Reader: Hello I have a '78 Scout Traveller that I have been building to compete in Top Truck Challenge. I think it is finally ready to try to enter. I was wondering if you can tell me when you accept applications for this event. I don't want to miss it.
Cheston Beck
Clinton, UT
Editor: Matter of fact, we're taking applications this month. Turn to page 52 for all the details, and we look forward to seeing your entry in our mailbox.
Reader: First of all, hats off to you on another superb magazine. I really enjoyed reading your tire tests (Sept. '07). Just wondering why you didn't include BFGoodrich in your tests? I own an '06 4x4 F-150 Ford Lariat Super Crew with BFGs on all four corners. I am very impressed with their performance. Up here in the north, we have a thing called Winter Roads (seasonal roads). Last year, I plowed through snow as high as my bumper for 189 kilometers to get home, and I only required four-wheel drive on one hill. I would buy the same brand of tires again when the need arrives. (P.S.: Thank you. Finally a magazine that does not have half-naked women on the cover.)
Wally Baskatawang
Cat Lake, Ontario, Canada
Reader: Does anyone advertise, promote, test, or sell Yokohama M/T tires anymore? It's been an excellent tire for me for the past 10 years. Where is Yokohama? Why is it that this brand of tire is not included in any recent published tire tests? Pro Comp (XTerrain) and Mickey Thompson (Baja Claw) are not the only (best) brands of promoting the use of directional tires. However, they are the most expensive to purchase. The Yokohama M/T is very competitive and economically priced. As a side note, Summit Racing discontinued this line from their inventory a year or two ago, so I'm in search of a new dealer. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Ryan
Salinas, CA
Reader: I was wondering if you guys could tell me what tire pressure I should be running on the street. I've got an '00 F-250 with an 8-inch lift with 38x15.50-16.5 Super Swamper radial TSLs. The max pressure on the tire is 65 psi.
Don Phillips
via fourwheeler.com
Editor: We test tires in batches as they become available via the manufacturers, so we don't really include or omit any particular tire on purpose-it's just a matter of timing. The only reason we hadn't tested any BFGs for awhile was, they hadn't produced a new tire for quite some time. That changed last month, however, when we tested the brand-new Mud-Terrain T/A KM2. Check out the November issue for our impressions. (If you can't find a copy, here's a one-word summary: Righteous!)
Yokohama? You'll get no argument from us. We've always liked the Geolandar line in particular, and according to our info, you can still get the M/T version in numerous sizes up to 35x12.50. Where to find 'em? Go to www.yokohama.com and click on the "Find a Dealer" field. We did, and found six tire stores in Salinas alone that should be able to score a set of Yokos for you.
What to run on the street? This is tough to answer definitively, as optimal inflation pressures can be influenced by factors like ambient temperature, vehicle speed, road composition, and how long you're driving between stops. You've also added some degree of weight to your fullsize V-8 truck in the form of a suspension lift and possibly (we're guessing) other aftermarket parts. We'd also guess you like to carry a load in your bed from time to time. While your Swamper is rated at 3,640 pounds at maximum inflation pressure, your radial's sidewall will flex a bit more under load than a bias-ply, and since you're driving a fairly heavy truck, we'd probably recommend that you keep close to the maximum recommended inflation pressure on the street.