El Taco Diablo... Mall Crawlin, now with LT for tall curbs

Alright... let's get this thread back up to date.

Did some Mod Day stuff with @MattJakobs @Blue Canary and @siznarf

 

Added a couple patches to the collection.

 

Picked up some >FREE< seats from a BMW 128i



Along with some more of the parts for the sound system.

 

Finally got my coilovers (after 22 weeks of waiting)



And got them installed today.

 

That knupconceptz wire is great. I used it to remake my entire engine wire harness no. 2 with thicker gage.

 

That stuff looks like it's some bad ass shit. I can't believe how flexible the 1 gauge is. That's what is tied in a knot.

 

I went with it because it was OFC. Best electron flow or something. Its bendability was a big plus.

 

Let's talk tires!

Gunna tag a bunch of people whom I value their opinion. But feel free (anyone) to chime in. @foxrcing07 @rob1208 @MattJakobs @Pella @nDub @theesotericone @CalTacoma09 @Fernando @Phessor

Doesn't look like I'll be able to re-gear before I need the next set of tires (lead times are around 6 months at ECGS). I'm thinking about changing tire size though.

Interested in 285 75R17 this will get me a bit taller tire, but not that much wider than the 285 70R17s I'm running. But here's the question. I've been wanting to switch to Cooper STT Pros. They don't come in 75R17... Here are the options I am finding. (in order of my amount of interest in each)

Yokahama Geolander M/T
Nitto Trail Grappler M/T
Cooper S/T MAX A/T

I'm looking, obviously, for traction on the trails we're all familiar with, but I'm also wanting to have something I can rely on for snow trips. (A lot of the time I stay out of the snow because I second guess the tires I've run).


OR... I can stay with 285 70R17 and go with the Pros.

 

I have no experience with the tires you have chosen, I went with BF Goodrich KM3’S. But the Cooper SST Pro's were in the running when I was looking.
That said, I am very happy with my choice so far.

 

Them coopers are tits. Anyway you can run 35s for a bit till gears come in?

 

Size matters.

When do you plan on doing a regear?
6 months for ECGS seems extremely long. Have you called to verify?

I say think about the end game.
Do you want to have 4.88s or 5.29s?
Will you ever bump up to a 35? If yes, 5.29s. I'm happy with 35s and 5.29s, and I think @theesotericone is happy with his set up too (though I think I remember him saying he'd even go taller if he could).
Most people I know on 4.88s and 35s wish they opted for 5.29s.

I have a good buddy running ST MAXX and he loves them.
I think @Don5352 is running the Yokahamas

 

Nitto has some great tires.

I’ve run a few different Cooper tires and they’re great but in my experience they don’t last very long.

No idea about the Yokohama’s but they look good.

 

When I re-gear, there is no doubt I will go 5.29

I'd go 35 if I was already regeared. But I don't want to make that jump in tire without having the regear first. My trans temps already run hotter than I'd like, and I'm just running 285s right now.

 

Dont be a pussy like me an DO IT!!! LOL. Got another vehicle you can use? Seems like a waste of cash man

 

Call ECGS and ask about that lead time like @MattJakobs suggested. 6 weeks is a long lead time for them. 6 months seems insane.

As far as tires go. Get the 35's and just suck it up until your new diff's arrive.

I'd get Nitto out of anything on that list. They are a great tire. So is Toyo. Are you wanting to go with a M/T? The new "hybrid" tires are pretty rad. I ran 295/70/17 Ridge Grapplers for a year before I went to 35's. That tire was great. The largest weight to balance them was 2 oz. Most only took 3/4 - 1 oz. Compare that with my Pitbulls that each took over a pound and still drive like shit on the highway. The Ridge Grap handles everything well. Rock, sand, mud, snow. It's a lot quieter then a true M/T. Once I where these Pitbulls out I'm going back to the Ridge Grap.

 

With how much you drive daily, I would re-gear first

 

Ya... But my tires are to the point I'm going to need new ones soon. Especially if I want to do any snow runs.

 

If you had an 8.4 in the rear I would have a solution for you

 

I've been running ST/Maxx for two sets now, and I get about 45-50K out of a set. They are a pretty ideal tire if you ask me - good pavement wear (esp. compared to a MT like STT Pro or KM3) and a nice hybrid tire for dirt - so more aggressive than an AT tire.

Digiratus ran the ST Pros, and only got about 20K out of them before he felt like they were done. He didn't get another set.

If you're looking for good snow performance, and want a AT/MT hybrid, can you get Duratracs in the size you want? Of the tires I've run, they have done by far the best in snow.

As far as size/gears. How long does it take you to go through a set of tires? That's what would decide (for me) on whether to get 35s now, or wait until the regear. If you go through tires in 2 years, and don't mind the wait, I'd go that way. Going to 35s on stock gearing - esp. with an auto - is going to be less than ideal (as I can tell you already feel).

 

I’m running 295/70/17 St Maxx tires on 4.88s. The coopers have been awesome, lots of traction. However they are pretty soft and have loss a few chunks this wheeling season. I often wish I would have run with 5.29s over 4.88s