TSL Vampires for Hustler 980

[cclingma]

I think I've read every tire post there is but I'm still uncertain. I think I'm down to Imitation Terras, TSL Vampires, or Vamp ASX eventhough those don't appear to be available at all. I'm posting now because there is a deal on EBay for two sets of two Vanpire TSL in my size 26x12x12 for $159 shipped for each pair. That looks like a pretty good deal compared to other prices I've seen. Of course a guy would still have to buy two more from somewhere else. I watched Boncrshrs videos of the TSLs looking like they were working very well on his Hustler. I've read some post about TSLs digging quick and hanging up because of it. I guess I'm wondering if this is worse than what my old Terras do. The Terras sure don't seem to be mudders. I'm starting to think that since the ASXs aren't available that the TSLs might be the best tire in this size for a good mudder and decent swimmer that rides nice. I think I'm wanting someone to tell me the TSLs are far superior to Terras. Or, if someone would just buy those two pairs off EBay I wouldn't have to worry about it.

[jpswift1]

Ditch those Goodyear Terra tires ASAP. All they do is swim well. They won't mud well at all. It was a night and day difference in mudding with the Terras and the Vampire ASXs when I switched on my Hustler 980. Those tires will make it seem like a new machine and they're worth every penny! The Vampire TSLs will also be night and day difference compared to your Terras as well, but I can't say how they compare to the ASX......after talking to Boncrshr I found out that the Vampires have a little deeper tread, and they do VERY well in the mud. You can get the ASXs still, which would be my first choice, especially because of those super aggressive sidewall lugs. I think you need to contact Interco directly. If I remember correctly, 6x6World member Noel Woods did this recently when he was getting ASXs for his Super Swamp Fox.

Home | Interco Tire

[Mike]

In my opinion, the only thing that the Terra Grips will be better at is giving you a faster water speed. I have a Max IV with the ASX's on it and one with the Terra Grips on it, however I have never driven any 6x6 with the regular Vampires. With that being said, I would have to guess that the regular Vampires will outperform the Terra Grips in the mud similar to how the ASX's do. The Terra Grips just don't clean out very well in the mud compared to other tires. On top of that, the ride quality of the Terra Grips is bone jarring. There are some varieties of the Terra Grips that ride better and are softer than others, but they are still a stiff tire. I can't remember the brand, but the ones that member liflod was running on his Argo in the video on the front page of the site seemed to be the smoothest riding version.

Since the ASX's are next to impossible to find, let's ignore them for now. The regular Vampires would be a great all-around tire except when it comes to water speed. I'm sure you've seen videos of the Vampires in the water. They barely move along. While that may not be a dealbreaker for you if you aren't planning on swimming it much, it can still affect your performance in the mud if the mudhole is deep enough for you to float.

I guess it really comes down to the kind of riding you do and where you spend most of your time (land or water). I'm sure one of the guys running the regular Vampires will chime in here soon with some better information.

Edit: It looks like jpswift1 was 1 swift jp. I need to stop getting distracted while I type.

[jpswift1]

Edit: It looks like jpswift1 was 1 swift jp. I need to stop getting distracted while I type.

Haha, no problem Mike. I did the same thing when Hydromike beat me to the punch on replying to a thread. I think all great minds must think alike!

[rdr]

[QUOTE=Mike;81064]In my opinion, the only thing that the Terra Grips will be better at is giving you a faster water speed I would have to guess that the regular Vampires will outperform the Terra Grips in the mud similar to how the ASX's ( oh realy mike ??????? i think i;ve been in every hole u have at busco with my terra;s . u sound a lot like some body elese we know, who jest got busted . that said . the terra's use come in 3 , 8, and 12 ply so i 'm glad u love ur asx but u need to read hydo mikes post in the video thread . no one meachine is all that .or tires. or tracks . robbie

[brushcutter]

Strange... Their site doesn't even LIST an ASX ... Maybe the lady Noel Woods dealt with to straighten out his asx purchase fiasco knew what she was talking about... You know ...when she said there ARE no more asx tires in the U.S.

Now that's a story worth hearing... Let's see what was it he said Oh Yeah... "NO TIRE IS WORTH ALL THAT!"

[Roger S]

Lance's tires are Titan Tru Power A/T's. I don't know if they're still available, or if carlilse bought Titan..?

[cclingma]

Strange... Their site doesn't even LIST an ASX ... Maybe the lady Noel Woods dealt with to straighten out his asx purchase fiasco knew what she was talking about... You know ...when she said there ARE no more asx tires in the U.S

I'm able to see the ASX but it's kind of hidden. While on the atv tire page I had to scroll the bar showing all the tires to the right.

