RockCrawler.com

Category: Product Reviews

  • First Look: Yokohama GEOLANDAR X-MT

    First Look: Yokohama GEOLANDAR X-MT

    Closeup: Yokohama GEOLANDER X-MTHow many times have you been wheeling in the past 10 years and noticed someone on Yokohama GEOLANDAR tires? Never? The GEOLANDAR line was popular in the 80’s and 90s…but all but vanished from the offroad enthusiast market.

    On July 1, 2018, that’s going to change. 

    I was invited to attend the media release of the new Yokohama GEOLANDAR X-MT G005 series at Johnson Valley CA, home of the famous Hammers trails. This area is well known for its brutal terrain and challenging wheeling. What better location to put this new Extreme Mud Terrain tire through its paces.

    The GEOLANDAR X-MT boasts a highly aggressive tread pattern, excellent for rocks, sand, dirt and mud. It’s built to contend one on one with the other kings of the rock crawling market, including the BFGoodrich Krawler. Our test mules ran the 40×13.50R17LT size on a variety of built rigs. I piloted the well-known GenRight Terremoto with Tony Pellegrino keeping a close eye on me…from the back seat <wink>

    Our test covered much of the GenRight KOH Experience course. The GEOLANDER X-MT tires handled every mistake I made…carrying too much speed into a washout, tagging rocks, missing turns and taking optional lines, and generally just overdriving my skillset (I’m a crawler, and 600+ horsepower and suspension to match shows my driving weaknesses). The GEOLANDAR X-MT didn’t care…traction was excellent, directional stability pulled me back on the lines easily, and the tires found plenty of traction when I failed to read lines on the rocky climbs. Honestly, they almost made me look like I knew what I was doing.

    The GenRight Terremoto, shod in 40" Yokohama GEOLANDAR X-MT tires.We tested in the 8-10 psi range…the tires easily wrapped around obstacles and found traction. The high void ratio allowed the X-MT lugs to hold onto edges and pull the tire up and over. That same open design allowed them to excel in the sand, similar to a paddle tire. Sidehills were no issue either, the center tread design helped control any issues there. 

    The new GEOLANDAR X-MT boasts the following:

    • Open design tread blocks, designed to offer optimal traction, controlled crawling and easy self-cleaning…combined with aggressive sidewall and shoulder lugs, they should offer excellent sidewall protection
    • Triple-density polymer compound for long wear and cut resistance
    • New GEO-SHIELD construction with a 3-ply construction and extra thick sidewalls
    • Computerized tread pattern to minimize noise and maximize comfort for those trips between trailheads

    Testing was with the 40×13.50R17 and Yokohama is keeping them big for the GEOLANDAR X-MT. Available sizes will cover 17-20 inch wheels and 35-40 inch diameters…and yes, there are 42’s coming. Also coming are 38″ and 40″ tires for 22″ and 24″ wheels. Stickys??  YES…but availability may be limited initially to the race programs. 

    I was impressed with what Yokohama brought to the terrain, and look forward to seeing them hit the market and the enthusiasts. Watch for the new GEOLANDAR X-MT on the trails and I suspect you’ll be impressed as well. 

    GEOLANDAR X-MT's on Chocolate Thunder in Johnson Valley
    A week after this photo was taken, Cameron Harris placed first at the Old School Rock Crawl in Legends Class with his Yokohama GEOLANDER X-MT tires….congratulations!

     

    Sidewall flex with the GEOLANDAR X-MT tires
    The GEOLANDER X-MT tires made short work of every obstacle.

     

    LOTS of void space on the GEOLANDAR X-MT's
    Yes, there is some serious void ratio on the X-MT’s

     

    One of the many great trails we ran on GEOLANDAR X-MT tires.

