Jeep Enthusiast Forums banner

Gateway Buckshot mudders

65K views 30 replies 15 participants last post by  tomcat77 
#1 ·
#2 ·
those are pretty damn cool looking. what widths do they come in. cause in those pics they look pretty narrow. if they make a 33x12.5 or so i might get a set of those next haha
 
#3 ·
Nope, they are narrow....old school. They'd look perfect on a stock to mildly lifted CJ, and even more bad *** on a flat fender. The N78-15 is something like 30.16" tall by 9.80" wide. The P78 is more like a 33x10. I can't find any old school size converter that lists a P78. Anyone out there know?
 
#4 ·
This might be helpful :

This load-based system was introduced worldwide in 1968. The designation takes into account the load carrying capability and aspect ratio in the alpha character with aspect ratio and wheel diameter also included, for example: Q78-16

* Q designates the load and size relationship (with some typical section widths listed below):
o Letters for passenger cars range from A - N:
+ A =
+ B =
+ C =
+ D =
+ E =
+ F =
+ G =
+ H =
+ I =
+ J =
+ K =
+ L78/15 = 30x 9.5
+ N78/15 = 31x 9.5
o Above N indicates truck and severe use duty:
+ O =
+ P78/15 = 33x10.0
+ Q78/15 = 36x11.5
+ Q78/16 = 36x10.5
+ R78/15 = 37x12.5
+ R85/16 = 37x12.0
+ S =
o If this were a radial, an R would precede the Q
* 78 indicates the series, better described as the size relationship between the sidewall height (section height) and the sidewall-to-sidewall width (section width)
o A 78-series tire has a sidewall height whose measurement is 78% of that of the section width
 
#5 ·
Thanks for the info, southernbred. The N78 is taller than what I found on the google search. I think a 31 is the tallest I can clear with my stock suspension, so I'll probably get a set of those for playing off road, and a semi-aggressive tire for every day use.
 
#7 ·
Those tires are awesome. I ran them over 20 years ago on my Ramcharger. They make the new maxxis buckshots look like ATs.


Hunter
 
#9 ·
I ran the original Buckshots on a full time 4wd Blazer back in the '80's, that beast may have gone through the tires on the highway, but it was unstoppable in the snow and mud.
 
#12 ·
Last time I looked about 9 months ago there was no longer a current manufacturer for these excellent tires. I did an exhaustive search on the web and discussed with local tire stores and they're just no longer to be had, unless you find some NOS but then you have to be concerned with age (sidewall cracking, etc.)
I ultimately went with a full set of BFK KM2's and they're nearly as aggressive as I recall the Buckshots I used to run on my old Blazer
 
#16 ·
No my friend. Maxxis buckshot mudders are NO WAY IN THE WORLD the same tire. The tread depth on the maxxis is like half that of the older Buckshot mudders.

Hunter

Original tread pattern of the Gateway Buckshot mudder.



Maxxis Buckshot mudder.



No where near that same.
 
#17 ·
I like the Gateway Buckshots Mudders that are size 9 X 16 which in modern tire size lingo is (I think) approx a 35.5 X 9.5 on a 6" wide wheel, or 35 X 10 on a 7" wide wheel.

There are also size Q78 which (in modern tire size lingo) is approx 35.5 X 11.8 (R15 or R16) on a 7" wide wheel, or 35 X 11.5 (R15 or R16) on an 8" wide wheel.
 
#18 ·
P.S. - allegedly (I read on Internet), the 9 X 16 (35.5 X 9.5) and Q78 (35.5 X 10.8) sizes of Gateway Buckshot Mudders can still be purchased from a farmers coop in the Southeastern States. I've been meaning to call them to find out if they are still available. They might also be available in other sizes too.

The Coop name for them is "Grip Spur". The Grip Spur has a harder rubber compound than the Gateway Buckshot Mudders had because the farmers want to drive their trucks on highway and have them last, but the narly deep tread still make them great on dirt and mud.

The Grip Spur is same tire, except with harder rubber for longer life on farm trucks that see as much highway (going to market stuff) as they do field/mud work. Also, the Grip spurs inner rows of tread are continuous, lacking the grooving or breaks in the tread seen in the Gateway Buckshot Mudder. A hand groover job could add grooves if you want them (I would), and I'd consider getting them siped too.

