Tire Questions

[Bro_Gill]

Regardless of how the others feel, first, you need to find out a few things before you decide. First and foremost, will your truck even work with 39s? Many trucks that were built for 37s have clearance issues with 39s. So that would be the first thing you need to overcome. Next, this is not a light expense and you need to determine how much more you are going to spend after you decide which tires you're gonna run. Will you re-gear (you should) the rear end to make up the new final drive ratio? Is your truck running a rear and axles that will support the even heavier new tires? If your truck has a built to the hilt 9", it won't. How about your spring rates? Will the new unsprung heavier weights need new springs and tuning? All relevant questions that you need to ask. Just saying what tires in this size, especially at this level of racing does kind of come off like you are way over your head. If I were you, I would go drive the hell out of the 37" tires you have, see if the truck works, and then get some more 37" tires as that is what the truck is probably built for and tuned for. Just because you can step off your wallet and dump big bucks on new bigger tires doesn't mean it will be the best deal for you with all the other stuff you will have to change to make the new tire size work. I didn't even mention changing spare mounts on the truck, etc... It's not so easy, is it? For what it's worth, I would go with BFG and yes, I have raced on them and other brands.

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[Mechlectic]

Well said Bro Gil

[BajaDixon]

Regardless of how the others feel, first, you need to find out a few things before you decide. First and foremost, will your truck even work with 39s? Many trucks that were built for 37s have clearance issues with 39s. So that would be the first thing you need to overcome. Next, this is not a light expense and you need to determine how much more you are going to spend after you decide which tires you're gonna run. Will you re-gear (you should) the rear end to make up the new final drive ratio? Is your truck running a rear and axles that will support the even heavier new tires? If your truck has a built to the hilt 9", it won't. How about your spring rates? Will the new unsprung heavier weights need new springs and tuning? All relevant questions that you need to ask. Just saying what tires in this size, especially at this level of racing does kind of come off like you are way over your head. If I were you, I would go drive the hell out of the 37" tires you have, see if the truck works, and then get some more 37" tires as that is what the truck is probably built for and tuned for. Just because you can step off your wallet and dump big bucks on new bigger tires doesn't mean it will be the best deal for you with all the other stuff you will have to change to make the new tire size work. I didn't even mention changing spare mounts on the truck, etc... It's not so easy, is it? For what it's worth, I would go with BFG and yes, I have raced on them and other brands.

Thanks. This all makes sense and helps out.

If you mean " do I have a lot to learn " when you say "over your head" -the answer is yes. I have a lot to learn. The good news is I'm a quick learner and feel secure enough in myself to ask questions in order to get a broad array of opinions. I never thought or expected it would be easy. If all of this would have been easy I probably would not have been drawn to it. It is an incredible amount of fun though. Also, most of the people I meet in this sport are really great guys. ( Haven't met any girls yet that race, but I hope to )

[Jerry Zaiden]

Bob stick with 37" tires on that truck. Until you upgrade the rear end to a 10" R&P and bigger axles i would not even think of 39" tires. Run Generals and use Baja pits to help with your pits. Stay with what you know and with what has been working for you. Call me if you have any questions.

[ACME]

Once again RDC proves why "racers" have mostly left it. Congrats on the purchase, was that you guys at the record race?; if so we were the red 4 seater in class 1 behind you (I guess I'll find out from the brain trust it was stupid to race our 4 seater in class 1...) rough, long day for us but we finished. Most guys seem to love whatever tire they can score a deal on and that is the determining factor. We've run BFG's for a long time and have always had good luck with them, I prefer the pattern on the Baja TA's over the projects but then I never tried grooving the projects, plus BFG's support has always been appreciated. As some have said and it's great advice: Whatever makes it work best. I have friends that run Toyo's who are very happy and 95% of the time it's not the tire that fails on it's own (at least in my case).

Now to start more drama: IMHO I'd like to see the classes limited to a maximum of 37's. This trend toward more/bigger is tearing up what little resources we have left. I tested at Barstow a day after a notable TT team on 39 or 40's and the place was hammered and the course after the 500 was gnarly and a significant amount has to be contributed to the move toward the 39's-42's... Yeah, I get the classes are "unlimited" but at some time we need to start considering the sport, our limited resources for racing and the future. Flame away!

Oh and I wish I had the stones to say what the heck and pick up a deal on a TT or Class 1; congrats and enjoy!

