By Christian Sturtz, [email protected]
Photos by Christian Sturtz
Most of us have some sort of budget for our vehicle builds. We don’t want to cut any corners but also don’t want to leave our rig driving around with a “scared cat” stance just because we cannot afford tires and wheels. Cosmo Tires may be a solution for you. Cosmo Tires is most known for its involvement in sports driving and the drifting scene, but they have recently released a budget-friendly off-road tire. This tire has all the same bells and whistles as the big-name tire brands, plus one more; they are mud rated!
Cosmo’s Mud Kicker is the first and only all-season tire with a mud rating. The mud rating is similar to a tire’s snow rating but reflects the ability of the tire to traverse mud rather than snow. The tire also has two different sidewall designs for your choice of appearance. The shoulder claws of the tires have different angles to aid in self-cleaning and provide traction. The tire’s bead area has been beefed up to provide additional strength and bead retention, even in deep snow and mud conditions. These features are combined with a tread designed to self-clean and eject rocks but remain quiet. (Figure 1)
I have had a set of Mud Kickers in size 37×13.5 R20 on my Jeep Gladiator Mohave for nearly 6k miles. My first impression of the tires was, “These things look great! But I hope they are not deafening.” I immediately mounted them on a set of Rolling Big Power 50R Cobra wheels. I had the beadlock rings powder-coated orange to match the accents of the Mohave. Then I put them on the truck and took them for a drive. The tires were remarkably quiet and did not give the truck a choppy, thumpy, or heavy feeling that other budget-friendly tires often have. (Figure 2)
These tires have been used on the street with no uneven wear or balance issues. I have driven them during downpours, and they performed well. (Figure 3) I even tried them out in the mud on the way to and from the W.E. Rock Season Opener in Bagdad, Arizona. The tires clean out very fast, even without increased wheel speed – they stay clear and provide progress and traction. I have not had the opportunity to try them out in snow or icy conditions, but believe they would perform well. The Cosmo Mud Kickers live up to their reputation of being “Kool Kat” approved. They have many sizes available; check them out! (Figure 4)
Parts:
Cosmo Mud Kicker Tire (available in several sizes)
Sources:
Cosmo Tire
1-844-267-6646
Rolling Big Power
13000 Tempe Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91746
1-877-519-9090
