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Super Swamper Bogger
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Ground Hawg Mud Tire
Goodyear Fierce Attitude MT
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Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar MT/R   MTR Info
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Kelly-Springfield Safari DTR
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Kumho Road Venture MT
Kumho Road Venture KL71
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Mastercraft Courser MT
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Maxxis Creepy Crawler
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Maxxis M-8080 Mudzilla
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Maxxis MA-751 Bravo
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Michelin LTX A/T?
Michelin LTX AT2 Press
Michelin LTX AT2
Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Radial
Mickey Thompson Baja Claw Bias
Mickey Thompson Baja Crusher
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Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ Radial SLT
Mickey Thompson MTZ
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Nitto Mud Grappler
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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 AT
Toyo Open Country MT
TrXus Mud Terrain
TrXus STS All Terrain
Yokohama Geolandar
Federal Couragia M/T
Nitto Dura Grappler
 
Choosing the Right Mud Tire - A No Nonsense breakdown
 

Tire Size ? Fender Clear?
 

Most Popular Mud Tires
 

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P-Metric Tire Sizes Conversion to Inches
 

How to Pick the Right
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Tire Fitment - What Hits What Fits
 

Making a Tire


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


Goodyear Fierce Attitude Mud MT Press Release

 
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Offroaders.com Guide to: All Terrain & Mud Tire Reviews Off road Tires for SUV, Light Truck and 4x4s .

Thornbird TSL
Bias Mud Terrain Reviews

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Offroad Tire Info
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Thornbird / TSL Bias Mud Tire Review
(1-5 star)
Street
Sand
Rock
Mud
Trail
Snow
   
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Review of the Interco Thornbird TSL Bias Mud Tire (TSL = T
hree Stage Lug)
 
 

Initially we weren't too impressed with the Thornbird Radial.  Interco Tire Corporation seems to have made some improvements to the bias version of the Thornbird TSL, although its still not up to the Super Swamper standards as far as offroad abilities go.  We would like to point out what we thought they improved upon over the original Thornbird TSL Radial.  First and probably foremost is the wider voids in between the massive lugs and a slightly different tread pattern.  With the original Thornbird, the lugs were so close together that they very quickly clogged with mud and had little self-cleaning abilities.  With the wider voids in the Bias Ply, mud is channeled out and away better than the radial version.  The Three stage lug design is still there doing its job.  The Thornbird Bias TSL also has sipes in the large lugs to aid in rock crawling.  It still has an aggressive profile that we like. Size availability, we believe, is the same as the radial version.  As far as streetability a drawback to the bias ply mud tire over the radial is the fact that it is a bias ply tire and does not handle as well as a radial on the road.  

What we thought of the Thornbird TSL Radial Mud Tire:
Now, we want to start off by saying, we really like Interco Tire Corporation and their true Mud Terrain tires.  Interco has established themselves as the king of hill when it comes to street legal mud tires for common 4x4s at a reasonable price.  We use Interco tires ourselves.  With that being said, we really wonder what they were thinking when they designed the Thornbird TSL.  Really.  At first glance the Thornbird looks extremely aggressive.  It has one hell of a profile with the knarly 3 stage lugs jutting out of the sidewall like medieval spikes on a chariot wheel.  But to call it a true mud tire would be misleading.  Within our definition of a true mud tire, the primary tread that makes contact with the mud is the same tread that makes contact with the street surface.  With the Thornbird TSL, this tread is more specifically designed as a street tire with very narrow voids between the large, siped lugs.  These voids seem more designed to channel water rather than mud.  Which may be fine for some people who really want a street tire that looks like a mud tire.  But for the offroader who is really looking for a good mud tire as the primary reason behind the purchase of the tire, we suggest you steer clear of the Thornbird TSL and look rather at Interco's other mud tires such as the Super Swamper SSR.  That being said we can point out a few good qualities of the Thornbird.  First the Thornbird isn't too bad on the street.  A couple of people we know have had this tire and as long as the tires or rotated regularly and the front end kept aligned, this tire is relatively quite on the street.  The tire looks impressive.  We like the sidewall profile with its ugly lug patterns and raised white lettering.  But it starts going downhill from there.  Traction is about average for a larger mud tire however wet surfaces still requires awareness to the fact that you don't have as much traction as a tire designed for wet road driving.  Even with some siping in the lugs they do not grip too well on wet road.  Even less so in the snow due in part to the narrow voids between the lugs which do not self clean very well, which helps to explain why this tire can hardly be called a true mud tire.  But enough of our ranting.  The Thornbird is not all that bad and may actually be what some people are looking for.  Size availability ranges from 29x10.50 to 38.5x14.50 in 15, 16 16.5LT with 6 or 8 ply rating model dependant.
  

