I had just about run my course with a set of 31" Toyo AT's on my 3.0 Ford Ranger 4x4, and was needing something much more aggressive, self-cleaning, had a higher void ratio in the tread, while also needing to be a safe and reliable performer on the highway for school and travel, especially in the rain, AND be affordable. I looked high and low, all over town, at all brands and types, and for the money/piece of mind, the 31x10.50R15 Maxxis Buckshot XMT Mudders fit the bill nicely. I had never considered or knew of Maxxis tires being used aside from motocross applications so the brand was new to me. Noting highway friendliness as a necessary factor, Interco tires were quickly exhausted (having experience with TSL radials). My top 3 choices came down to 1)Toyo MT's, 2) Cooper STT's, and 3) Maxxis Buckshot XMT's. I loved both the Toyo's and Coopers for their segmented molds, generous sipping, and appealing tread arrangements, but both pushed or exceeded the $200 mark a piece. The Maxxis tire was certainly the "under dog" of the choices I had; and for good reason. I had only seen Buckshots on a handful of rigs in the past, and was unaware of their reputation. Secondly, they are constructed via clamshell molding, making them a cheaper tire to produce-translating to greater chances for construction fatigue. But when a 31" XMT was rolled out onto the showroom floor at the end of the long day of looking and deciding, I was SOLD. At $163 a piece, with deep sipes, and a somewhat aggressive sidewall-unlike the buttery smooth sidewall present on the original Mudder- there wasn't much discouragement. I purchased 5 of them that day, and they've performed FLAWLESSLY on both the highway (wet and dry) and on all off-road conditions. Wether it be slimy, soupy, thick or clay-rich mud, they've pulled through. On dirt, rocks, tree roots, telephone polls and ruts, you can trust them. All around a GREAT BUY. *One tire was however replaced free of charge after about a month, due to wobbly shaking. The cause of this was unknown, and no visible signs of tread/belt separation were detected.*
Rating: 8
Product Details: "Maxxis Buckshot Mudder MT Tire" by Editor - posted: Tue January 30, 2007 - Rating: 6.98
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