Welcome to Offroaders.com  

Home Page
Product Reviews
Tire Reviews
 
  
All Terrain AT Reviews
Mud Terrain MT Reviews
Super Swamper Bogger
Super Swamper SSR
Super Swamper SX
Super Swamper Vortrac
Interco IROK TSL
Super Swamper LTB
Super Swamper TSL
Super Swamper TSL Radial
Super Swamper Narrow
BFGoodrich Krawler
BFGoodrich MT T/A KM
BFGoodrich MT T/A KM2
BFGoodrich AT TA KO
BFGoodrich Mud King XT
Bridgestone Dueler MT
Cooper Discoverer ST
Cooper Discoverer STT
Cooper Discoverer ST/C
Dick Cepek Crusher
Dick Cepek F-C II
Dick Cepek Fun Country II
Dick Cepek Fun Country Nylon
Dick Cepek Fun Country Kevlar
Dick Cepek Mud Country
Dunlop Mud Rover
Firestone Destination MT
General Grabber MT
General Grabber AT2
Green Diamond Icelander
Ground Hawg Mud Tire
Goodyear Wrangler MT/R
Hankook Dynapro MT
Hankook Dynamic MT RT01
Hercules Terra Trac MT
Hercules Trail Digger MT
Kelly-Springfield Safari DTR
Kelly-Springfield Safari MSR
Kumho Road Venture MT
Kumho Road Venture KL71
Kumho Road Venture AT
Maxxis Creepy Crawler
Maxxis Trepador
Maxxis Buckshot Mudder
Mickey Thompson Baja Claw
Mickey Thompson Baja Crusher
Competition Claw
Mickey Thompson MTZ
Mickey Thompson MTX
Nitto Mud Grappler
Nitto Dune Grappler
Nokian Vatiiva MT
Parnelli Jone Dirt Grip
Pit Bull Rocker Extreme
Pit Bull Maddog
Pit Bull Growler
Pit Bull Rocker Extreme
Pro Comp Xterrain
Pro Comp All Terrain
Pro Comp Mud Terrain
Pro Comp Xtreme AT
Pro Comp Xtreme MT
Thornbird TSl Radial
Thornbird TSl Bias
Thornbird TSL
Toyo Open Country MT
TrXus Mud Terrain
TrXus STS All Terrain
Yokohama Geolandar
  
Dick Cepek's 2008 F-250 Super Duty Project Vehicle – Project CRUSHER
 
Mud Tire Review Index
 
ATV Tire Index
Carlisle 489 Titan
Dunlop Quadmax
Dunlop Quadmax Sport
Quadmax Sport Development
Highlifter Outlaw
ITP Holeshot
ITP Holeshot MX
ITP Holeshot ATR
ITP Holeshot XC
ITP Holeshot XCR
ITP Holeshot MXR
ITP Holeshot XCT
ITP Mud Lite
ITP Mud Lite XTR
ITP Sandstar
Kenda K538 Executioner
Tubeless Bearclaw K299
Kenda Klaw K532
Kenda Klaw K533
Kenda K534 Sand Gecko
Maxxis M961/M962 Mud Bug
Maxxis Rooster Paddle Tire
Maxxis M917/M918 Bighorn
Maxxis M966 Mudzilla
Super Swamper TSL ATV
Super Swamper TSL Vampire
Super Swamper Vampire EDL
Swamp Lite ATV Tires
 
ATV Tire FAQs
ATV Tire Mounting
ATV / Quad Links
 
Quad Tire Reviews Index
 
  Home Page
  Photo Album
  Product Reviews
  Jeep Central
  Tech Section
  Cool Products
  Readers Rigs
  4x4 Club Links
  4x4 Vendors
  Links Directory
  Shop for Stuff
  Centralia PA
  Contact
  Search
  Project CJ-7
  
Offroaders Guide
to Gearing up
for Offroad

From Basic Equipment to Well Equipped.  An extensive list guide to help you prepare your vehicle for the offroad.

Jeep Wrangler JK Rubicon Review

  


Trailering Safety and Trailer Hitch Information

 

Off-Road Truck Driving Techniques and Safety

 

Jeep Dana 300 TeraLow - 4:1 Gearset for the Dana 300 Transfer Case

 

Warn X8000i
Winch Installation

 

Start Your Free Trial Now!

