Pulled the trigger on TW Guard Dogs-let the test thread begin!
#1
Pulled the trigger on TW Guard Dogs-let the test thread begin!
Ordered my 265/75/16 Guard Dogs day before last-hopefully they'll be here about this time next week. It doesn't seem like there are that many guys on here running them, so I figured a test thread would be in order. Once the tires get on my truck there will be some slight mods:
1.5" T-bar crank up front
Shaved bumpstops
Sway bar bye-bye
Slightly longer front shocks
14"/200lb ZUK springs in the rear
16" Tundra wheels
1" spacers
"Lincoln Locked" rear end
The truck is not a DD-it's my firewood hauler/hunting rig, occasional wheeler, which is why I decided to weld the rear. One of the first missions with the new rubber and the locked rear end will be exploring a new hunting spot where the only road in has been cut by an articulated skidder with tires taller than my truck-with chains on them to boot Though I will be using the truck to get to work when the weather is bad (DD is a Corolla) I didn't opt for the "Kedge Grip" as while it does improve winter traction, it also causes the tires to wear faster. A guy over on Marlin's forums has been testing the Guard Dogs in Montana for nearly 30K mile now and did not get the Kedge Grip either and says the tires are still great on ice and snow. Stay tuned...
1.5" T-bar crank up front
Shaved bumpstops
Sway bar bye-bye
Slightly longer front shocks
14"/200lb ZUK springs in the rear
16" Tundra wheels
1" spacers
"Lincoln Locked" rear end
The truck is not a DD-it's my firewood hauler/hunting rig, occasional wheeler, which is why I decided to weld the rear. One of the first missions with the new rubber and the locked rear end will be exploring a new hunting spot where the only road in has been cut by an articulated skidder with tires taller than my truck-with chains on them to boot Though I will be using the truck to get to work when the weather is bad (DD is a Corolla) I didn't opt for the "Kedge Grip" as while it does improve winter traction, it also causes the tires to wear faster. A guy over on Marlin's forums has been testing the Guard Dogs in Montana for nearly 30K mile now and did not get the Kedge Grip either and says the tires are still great on ice and snow. Stay tuned...
Last edited by Badfish740; 03-21-2012 at 05:16 PM.
#2
YotaTech Milestone-Two Millionth Post
good luck. I think you will be pleased. have over 20k on the ones on my wife's 4runner and they still look like new. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f105...runner-229005/
#3
Came home to a nice surprise in the driveway yesterday-four 265/75/16 Guard Dogs! They're all on BFG MT casings (I had noted that I didn't care if the casings matched in an effort to get them here quicker) and they're pretty mean looking tires-can't wait to get them on my Tundra wheels. Unmounted they stand a full 32"-depending on pressure they will probably be a hair taller mounted on my 7" wide wheels. They're a nice size for a mildly lifted truck like mine (T-bar crank in front, ZUK spring in the rear)-the only problem is I think I'm going to have to order another one. I was intending on using an old General Grabber AT2 265/75/16 off of my old Ford as a spare, but unmounted that tire is barely 31" tall. I guess it would be OK in a pinch but I'd rather have something that matched more closely in size. Hopefully will be getting them mounted and installed Saturday.
#5
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Where did you take them to get mounted? Some places around here won't mount retreads...plus they seem to have a difficult time balancing them. I'm looking into the same tires, but not if its going to be a PITA to get them on.
#7
Now time for the review-first of all they look great and I'm glad I only went with 265/75/16s. They stand a full 32" tall but aren't that wide. Since I was already running 3.75" backspacing I didn't want a tire that stuck out a lot because Jersey cops love to give out tickets for that. I don't want to run mudflaps and don't want to shell out the $$$ for fender flares. 32" is just enough for the amount of lift I have too-33s would have been pushing it a bit since I really haven't done any trimming-just pinch weld pounding. You can see my initial impressions of the tires here in my build thread as well as the fit. I'll post updates on mileage and treadwear here though. The truck is not a DD so it will take a while before I get a lot of miles on them, but since this is my hunting rig/woodhauler the miles they do see will be hard-especially once I get my rear welded up. Here's a pic of the truck after I tried them out for the first time:
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#9
UPDATE:
Still haven't done a real trailride with them yet, but I did head out to one of my woodcutting spots specifically to hit some areas I would normally avoid when the truck was stock-one was a low lying area that did have a road going through it (made by a skidder with massive chevron treads), and the other was a steep hillside with some loose gravel and stone. In both instances the Guard Dogs performed flawlessly with no detectable wheel slip. Not only do these things dig-they're grippy as hell. Also while I was in there I picked up about 1000lbs of rock (I'm building a firepit in my backyard and wanted to use some of the local granite) which the ZUK mod helped with. I had the Treadwrights inflated to 35 psi (max is 65) which seemed to work fine. I won't be doing much on-road driving with these, but off-road I couldn't be more happy with them. It will be interesting to see how they do in the snow next winter.
