BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/AKM
The BFG M-T came into the test as the veteran of the group. We hoped that the original KM, which has been succeeded by the KM2, would maintain its place in the Goodrich family. The BFG appeared to have the narrowest footprint, but that didn't seem to hinder its performance. While low speeds made it a tad more difficult for the tires to clean themselves, a few hits off the rev limiter and the radial M-Ts began propelling the goo. Sawing the wheel helped a bit, but the lack of side bite seemed to kill the momentum once the tires were packed. For a radial mud-terrain it had nicely sized lugs and tread voids. Overall, the legendary M-T worked well as long as you kept up the rpm and stayed out of the super-sticky stuff.
Specs
Size: 33x12.50x15
Load Range: C
Tread Depth (in): 21/32
Source
BFGoodrich Tires
www.bfgoodrichtires.com
Goodyear wrangler MT/R
The completely redesigned MT/R arrived with a more staggered and spaced tread pattern than previous models, and we were all anxious to see it in action. With beefy bulletproof Kevlar sidewalls, these skins may have been the toughest in the test. The larger spacing between the outer lugs helped to move the Jeeps along at the start of the pit, but once the tires got plugged and in the thick of it, they simply couldn't cut through the muck as well as the others. Though sawing the wheel and high revs helped a little, once they were packed it was time to get pulled out. Overall, the tire performed well, and for loose or mildly muddy trails we think they would work fine.
Specs
Size: 33x12.50x15
Load Range: C
Tread Depth (in): 19/32
Source
Goodyear Tires
www.goodyeartires.com
Maxxis MT-762 Bighorn
If there was a sleeper in the pack, the Maxxis Bighorn was it. The aggressive pattern could be felt instantly, as the tires did a great job of chewing through the mud. Tread clearing was decent at low speeds and excellent once you reached higher rpm. Definitely one of the most aggressive tires in the group. We enjoyed the consistent performance throughout the pit. Where to rank the Bighorn was a tough call, but the side bite of our Second Place participant just edged it out.
Specs
Size: 33x12.50x15
Load Range: C
Tread Depth (in): 21/32
Source
Maxxis
www.maxxis.com
Pro Comp Xtreme Mud-Terrain
To call a tire a mud-terrain is one thing, but if you throw the word extreme into the mix (or Xtreme, as they spell it) it better excel. Though we've had experience with the larger versions on the Xtreme Mud-Terrain, this was our first time with the smaller units. Luckily for us and Pro Comp, the Xtreme M-T handled the pit like a pro. Whether it was romping at low or high speeds, the tires cleaned out with ease. Throughout each end of the pit the tires continued to perform consistently and maintained a steady pull, and with a little sawing action of the wheel the functional sidewall tread bit in and kept moving. The Pro Comp was a pleasant surprise and a tire that is clearly designed with mud performance in mind.
Specs
Size: 33x12.50x15
Load Range: C
Tread Depth (in): 20.5/32
Source
Pro Comp Tires
www.procomptires.com
Interco trxus Radial Mud-Terrain
Interco prides itself on creating some of the largest and most mud-dominating tires on the market. So when the Trxus radial mud-terrain showed up for battle, it had a lot to live up to. It's difficult to pick a winner in test like this, especially when all of the competitors performed well. But to say that the Trxus is just another radial mud-terrain would be far from the truth. Throughout the entire mud-romping shootout, the Trxus performed excellently. They had no problems cleaning out their tread at both low and high speeds. When the Jeeps did get slowed down by the muck, a few saws of the wheel and the aggressive side cleats dug in and kept the vehicle moving. Though we can't speak for how they would perform anywhere else, they would most definitely be our choice of tire if we were stranded on a mud-covered island.
Specs
Size: 33x12.50x15
Load Range: C
Tread Depth (in): 19/32
Source
Interco Tire
www.intercotire.com
Test Notes
While we all know that not all mud tires are created equal, we did our best to ensure that each tire got a fair shake. Each set entered the pit multiple times, and between passes we would accelerate on the hard-packed dirt to see how well they cleaned up outside of the wet dirt. From dead-stop attempts in the deeper slop to a little experimenting in two-wheel-drive only, we feel we put the tires through their muddy paces, and we stand by our rankings.
Rankings
1. Interco Trxus Radial Mud-Terrain
2. Pro Comp Xtreme Mud-Terrain
3. Maxxis Bighorn
4. BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain
5. Goodyear Wrangler MT/R