Rubicon original tires in the wet or snow

peachboy · 11-20-2009, 09:55 AM

Hi there,

My wife has a Rubi '06 with original tires...Jepp is home and I'm at the office so I appologise not to know what they are, but they were what came brand new with the jeep.

Am I dreaming or are these tires almost dangerous in the wet and snow ? Must admitt I drivre mostly a 3/4 ton pick up so don't have much mileage on the jeep but it seems to me that these tires hydroplan like crazy...don't seem to have rain grooves on them...in the winter we simply park the jeep because it's unusable.

I do realise that a short wheel base is slightly less stable but I do see lot's of folks out there in winter with their jeeps.

I assume a skinnier winter design tire would be better but I'm trying to figure out if it will make such a big difference before I spend the $$$.

Any opinion on the originals Rubi tires ??

Thanks in advance for the help.

**Wheelin98TJ** · 11-20-2009, 09:56 AM

They are 245/75/16 Goodyear MTRs and they consistently get bad reviews from Rubi owners.

The other MTRs that you buy in the aftermarket work excellent, but the original equipment MTRs that come on Rubicons are for some reason pretty much opposite.

Kiser10 · 11-20-2009, 10:34 AM

While their not the best in the rain, I don't have a hydroplane problem at all. I don't even remember every hydroplaning. They do tend to slide around a lot when going around corners and such.

Junky burp · 11-20-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peachboy

...in the winter we simply park the jeep because it's unusable.

Wow.... I'm from Barrie way. My TJ had little trouble on the hard-pack roads I travel on, even with the stock GSA's. Those must be really bad tires... anyway, my winter tires have improved my confidence 100% over the GSA's.
Winter tires are your best insurance on winter roads. Some insurance companies offer rate reductions if you use them, too.

rainmn · 11-20-2009, 11:48 PM

I have a set of 31x10.5 MT/Rs on my Jeep right now, which are about the same size as your stock Rubi tires. I can't say anything at all good about them.

They are insanely loud, and absolutely suck in the rain. I haven't had them wheeling, but I'm sure they do well off road. On the road, they are a terrible tire, and I can't wait to get rid of them.

I wouldn't recommend these for a daily driver any more than I'd recommend Super Swampers.

**RogueSpear2023** · 11-21-2009, 01:34 AM

I had MTRs on my Rubicon, and yes they suck in wet or ice, deep snow they work ok though. If you don't go in the mud much I would look at some AT tires, or if you want the aggressive look or go in the mud, but still good on ice and water a hybrid MT/AT would be good compromise. Good Year Duratracs are a hybrid and work great in most conditions except very deep swampy mud that only a good MT or swamper will work in. I bought Mickey Thompson MTXs at the time they don't make them anymore, but they were also some what of hybrid, but much more like an AT than an MT, but they had larger voids and still worked well in the mud.

Kiser10 · 11-21-2009, 09:38 AM

Mt/R's are terrible in mud imo. They clog & are just like a slick, even with easy riding in light mud. Overall, I will not be buying another set.

Douglas S. · 11-21-2009, 12:02 PM

When you post, be sure to clarify if you are talking about OEM MT/R's or aftermarket, because like Wheelin98TJ says, there is a huge difference.

RKBA · 11-21-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas S.

When you post, be sure to clarify if you are talking about OEM MT/R's or aftermarket, because like Wheelin98TJ says, there is a huge difference.

No, not really. They both are exceptionally poor on wet or icy roads and far louder than they should be for a modern tire design.

It's probably a good tire choice for folks in the SW who drive in rocks more than rain.

The new 'kevlar' version may be different; I haven't had any seat time with those yet.

Douglas S. · 11-21-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKBA

No, not really. They both are exceptionally poor on wet or icy roads and far louder than they should be for a modern tire design.

Actually it is a fact, completely different tread compound.

rainmn · 11-21-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas S.

Actually it is a fact, completely different tread compound.

Maybe so, but I have aftermarket MT/R's, and they still suck on the road as I stated above.

I can't imagine how the OEM Rubi version can be much worse.

RKBA · 11-21-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas S.

Actually it is a fact, completely different tread compound.

Doesn't matter; net effect is the same: wet pavement suckage.

What is the source of this "different compound" factoid?

Douglas S. · 11-21-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKBA

Doesn't matter; net effect is the same: wet pavement suckage.

What is the source of this "different compound" factoid?

Look around. The oem tires were made to a different spec to have longer tread life and better road handling characteristics (ie. stiffer sidewalls, harder compound)

Besides, the "suckage" is easily remedied by spending a couple hours with a razor siping the tires.

All of this is fairly common knowledge.

RKBA · 11-21-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas S.

Look around. The oem tires were made to a different spec to have longer tread life and better road handling characteristics (ie. stiffer sidewalls, harder compound)

Besides, the "suckage" is easily remedied by spending a couple hours with a razor siping the tires.

All of this is fairly common knowledge.

While I don't find it impossible, it is a bit hard to believe that GY would make a "special" version of an apparently otherwise identical tire for what at the time would have been a limited run OEM offering. If I recall the history of the Rubicon development correctly, the guys designing it basically ignored the OEM tire requirements (handling, NVH, wear, etc.) when choosing the MT/R because it would never pass in a million years. That would seem to suggest it was chosen for little more than the aggressive look and existing supplier relationship with GY rather than some actual engineering criteria. Seriously, if the Rubicon had come with GSAs or some other typical wimpy looking OEM tire would it have been such a smash hit? doubtful.

I have in fact spent a few minutes siping mine with the ideal heated tire knife stored in my toolbox.

It doesn't remedy the suckage.

The older style MT/R is a lousy wet pavement tire. At least the four different sets I have experience with sure are - regardless of the added hand siping. I haven't had a crack at the new ones yet, so I can't say.

I think in your context "fairly common knowledge" means, "I read it on the internet so it must be true."

It's not a bad tire, it's just a bad tire for slippery conditions.

Douglas S. · 11-21-2009, 10:16 PM

BFG did the same thing with the Mud Terrains put on JK rubi's.

I do not disagree that the MT/R isn't a great wet/ice tire. However, it is no worse that some AT's and many MT's that I have experienced.