Still haven't done a real trailride with them yet, but I did head out to one of my woodcutting spots specifically to hit some areas I would normally avoid when the truck was stock-one was a low lying area that did have a road going through it (made by a skidder with massive chevron treads), and the other was a steep hillside with some loose gravel and stone. In both instances the Guard Dogs performed flawlessly with no detectable wheel slip. Not only do these things dig-they're grippy as hell. Also while I was in there I picked up about 1000lbs of rock (I'm building a firepit in my backyard and wanted to use some of the local granite) which the ZUK mod helped with. I had the Treadwrights inflated to 35 psi (max is 65) which seemed to work fine. I won't be doing much on-road driving with these, but off-road I couldn't be more happy with them. It will be interesting to see how they do in the snow next winter.
#11
Still very happy with the Treadwrights-I drive the truck once or twice a week these days for trips to the dump, picking up firewood, and the occasional quick wheeling trip. They're wearing really well-in fact that tread still looks damn near brand new! No dry rotting, cracking, chunking, or any of the other BS people were telling me was going to happen.
#13
#15
Almost a year later (haven't been on in a long time) and I'm still loving my Treadwrights. In fact I'm probably going to get a set of Wardens for my wife's SUV once the tires on it wear out. We might even finally get some real snow to test them out on this weekend.
#16
We did get some snow in early February-nothing big, but I got a chance to try the Guard Dogs out on snow covered roads and to do some snow wheeling with them (forgot to bring the camera )-best mud tires I've ever used in snow, hands down, and I didn't even get the Kedge Grip. Did a little wheeling with them yesterday:
More pics here:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post52046651
More pics here:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post52046651
#18
Other First-Hand Experience?
Thanks for sharing, guys!
I need to get off-road tires for my truck. Just need the truck to get me to trailhead and back. Some on some muddy, dirt roads, some on paved mountain road with snow (usually Southern California).
Considering the BFG All-terrains, OR the treadwright Guard Dogs.
BFG AT are a safe bet for my application. However, they're pricey.
The Treadwright Guard Dogs are less expensive, and have more aggressive tread pattern.
I have only found good first-hand experiences online about the Guard Dogs. The rest are fears from people who theorize.
May I know if anyone on this forum has had any bad first-hand experience with either tire? Again, no theories please.
Tire Size:
Could not seem to find them in stock 225/75R15, so will probably get 31x10.5x15. I believe these are drop-ins on the stock rims?
TIA
I need to get off-road tires for my truck. Just need the truck to get me to trailhead and back. Some on some muddy, dirt roads, some on paved mountain road with snow (usually Southern California).
Considering the BFG All-terrains, OR the treadwright Guard Dogs.
BFG AT are a safe bet for my application. However, they're pricey.
The Treadwright Guard Dogs are less expensive, and have more aggressive tread pattern.
I have only found good first-hand experiences online about the Guard Dogs. The rest are fears from people who theorize.
May I know if anyone on this forum has had any bad first-hand experience with either tire? Again, no theories please.
Tire Size:
Could not seem to find them in stock 225/75R15, so will probably get 31x10.5x15. I believe these are drop-ins on the stock rims?
TIA
#19
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Thanks for sharing, guys!
I need to get off-road tires for my truck. Just need the truck to get me to trailhead and back. Some on some muddy, dirt roads, some on paved mountain road with snow (usually Southern California).
Considering the BFG All-terrains, OR the treadwright Guard Dogs.
BFG AT are a safe bet for my application. However, they're pricey.
The Treadwright Guard Dogs are less expensive, and have more aggressive tread pattern.
I have only found good first-hand experiences online about the Guard Dogs. The rest are fears from people who theorize.
May I know if anyone on this forum has had any bad first-hand experience with either tire? Again, no theories please.
Tire Size:
Could not seem to find them in stock 225/75R15, so will probably get 31x10.5x15. I believe these are drop-ins on the stock rims?
TIA
I need to get off-road tires for my truck. Just need the truck to get me to trailhead and back. Some on some muddy, dirt roads, some on paved mountain road with snow (usually Southern California).
Considering the BFG All-terrains, OR the treadwright Guard Dogs.
BFG AT are a safe bet for my application. However, they're pricey.
The Treadwright Guard Dogs are less expensive, and have more aggressive tread pattern.
I have only found good first-hand experiences online about the Guard Dogs. The rest are fears from people who theorize.
May I know if anyone on this forum has had any bad first-hand experience with either tire? Again, no theories please.
Tire Size:
Could not seem to find them in stock 225/75R15, so will probably get 31x10.5x15. I believe these are drop-ins on the stock rims?
TIA
#20
Yes, Benny91. I like the more moderate pattern but warden's are not in stock according to their website.