[Mike]

oh realy mike ??????? i think i;ve been in every hole u have at busco with my terra;s . u sound a lot like some body elese we know, who jest got busted . that said . the terra's use come in 3 , 8, and 12 ply so i 'm glad u love ur asx but u need to read hydo mikes post in the video thread . no one meachine is all that .or tires. or tracks . robbie

Yes, really. Robbie, please stop taking any tire post that mentions the Terra Grips personally. Just because you have the Terra Grips on your Max does not mean any post about them is directed towards you or that the post is meant in a negative way. We've been through this before. I didn't say anything negative about your Max IV or any places it can or can not go. I also didn't say that any of my machines could go places anyone else couldn't. I could care less. It's not about seeing who can outperform each other, it is about riding together with people that share in this hobby. Every machine at Busco was able to go everywhere with the group. Even machines with 21" tires made it where all of us with larger tires went. Again, I didn't say anything about the capabilities of anyones machine.

As for hydromike's post that you are referencing (I'm assuming it was this one: http://www.6x6world.com/forums/gener...html#post80912 ?), his point was basically not to draw conclusions from a lack of data. If you will carefully reread my post, you will see where I mentioned that I have two Max IV's, one with the terra grips and one with the ASX's, so the data is from my personal experience with both types of tires.

Like I said, the Vampires work much better in the mud but suck in the water compared to the Terra Grips. The Vampires clean out a lot better than the Terra Grips do which is one reason they work so well. Also, they are just huge which helps a lot. Again, I have both tires. They both have their place and there is nothing wrong with owning either kind.

There was no negative or hidden meaning to my post. I'm sorry you continue to take it personally.

[cclingma]

Lance's tires are Titan Tru Power A/T's. I don't know if they're still available, or if carlilse bought Titan..?

I love looking at tires! I really like the look of that Tru Power AT. Titan shows the regular Tru Power readily available but it's no so clear on the AT. I fired them an email.

[Mike]

I love looking at tires! I really like the look of that Tru Power AT. Titan shows the regular Tru Power readily available but it's no so clear on the AT. I fired them an email.

Those seem to have the best ride quality of the terra grip style tires available. Let us know what you find out regarding their availability.

[mightymaxIV]

Personal experience, the ASX is the best mud tire if you can live with 1 1/2 mph swim speed. The ASX's are 14 inches wide and keep you on top of the mud, however ASX does require a spacer or a chance at having your tub ate, the ASX is also hard to find. You would have to drive an ASX equipped max and a Terra equipped Max side by side to know how much better the ASX's are, but I can tell you this , YOU CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE!

The TSL's are a great riding tire but the tread pattern is to aggressive, they don't swim as well as the ASX, and in pure mud they will dig down and get you stuck. However they are good in watery mud if you can live with the slow water speed. The 25x9x13.5 is a different story since it is a wider tire and is closer to the ASX in it's ability

The Terra is a great mud water tire, maybe none better and does great in it's element, but I don't like the ride and they are difficult to skid steer on flat ground because of the flat tread design.

I thought my Swamp Fox Plus tires were the best all round trail tire for, Ride, climbing, mud without water but again only about 1 1/4 MPH swim speed.

You can't have it all, you have to choose what it most important to you and move in that direction. Tires are expensive! There are compromises with every thing, if you can live with the ride stay with your Terra's, there are certain things they do better than the rest and they don't require YOU to beef up your machine.

[smog]

You can't have it all, you have to choose what it most important to you and move in that direction. Tires are expensive! There are compromises with every thing, if you can live with the ride stay with your Terra's, there are certain things they do better than the rest and they don't require YOU to beef up your machine.

this is the best post I've read in the last week; MightymaxIV just nailled it. It's all about compromise....and availability

[brushcutter]

I'm able to see the ASX but it's kind of hidden. While on the atv tire page I had to scroll the bar showing all the tires to the right.

OK there they are. Has anyone tried to buy any recently?

[brushcutter]

I took a few minutes and sent the folks at Interco an email, inquiring as to the availability of their ASX tires. But I didn't stop there, I invited them to check out our site, and maybe get with Mike for an interview(hope you don't mind Mike). I then asked them to do some reading in the tire and wheel section, and told them that the average 4 wheeler tire doesn't meet our needs, and that we are pretty much an un-catered to part of the mudding sport, pointing out that our machines run 6 to 8 wheels.

I urge everyone here to send them an invite to see what we're all about. If we don't begin to approach some of the tire manufacturers and voice our thoughts on their products, thereby having some voice in their market decisions, then when we can no longer find tires that swim/mud/climb it will be our own fault!

So contact them and give them an invite! You can believe if they got an email from everybody here they would definitely be listening to what we have to say.