Super Swampers

regcab02HD · January 6, 2003

I was just wondering if anyone had some type of Super Swampers on their HD? I have a set of 265/75/16 Trxus on my HD right now. After those wear out, I'm gonna put on a set of 265/80/16 TSL Radials.

Does anyone have any experience with TSL Radials. I was just wondering how well they ride?

Larry · January 8, 2003

regcab02HD,

That is a real nice looking truck you have. I like the look of standard cab HD’s especially with Ranchhand treatment.

I think I am one of the only members that frequently visits these forums that is running SuperSwampers. I have a set a set of Q78 x 16 (35.5”) bias ply TSL’s on an older K10. There is only one word to describe how they perform in the mud and snow…awesome. I would have to say you are defiantly on the right track on looking for radials as these bias ply tires that I have will shake the teeth right out of your head in no time flat.

Swampers are great tires, if not the best, to do what they were meant to do but I am not so sure these are the best choice of tires you would want to put on a daily driver even if you go the radial route…unless you like to purchase tires quite often or unless you drive both ways uphill in 8” if mud everyday. You probably already know, the tread life of any mudder is much less than an all-terrain tire. Due to the softness and large spaced out lugs on Swamper TSL radials they will most likely wear at out on a daily driver even at higher rate than other mud tires. I have had my bias Swampers for a little over a year and haven’t noticed any wear at all…but this truck has only seen at the most 800 miles since I put them on. A buddy of mine wore out a set of 35/12.50x16 radial TSL’s in less than 10,000 miles in a daily driver 1999 2500 Dodge Ram. The short life was not due to lack of maintenance, as he is very religious about tire rotations and air pressure maintenance.

If you want to surf some good forums where more of the dire off-road crowd hangs out who can give you more personal experience opinions check out www.coloradok5.com

This situation was much worse than the picture makes it out to be. The mud is wet adobe, which is like heavy tar. The fact I don’t have lockers doesn’t help much either.

HendyPhoto · January 8, 2003

Larry, cool pictures, looks like you have alot of fun!

SWLA · January 8, 2003

Regcab02HD,

How many miles do you have on your tires? Are they getting close to wearing out? I just put a set of 255/85 Trxus on my truck. I was wondering what ther life expectancy should be. The guys at Interco told me I could get 40,000 miles out of them if I rotate and balance often. Seemed optimistic to me.

DuckhunterInTN · January 9, 2003

SWLA,

How do you like those 255's? I am thinking about getting some myself. Do they pull well? Do you have any pics?

regcab02HD · January 9, 2003

SWLA,

I only have 8,000 miles on the tires. I don't expect to get 15,000 out of them. Two of the tires are wearing alot more than the other two, even though I rotate them every 2,500-3,000 miles.

I have a freind that has 36x14.50 TSL Radials. He has over 15,000 miles on the tires and they still have 2/3 tread. The TSL's tread is alot harder than my TRXUS.

I thought I was going to get 30,000 miles out of them, but it sure doesn't seem possible.

DuckhunterInTN · January 9, 2003

regcab02HD,

Thanks for the info (even though it wasn't directed at me), I didn't read the part where you had them too. I am really suprised that they are wearing out that fast, I thought I read that they had a pretty hard compound. I have had a set of Dueler MT's and Buckshot Maxis Mudders, have you had either of these tires? If so, how do they compare to the Trxus? Thanks!

regcab02HD · January 10, 2003

Duckhunter, I can't really help you. I have no experience with with Buckshots or Dueler Mt's. I've heard the Buckshots last around 25-30,000 miles, but I'm not sure.

HendyPhoto · January 10, 2003

Swampers are sweet, especially the SSR's. They are good in snow and on wet pavement. I loved them on my dakota. I had 33x12.50's and they were nice, and not too loud. I wanted them on my GMC, but they dont make that tire in a 36x14.50, although you can get alot of smaller sizes and they make a 35x14.50. Swamper has alot of those hard to find tire sizes. here is the page about SSR's. SSR's

HendyPhoto · January 10, 2003

Here is a picture of the SSR Super Swamper

SWLA · January 10, 2003

DuckhunterInTN,

I will try to take some pics this weekend. I haven't towed anything since I got them, but I haven't noticed any difference in performance going to a taller tire. I heaviest thing I pull is a small trailer with a 4 wheeler, probably not more than 1,500 pounds. Rarely pull a 20 foot boat. I doubt I'll notice any difference as I am nowhere near the GCVW of the Duramax. Maybe if I was pulling a 10,000 pound trailer there could be some noticeable difference. I will say they are quiet compared to most mud tires. I noticed them for about 3-4 days, but now I only hear them if I listen for them. I'm gonna go out a limb and assume from your signature you like to shoot ducks. I hope your killing more ducks than I am this year. We were killing a lot of birds the first split, but the second split has been very slow, almost as bad as last year. Only 9 days left for us.

regcab02HD,

I'm suprised to hear that. Most people I have talked to have gotten at least 20,000 miles. I'm going to have to be very religious about rotating and balancing.

DuckhunterInTN · January 10, 2003

SWLA,

Thanks for the info. I would love to see some pics.

Where are you located? Duck hunting has, in most states from everybody I have talked to, been pretty slow. Unfortunately, I personally have not been able to go just a whole lot this year, but our blind has been doing fairly well for us in West Tennessee). We normally don't kill near the ducks that Reelfoot and Arkansas kill but this year our blind has been doing better than most. We are killing in the double digits on most days usually anywhere from 10-20 ducks a day. Good luck with the rest of your season!

SWLA · January 10, 2003

DuckhunterInTN,

I live in Lake Charles, LA. We lease rice field blinds in Gueydan and Klondike. Like you I haven't been able to hunt as much this year. Made a dozen or so hunts the first split, but I haven't been able to hunt the 2nd split. I've had to live vicariously through my friends, and everyone agrees that the hunting in Nov. was much better than what we got now. But we had colder weather in the fall than we've had this winter. Its 60 degrees today, and thats as cold as its been all week. We need a nice front to push some of your ducks down here.

DuckhunterInTN · January 12, 2003

I almost took a guess that the "LA" in your name stood for that.

Unfortunately, I haven't even been able to go a dozen times this year. The weather up here has been crazy, too. It was 60 deg at the beginning of this week and now its 25 deg. Like you, we keep wishing that it would get colder north of us so that it would push some ducks down....I think that a similar wish is held by every duck hunter all the way up the flyway to Canada

TxDoc · January 13, 2003

I had Maxxis Buckshot Mudders on my last truck. They cleaned well, were kinda noisy (but it's a mud tire and performance was worth the little bit of whine), and lasted almost 40,000 miles on a 5900 pound truck.

The Discount Tire Dealer here is a friend and he sells most of the major brands. The TrXus has been doing great on mileage and low er noise levels. The TSL's don't seem to last as long--according to him.

If I went back to a mud-specific tire, I would probable get what you have, the TrXus. Why are you wanting to switch?