     

    Tony Pellegrino and his Terremoto climbing Chocolate Thunder on GEOLANDAR X-MT tires

     

     

  • Hutchinson’s DOT Compliant Dual Beadlock Rims

    Hutchinson’s DOT Compliant Dual Beadlock Rims

    Hutchinson DOT Beadlock Wheels - photo credit: Mike DavidsonOver ten years ago, three sets of tires, and well over 75,000 miles, the Hutchinson beadlocks have proven themselves countless times. These DOT-compliant street-legal rims are built to last. Keep in mind that many of those miles were under a fully loaded 80 series Land Cruiser tackling some of the hardest terrain we could find. The only casualty being some minor scrapes around the edges.Rim scraping, Hutchinson DOT Beadlock Wheels - photo credit: Mike Davidson

    Hutchinson’s design incorporates an inner spacer that securely clamps both the inner and outer bead at lowered or zero pressure. This increases traction, keeps debris out of the tire, improves braking, and makes the vehicle safer by reducing the risk of rollover.

    A fear of mine was wheeling with a lot of weight up high, running low pressure, and losing a bead. Losing a tire on an off camber side hill being the worst situation I could imagine. That is no longer an issue running these and the peace of mind was more than worth it. Not top heavy, at all :-) - photo credit: Mike Davidson

    On one trip a pinch flat destroyed a Toyo Open Country MT, said to have one of the toughest sidewalls, without any damage to the Hutchinson. Having these allowed me to drive to safety without the fear of separating a tire.
    Through Rocks…

    Hutchinson DOT Beadlocks, on the rocks... - photo credit: Mike Davidson

    Mud…

    Hutchinson DOT Beadlocks, in the mud... - photo credit: Mike Davidson

    Sand…

    Hutchinson DOT Beadlocks, in the sand... - photo credit: Mike Davidson

    and snow.

    Hutchinson DOT Beadlocks, in the snow... - photo credit: Mike Davidson

    They have performed flawlessly. Torqued to the recommended 100 +/- 5 FT-LB [136 +/- 7 NM], they have never leaked and required zero maintenance.

    Hutchinson DOT Beadlock Wheels - photo credit: Mike Davidson

    Specifications:
    Hutchinson P/N WA-0567
    Size 17 x 8.5″
    Bolt pattern 6H – 139.7 mm BCD
    Lug style M12 shank nut (hub piloted)
    Hub bore diameter 4.18″ (106.2 mm)
    SAE rated load 2,750 lbs. – 60 psi
    Backspacing 4.51″ (114.3 mm)
    Construction Cast aluminum alloy

  • Making the Tire Choice – Cooper Tire Discoverer AT3 and ST Maxx review

    Making the Tire Choice – Cooper Tire Discoverer AT3 and ST Maxx review

    Ever slipped on a wet garage floor? Now angle that same garage floor to 30 degrees and try walking up it…both the Cooper Tire Discoverer AT3 and the ST Maxx tires were developed to conquer that slick challenge, and perform safely and reliably both on and off the road.

    One of the most agonizing choices people make after selecting their new vehicle is choosing replacement tires. Offroad and other motorsports enthusiasts make this worse due to the demands we place on our equipment and the varied use and abuse they may get.

    As you go through your options, Cooper Tire is likely one of the candidates. Two of their mid-aggressive tires are the Discoverer AT3 and the ST Maxx. Each of these are excellent choices for both on and off road use for your truck or SUV. (more…)

  • Jeep JK at Superlift ORV Park

    01_morning_trailerAnyone paying attention knows that Jeep’s 2007 Wrangler (JK) is about the hottest thing to hit the four-wheeling market this year. Being all-new means that every aftermarket company in existence is scrambling to come out with goodies for it. While some of those companies will be late arrivals, others will be early on the scene. Of those early birds, some will have advantages over others.

    One of those with an advantage is Superlift. Our pals down South have some pretty good ties with the folks at DaimlerChrysler, as well as AEV. Those relationships allowed the Superlift gang some early access to the new JK. In fact, some of the testing was even done at Superlift’s ORV Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. (more…)