IROK, Claw, or Swamper?

[jkabee]

Trying to decide between these 3 unless someone else wants to throw another one in the mix.

I want a big tire (which is why I chose these 3) for a 1.9. Can't be bigger than 4.75 for Class 2 rig. Mostly used in carolina soil/clay, moderate rock, and damp/wet conditions (creek crawling).

These 3 tires are all tall enough for my needs, but I have never used or seen them used. So... inouts/opinions/ and real world testimonies welcome! (Preferably from people that have had more than one of them for comparison."thumbsup"

Many thanks in advance.

Guess I should also clarify that I menat MT Baja Claw...

 

[jkabee]

Interco IROK:

• Outer Diameter: 4.65" (118mm)
• Width: 1.75" (44.5mm)
• Inner Diameter: 1.9" (48mm)
• Advanced X2 SS Compound (Super Soft & Super Sticky)
• Reinforced sidewall

MT Baja Claw:

Outer Diameter: 4.75" (120mm)
Width: 1.75" (44.5mm)
Inner Diameter: 1.9" (48mm)
Advanced X3 Soft & Sticky Compound
Reinforced sidewall


Interco Swampers:

• Outer Diameter: 4.7" (120mm)
• Width: 1.6" (40mm)
• Inner Diameter: 1.9" (48mm)
• Advanced X3 Soft & Sticky Compound
• Reinforced sidewall

 

[k goodrich]

I have the 2.2 claws and they work great. Take the large lugs and cut into three small lugs and the small lug in half. Next run them backwards. They grab ledges and will pull your vehicle up.

 

[jkabee]

Thanks for the suggestion. WOuld you mind posting a photo of your lug-cutting suggestion? I'd like to see the end result!

 

[madkawi650]

If you go with IROK's make sure you do get the new sticky compound.. I have the older style and they flat out suck on anything wet.
They do look cool though..



Sent from my highly abused iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jkabee]

I guess I should add the Rok Lox 1.9s also, although they are smaller than the Swampers and MT Claws. I hear alot of people talking about them on here. Apparently they are great on the rocks, but how do they compare with the others for loose terrain/mud/wet soil?

1.9 Rok Lox

• Outer Diameter: 4.5" (114mm)
• Width: 1.75" (45mm)
• Inner Diameter: 1.9" (48mm)
• Advanced X3 Compound

 

[jkabee]

I guess I should mention that these tires will be going on an SCX based TJ with extended wheelbase and comp-cut body. Not sure if that matters or not, but thought i would mention.

 

[jkabee]

Thanks for the pics MadKawi. They DO look tough. Thx for the comment about the lack of rock grip.

 

[btoungette]

I currently run the Baja Claws TTC, and they do great on dry rock. I did a trail run a couple weeks ago (first time with the Claws) and they caked up pretty bad with sticky dirt. They didn't seem to do as well on this particular trail as the Rok Lox did. I do like the look and size of the Claws.

The Iroks are updated versions of the Rok Lox, and good updates. They are taller, wider, and more sticky. They look good too. I ran the old Rok Lox and feel they are a good all-around tire. So, the Iroks should be even better.

I have not ran the Boggers, so I can't give my experience.

If I were buying new tires today (out of those three), I'd order the Iroks.

 

[Rook82]

I have both the 1.9 Claw and 1.9 Bogger. Both are great trail tires. Both took a little time to come around and work. Claws flat out sucked on their first trip. But after a few runs (2-3 hours of break in) they seem to work much better. This is running with no vents in the tires or wheels so they end up a little hard. But I run in a lot of mud and water so I prefer to give up some traction so the water doesn't get into the foams. The Boggers seem to just work very well in most all conditions. Where they fall short in comparison to the Claws is in technical rock crawling. Like on rocks at the beach. They slip alot sideways just like the 1:1's do. But some siping could help that. The Claws work better in that type of terrain. The Claws are also a good general mud/rock/goo trail tire. They are very durable. That is what I run the most. There are tons of hiking trails and whatnot in my area. Great places to hike and bring the scalers. The two tires are very close in performance over all that decision would come down to looks preference. The Claws are noticeably wider then the Boggers. I kinda go back and forth on the looks of the two.

Boggers:

2.2 Flat iron, 1.9 Bogger, 1.9 Roklox, 1.9 Flat iron:

1.9 Claws:

 

[jkabee]

Wow. Thanks alot guys. Rook, you continue to amaze me. Love all the photos. I'm really starting to lean toward the claws, due to height, width and look. I'd still like to see the cutting/siping that MadKawi spoke of in his earlier post. That may be the best bet. After my wife and close on our new house, I will have a 1.6 acre yard to play with. The backyard is wooded and retains moisture pretty well, and I plan on building a scaler comp course back there with a mixture of loose soil, rocks, sand and wood obstacles. Anyone living near Hendersonville NC will be welcome to come build and play!

 

[rockrigcustoms]

ive run the claws and rox lox and didnt really like them. (i didnt feel i should have to hack up a brand new claw to get them to work! i got rid of all my tires and got the 1.9 pitbulls!! case closed! these things just flat out do it all. wet, muddy, ledge, flat etc they are just down right great tires. i run 1.9 and 2.2 and these tires never let me down.

