kelly safari tsr snow

Truck Tire Reviews

Kelly safari tsr review.

The most extreme off-road capable tire in the Kelly Tire lineup, the Safari TSR performs like it looks.

• Very affordable
• Surprisingly good off-road grip
• No mileage warranty
• Lacking in outright grip compared to (more expensive) competitors

Technically the Safari TSR is a mud-terrain tire, the brand just doesn’t market it as such – which is a bit strange.

One particularly unique feature of the tire is that it’s studdable, meaning you could use this year round or for some extreme off-road grip in colder climates. It’s also likely an indication that the tire’s harder overall compound compared to other mud-terrain tires doesn’t deliver as much cold-weather grip, so the studs might be more of a necessity.

One drawback of the Safari TSR is its lack of a mileage guarantee. Kelly does back the less-capable Edge AT with a 50,000 mile warranty, so if that’s a big concern for you, we suggest you check out that tire here .

On the flip side, the price of the Safari TSR makes it extremely attractive. Comparable mud terrain tires can cost absurd amounts of money, so the fact that you can get a whole set of these tires starting at just around $600 is fantastic.

The tire is also surprisingly quiet on-road for the type of tire. That’s not to say its quiet; one look at the tread pattern and it’s quite obvious it’s going to make some noise, it’s just that the tire isn’t early as loud as you’d expect.

When considering Kelly Tires it’s important to point out that while you might not be familiar with the brand, it’s actually the value-brand under the Goodyear umbrella, so you can trust the tire from an engineering, performance, durability and warranty standpoint. In fact, the entire warranty is covered by Goodyear.

User reviews on the Goodyear site list this tire as a 4.7 out of 5, making it one of the highest rated tires they offer. And for the price, how can it not be?

Kelly Safari TSR Price

Pricing for the Kelly Safari TSR starts at approximately $150 per tire.

Kelly Safari TSR Warranty

Kelly Tires does not offer a mileage warranty on the Safari TSR. It is, however, backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, where Kelly Tires will replace your tires for another set if you’re not 100% satisfied.

As well, all Kelly tires come backed with a limited warranty covering defective tires (in terms of materials and workmanship). Any tire deemed defective int he first year of ownership or 2/32-inch treadwear (whichever comes first) will be replaced free of charge. From there until six years from the date of purchase, Kelly Tires will replace the tire on a pro-rated basis.

Kelly Safari TSR Sizes

15-inch tires

31X10.50R15LT LT235/75R15

16-inch tires

LT225/75R16 LT245/75R16 LT265/75R16 LT265/75R16 LT285/75R16 LT315/75R16 LT235/85R16

17-inch tires

LT245/70R17 LT265/70R17 LT265/70R17 LT285/70R17 LT315/70R17 LT245/75R17

18-inch tires

LT275/65R18 LT275/70R18

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Kelly Safari TSR Tire Review

• Thread starter telemike
• Start date May 28, 2013

SE Expedition Society

• May 28, 2013
• Aug 18, 2013

Really impressed with recent offroad trip. Handled mud, rocks and everything else with no problems. Only spun a rear tire with axle unlocked on cross axle twisties. Locker on and no problem. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4  

• Aug 23, 2013

After about 11,000 miles I am down to 16/32" (1/2") tread depth from new spec 18/32" (9/16"). If that continues in a linear wear pattern, I should be down to 8/32" (1/4") @ 50K.  

Good to hear that they wear nicely i just put a set on my 2011 f150 and so far i love them put about 5000 kms on them and i havnt notice any wear yet lol. and a good solid 1200 kms were towing and hauling the campers.  

• Aug 29, 2013

i have about 12000 on mine with no visible ware, maybe a rounding off of the corners. they did hit my milage tough, pretty Hefty tire when they are E rated  

• Aug 30, 2013

Looks similar to Wrangler Duratracs and I would expect similar performance overall (Kelly owned by Goodyear as well). The Duratracs have the severe winter tire symbol, do the TSRs? If so, likely almost exact same tire. Look good too!  

I have had my Kelly TSR tires for about 2.5 to 3 years. Great tire. Can't say enough good things about them. Got about 12-15k miles on them (i don't have to drive far to and from work) and they still have great tread. They are a little louder than a BFG AT but not near as loud as a Maxis Buckshot. I did not see anyone with this tire in my area when i got the tires but they are becoming more popular now. I would recommend these tires to anyone for their daily driver that often sees the trail.  

• Aug 31, 2013

They do not have severe winter tire rating. The TSR has larger void areas over the Duratrac. In the same size, the TSR has larger gap between the lugs than the Hankook MT's and about the same as the BFG MT/KM  

Viking with a Hammer

telemike said: They do not have severe winter tire rating. The TSR has larger void areas over the Duratrac. In the same size, the TSR has larger gap between the lugs than the Hankook MT's and about the same as the BFG MT/KM Click to expand...