2006 Hummer H3

2006 Jeep Commander Articles and Reviews

  2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Articles & Reviews

2005 Nissan XTerra Articles and Reviews

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Articles & Reviews

2005 Jeep Rubicon Articles and Reviews

2005 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited Articles and Reviews 

Suspension Lift Installations and Reviews

 

Department of
cheap Tricks
& Useful Tips
   

Synthetic
Oil
Low-down

Ten Myths About Synthetic Lubrication

Synthetic Oils & the Environment

Important information about Motor Oil Additives

 
 

 

 

 

Mud Tires & Mud Driving

Mud Tire, Mud Terrain
and All Terrain Tires
Reviews and Information

It has been said that driving through mud is a cross between ice skating and walking through quicksand.  Though that may be true with some types of mud, the truth is mud varies greatly depending on where you are in the world. 

 

Mud Tires

Mud Tires
Most Popular Mud Tires

Mud Tires on SaleFrom thick, goopy slop with a disappearing bottom to the slick clay-like mud that has the stickiness of fly paper several feet deep, you can't classify mud as just mud since it varies as much as the 4 wheelers that are trying to get through it.

The variety of mud found everywhere requires a variety of driving techniques and equipment applied to negotiating through the the mud one might encounter.  Suspension, mud tires, traction aid devices all play a factor and demands vary dependent on the mud terrain.

Reviews of Mud Tires
Mud Tires, Mud Terrain and All Terrain Tire Reviews and Information

The one general common principle of mud is that it is a combination of liquid and solid; that is water and Earth.  The Earth may be sandy soil, topsoil, clay, ice and snow, rocks and gravel, bog and peat moss, all kinds of Earth material and/or a combination of all of that and more.  The common factor in all of this is that your tires are trying to find traction through all of this.  So how can to "read the mud" and know what's the best approach with the right equipment?   Article © Copyright of Offroaders.com
 

Read Reviews & Post a Review   
Tire Reviews
Read Tire Reviews and post your own review. 
 
 

Review Mud Tires - Read Mud Tire Reviews and Post Your Own Review of your Mud Tires Mud Terrain MT and AT (All Terrain) Tires.

Tire Terminology  
How to Pick the Right Mud Tire  
Making A Mud Tire 
Mud Tire Reviews

 

As mud varies, some tips help to address certain conditions.  For instance slick mud with a hard bottom layer is best attacked with a narrow mud tires since a narrow mud terrain tire can cut through the top layer to find traction on the hard surface below.  When a wide mud terrain tires encounters the same mud in this situation, it tend to float or "hydroplane" on the slick top layer without reaching the hard surface below.

A wider mud tire tends to do better in the thicker, cement-like mud especially when the terrain varies below the surface.   It is this mud that wider mud tires will provide some flotation, much like driving in sand.  Wider tires also benefit from lowering the tire pressures providing a larger contact patch and conforming over the uneven terrain.  How much you air down depends on the size of the tire and the stiffness of your sidewall.  Common air-down recommendations for mud and the average mud tires is to lower tire pressures down to about 15 to 20 PSI.

Another mud tire mud tip deals with the tread pattern of your tire. Mud tires by definition are tires that have a larger lug and wider and deeper space (voids) between lugs. In mud, these wider, deeper voids should be designed to channel mud out of the tread and self-clean the lugs so that as they spin through the mud, the lugs come down clear of mud giving them better traction for the next rotation. With good mud characteristics mud tires generally grab onto anything it can hook one of its lug edges around, especially when aired down and channel the mud away from the center. Tread designs typically are what make or break a mud tire and vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. If a tire is not well designed for mud, it may not self clean and will become clogged and packed with mud in the voids, essentially making them a slick, flat tire with next to zero traction. Tires that are more designed for street rather than mud are usually designed to place a larger patch of rubber on the road and a quieter ride at highway speeds with closer spaces between lugs. These road specific characteristics are more prone to clogging and have a significant disadvantage in the mud but actually benefit in sand where they tend not to "dig". Mud tires that have been designed specifically to perform well in mud tend to handle worse and have a higher noise level on paved surfaces where there is less of a contact patch on the road and typically a lack of "sipes" that aid traction.
  

Mud Driving Techniques Mud Tires

One of the first things to do when offroaders encountering mud is to check it out first on foot. Not necessarily by walking though it but get close and try to find the bottom with a long stick or object. If vehicles have been driving through this mud hole before, check the tire ruts below. The key is to find solid bottom and determine if you have something to get traction on.  Extremely soft mud or well abused mud may cause you to lose traction very quickly and become high centered on where tires have not been before, while the ruts go deep and sediment has created soft mud with little traction. You also want to look for objects like rocks, logs, sharp objects and anything that might damage or upset the vehicle or the tires.

