37" Toyo RTs or MTs

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 4:22 pm

Well I've kicked the idea around of these two different tires quite a bit and am, like everything else, overthinking the choice between these two tires for my 15' Power Wagon. I use my truck as my daily driver and work truck for my primary job as an environmental consultant which requires driving on muddy agricultural fields from time to time carrying as much as 800lbs of water (infiltration testing) and my secondary job pulling a small ~1700-2000lb mower trailer. I also carry the family on the local beaches for surf fishing (loose sand in Delaware and Maryland). In the future a boat will likely be in the picture with a total trailer/boat weight of no more than 7000lbs. I'm not too terribly concerned about noise although quieter is nice just not totally necessary at the expensive of functionality. My biggest concerns are tread life and behavior on and off the pavement. I suspect the MT will do better offroad especially when not aired down. From what I gather the MT from toyo wears great. What concerns me is that I had Interco SS-m16 tires (35x12.50x16s) on a previous 97 ram 2500 12v cummins truck which were very aggressive and wore great but took 27oz per side to balance on some tires and still never balanced great. I absolutely don't want to end up with a similar wobbly off balanced feel of the ss-m16 tire but want to do the best I can for off road and on the road traction. We do get some snow here in Delaware/Maryland so that's is a thought as well as is wet traction. All that said, price being no worry (about $40 more for the mt), what is the input of those who've had experience with both??? Thanks!

2011RPW · Post by **2011RPW** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 7:21 pm

I've never run Toyo M/T's, but have heard nothing but good things. With our gas engines, it's been my experience, that tires don't wear near as quick.m, which would be my greatest concern with an M/T, aside from noise.

I'm currently running 37" R/T's and love them. I drive 90% highway, I'm at roughly 20k miles and they are wearing well, and are just now starting to make noise while driving, and it's not bad at all. As far as mud, I have found as long as there is a bottom to thick mud, they will get you out. Soupy stuff hasn't been an issue.

Either tire will give you great longevity and performance.

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 7:59 pm

That's great info, thank you. The more input the better from those who've had experience with either or both tires!

FirerescuePW · Post by **FirerescuePW** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 8:09 pm

Nick
I've run MTs for the last 40,000 or so in PA. I've run them as DD, towing an 8,500 lb camper (a lot), on trails, rocks, mud, etc. They've done well everywhere, with the exception of light snow. I feel that they don't have great traction until you are in several inches of snow. Some of that may be the 12.5 inch width, along with the lack of siping. In light stuff you need to watch the throttle closely, and don't be afraid to use 4WD. Otherwise, the rear wants to be the front. They didn't take much to balance, and I've never had them rebalanced. They are loud now. I have some cupping, but I think I have a wheel bearing going out on the LF causing bad wear paterns on both fronts. I would buy them again if I wasn't undecided between the MT and RT.

BTW, if you are in DE/MD, you could easily make it to Rausch Creek. Watch the forum for the next trip. We may try another this fall.

MoparToYou · Post by **MoparToYou** » Sun Jul 03, 2016 11:16 pm

My tire usage has been in the Rocky Mountains and in the southwest desert. I've owned several sets of Toyo MTs, dating back to 2004. I've used several other brands of tires as well, including Goodyear MTRs, Goodyear Duratrac, BFG KM1 and KM2, and KO1 and KO2s, Dick Cepek Fun Country, Falken Wild Peak ATs, Interco SSRs, and a few others that don't come to mind immediately. I keep trying other tires to hopefully find better tires, but without fail, when the other tires start to wear they always get replaced with Toyo MTs. I have found that they provide the best all around combination of traction and durability for the terrain I am in.

