Did yall know the 33x11.50R16's (Thornbird) will fit a stock 4x4? The true dimensions from Interco are: overall diameter - 32.4"; section width - 11.7"; tread width - only 8.6"

At the time, I'm running 32x11.50R16 SSR's on stock 16x7 rims. Their true dimensions (also from Interco) are: overall diameter - 32.5"; section width - 11.5"; tread width - 10"!!!

My usual rule of thumb for rim size is to stay somewhat close to the tire's tread width for a decently looking square tire. No bubbling or skinny tire characteristics. From the Thornbirds numbers, they will definitely fit on our 4x4's. Funny how the 33x11.50 Thornbird is smaller in all areas than the 32x11.50 SSR. I'm pumped!!

-Joel

 

U should have no problems with that tire size,and if u do just raise it to the sky.

Jerry D

 

Thornbirds are gay! You're better off with any other tire that interco makes. The thornbirds are basically a bias ply all terrain tire. Something like the SSR will perform much better.

Mitch

 

BroncoAZ, I have to disagree with you about the Thornbirds being Gay. I have a friend that had some on his 93 Nissian 4by. Had the 33x12.50R15 on it. I've witnessed that truck go thru some very thick muck! Even though our truck is over twice the weight of his Nissian Short bed, I still have to give those Thornbirds a thumb up for some awesome performance!
Just my input on them.

 

I've seen them on ethnically altared pavement queens here in the southwest, and once offroad. I could see where those side lugs would be good for thick goo. Most of the wheelin I do is rock crawling, where those tires have no place. I'm glad they work for somebody.

Mitch

 

Thornbirds COULD be a good tire. The big side lugs are great, but its the rest of the tire that needs work. You could get a very agressive tire if you cut out certain lugs on the tire. The problem with the thornbirds is that they don't clean worth a damn compared to the other tires Interco makes.

 

Ive heard from someone who ran the 35x14.50R16.5's that they were good in the mud, but my biggest worry on them is what I hear about how they handle on wet and snow/ice covered roads. Ive heard they wear fast as hell too.

 

yep, they do wear fast. and don't clean southern gumbo worth a dime. when they first came out i thought they looked ok. a buddy bought a set and we went wheelin. geez, they sucked. as far as looks go, to me they look really aggressive. as far as performance, save your money. just my opinion, Rich.

 

Why not a set of 285/75/16 Goodyear MT/Rs? Or a set of 32/11.50/16 Swamper SXs? I too dislike the Thornbirds. My biggest complaint is that they cup out real bad real fast.

 

This weekend I went wheeling with someone from Indiana and someone else from MN and both had Goodyear MTRs on thier trucks. There was also a guy in a mid 90s S10 with some Thornbirds and they couldn't handle the mud for crap. The MTRs were going about everywhere. The thornbirds just slimed over in the mud and were almost useless.

 

The Thornbird is aggressive looking and I like them for that just as much for their performance. However, I don't take my truck in the deep mud ANYMORE. I used to. I like my truck. To purposely use my 4x4, I only stick to the up and down trails and beaches (I'm from an Island). So, for serious off-road (look at the places my club's been, www.tamor.org ), I don't take my truck, I ride. That's why, if you read my initial post (don't take it offensively, please), I was describing their dimensions. So I can have a cool looking tire on my stock 4x4 (or slightly lifted). For the places I go (or can't go), the Thornbirds (or any other standard mud terrain) is PERFECT.

So this reply doesn't sound hipocritical: I've had these tires before on a many 4x4's including a 2WD Chevy. They gripped quite well even without any kind of locker in the axle (one wheel drive). I've used them in deep, slick mud, powder sand, and way off-camber trails. I am going to back up my words, they have proven well in MY experience. Though I haven't driven on rocks (as they are rare in my area), I want to say they could do just as well. A well designed mud tire is one that, either, digs and grips in deep stuff or cleans consistently to continue forward momentum. A well designed sand tire is one that stays afloat on the surface and doesn't have great void (like most all-terrain tires) between their lugs to dig to a bottomless bottom. (For some reason, the BFG mud terrain has proven itself in sand). A great rock tire is one that, either, has very large void to claw with grip or very very small void (like an all-terrain) for a greater contact patch surface area. For these descriptions, the Thornbird performs quite well. However, yes, they turn to slicks very fast in clay.

I've decided a new truck is good for a couple reasons, to haul/tow/pull, and for every other occasion, to and from the job site (get unstuck). I don't believe our trucks are toys. I don't have the resources to fix my truck if it gets broken. That's what my future "stripped 78-79 Ford Bronco w/NP-205, C-6 or NV4500, Dana 60 front, Corp 14 bolt out back filled with 4:56 gears, and fenders chopped to hell to fit 38" Swampers (any kind) toy" will be for.

Joel

 

I prefer TSL's. I run a set of 15/39.-16.5's and I can go through Florida gumbo better than any thornbird I've been with. My tires clean MUCH better than the TB's do. Just my $.02
-Kelly

 

maxxis buckshot mudders,no problems

 

Whiplash_F150,

Why don't you trash that IFS and do the solid axle swap? I can't imagine the stress you're inflicting on that poor IFS. If you go in the gumbo like you say you do, you're going to break something sooner or later. Our fords are tough. But they're only 1/2 tons. And they don't make them like they used to. Our drivetrain can't handle the abuse of those heavy tires. A solid axle will give you 1) the strength you need, plus 2) safer method of lifting the front end. You seem pretty serious. But I don't know why I'm telling you this cause what you're running not only requires a solid axle, but a stronger transmission, transfer cause, driveshafts with new u-joints, and crossover steering.

I can't agree more. Thornbirds do not perform the highest in mud (or most trails). I would definitely go with something like the TSL or Bogger. Even the new Wrangler MTR's are proving themselves worthy (I went to San Antonio this past weekend with my club). Out of 5 full-size 1/2 tons, a 2001 F-250, 10 Jeep CJ's, YJ's, and TJ's, and 5 other miscellaneous 4x4's, there weren't any Thornbirds on the this terrain. But I wouldn't take my truck out there! That is my point. It was insane (I'll try to post some pictures in the future).

Joel

 

Whiplash I was kinda wondering too if you were running into problems with breakage. Snowball has about the same setup at you but with 40" tires (I'm thinking they're gumbo mudders). He has flat out admited that he can no longer offroad his truck due to the fact that things would be breaking left and right. Usually a good rule of thumb for 1/2 ton IFS setups like we have is a max tire size of 36". A staight axle conversion would be the way to go for you, but its possible you might even have breakage issues with that, depending on which axles you pick.