[ChrisW]

I have to agree with Acme. I thought I was going to look at an interesting thread about tires and it immediately deteriorates to bashing a guy about asking a legitimate question. Disappointing.

[jowoog]

Regardless of how the others feel, first, you need to find out a few things before you decide. First and foremost, will your truck even work with 39s? Many trucks that were built for 37s have clearance issues with 39s. So that would be the first thing you need to overcome. Next, this is not a light expense and you need to determine how much more you are going to spend after you decide which tires you're gonna run. Will you re-gear (you should) the rear end to make up the new final drive ratio? Is your truck running a rear and axles that will support the even heavier new tires? If your truck has a built to the hilt 9", it won't. How about your spring rates? Will the new unsprung heavier weights need new springs and tuning? All relevant questions that you need to ask. Just saying what tires in this size, especially at this level of racing does kind of come off like you are way over your head. If I were you, I would go drive the hell out of the 37" tires you have, see if the truck works, and then get some more 37" tires as that is what the truck is probably built for and tuned for. Just because you can step off your wallet and dump big bucks on new bigger tires doesn't mean it will be the best deal for you with all the other stuff you will have to change to make the new tire size work. I didn't even mention changing spare mounts on the truck, etc... It's not so easy, is it? For what it's worth, I would go with BFG and yes, I have raced on them and other brands.

you left out the training (lifting classes) for the codog ,... tires are heavy ,.... good post !

[Kent Kroeker]

Bob stick with 37" tires on that truck. Until you upgrade the rear end to a 10" R&P and bigger axles i would not even think of 39" tires. Run Generals and use Baja pits to help with your pits. Stay with what you know and with what has been working for you. Call me if you have any questions.

Surprisingly good advice - very helpful. Seriously, Jerry.



Ramsey, I like the new, aggressive you - in your golden years you've become the ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY on desert racing.

I mean, what's your secret?

Do you sit on a golden throne in front of your computer, wearing animal print pants and no shirt while oiled Polynesian girls fan you with peacock feathers and feed you grapes?

Are you rubbing testosterone enhancement cream all over your belly while stacking Viagra and Cialis followed by a highball HGH chaser?

I think anyone in the market for a Trophy Truck should just call you first, so you can determine whether they're competent enough to own a TT or ask a question on this forum.

[mikek]

Ramsey's like the guy in the viagra commercial stuck in the mud with the horse trailer, except he couldn't get it unstuck

[randy s]

So wait Randy..this guy is asking other people to tell him what he should like? He came in saying he doesn't like the Toyos...so did Ramsey change his mind and make him prefer Toyos ya think?? Of course not, this topic is TOTALLY subjective...it all comes down to WHAT YOU LIKE or WHO GIVES EM TO YA. Didn't you run some old Goodyears for a while there, even though you mentioned on several occasions they didn't pay crap back to ya? But you still ran em...why? Because you tried other ones and decided that YOU like the Goodyears. Same goes for the ammo dude, they're all the same and you're gonna use what YOU prefer. What do YOU think of BFGs Randy???



BajaDixon, you're totally right man, I don't race. I'm here to learn stuff before I do as well, so chill... I have put in a few days doing volunteer work so that guys like you can race...so yeah, I'm just an internet racer nobody...But I sure as hell don't go around asking others what I should like... Get out there and find out for yourself!!! You sound like the kind of person that would go run BFG's based soley off what people here have said, then come back and whine about how you got flats...

Go ask BJ what brand of tires he likes bro. A year ago he woulda said one thing, now he says another. And you should take his word for it you know, he's BJ Baldwin! But that Bryce Menzies guy man, he's pretty BA too, ask him. Run what he says. Oh wait, you'd still have to make up your own mind.

But apparently, that's wayyyy too daunting a task for you.

i've never run anything but goodyear tires on my racetruck because i've only had 2 flats in 6 years. and even though goodyear didn't pay us for winning the baja 500 in our class like they said they would, we continued using them because we thought they were the best off road race tire out there for our truck and still would if they kept making them. and we've never had a tire sponsor at all and always paid for our tires. i can't speak to toyo or yokohama or general because we've never used them on the racetruck even though i use toyos and generals and even nittos on my chasers and prerunner....and i admire the support bfg has always offered racers but i just don't like like em' because i've never had good luck running their commercially available tires in the old days....exactly WTF was the point to your post anyway donny? the man asked an opinion and you trashed him and now you're going after me? that's fine because i don't give a rat's ass anyway about how you choose to cover your ass about a lame post and that's the last you'll hear from me on this subject.