Looking for Tire Reviews? - Read Tire Reviews and Post Your Own Review of Offroad Tires in our off-road tire review section.  Go to the Reviews Here.

As stated above, airing down is one of those basic tips that not only helps in mud but applies pretty much across the board as far as offroad driving goes.  However when it comes to mud airing down can be a double sided sword.  Airing down (reducing tire pressure) can help to gain traction when mud seems to be bottomless and traction is hard to find.  But on the flip side airing down in mud that has a hard bottom can sometimes reduce the traction since a tire aired up to higher pressures will have a sawing effect on the bottom.  Additionally reducing air pressure for mud means that hidden obstacles in the mud (tree roots, rocks, sticks, etc) can present the potential for more damage to your sidewalls.  Airing down also means that attacking these same obstacles might provide better traction as the tire conforms over the obstacles.  So it's a judgment call and more based on experience in specific situations tan anything else.  But since the drawbacks to airing down primarily affect sidewall damage, a better mud tire with a stronger sidewall helps to make the decision.

Mud Tires Get this FJ40 Through the MudWhen choosing your line through the mud, your going to have a better chance if your line follows the high spots such as the berm or peak between the tire tracks of previous attempts through the mud.  It's usually these deeper mud tracks that have been worn down far enough that vehicles can become high centered.   It's also these tracks that you want to check out before going through an unknown mud hole.  On the flipside, it's these existing wheel tracks that may have been cut down through the soft top layer down to the firmer surface below where you find better traction.

Another tip that many times can be useful in mud is to move the steering wheel left to right from the center in a sawing action.  Many times this can help the front wheels find traction when a direct ahead line isn't providing traction.  When doing this, do not turn the wheel too far in either direction from your intended line as you can end up reducing any momentum.  Also always be aware of the direction your tires are pointing.  Your goal is to get through the mud so maintaining momentum is key.  If your tires ultimately don't point the way you want to go, they will be working against you. 

Choosing the the right gear is also important.  With a manual transmission and low range, you have to choice of different gears to run in.  One of the keys to getting through mud is keeping the tread clear.  To do that a mild to moderate amount of wheel spin is necessary.  Sometimes the lower the gear the less likely you will spin the wheels fast enough to clear the voids of the mud and the last thing you want to do is damage your engine by over-revving it.  So choose a high gear when you need wheel spin low range 2nd gear for instance.

Mud TiresDon't dig holes.  When forward momentum stops, you should stop.  The worst thing you can do is spin the tires and dig holes.  Now you not only have to contend with the mud but holes in the bottom of the mud hole and clogged tread.  When forward momentum stops, let off the gas.  Put the vehicle into reverse and back up a little.  Put it back into your forward gear of choice and give it another go.  Rinse and repeat (do it again).  You may find that each time you backup and go forward you gain a little distance.  This is progress.  When you spin your tires excessively it typically pulls hard packed mud off the bottom and embeds it in your tread.  This mud is harder to remove with tire spin. Offroaders.com

Mud driving is as unpredictable as the mud itself.  Different seasons, different terrain, different types of mud all make even the seeming smallest mud hole a challenge.  Having an understanding of techniques that help get you though mud as well as the right tires and the right equipment all help in each situation.   In the end a good set of mud tires with self-cleaning lugs will make a world of difference but always have a backup plan with good recovery equipment.

How many of these Mud Tires can you identify?
Mud Tires

 

Tire Chains, an alternative to Mud Tires

In many cases a good set of mud tires are not always an option.  One way to overcome this shortfall is to use a set of tire chains on your existing tires. Tire chains dramatically improve your traction in many situations with mud being right up there with snow.  However like anything else tire chains can have their bad points as well.  For one you don't want to drive on paved roads with tire chains.  Tire chains also do damage to trails that may otherwise be relatively smooth.  That being said, it is best if tire chains are only used when you absolutely have to use them to get through a muddy section or as a last resort to getting out.  Offroaders.com

