.

[Boelt63A]

Any thoughts on Super Swamper radial TSL's they make a LT265/80R16 ?

Chuck

[Erik712m]

[quote="rubicon4wheeler"]Cool! Can you share any photos? [/quote] Here you go http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w205 ... _my_albums not what most people on the forum like but about the only thing i use it for this days are to get me to my fishing and hunting holes. A year ago i was using it as my every day driver

[ka]

i went thru 2 sets of those on a burban. most wonderful tire i've ever had (while they were new).

my future pinz has mudstar 255. cheap and good, i hear.

[rubicon4wheeler]

i went thru 2 sets of those on a burban. most wonderful tire i've ever had (while they were new).

Which tire? The Nitto's or the Super Swampers?

my future pinz has mudstar 255. cheap and good, i hear.

Never heard of them... But there are a lot of good "unknown brand" mud tires available. The challenging part is finding ones in the tall & skinny profile the Pinzgauer loves. The typical downside to the "unknown brand" tires is that they tend to have thinner sidewalls, more prone to sidewall punctures.