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TIRE TEST

SOURCE Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels 330/928-9092 mickeythompsontires.com

MICKEY THOMPSON

BAJA BOSS M/T

10,000-mile torture test with a Baja-inspired mud-terrain By Jered Korfhage jered.korfhage@fourwheeler.com Photos: Jered Korfhage

M

ickey Thompson’s Baja-inspired radial mud-terrain rolled with us across the United States for a 10,000-mile whirlwind adventure spanning both coasts. Baja Boss is the name emblazoned on the sidewall and the tire is as much a continuation of the company’s offroad legacy as it is a round-and-black testament to the latest in mud-terrain technology.

While “mud-terrain” is in its name, Mickey Thompson made sure to optimize the tire for the improved surfaces found between the trailheads. Face up to the Baja Boss and you’ll see an asymmetric tread pattern. Larger-sized tread elements along the outboard portion of the tread contribute to on-road stability while their wide spacing and subsequent voids help grip loose substrate. Looking inward, the tread elements are smaller and spaced closer together. This is said to promote all-weather traction and minimize road noise. Silica reinforcement (Mickey calls it “T4”) is onboard to enhance tread life 26 OCTOBER 2022 FOUR WHEELER

and operations in wet weather. Fans of Mickey’s Baja Claw TTC might see the resemblance of the current Sidebiters to those on the now-discontinued mudder. The evolved sidewall lugs have four pitches (look close and you’ll see lugs with four different lengths and depths) that were designed with bold looks and protection in mind. Beneath the sidewall armor, there’s more armor—and it’s called PowerPly XD. Mickey says the beefed-up cord on the bias-angled third ply improves the tire’s response to steering inputs and contributes to on-road stability.

According to Mickey Thompson, the Baja Boss M/T was its first LT tire offered in sizes with Load Range F ratings. As Four Wheeler went to print, there were more than 10 sizes featuring this Load Range for 18-, 20-, 22-, and 24-inch wheels. Yes, if your tow rig runs 38x15.5R24LT tires, Mickey has you covered. Mickey also said the Baja Boss M/T is its first tire offered in sizes to fit 22- and 24-inch wheel diameters. The full lineup also satisfies 15-, 16-, and 17-inch wheel diameters and includes many offerings for 3⁄4- and 1-ton vehicles with popular sizes available in LT-metric and floatation equivalents. Continue reading for more on how we spent time with our set of Mickey Thompson Baja Boss M/Ts.

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