Maintenance After the Mud Battle

Cleaning your vehicle is not just for aesthetics.  Mud, especially fine particle mud like clay, tends to stick to everything above and below.  Mud can build up under the wheel wells, on the frame, it can pack around the radiator, into the brake drums, on all the underside components, on the body in places where you never saw before.  It's important to remove as much of the mud as possible before it turns into a permanent part of your vehicle and ultimately cause damage to your vehicle.  Mud on the rims can act as a counter balance causing your vehicle to handle worse and causing vibration at the steering wheel and can lead to uneven tire wear.  Mud also retains moisture.  Moisture causes rust.  Much your the underside of a vehicle is either unprotected from factory or loses it's protection of time and mud accelerates the rusting process.  Mud is also very hard on paint, causing it to deteriorate due to moisture and can cause scratching and wear over time.  So it is best remove as much of the mud as possible after each encounter with the sticky stuff.  A good hose down to start with is good to get the large chunks off.  For the underside, it can be helpful to let a yard sprinkler run under the vehicle for a little time to help soften and wash off under carriage mud.  Pressure washing works great too for surface and underside washing.  For a more through check examine items like differentials and gearbox oil for contamination and change if necessary.  Also examine your differential and gearbox breathers to ensure they are functional and clear of mud and debris.  Check your air filter box for mud and water that you might have inhaled and remove and clean the filter if necessary.  Check your radiator and hose out any mud blocking the cooling fins of the radiator.  Also check transmission coolers as well.  Check all drain holes on the chassis and in the doors to be sure they are not blocked.  Remove any caked on mud from brake drums, steering linkage, shifting linkage and anything else that can interfere with the mechanical operation of the vehicle.  While your at it, clean your recovery straps.  When you give your vehicle a good look for mud after a muddy day on the trails, you'd be surprised as to where you find mud.  If there is a crack or crevice, you can be sure mud will find it's way in.  Article © Copyright of Offroaders.com

This Article © Copyright of Offroaders.com 

Tire Terminology   Wheel Terminology    How to Pick the Right
  Tires for your Truck   Truck Tire Info   Making A Tire    Maintaining a Tire

Mud Tires, Mud Terrain and All Terrain Tire Reviews and Information
Offroaders.com Guide to All Terrain & Mud Tire Reviews Off road Tires for SUV, Light Truck and 4x4 Vehicles

All Terrain  Mud Terrain
Tire Reviews & Info

Tire Terminology
Wheel Terminology
  
How to Pick the Right Tires for your Truck
All Terrain AT Tire Reviews
Mud Terrain MT Tire Reviews
   
Super Swamper Bogger Mastercraft Courser HTR
Super Swamper SSR Mastercraft Courser HTR Plus
Super Swamper SX Maxxis BigHorn Radial
Super Swamper Vortrac Maxxis Creepy Crawler
Interco IROK TSL Maxxis Trepador
Super Swamper LTB Maxxis Buckshot Mudder
Super Swamper TSL Maxxis MA-SW
Super Swamper TSL Radial Maxxis M-8080 Mudzilla
Super Swamper Narrow Maxxis MT-754 Buckshot
Interco SS-M16 Swamper Maxxis MT-753 Bravo
Thornbird TSl Radial Maxxis MA-751 Bravo
Thornbird TSl Bias Maxxis MA-S2 Marauder II
Thornbird TSL Maxxis MA-S1 Marauder
Parnelli Jone Dirt Grip Maxxis MT-762 BigHorn
BFGoodrich Krawler Nitto Mud Grappler
BFGoodrich MT T/A KM Nitto Terra Grappler
BFGoodrich MT T/A KM2 Nitto Dura Grappler
BFGoodrich AT TA KO Nitto Dune Grappler
BFGoodrich Mud King XT Nokian Vatiiva MT
Bridgestone Dueler MT Pit Bull Rocker Extreme
Cooper Discoverer ST Pit Bull Maddog
Cooper Discoverer STT Pit Bull Growler
Cooper Discoverer ST/C Goodyear Wrangler MT/R
Federal Couragia MT Pro Comp Xterrain
Firestone Destination AT Pro Comp All Terrain
Firestone Destination MT Pro Comp Mud Terrain
General Grabber MT Pro Comp Xtreme AT
General Grabber AT2 Pro Comp Xtreme MT
Green Diamond Icelander Toyo Open Country MT
Ground Hawg Mud Tire TrXus Mud Terrain
Hankook Dynapro MT TrXus STS All Terrain
Hankook Dynamic MT RT01 Michelin LTX A/T²
Hercules Terra Trac MT Michelin LTX AT2 Press
Hercules Trail Digger MT Michelin LTX AT2
Kelly-Springfield Safari DTR Mickey Thompson MTZ
Kelly-Springfield Safari MSR Mickey Thompson MTX
Kumho Road Venture MT Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radial
Kumho Road Venture KL71 Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Bias
Kumho Road Venture AT Mickey Thompson Baja Crusher
Dick Cepek Mud Country Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ Radial SLT
Dick Cepek F-C II Competition Claw
Dick Cepek Fun Country II Dunlop Mud Rover
Dick Cepek Fun Country Nylon Federal Couragia M/T
Dick Cepek Fun Country Kevlar Nitto Dura Grappler
Mastercraft Courser MT Yokohama Geolandar

