Toyman!
MegaDork
6/11/24 10:16 a.m.
The last run through the woods involved some fairly deep mud holes. One deep enough that everyone had to be dragged through it.
In my cleanup, I found evidence of muddy water splashed into the air filter box. Not enough to be a threat to the engine but enough that I would worry about it for the rest of my ownership. Time to do something about that. At less than $100 it is cheap insurance and one less thing to worry about.
![20240609_133448.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/H3T/i-cNw4HGG/0/DF4NtzMbfZnnFhBspQBpjjzdFhVqqH9f3TRZLMWPg/X4/20240609_133448-X4.jpg)
I have hated the General Grabbers that were on this thing since I bought it. Terrible ride, noisy, and poor wet traction. They got replaced this weekend.
I went with what I know works. Falken Wildpeak AT3W. I considered the new AT4W. It is a 60k-mile tire compared to the AT3W's 50k-mile rating. That 10k miles come at a cost though. The AT4W tires are 10 pounds heavier per tire due to a stiffer sidewall and have worse wet, snow, and ice traction.
I also went from a 275/75R16 to a 315/75R16. Or from a 33" tire to a 35" tire. They fit perfectly with no rubbing.
![Untitled photo](https://photos.smugmug.com/H3T/i-qvXjmqj/0/LP7TkmtVqN9FP6fMSHBqHLdzrtTZ7cftg2kdJdtjQ/L/20240810_123023-L.jpg)
![20240810_124407.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/H3T/i-b4Z4vsj/0/LhtVhJFw8dVfqqZJc4xMqpKKMGH4gTrVkJvTfGdBG/X2/20240810_124407-X2.jpg)
It's slower. It rides significantly better and it's almost quiet. I went for a national forest ride yesterday. What an outstanding tire. This was shot at a high bluff on the Santee River. It's usually about 25' above the water. Yesterday it was about 8' above the water.
![20240811_120901.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Adventures/i-6sHn5Bn/0/NdBrWpXStRmbChQzmhgMDrcPpVTf8dVN4SWBBgmqk/X4/20240811_120901-X4.jpg)
Good looking tires. It's nice to see sidewall!
In reply to eastpark :
This goes off-road fairly often. Sidewalls are a requirement for ride quality and traction. They also help with potholes.
I have those tires on my Mercedes, they're fantastic.
I really like fenders full of tire. I'm surprised they don't rub.
![20240814_171929.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/H3T/i-KnGJxZC/1/KJnf8MRjQvCwzKTnrJBN73nNhhGScG4sNQJQLh7x7/X4/20240814_171929-X4.jpg)
I think I still need to put the leveling kit in the front.
I have those tires (but probably a smaller size) on my truck, they're so noisy I thought the truck had bad wheel bearings at first. I'm told they wear like iron though.
In reply to dannyp84 :
Get your truck checked. I have had or have 8 sets of these on vehicles ranging from a Samurai to a Suburban. They are all quiet until the last 10-15 thousand miles of life.
In reply to Toyman! :
that looks awesome! I love a big tire with no/minimal lift
Toyman!
MegaDork
8/16/24 10:31 a.m.
In reply to budget_bandit :
That's my preferred setup and look. This is where my XJ ended up. It works very well off-road and will go 98% of the places I want to. I carry a winch for the other 2%.
![20210116_161657_HDR.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/Cherokee/i-ZmqpC5N/0/Lc8g7BhXpWLsqb5rgKMsXXLtMkPcPtJBK7Qv65QnJ/X2/20210116_161657_HDR-X2.jpg)
I've always loved the fact the h3 could stuff 35s with no lift. Before I picked up another XJ I shopped a bit for another h3 but just couldn't commit with the shagged out ones available at time of purchase. Oddly enough my XJ is the same color as yours I believe. Both are great rigs but I miss the AWD system of the h3 and the modern feel of it on the road. I don't miss the terrible visibility.
![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/prod.mm.com/uploads/2024/08/16/1723833312_img_6315_mmthumb.jpg)
The XJ is on 32s with RE 3.5 lift and the h3 was on 34s stock.
![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/prod.mm.com/uploads/2024/08/16/1723833678_83600530_10206845795339537_2609047638519054336_n_mmthumb.jpg)
Toyman!
MegaDork
11/11/24 10:20 a.m.
When I bought this thing I wasn't in love with the chrome grill.
![20241109_145400.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/H3T/i-wxMbNTx/0/LrPk75QHpwLkpGGCM7R5q4t4PhT9WpqNTW5cm7skT/X4/20241109_145400-X4.jpg)
It always reminded me of this.
![](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/prod.mm.com/uploads/2024/11/11/2024_11_11_15_15_201_thumb.jpg)
My plan was to pull the OE grill and paint it however, in my internet travels I came across a grill that was prepainted to match the OE black paint. Much better IMHO. Now I need to wash and wax the rest of the truck.
![20241109_151734.jpg](https://photos.smugmug.com/H3T/i-582fsqh/0/KSx2Wnmx4pdkM3rS298p8FQV9fG3VvZddh4zKJfzH/X4/20241109_151734-X4.jpg)
That looks great! I'm really digging it