New General Grabbers installed!

[The Roadie]

New job = new tires, and after a note from Kyle, he got me to spend the $$ on the General Grabbers, exclusively at 4WD until Aug. 1. I almost went back to another set of Procomp XTreme MTs, but these are unique and targeted to the desert heat, and would let me try new things and keep writing about leading edge stuff. After I looked at a set today, I bought 'em. Load range E - LT285/75-16. 67 pounds each.

Won't be in until Monday, though - also the first day at the new job. Probably won't have pics until Tuesday.

http://www.generaltire.com/tires/T30/Gr ... August-1st

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techarticl ... index.html

[irishboy02]

Looks like a pretty good desert tread. Should perform pretty well on sand + rocks.

[rgraboske]

Isn't that about twice the weight of the stock tire?

[irishboy02]

Not sure what the stock tire weight is off hand. Roadie, whats the tread depth on those.

[bgwolfpack]

Can't wait to see them on the Roadiemobile.

[Philberto]

Now I gotta get my km2's so we can compare... maybe in 6 months.

[The Roadie]

Tread depth 18/32".

Typical OEM tire weight is 34-36 pounds.

And my AR Mojave wheels weigh more as well, but I don't have data there. I should probably get it. And the spacers weigh a bit.
So yes, each one is about twice the weight of stockers. Even more reason to air them down to get the tires to soak up as much as possible of the small bumps to avoid stressing the shocks any more than necessary.

But it certainly is a huge clue why the suspension parts and shocks need to be beefed up or replaced far more often than normal. I tear my hair out when noobs on the OS ask "exactly how much stress do spacers put on the wheel hubs and precisely how many fewer miles will I get out of a set before I have to spend my last dollar to replace 'em?" Whiney, whiney, whiney.

Don't ask that sort of question, noob. You can't afford to play in the big leagues. You'd probably shit if you broke a tie rod end 20 miles from pavement.

[The Roadie]

Install Tuesday AM on the way to work. For extra credit, see if you can think of WHY I'm installing these in a totally uncustomary fashion, according to my personal rules of engagement.

[rgraboske]

Install Tuesday AM on the way to work. For extra credit, see if you can think of WHY I'm installing these in a totally uncustomary fashion, according to my personal rules of engagement.

Because the Red just looks cool? Or, you wanted to color coordinate you cargo hold tie downs with the red letters?

[HARDTRAILZ]

I know but I wont let it out of the bag...

[Trail X]

Got a sponsorship Bill? Wanting to show off the brand?

[The Roadie]

Of all the sponsorships to lust after, a tire one would have saved me the most money. But alas, no. That's not it.

[bartonmd]

um... To match the red pin stripe on your wheels, right?

Mike

[The Roadie]

On! So round. So smooth! So like a real tire after the last year of unbalanceable worn ones!

[rgraboske]

Nice!

[bartonmd]

OK, so... Why are they red letters out?

Mike

[Trail X]

Yeah... seriously... are you running nascar or something this year?

Where's the black spray paint?

They also appear thinner than 285... look like 255 or so. Nice and skinny!

[HARDTRAILZ]

Looks good. I am really hoping they do as well as I think they will for you. Like I said...the whole time I was reading up on them, I kept thnking Roadie needs these, yep he needs these, well I ought to tell him. Glad I did in time for you to get some and tell us how they do long term.

Enjoy the new smoothness and performance.

[Gordinho80]

Bill? Why the red out???? What's going on here?????

[The Roadie]

They're 285/75-16. Don't think they're made in the 255 expedition size.

OK - the red-out has a functional rationalization. I'm currently embarrassed by the display of plumage, but the Icons are giving me a taller rest height in the front, even with the adjusting collars all the way down. So the camber is out of spec and can't be brought back in without fabbed upper control arms. So I'm going to be wearing my inner tire edge more than the outer, even with regular rotations of all five tires.

So the plan is to run five rotations at 3000 miles each, then at 15K, remount all the tires with black side out. At 30K, I'm certain they'll be toast like the ProComps were, so I only have to endure 15K miles of the embarrassing red. If I manage to find somebody to fab new UCAs to solve the camber problem, I'll remount the tires properly then.

I'm sure the mall cruisers plan to expose their boastful lettering for the entire life of their pampered tires.