Swamper TSL, LTB, or Radial?

I've got a set of 33x12.50-15 Goodyear MT/R's on my grounded Jeep. While I'm sure they will work just fine one day, I think that a set of Swampers would just be a little more "right" on an M38A1.

The choices between the different lines of Swampers are kind of dizzying. According to what I've read, the LTB's are the most aggressive, the TSL's are a little less so (though I keep reading that strict attention to pressure is required for use on the highway), and the radials are quieter. I'm thinking 33x10.50, 33x12.50, or 34x10.50. Depending on the type (LTB, TSL, or Radial) the size varies quite a bit.

My Jeep will see more time on the road than it will in the dirt since Chicago isn't known for it's trails, but it is a 50 year old Jeep with no heater, radio, or top so the NVH factor doesn't bother me a bit. And once I do have it on the trails, I don't plan to baby it though it will still need to get me home since it will either be driven to and from or flat towed behind my XJ.

Anyone run these tires in one of the sizes mentioned above? What are they like?

Help me decide!

 

I have the TSL on my 71 CJ%... i love them.... not too much road noise and not too bad of a ride and they look kick ***!!!!!

 

How much lift does your Jeep have, Glenn?

I thought the same thing until I read it on Interco's website this morning.

 

....And after looking again, it seems there is only a 33x10.50 offered in the radial version of the TSL. The 34x10.50 LTB looks to be the closest thing to a bias ply 33x10.50 tire. Hmmm.....

Isn't Dan running LTB's?

 

I've got ltb's. 33x13.50-15's

They flat out kick butt off road. I've never been at a loss for traction, but they are very wide, and i've got em on 10" wide rims.

I havent had em on the road much, but they seem to drive ok, noisy, but not more than the jeep itself. never driven em in the rain on road.


here's a pic, since i never miss a chance to post up pics of my jeep.


I'm running SOA, I';ve probably got room for 35's or 36's, but i didnt want to run into axle breakace with ultra heavy tires.

 

I have 32x9.50x15 bias swampers on my 64. The traction on snow, and hard packed winter roads is poor. Mud they are great. I had a local guy cut the center tread blocks in half, and it probably trippled my traction. The tire lays out better on the ground, and ice and snow traction is great! I run 20 psi of air. I love 'em! And they look cool.

 

I run 32x10.5 ss radials and love them! I have been thinking about 33 or 34 x 9 or 9.5" TSL's or LTB's however for my cj6 as there even more aggressive, and I really don't do that many miles on the road. I like a tall narrow tire. I am worried about the bias ply though because of "flat" spots from sitting and also noise? Has any one run both and can give a compairson. How about 33x10.5 boggers?! I'd run them but wana keep it lookin sorta stock.

 

DrDanteIII- those tires are fatttties!

Windyhill- are those the tires on your flattie in your avatar?

 

I'm gonna buy me a set of 32x10.50R15LT in a few months to use with my slotted 15x7 Renegade wheels. I do drive mine on the street quite a bit also and the radials I think will help with both noise and wear.

 

yup! with 1" superlift springs, small shackle lift and 1/2" body pucks.

 

if you don't do much offroading do NOT get the LTB's. they're an aggressive mud tire and the rubber is very soft on these. pavement and rock chew them up fast. they are very tempting to buy cause they're cheap. ss thornbirds are better on the highway and rock. check out tire reviews before you buy.

 

I'm running 34 x 10.5 x 15 LTB's on my M38A1 with approx 3 + "'s of lift. I have had very good luck with them so far. Last set on the A1 were the ultra skinny 34 x 9.50 x 15 swampers; I like the LTB's much more. Better footprint and they seem to handle a bit better on the road.......soft rubber though so they get a bit squishy when they heat up. NOT for long term road use.....had a set on a Tacoma for work and they only lasted about 10000 mls to the wear bars. BFG MT much better choice for any type of road/offroad work. Just my 2 cents.

 

I will add the the tsl bias is also known to not hold air all that great either. They are especially bad on chrome beads. My rears are pretty good on painted steel. My fronts last about 3-4 days on chrome. We have multiple club members that run them with the same issues. Gorilla snot or something like that is supposed to help, I have never tried it. I air tires when I drive the jeep. A few of the guys run bead locks with good results.

I run mine real low on air when I wheel. The 33X12.5 swamper will support the jeep with just a couple pounds of air pressure. The bias get really bad flat spots when they sit. (doesn't help that they don't hold air) Even the rears get flat spots though. They even out after a mile or so of driving.

I will also mention they are terrible on hard pack snow. Right at the top of the worst I have used. I used to have to put my jeep in four wheel drive to pull out of the parking spot right beside my wife. She drove a pontiac grand prix and would drive out with ease.

I have run buckshot mudders in the past with good results. You might want to consider those? I had p78s on a 48. Tall and skinny with very aggressive tread. Hard enough compound that they held up OK on pavement.

 

I have TSL Bias, and I have had an air holding issue, but that is because my rims were supposed have tubes, if I air them up to about 50-60 PSI the bead will seal, if I lower them for trail use they won't go flat for a few days. I haven't noticed the flatspotting yet, but I will keep an eye on it.

I haven't noticed the snow thing yet either, I have been tooling around all winter with them.

I love my 34x9.5's I believe you can get them in radials too

 

I have no problems holding air on my bias swampers. They are on an aluminum hurricane wheel. 8.5 width if I recall.

 

I've got 33x10.5 TSL Radials on my YJ. I'd say if it's going to see more road duty than it will trail duty, go with the radials. They'll last longer on the road, but will still give you plenty of grip on the trails.

 

I love's me some fatties. Sure the skinnier tires look more correct, but these things have never left me wanting for traction, rocks, mud, sand, snowplowing duty...

One word, Flotation.

Also, I havent had any of the pressure holding isses that people are describing with the tsl's. While i dont drive these on the road much, they are very soft and i wouldnt expect to get too many miles out of 'em.