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 10:23 am

FirerescuePW wrote:Nick
I've run MTs for the last 40,000 or so in PA. I've run them as DD, towing an 8,500 lb camper (a lot), on trails, rocks, mud, etc. They've done well everywhere, with the exception of light snow. I feel that they don't have great traction until you are in several inches of snow. Some of that may be the 12.5 inch width, along with the lack of siping. In light stuff you need to watch the throttle closely, and don't be afraid to use 4WD. Otherwise, the rear wants to be the front. They didn't take much to balance, and I've never had them rebalanced. They are loud now. I have some cupping, but I think I have a wheel bearing going out on the LF causing bad wear paterns on both fronts. I would buy them again if I wasn't undecided between the MT and RT.

BTW, if you are in DE/MD, you could easily make it to Rausch Creek. Watch the forum for the next trip. We may try another this fall.

Again, great info here. What have you guys noticed regarding sway or pull to the right or left that I've read about?

I've heard of that event from time to time from the local jeep club. I don't know if I can handle hearing/reading it's a jeep thing 1000 times lol jk. Does the creek have big open trails for this behemoth? The nice thing about the big agricultural fields I drive for work are there aren't paint destroyers at every corner. This is the first bran new truck I've owned in my 36 years and trying to keep it as nice as I can as long as I can given that I actually use the truck offroad. From what I gather a lot of those destinations aren't full of wide open trails.

FirerescuePW · Post by **FirerescuePW** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:50 am

Oh, we don't go with Jeeps. We PW owners meet there every year in June. It was last weekend. Well, one token Jeep. Look for the Rausch Creek 2016 thread.

There is a right pull with the MTs. Carli has a stainless steel steering stabilizer that is pressurized to "correct" the pull. It just puts left pressure on the steering so you don't have to. I have one and it took away alot of the pull feeling.

Reloaderguy · Post by **Reloaderguy** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:52 pm

My intended use is more street and highway than offroad. While I think the MT looks better and I prefer the larger size, I think the RT fits my intended use better. I think the road manners of the RT are outstanding, they hum a little but not too bad. The whistle from the OE intake is louder than the sound of the tires. I don't think you'd go wrong with either.

I had the truck in sand this weekend. I could really feel the weight for sure. 4hi with the rear locker for the win!

RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 7:57 pm

FirerescuePW wrote:Nick
I've run MTs for the last 40,000 or so in PA. I've run them as DD, towing an 8,500 lb camper (a lot), on trails, rocks, mud, etc. They've done well everywhere, with the exception of light snow. I feel that they don't have great traction until you are in several inches of snow. Some of that may be the 12.5 inch width, along with the lack of siping. In light stuff you need to watch the throttle closely, and don't be afraid to use 4WD. Otherwise, the rear wants to be the front. They didn't take much to balance, and I've never had them rebalanced. They are loud now. I have some cupping, but I think I have a wheel bearing going out on the LF causing bad wear paterns on both fronts. I would buy them again if I wasn't undecided between the MT and RT.

BTW, if you are in DE/MD, you could easily make it to Rausch Creek. Watch the forum for the next trip. We may try another this fall.

I agree. I'm on my 2nd set of MT's. Avg tire life with my driving style is about 35,000 miles. When I off-road. I air down to 20 lbs front and rear. Some people have gotten the right pull with the MT's. I never had that with either set I've had. I've abused the tires at Moab, and Rausch Creek. Have gotten one flat at Rausch Creek. A rock through the sidewall.

Mikey, you need to rotate your tires mores.

Here's a link to this years Rausch Creek. Pictures are at the end of the thread.
http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =12&t=3624

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 8:51 pm

Honestly when I rotate my duratracs I end up with a pull sometimes and sometimes I don't. I remember the first rotation I did a standard x pattern swap and the truck pulled hard to the right. I then switched to the back to front same side/front crisscrossed to rear and the pull went away.

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 8:53 pm

Reloaderguy wrote:My intended use is more street and highway than offroad. While I think the MT looks better and I prefer the larger size, I think the RT fits my intended use better. I think the road manners of the RT are outstanding, they hum a little but not too bad. The whistle from the OE intake is louder than the sound of the tires. I don't think you'd go wrong with either.