There is ongoing demand for them among classic 4x4 owners of classic Dodge Power Wagons, Jeeps, Toyota FJs, International 4x4s, etc. These are the classic old-school bad-@ss tires that were popular back in the day.
 
#19 ·
CB3, i ran those Co-op Grip Spurs on my 72 Scout II. They were great.

Hunter
 
#20 ·
CB3 I have a set on my GMC right now. I am running the L78-15 size. I got them at the Orange/Madison Farm Co-Op in Madison VA. Bought them back in June. Great tires. They had one more full set of my size, and at least 2, maybe 3 sets in 7.00-15 stacked up in the back room.(great size for a stocker with skinny rims)

Mud? KILLER.
Gravel? OK.
Clay? BAD ***.
Sand? Don't know.
Slickrock/crawling? Works for me!
Rain? No Problem.
Snow? No clue yet.
Road? Thumps with flat spots when cold, twitchy if not at full PSI....but it is a 40+ year old bias ply design. If they make more, I will put them on a jeep. The side walls are just about bullet proof, but the tread compound is no where near as hard as some would have you believe. Keep them aired up at about 40psi on the road and rotated with oil changes and I'd bet on 30k miles no problem.
 
#22 ·
What size (in modern flotation size terms, aka inch measurements) is a L78-15?

If I got some, I'd want 9 X 16 (35" to 35.5 X 9" to 9.8 R16) or some equivalent in R15. R15 would be ideal. Anyone have any size recommendations have give similar measurements? I'd also consider Q78-15 (35" to 35.5 X 10.8" to 11.3 R15)

Do you meant they are bad in clay, or excellent in clay? Please translate into proper English. I'm not being disrespectful. I sometimes get confused by slang, especially when it has asterisks in it.

How loud are they on highway?

How fast can they be driven on highway with satisfactory results? I need to cruise at 65 mph, but don't need to drive faster.

How well do they flex? A groover would help that BTW. With a groover you could make the Grip Spur center treads grooved like the Gateway Buckshot Mudder. Personally, I'd grove and sipe them since I live in the North. If I live in the South, I'd just groove them.

How is the ride quality? Soft enough on bumps, or harsh?

How much do the morning flat spots bump the truck?
A little bumping and barely notice, or severe bumping that shakes the whole truck?

What size GMC vehicle do you have them on? 1/2, 3/4, or 1 ton? What tire load rating? C, D, or E?
 
#21 ·
Are those Grip Spur still being made? I heard they were made by Denman for the Farmers Coop, and Denman is (everyone knows) out of business.

So if those tires are still available, they might be the last ones ever.

BTW - Michelin still makes these same sizes of tall skinny sizes, like the 7-15 and 9-16 (in old school size terms) that is a 35.5 X 9.8 (in modern flotation size terminology), and they are still popular with many nations' militarys around the world.

However, the problem with using a Micheline on a Jeep is that they are load E, have very hard rubber, and very large tread blocks with no sipes. They are made for 1+ ton trucks and are NOT appropriate for a Jeep, due to lack of flex and very little traction on wet pavement or winter roads.

Those Grip Spurs, and even more so the Gateway Buckshot Mudders, are more appropriate for Jeeps since they are available in load C and D (and E) depending on size. The Gateway Buckshot also had softer rubber which was (I've heard) great on Jeeps. The Grip Spur has (allegedly) harder rubber than a Gateway Buckshot, but a lot softer than Michelin.

On the upside, the Grip Spurs are designed specifically to be a farmer's daily driver tire. i.e. - to be fantastic in mud and good enough on road for highway trips to market. i.e. - a narley daily driver tire. If I bought a Grip Spur, I'd want to add sipes to it because I live in the North and sipes are needed for winter roads, and help on wet roads.
 
#27 ·
We have these tires currently in stock. 15 inch N78 and 16 inch P78 IN STOCK but not for long. We got a semi load of these in blem version. $125 for 15 inch and $139 for 16 inch. Give us a call at 1-888-513-8473.
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ptd/3891732235.html
 

Attachments

#28 ·
Dam and my KM2's that I settled for are still like new appearance and tread depth wise.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top