A few days after the tires arrived at OK Auto we took the Jeep to get the tires mounted and balanced on the Jeep’s Moab wheels. We also took the opportunity while the Jeep was on the lift to look over the underside of the Jeep and check for pulled tight brake lines, wires, hoses, etc.
Below are some comparison differences between the factory BFG Mud Terrain tires and the Duratracs. We chose not to go with a much larger tire which made the 285/70R17 size perfect.
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The tires were removed from the Jeep and the air was let out of the tires to allow them to be unmounted. Today’s tire mounting/un-mounting machines make for a relatively effortless process.
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After a tire was mounted and balanced we took a few more comparison pictures. These show the tires in equal conditions, mounted and unmounted off the Jeep.
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The tires were all mounted and ready for installation on the Jeep. While still on the lift we checked for rubbing. The drivers side rear is a known problem spot for the tire rubbing on the rear sway bar. The suspension extended will make the gap grow smaller since the track bar makes the axle shift toward the passenger side. On this Jeep the tire just fits, any wider and it would rub.
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After all the tires were on the Jeep was lowered and the wheels were torqued to 90 ft lb. We were very pleased with the Jeep’s look and stance.
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Impressions
The new tires were inflated to 35 psi for the initial trip. The noise of the tire was immediately noticeable – more like the lack of noise compared to the BFG tires. There was a hum typical to all tires of this kind but the hum was less noticeable and of a different tone. The Jeep drove the same as before and there wasn’t any noticeable loss in power. Check back for an update after a few months of driving.
Comparison Pictures
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UPDATE – Rain Driving
A nice fall rainy day fell upon the northeast so we hit the street to see if these Duratracs lived up to their reputation and to say it frankly, they sure did. The increased grip over the BFG tires was very noticeable. Stomping on the gas and allowing the 285HP of the new Pentastar engine did manage to spin the rear wheels but only briefly. The Jeep’s new tires quickly managed to find traction and have us on our way. Cornering and stopping were very impressive too. Winter is quickly approaching..we can’t wait to dig into some snow.
UPDATE – Snow
The northeast weathered an unexpected freak snowstorm in late October. This storm wreaked havoc in several states due to heavy snow and leaves still on the trees. Through all this we got a chance to put the new tires to the test in the new fallen snow. There was packed roads to slush all of which the Jeep handled exceptionally. The Duratracs dug in and stuck to the surface much better than most mud type tires. The special tread pattern and generous sipes allow the tires to maintain grip. We tested the Jeep in both 2wd and 4wd. Stopping performance was exceptional too.