I had the truck in sand this weekend. I could really feel the weight for sure. 4hi with the rear locker for the win!

Did you try that sand without the ties aired down at all? If so how'd they do?

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Mon Jul 04, 2016 10:01 pm

I've noticed it's hard to find pics of the 37x12.5r17 toyo mt vs the 37x13.5r17 toyo mt. The 12.50 tire is a d rated tire while the e rated tire is 13.50. I'm guessing because most of the pics are of diesel trucks which like the e tire. Anyone here with any experience on the 37x12.50r17 tire? Leaning toyo mt at this point.

FirerescuePW · Post by **FirerescuePW** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 11:34 am

Those tires rotate every time I drive.

But seriously, that weird wear pattern just started showing since the last rotation. I need some front end work, I think.

14PowerWaggy · Post by **14PowerWaggy** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 2:04 pm

NickTF wrote:I've noticed it's hard to find pics of the 37x12.5r17 toyo mt vs the 37x13.5r17 toyo mt. The 12.50 tire is a d rated tire while the e rated tire is 13.50. I'm guessing because most of the pics are of diesel trucks which like the e tire. Anyone here with any experience on the 37x12.50r17 tire? Leaning toyo mt at this point.

I know its not apples to apples but I ran them on my 13 JKUR... They rode really good and were pretty quite for what they are... They were pretty stiff for the much lighter weight of a Jeep... I currently have Nittos and will more than likely be going back to a Toyo when these are worn out... Unless I start to see some really good reviews on the new Nitto Ridge Grappler...

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 2:35 pm

I think I've got my answer on why I can't seem to find any pics of the 12.5" wide 37" toyo m/t. I've exchanged about 15 emails with Toyo now who were adamant that I run the e-rated 13.5" tire. Their basis for this suggestion appears to be that they have no idea that the power wagon exists with an 8-ply d-rated duratrac (said my truck calls for a e-10ply tire). The load index on the oem tire is 121 with the load index on the toyo 12.5" d-rated 8-ply tire being 124. Doesn't seem like their recommendation has any basis. I love the look of the big wide tire but at nearly 2" wider according to their measurements and a pinch taller I have a feeling I'd hate the wider 13.5" tire on my factory lift vs the 12.5" wide tire.

Reloaderguy · Post by **Reloaderguy** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 2:54 pm

The MT 37X13.5 is probably the largest tire that size available. I wouldn't run it with the factory lift.

Reloaderguy · Post by **Reloaderguy** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:31 pm

NickTF wrote:
Reloaderguy wrote:My intended use is more street and highway than offroad. While I think the MT looks better and I prefer the larger size, I think the RT fits my intended use better. I think the road manners of the RT are outstanding, they hum a little but not too bad. The whistle from the OE intake is louder than the sound of the tires. I don't think you'd go wrong with either.

I had the truck in sand this weekend. I could really feel the weight for sure. 4hi with the rear locker for the win!

Did you try that sand without the ties aired down at all? If so how'd they do?

I did not air down. Only a portion of the sand was soft, which is where the truck's weight was most obvious. We had BBQ fish on the beach and then headed south. The PW is an awesome road-trip machine! The RT feels ideal.

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Tue Jul 05, 2016 10:42 pm

^^^couldnt agree more, took mine up to Niagara Falls as a present for the wife (the trip) and it was very comfortable! I can get across the loose sand with the OEM tires not aired down and lockers engaged in 4w hi but it's a struggle and a half was hoping the bigger foot print would help some there.

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Sun Jul 10, 2016 5:35 pm

Having owned both I really like both but Rt are absolutely amazing in sand very quite and really not much noticeable difference in the mud imho

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

NickTF · Post by **NickTF** » Mon Jul 11, 2016 9:52 am

Well went the way of the 37x12.5r17 Toyo MT. From what I gather noise and slight reduction in wet and light snow traction due to less siping are only drawbacks. Will give some feedback for the thread when tire is on the truck!

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37" Toyo RTs or MTs

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