 

[FlightInstrukta]

ive run the claws and rox lox and didnt really like them. (i didnt feel i should have to hack up a brand new claw to get them to work! i got rid of all my tires and got the 1.9 pitbulls!! case closed! these things just flat out do it all. wet, muddy, ledge, flat etc they are just down right great tires. i run 1.9 and 2.2 and these tires never let me down.

i've been waiting for someone to chime in with this...8) i too had the 1.9 baja claws and the 1.9 swampers... hated them both, and sold em. not shit for traction on rocks, or anything really, so i went back to flatirons(which worked better IMO). then tried proline swamper SX's and Pitbulls in 1.9, and fell in love with them both... the pitbulls are close to the height your looking for, and what little height they lack, they more than make up for in traction... they flat out work in any conditions i throw at them... out of the 3 tires your looking at, the Iroks are the only viable choice, as they're the only ones currently being made in their new softer x2 compound. the claws and boggers are junk! until they sell their remaining stock of them, and start making them in the new compound, i wouldn't waste your $ on them...

and if your really dead set on the baja claws, and wanna cut up a brand new tire, this is the pattern i put in my 2.2's...8)

 

[jkabee]

WOW. That was indeed a powerful testimony! I really appreciate it. I hadn't even thought about the PitBulls. I'll check in to those. I agree, I don't want to hack up a new tire just to get it to perform. Seeing as how my budget is not going to allow (initially) to keep various tires and wheels on the shelf in order to "swap out" what works best in certain conditions, I really am looking for a "Do It All" tire. If others care to chime in with their opinions, including the Pitbulls, please share. I don't have to make a puurchase on these just yet, so I still have time to hear more from anyone willing to share. Many Many thanks guys. I really like the willingness to share on this forum.

 

[Rook82]

Just keep in mind the conditions and terrain. What works in one area may not in another. In 1:1 wheeling around here, Swampers rule where as on rocks out west they would not be the best. Where I am it is a lot of jagged and rough rock when there are rocks. Hence the Boggers and Claws working for me. But in some areas with different terrain, they may not work very well. I also like to trail ride and go through streams and mud and anything around. I have run Flat Irons (very good all around) in 1.9 and 2.2, Roklox in 1.9 (pretty bad all around but look nice), 1.9 Proline TSL SX (good but too short for most of my rigs), 1.9 Boggers (very good to excellent all around), 1.9 Claws (very good and look incredible). I also run other tires on other rigs that need shorter tires, RC4WD Mud Pluggers ( look very military scale and work better then they should) and RC4WD Trail Busters (very good, skinny and scale for rigs that need that type of tire such as LR Defenders, etc).

I have never used or run PitBulls and have never run with anyone who has either. I have heard nothing but good about them. I am sure they are good tires. But do not rule anything out due to he said she said. I have fallen into that trap. One of my first set of tires was the RC4WD RokLox as they were all the rage 1.5 years ago. They may work in some areas but completely were horrible for "ME". What works in one area may not in the other.

The other thing is that most RC4WD tires like to be on heavy rigs. They usually have reinforcement in the sidewalls and stiffer foams then something like a typical Proline. Where as a Proline may work well in a relatively light and fairly stock Honcho, the RC4WD may be a little stiff. But on a heavier rig, the Proline may be too soft and the RC4WD may work better. All changeable with foams and such. But stock and unmodded, RC4WD tires in general like to be used on heavier rigs. Its all in the application.

 

[jkabee]

Good to think about Rook. Well, you of all people will know what I am using them on, since I am building a long WB TJ like yours! I am definitely not ruling anything out at this point. There is just too much to consider and since I don't even have the rig built yet, I've got time to think on it. You were right on when you mentioned the Rok Lox... that was all anyone was talking about a year ago! Say.. you don't happen to have a pic of your TJ sittin on the Claws do you? Also, what size shocks/springs are you running under the TJ to clear a tire that big? Never thought to ask that as part of this thread, but would be good to know!

 

[Rook82]

Good to think about Rook. Well, you of all people will know what I am using them on, since I am building a long WB TJ like yours! I am definitely not ruling anything out at this point. There is just too much to consider and since I don't even have the rig built yet, I've got time to think on it. You were right on when you mentioned the Rok Lox... that was all anyone was talking about a year ago! Say.. you don't happen to have a pic of your TJ sittin on the Claws do you? Also, what size shocks/springs are you running under the TJ to clear a tire that big? Never thought to ask that as part of this thread, but would be good to know!

The body is hiding in the closet. I might be able to pull it out and lay it on the chassi and mount the tires up. I will try and get a pic this weekend. It was running the stock SCX10 shocks and the tires just barely rubbed in the front only at the top of the fenders (the way I have it cut). It actually looked real nice on the Claws.

 

[steele42]

I live in Southern Utah, so the terrain is probably very different, but here is my experience anyway. The PitBulls you can't go wrong with. As far as I can tell, the only people on this forum that don't have anything good to say about them (performance) are the people that have never owned them. Everyone that has them loves them, that has to say something. Some may wish they were taller or shorter or skinnier, but they perform like mad. I've never run the claws or Rok Loxs, so I can't say much on them, but the only other tire I've run thats even close to the Pit Bulls are the IROK's. And I hear with the x2ss compound they only get better as they break in. I run the Pit Bulls now, but am looking into the IROK's for a little taller tire. As of now, the Pit Bulls are #1 in my book.

 

[bob1961]

i ran my TSL IROK's with the stock foams and the inside center rib removed and think they did good in pa where i live....but i think with the compound they first came out with would do good with soft foams that allow tires to run like 1:1 tires aired down a bit........bob

....

 

[joeyf]

i ran the swampers and they did great on everything i threw at them. even being on the smaller side for a C2 tire i had no problem keeping up with the larger tires in our local comps. the pit bulls are very good to, so good i actually had them cut-n-stetched to run as a C3 tire. just to let you know the new X2 SS Compound 4.19 claw is a little taller than the swamper.