Baja Legend

[James Morse]

EXP or MTZ? How would I choose?
Need 31x10.5 or 265/75R15 (same thing)
Mickey Thompson | Baja Legend EXP (mickeythompsontires.com)
Mickey Thompson | Baja Legend MTZ (mickeythompsontires.com)

I'd consider Pro XS if it was in my size, I like the symmetric tread, it's very aggressive, probably noisy on the road.

 

[Blmpkn]

Well... if you need a mud tire go with the mtz.

If your off roading isn't going to be a meaningful percentage of mud though... exp.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I run the EXP's on my truck. Good ride and acceptable traction. Not great in the snow but acceptable for the snow I've encountered. They are fairly quiet until it's time to rotate.

For my Bronco II... I'm really considering the MTZ.

 

[Curious Hound]

Either one looks like a good tire to try.

 

[James Morse]

Thanks. Snow isn't a consideration, it just isn't worth it to sacrifice other considerations for the, maybe, couple times a year it happens. There's nowhere I absolutely have to be, and in a few days it's gone. It would have to be some kind of emergency to make me take the '97 out in salt. True they "treat" the roads at the least hint of snow so some days you have to make a choice do I want crap all over the truck or wait until it rains and washes it off. I suppose you can drive in it, then hose off the truck, if the hose isn't frozen. I don't know if that helps - to me it seems like it's just pushing salt everywhere. To me it looks like it never saw salt so I'm not about to start now. I used to live up north so I'm pretty familiar with the effects of salt on things.

Now watch it snow all winter. It was 72F two days ago so we'll see. Originally I was thinking I did want something good in snow, but then I realized it was just because I was bummed for getting stuck in the rwd with no weight in the back and no chains/snow tires and I was thinking in an "I'll show them" mentality but the that's not why I got the truck and I don't need to show them anything, that's just ego.

Good to know the EXP is decent in snow if I ever did need that. Mainly I want something good on rocks, gravel, dirt, and, it's hard to predict, but while I could encounter mud I don't think it's the main thing. If you think about off-road in general, around here, normally your towns/cities are in valleys and along rivers so when you go away from them towards less populated areas, you are going up in elevation meaning water is less implying mud is less (I'm sure there are exceptions). I want something that grabs nice on rocks of varying sizes and on dirt/gravel, maybe sand, and the only other consideration is how noisy / streetable is it. I'd imagine the mudders are noisier and don't handle quite as well on the street. And if they aren't any better on what I anticipate driving on off-road, then I'd leave them for guys who are tooling around on their farm where it's often muddy.

 

[sgtsandman]

Most mud tires generate a pretty loud roar.

All terrain tires vary on the noise. Some have a little bit of noise and others can get a definite roar to them.

It depends on the tread pattern. The more big blocks and grooves you have, the louder it’s going to be.

 

[Blmpkn]

I like the wail of mud tires personally. I legitimately find it relaxing.