Interco, one of the foremost manufacturers of aggressive off-road tires, recently introduced a slightly less aggressive and more street-worthy tire to its lineup. The new TRXUS (pronounced: tracks-us) Radial Mud Terrain has been developed to meet the needs of those of us who tackle the rocks, mud, and sand yet also meet the asphalt on a daily basis.

(click on photo for larger image)

Construction : At first glance, the TRXUS MT appears to be a condensed relative of the Super Swamper SSR. According to Interco, although the sidewalls are only 2-ply thick, they are supposedly thicker than the 3-ply common in the BFG MT and other off-road tires. With a tighter tread pattern, multiple siping, radial design, and a softer rubber compound; the TRXUS MT should prove to be an excellent choice for both on and off-road driving. Interco?s 31x10.5? version of this tire did measure a true 31? in height. Mounted on a 15x7? wheel, the cross-sectional width of the tires measured to be about 10?. On a 15x8? wheel, the tires would probably be true to Interco?s advertised width. Using a depth gauge, both the deepest and shallowest treads were measured. The deepest section of tread measured 19/32? and the shallowest measured 13/32?.

On-Road Performance : As expected, the TRXUS MT provides a considerably smooth and quiet on-road drive. Properly balanced and running 31 pounds of pressure, only a subtle hum can be heard on the asphalt. The deceleration ?growl?, common among many other mud-terrains, is much less noticeable with the TRXUS MT. On wet roadways, traction is no worse than what I have experienced with the BFG MT. I have yet to experience any skidding while coming to a stop and have not lost control around any turns. Although I consider myself a conservative driver, the extensive siping and ?on-road design? put into this tire should keep even a more aggressive driver safe on the asphalt.

Mud Traction : A recent trip to Tellico, NC proved to be a rather sloppy adventure. Slick rocks, muddy hills, and fresh mud holes seemed to meet us around every turn. The unique tread pattern held its ground on the slick clay-based mud. Although the tread is considerably tight, the mud did not ?clog? the tires. The gummy mud slung out as soon as I was through and managed to make a mess out of the sides of my Jeep. I am not the type to ?jump? into a mud hole for fun, but having a tire that can man-handle mud is important no matter what type of driver you are.

On the Rocks : The considerable softness of this tire?s carcass and the hefty weight of my XJ prompted me to run fairly high pressure on the trail. At 21 pounds of pressure, I was very pleased with the TRXUS?s performance on the rocks. Although these tires could have been run at a bit lower pressure (17 to 18 pounds), 21 pounds provided a substantial footprint without the worry of losing a tire on the trail. With a controlled right foot, the TRXUS's allowed me to climb up (pretty much) anything that I could point them at. The tires grabbed the rocks with very little to no slippage the entire trip.

(tires at 21 PSI)

Conclusion : I am extremely pleased with the performance of these tires so far. I spend the majority of my time on road and often travel long distances between home and school. I do, however, go off-road quite a bit. With at least 2 trips planned per month, a tire with excellent off-road traction is a necessity. Over the next several months I plan to tackle Uwharrie, Tellico, Camp Jeep, and some of my local stomping ground. Check back for a 10,000 mile review later this year!