The most important phase of building a truck is the choice of the proper tires for the conditions you'll be encountering and the proper suspension to control the ride and power delivery of these tires.

Dollar for dollar the BEST performance investment you can make is in your vehicles traction, braking and handling. In fact it's not horsepower that wins races, its your ability to put the power to the ground and to keep it there during suspension movement and directional changes.

The lesson to be learned here is to never skimp on your rubber and and suspension components. All the power in the world means nothing if you can't hook it up, change its direction, or slow the damn thing down when you need to!

Step by step we'll walk you through the decision making process that we used to arrive at our choices for the Project Baja Expedition. When you make your own decisions, the factors you must consider are:

Percentage of on-road vs. off-road use
Annual mileage/fuel costs/tire replacement costs/increased maintenance costs
Who will be driving the vehicle
Diminished vehicle safety due to modifications
Dramatic changes in vehicle handling characteristics

Let's face it, while a gazillion inches of lift and 44" inch tires may look cool. But, if the truck is going to be used to commute 60 miles a day, you'll be spending an extra $300 plus a month on excess fuel and tire consumption alone, not to mention having your teeth rattled out of their sockets and your kidneys ruptured every day on your way to work.

Enough from the voice of reason, you've been disclaimed, let's build a truck!

Choices, Choices...

The stock OEM Expedition tires look like cookie cutters next to the massive T/As.

Step One: Tires
B.F. Goodrich Baja T/A
www.bfgoodrichtires.com
(Full review coming in June)

We chose the B.F. Goodrich Baja T/A Radial in a 37x12.50R17 for many reasons. With its race proven design and tread pattern, its desert bred heritage is the mark that other tire companies aim for. Since our truck will be operated 100% in the desert southwest and Mexico this tire was the only choice.

The reason we chose the 37" size was for the tread pattern, in the 35" size the Baja T/A utilizes the same pattern as the Mud T/A, the advantage hear is quieter high speed operation and better dry surface traction

Highs:

Six ply woven nylon sidewall for the best puncture resistance on the market. With razor sharp rocks being standard where we travel this was the most important consideration.
"T" speed rated at 124MPH. With the endless expanses of sheer distance in this part of the world, you need to be able to cover ground quickly and safely. Setting the cruise control at 85 and logging 300 miles on a 120 degree day will melt most tires to useless goo.
Molded in "rim-guard" for superior rim protection.
Highest performance. For desert terrain there just ain't a better shoe, period. Tens of thousands of hours of testing, design and real time/real world racing experience have proven the Baja T/A's. Its record of championships speaks for itself.
Tread life. Extremely long for a tire of this size, expect in excess of 30,000 miles.
Value. While these are some of the most expensive off-road tires on the market, they deliver 110%.
Great Looks. This tire is big, bad and imposing.

Lows:

Six ply sidewalls also mean "flat-spotting." It takes about five miles of driving to get the tires round again after the vehicle has sat overnight. Expect mild to severe vibration during this "warm-up" period.
High cost. With an MSRP of just over $400 per tire, these are expensive tires. But quality costs, and you definitely get your money's worth with the Baja T/A.
Maintenance. As with any big tire, they must be rotated at least every oil change (3,000-5,000 miles) and checking proper inflation is a daily chore. Also increased stress on braking components means shorter life and you must run the BEST pads money can buy.

Now that the toughest choice is out of the way, it gets easier. Once you've gotten your rubber picked next comes...

We opted for Weld's #56 Sidewinders for their classic good looks. This style wheel won't fade in a few years and look "dated" like so many others.

Step Two: Wheels
Weld Racing Sidewinders
www.weldracing.com
(Full review coming in July)

This is the easy part, with the widest selection of styles, sizes and applications for one piece forged aluminum wheels, Weld Racing is the place to go. Their wheels are rated at as much as triple the competition in weight bearing capacity, are made to exacting tolerances and are flat out the one of the finest products money can buy.

The recommended wheel size for our Baja T/A's is a 17x8-10. We chose the Weld "Sidewinder" for its clean looks and high strength and went with the 10" wheel to give our truck a more aggressive visual appearance as well as the benefit of a wider footprint when the tire is aired down for use in the sand.

Highs:

3200lb load capacity per wheel.
One Piece forged construction.
Extremely light weight decreases overall unsprung weight.
Endless size/application choices.
Flawless polished finish.

Lows:

Maintenance. A polished aluminum wheel is prone to scratches and damage from the elements, sand, water, mud, etc. will dull the surface and poor care or hazards may cause scratches. Expect to use several large cans of elbow grease and Mothers Polish to keep these wheels looking their best.

With the wheels and tires decided upon, now we have not just the task of making them fit, but of making them work...

Click Here for Page Two of the story!

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