SUPER SWAMPER IROK
The Super Swamper Iroks are aggressive bias-ply tires that still provide good wet pavement traction thanks to a soft compound and siping in the tread. The sidewalls are durable but compliant; however, they still flat-spot badly, especially on cold mornings at low pressures. It takes a few miles to get them warmed up and round again. Like most Swampers, the large scooped lugs on the Iroks grip well on jagged rocks and dry surfaces but also move a lot of material to help forward momentum when in the soft sand and mud. The soft tread compound seems to wear a little quicker than we had expected, especially on the edges of the outer lugs, but that's the price you pay for traction. Irok tires are good for all-around off-road use, as long as you don't spend too much time spinning them in sharp rocks or on the street.
Street-** Mud-****
Sand-*** Heavy Rock-***
BFGOODRICH AT KO
Think of the BFGoodrich All Terrain KO as the sister of the BFG MT KM. It's available in the same sizes and has the same sidewalls and carcass construction, but has less aggressive tread and sidewall lugs. The BFG AT KO tends to clog in heavy mud and, like the MT KM, has a sidewall that can be cut in sharp rocks. However, its mild tread pattern works well in sand without digging to China and excels at giving a quiet, smooth street ride. The tiny sipes on the tread blocks help on pavement in rain, snow, and ice, and help make the AT KO an acceptable tire in some rocky conditions.
Street-**** Mud-*
Sand-*** Heavy Rock-**
DICK CEPEK F-C KEVLAR
The F-C Kevlar features a polyester and Kevlar bias-belted design. The sidewall is strong, which is typical of any bias-ply or bias-belted tire. Sizes are limited to 36x16.50 and 38x15.50 in 15- and 16.5-inch wheels. The mild tread pattern provides good traction on all but the muddiest surfaces and works extremely well on the street for a tire this size. Some flat-spotting is normal at cooler temperatures.
Street-*** Mud-**
Sand-**** Heavy Rock-****
GOODYEAR MT/R
Extreme rockcrawling has pushed the development of the Goodyear MT/R and has helped create one of the toughest all-around tires available. The MT/R is now available in sizes up to 37x12.50-15 and even a 40x13.50-17. The three-ply sidewall is extremely durable, even on the nastiest razor rocks. MT/Rs should be rotated frequently (every 3,000 to 5,000 miles) or the tread wears irregularly.
Street-*** Mud-***
Sand-*** Heavy Rock-****
GOODYEAR AT/S
The Goodyear AT/S is a street-friendly all-terrain best suited for a life of daily driving with only mild recreational off-roading. We've found the traction to be good on light rocks, but the paper-thin sidewalls wouldn't hold up to sharp rocks or branches. In the sand, traction is middle-of-the-road, which surprised us. Where these tires excel off-road is in high-speed dirt sections where the two circumferential grooves keep the vehicle on the course you set it on. Street driving is superquiet and smooth, and wet-weather traction is excellent.
Street-**** Mud-*
Sand-** Heavy Rock-*
MICKEY THOMPSON BAJA CLAW
The Mickey Thompson Baja Claw has always been one of the toughest tires available. The polyester and fiberglass bias-belted design puts up to six hefty plies in the sidewall. Plus, the tread wraps most of the way around the tire, offering traction and extra protection at any angle. The Claw line is constantly receiving new sizes for 15-, 16-, 16.5, and 17-inch wheels. Because it's a bias tire, you'll notice some flat-spotting when parked overnight in cooler temperatures or at lower air pressures.
Street-** Mud-***
Sand-*** Heavy Rock-****