Maxxis Trepador Tire Test

131 1105 Maxxis Trepador Tires Buggy Side Crawling

We'll cut to the chase. If you're going to drive your truck on the street and trail, you'll want the 40-inch Maxxis Trepador Radials. If it's only a trail rig and gets there on a trailer, then the 40-inch bias-ply Trepadors are for you.

We reached this decision after taking the two tires over hills and mountains to see the difference, which is appropriate considering trepador translates to "climb or climber."

Maxxis offers a full range of tires for everything from daily drivers, mountain bikes, motorcycles, and trailers to commercial and light-duty trucks and of course serious off-roaders. During a recent lunch with some Maxxis reps we touched on the age-old debate: What's better, radial or bias-ply rubber? By the time we were ordering dessert we had devised a plan of sorts, a street and trail tread-fest to determine once and for all the winner. Of course the best laid plans have a way of getting lost in the mud. The next thing we knew we had two winners. As with many things, it just depends on what you're looking for.

Radial Maxxis Trepadors The 40x13.50R17LT Maxxis Trepador Radial weighs 1281/2 pounds on a 17-inch Walker Evans beadlock. At 30 psi we measured them at 391/2 inches tall. These tires have a tread depth of 5/8-inch across the entire tread, are rated to 3,195 pounds at 35 psi, and retail for approximately $500 each.

Bias-Ply maxxis trepadors The 40x13.50-17LT bias-ply Trepador Competition tires weigh a hefty 140 pounds on a 17-inch Walker Evans beadlock. At 30 psi we measured them at a true 40 inches tall. The tires have a 5/8-inch tread depth at the center of the tread, but at the transition to the sidewall the depth increases to a whopping 11/2 inches. The bias-ply tires are rated at 3,420 pounds at 45 psi and retail for approximately $700 each.

At the local tire shop the radials called for an average of 93/4 ounces to balance. The Trepador radials are available in sizes from 29 to 40 inches and rim sizes from 15 to 22.
At the local tire shop the radials called for an average of 93/4 ounces to balance. The Tr

In a radial tire the plies of the carcass run side-by-side from bead to bead at a 90-degree angle to the bead. It is generally assumed that this construction flexes better when running down the road with less tread deformation. On the highway the radial Trepadors rode as well or better than any 38-plus-inch tire we've tested.
In a radial tire the plies of the carcass run side-by-side from bead to bead at a 90-degre
When the tires were mounted on our test truck at 5 psi, the rear differential had only 101/2 inches of ground clearance. The radial seemed to really squat under the load, which makes sense due to their lower weight rating. The radials have three polyester sidewall plies and three polyester, two steel, and one nylon tread plies.
When the tires were mounted on our test truck at 5 psi, the rear differential had only 101
In the dirt and rocks the radials worked without issue. The ride seemed rougher than the bias plies for some reason which didn't make sense for as much as they bulged out at 5 psi. Though the radials lacked the super soft compound of the competition bias ply tires they seemed to flex very well over boulders to make up for it.
In the dirt and rocks the radials worked without issue. The ride seemed rougher than the b

The bias-ply tires required an average 101/2 ounces of weight to balance. These competition compound Trepadors are only available in a 37- or 40-inch size for a 16- or 17-inch wheel.
The bias-ply tires required an average 101/2 ounces of weight to balance. These competitio
The bias-ply Trepadors supported the weight of the test truck better with 11 inches of rear axle clearance at 5 psi. The plies are all nylon, six in the tread and four in the sidewall.
The bias-ply Trepadors supported the weight of the test truck better with 11 inches of rea

In a bias-ply tire the plies crisscross at a 40- to 45-degree angle from bead to bead, resulting in a tread that is very robust but not as flexible as a radial. We found the bias-ply Trepadors unruly on the highway, which we attributed to both their bias-ply construction and the extremely tall tread lugs.
In a bias-ply tire the plies crisscross at a 40- to 45-degree angle from bead to bead, res
In the rocks the bias-ply tires shined, but whether this was due to the super-soft competition rubber compound or the bias-ply construction is hard to tell. We do know that the massive tread lugs and sticky compound come at a cost, not only in diminished street driving and a high price tag but also because they don't have a manufacturer's warranty due to their intended use in competition. The radials come with a warranty.
In the rocks the bias-ply tires shined, but whether this was due to the super-soft competi
Both of these tires are impressive in their own right, and we have seen both hold their own amongst off-road racers. The radials show up on Maxxis-sponsored desert race trucks while the bias-ply tires are found on many Maxxis-sponsored rock buggies. All things considered, we would have to recommend the radial tire over the bias-ply for most off-road vehicles, as they are the most well-rounded and economical. Even so, we'll be leaving the sticky bias-ply Trepadors on our trail rig for now.
Both of these tires are impressive in their own right, and we have seen both hold their ow

SOURCES
Walker Evans Racing P.O. Box 2469 Riverside CA 92516 888-933-7223 www.walkerevansracing.com	Maxxis 545 Old Peachtree Road Suwanee GA 30024 800-462-9947 www.maxxis.com