  

OFFROAD PRODUCT REVIEWS
Read user opinions and post your own.  It's what you think that counts.  From Offroad Tires to Winches to Offroad Lights and more.  Go to the reviews

Mud TiresNorthern Exposure and My Mud Tires
"Sticks and Stones may break my Jeep but mud is always funner". Mountain 4 Wheeling offroad at the peak of the fall season.  A weekend in the northeastern Appalachian Mountains with incredibly colorful fall foliage.  Mud Tires a Must.
Wheeling with the Mud Tire
Mud Tire Wheeling
We do a weekend worth of offroading kicking it off on a Friday the 13th.  Loads of fun in the high hills of PA and some muddin' with the Mud Tires down in the valleys.   Another awesome weekend.  13 pages worth of 4 wheeling fun and mud tires.
Mud Tires in the SnowParagon Adventure Park Mud Tire Special Wheeling the Park one last time.  Mud Tires get us through the snow on Paragon's Monthly Trail Ride attracts Hundreds in support of the park and it's owners surrounding a battle to save the park's future from extinction. Benefit Trail Rides were on Feb. 3 & 4th.  See the Report Mud Tires in the MountainsWheeling in Rattlesnake Country
In this offroad report we have the opportunity to take a 2007 Jeep JK  Wrangler Rubicon equipped with Mud Tires and a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser (without Mud Tires) up into the Pennsylvania Mountain Trails for a Weekend of Offroading.  With this report we will run down the pros and cons and our offroad impressions of the FJ Cruiser and the JK Wrangler Rubicon.  Check it out here

Quad Mud TiresRAIN EVENT - Wheelin' with Tammy A rain soaked trip into the PA mountains.  New trails in familiar territory tamed with Mud Tires.  Quads, Jeeps Toyotas and more take to the trails under some of the most beautiful foliage we've seen up on the PA mountains in years.
Mud Tires in Coal CountryOffroad in the heart of Anthracite Coal Region - Pennsylvania Coal Regions are a playground for the adventurous 4 wheeler.  All you need is a rig with Mud tires.  Check out the action from high atop a mountain of slag.

 

Tire  Information
Tire Terminology
Wheel Terminology
 
How to Pick the Right
Tires for your Truck
Tire Fitment - What Hits What Fits
Making a Tire
 

Jeep Project CJ-7

An ongoing Budgeted Rebuild/Build up of a Rock Crawling Machine.


JK Rubicon Review
Offroad and On Road Testing

BATTERY TECH
The Dirt on Lead Acid Batteries.  Everything you ever wanted to know about Lead Acid Car Batteries.


Onboard Air
Converting a York
AC Compressor
to Pump Air

BFGoodrich® Tires Gears Up for SCORE Baja 500



Off-Road Lights
by LightForce Product Review / Installation.
from Off-Road Lights


ARB Air Locker Install
Jeep Wide Track Axles Swap

  

Do it Yourself
Detriot EZ Locker Install  in a 92 Toyota 8" rear


For all the Jeep
Fans out there!

 

From the
Department of Cheap   Tricks and Useful Tips

  
Ultra-Cool Hand Throttle for Free!

Jeep V8 Swap Tips

The Exploding Clutch

Radiator Protection using 6 bucks worth of material

Cracked Under Pressure - Fixing a smashed fingernail

A Cheap, effective alternative to undercoating

Home-built Saginaw Gearbox Brace for the cost of lunch!

Ammo Box Storage - Mounting Them for Quick Disconnect

Home-built Serious Skid-Plate protection for the Oil Pan for under 20 bucks!

  

JEEP CJ
AXLE SWAP

Jeep CJ Axle Swap using
Scout II Dana 44 Axles

 

Building a Garage?
Need a Garage Plan?
Need a House Plan?
Check out:

ARCHWAY GARAGE PLANS

 


Knoebels Amusement Park

 

 
Ramp Travel Index
RTI / Ramp Travel Index  What it is and how to calculate it, with and without the ramp.

 


Reader's Rigs and Seriously Stucks!

 

Jeep Trans Swap Info
T-18A Transmission Rebuild & Short Shaft Conversion
  


Black Diamond Suspension Lift install for CJ-7