Manufacturers description of this tire: 

The inset shows why the Interco TSL/THORNBIRD is such a Versatile tire. The highway contact area in the illustration shows the tread on hard surfaces. The Three Stage Lugs on the sidewalls do not touch highway surfaces but as soon as the tire gets into mud or snow the sidewall lugs provide decisive traction in forward or reverse. Fiberglass belts under the tread and polyester body plies contribute to a really smooth comfortable ride. The design comes close to being two tires in one... a revolutionary design that has earned its place in the legendary ranks of Super Performance.

Manufacturer Info:

Interco Tire Corporation
2412 Abbeville Hwy
Rayne, LA 70578
Phone:  (800) 299-8000
www.intercotire.com

Interco Tire Corporation, is a Louisiana company that has evolved through three generations into a leader in the development of high performance tires for use on four wheel drive light trucks and all terrain vehicles. In 1968 Interco developed the first 78 series light truck tires which began the evolution in light truck tires we see today.

 

 

 

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User Reviews

Below are reviews submitted by people who have had experience with this tire.  Opinions below are not necessarily that of Offroaders.com.  If you'd like to submit a review of your own, please use the form below to review this tire.  Please restrict your comments to only tires you have had experience with.
  
DM Schagunn Ellendale, ND
Terrain where used: Rock, Wooded Trail, Mud, Snow
Street
Sand N/A
Rock
Mud
Snow
Wooded Trail
Overall Rating
Comments:
I've used the 35x14.50-16.5 tires with mixed success. They are PERFECT in saturated sod, stubble, or anywhere that the soil has some vegetative residue. Just when you expect them to break the surface, the side lugs stop the sinking and allow you to "float" out of trouble spots. Don't clean too well in mud or clay, though, and they are completely useless on ice. Also, they seem to get cracks in the voids ("weather-checked") before they are even two years old. In traffic, people just stare at them, and they sound like a WWII bomber at highway speeds, if you like that sort of thing.
 

 

Read More Reviews and
Post Your Own Review of this Tire

   

Rating  Key - The star rating keys are specific to the terrain being rated in the review.  To the Top 
Don't even consider it if this is your main terrain. This tire will not perform well at all in this terrain.

Its trying but not doing too well.  You'd be better off choosing another for this terrain.

Average.  Its doing ok, not great but its holding its own.  A decent choice if you're compromising.

This tire does very well in this terrain but its not the best tire available however still a very good choice.

This tire performs exceptionally well in this terrain.  Among the best suited for this terrain.

Size Availability - This is a one to three thumbs up snapshot rating where one mean poor selection, two means ok and three means great.  Check with suppliers or manufacturers for actual available sizes.  While this rating system is vague, we couldn't possibly list all available sizes with size selection changing over time.  Please see manufacturer for list of sizes in production.





Money Bags - This is an average cost scale based on an averaged advertised cost of this tire when compared to other tires.  One money bag represents the tire is typically one of the cheapest available while 5 money bags indicates that this tire is one of the most expensive.  Averages are based on the tires reviewed.

    
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Mud Tire Reviews
  
 
  
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Mud Tire Review Index

 
Deciphering the Age of a Tire
 

Tire to Fender Clearances
  

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
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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
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Quad Tire Reviews Index

Jeep Project CJ-7

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Off-Road Lights
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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!


Airing Down with the
Staun Tire Deflators

 

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

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

 

Building a Garage?
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Need a House Plan?

 

Geocaching - the Sport of modern Day Treasure Hunts with GPS!

25 Top To Do Tips Before Going Offroad

Common Offroad Driving Techniques

Recovery Straps Usage

Lincoln Locker & Fozzy Lockers


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Reader's Rigs and Seriously Stucks!

 

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


JK Rubicon Review
Offroad and On Road Testing

Using Mud Tires

BATTERY TECH


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to Pump Air

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