Reflections on TSL/Radials, what's up at Interco?

[swampwrecker]

Anyone that has been looking at these tires will tell you that every size has a totally different look and design. I finally got a good look at a set of 32x10.50s a few weeks ago and they are very different from my 33x10.50s. And looking at pictures of the 31x10.50s they seem even more different than the 33s. I know some one running 36x12.50s and boy is their tread pattern different. The 32 & 36" TSL/Radials look more like a plain old Super Swamper.

I think it is very strange that Interco makes these tires so different, especially when you look at other Swampers whose lugs and tread patterns seem to just get bigger as the tire size increases.

I wonder what the deal is with that.

[gothamist]

IIRC, the 33x10.50's you have have the continuous center chevron, which is alleged to be better for mud...the 32x10.50's have the split chevrons, for more of a general Swamper mud/rocks/etc. approach. Note that is word of mouth, not any sort of statement from Interco. I don't know about the 31's...

Here's a thread from JU that talks about this a bit, and TSL Radials in general. Funny to see the differing opinions on the tires, too...funny how most of the people who don't like them...don't have them.

http://jeepsunlimited.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/003660.html

[swampwrecker]

No, the 33x10.50s don't have a continuous chevron in the center, there is a split between each. However, the space between the chevrons on the 32x10.50s is greater.

In my opinion, the 33x10.50s aren't very good for mud, for a Swamper. They are too thin to provide good floatation. I like them for the rocks because I can air them down pretty low and not have to worry about them ripping up my fender wells.

Their narrowness (is that a word?) allows for great on-road handling. Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the tires and will most likely be sticking with them when the time comes to replace my current tires.

[Maddog]

I too have been very happy with my swampers. I've been running the 32" TSLs for a little less than a year and in most applications I found them to be excellent. Still haven't decided on my next tire, but the way things are looking I'll probably be going with the 33x10.50 BFG MT KMs. I love the TSL and the SSR but the amount of miles I put on tires each year is probably going to preclude me from sticking with Interco. I really don't give a shit about the noise or the handling on the street, but I can't afford the cost of replacing tires so frequently. I expect to get at least twice the miles out of the BFGs and I don't think I'll loose that much in trail performance.

Dog

[swampwrecker]

A couple people that I know that run them were telling me they get great mileage with their TSL/Radials, but I think I'll be lucky if I get 35,000 miles out of them, which isn't bad for swampers, but considering I don't get out off-roading as much as I'd like it's a waste. After Christmas I'll be getting a 2nd set of rims to run my Long Trails when I'm not wheeling. Hopefully that'll give me time (and money) to regear and lift the X to fit 33x12.50s by the time I'm ready to replace the TSLs.

[warmonger]

Swampwrecker,

That is the same thing I am doing. I will have two sets of tires for Project X. My primary set is a set of ProComp All Terrains. Nice and quiet on the road, highly rated for my snow driving on my annual ski trips, versatile enough for general spur-of-the-moment off-roading and good wear patterns. It will also reduce the use of my second set, which will be Swamper SSRs. Since I am not relying on them, they will last a long time. I figure the lower cost of reduced replacement will hopefully offset the extra $78/each for the second set of rims.

[rrdstarr]

I have been doing that since I have owned my X too. Grabbers and TSL Swampers! I left the Swampers on from this weekend! I should have taken them off for the three days! Noisy noisy noisy...............

[swampwrecker]

TSLs are noisy? I hadn't noticed ;-)

It's only taken about a year, but I've finally gotten use to the howl. It's interesting that as the tires wear, the howl starts much earlier (speed wise) then when the tires were brand new. Mine are now noticeable at 20mph where in the past it wasn't until I got to about 30 mph that they'd be noticeable.

The one nice thing about the howl is that if the house windows are open, my wife can hear me coming home from about 2 blocks away. ;-)

It will be really strange to go back to the Long Trails, but the savings in gas alone (I've lost almost 3 mpg with the TSLs) will be well worth it.

[Maddog]

rrdstarr don't you have the non-radial bias ply TSL? Wonder how the handling, wear, and noise compares to the radials swampwrecker and I have?

Dog