• Oct 1, 2013

At about 12,000 miles looking good. They are singing louder now. Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 4  

• Jan 2, 2014

18K mile update. Am at about 14/32" tread left out of 18/32" new. Pretty good wear so far. Handled the nasy Michigan ice storm roads great. Snow, ice and slush and narry a wheel spin.  

• Jan 29, 2014

These tires are great for winter conditions. During the SNOW storm here in NC, no problems on the unplowed roads last night. No slip and no slide.  

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Kelly Safari TSR Review: A Comprehensive Look at This All-Terrain Tire

The Kelly Safari TSR is an all-terrain tire designed for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks. This tire provides a balanced combination of on-road comfort and off-road capability.

The Safari TSR is well-suited for drivers who regularly go off-roading but still spend most of their time on paved roads.

It works well for activities like camping, fishing, hunting, and visiting cabins where you encounter dirt, gravel, and mud.

However, it’s not an extreme mud terrain tire made for rock crawling or other hardcore pursuits.

This Kelly tire aims to deliver responsive handling, a smooth ride, and long tread life. It features an all-season tread design to provide traction in dry , wet, and wintry conditions.

The Safari TSR is a great choice if you need an all-terrain tire but don’t want to sacrifice on-road manners.

List of Other Goodyear Tire Reviews

Kelly safari tsr review, tire overview, tread design, noise levels, impact on vehicle ride quality, fuel efficiency, pros and cons, conclusion & recommendation.

• Goodyear Assurance All Season Review
• Goodyear Assurance MaxLife Review
• Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady Review
• Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT Review
• Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT Review

All-Terrain, All-Season Tire

• Designed for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks and offers balanced on-road and off-road performance
• The tire performs well in wet conditions and off-road terrain
• It has an impressive 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
• The Safari TSR is more fuel-efficient than the standard Safari tire
• It is competitively priced with a manufacturer’s warranty covering material and workmanship defects

The Kelly Safari TSR is an all-terrain tire designed for pickup trucks, SUVs, and crossover vehicles. This tire comes in a wide range of popular sizes to fit most light truck applications.

The Safari TSR is available in 14 to 20 inch rim diameters .

Section widths range from 215 to 325 millimeters to accommodate vehicles from compact crossovers up to heavy duty pickups.

Kelly engineered this tire for soft-roading and moderate off-road conditions.

The adventurous all-terrain tread provides responsive handling on pavement while also gripping gravel, dirt and muddy trails.

With its rugged build, the Safari TSR works well for light trucks and SUVs that are occasionally driven off the beaten path.

The tread pattern on the Kelly Safari TSR tire is an all-terrain design that provides a good balance of on-road and off-road performance.

The tread features large, staggered blocks with wide grooves in between to help eject rocks and mud . The blocks themselves have sipes for extra grip on paved roads .

The prominent shoulder lugs give the tire good traction in mud , sand and loose gravel.

At the same time, the central blocks are designed to minimize road noise while providing stability and control on asphalt and concrete.

Overall, the tread pattern lets you comfortably drive on the highway to your favorite off-road spot.

Once off-road, the aggressive shoulder lugs and siped tread blocks grip reliably even on steep, loose terrain.

So you get a tire truly optimized for both on-road comfort and off-road adventures .

The Safari TSR tire performs very well in wet weather conditions, providing reliable traction and braking on slick roads.

The aggressive tread pattern channels water away efficiently to prevent hydroplaning. Drivers report feeling in control even during heavy rain storms.

Off-road, the Safari TSR shines as well. The chunky tread blocks dig into loose dirt, mud, and gravel to keep your vehicle moving forward.

The tire excels at climbing steep, muddy hills where many all-terrain tires struggle.

The braking and handling characteristics make the Safari TSR a very responsive , stable tire.

The large shoulder blocks provide lateral grip when cornering, reducing the chances of spin outs.

Hard braking is drama-free thanks to the sticky rubber compound and symmetric tread pattern .

Overall, drivers praise the precise steering feel and braking capabilities of the Safari TSR in dry, wet, and loose conditions.

Ride Comfort of Kelly Safari TSR

The Kelly Safari TSR tire shines when it comes to ride comfort. The tire design and materials used help minimize noise, vibration, and harshness for a smooth drive.

Compared to other all-terrain tires , the Safari TSR is surprisingly quiet at highway speeds.

The tread pattern is designed to limit noise on pavement. And the silica-enhanced tread compound also helps dampen noise for a quieter ride.

Users report minimal road noise, even after thousands of miles. This makes the Safari TSR ideal for those looking to limit noise in the cabin.

The Kelly Safari TSR effectively absorbs vibration thanks to its symmetric tread design and stiff internal construction.

By reducing bounce and vibration, it creates a stable feel over bumps and rough terrain.

The tire stays composed over washboard roads and rutted trails , while maintaining secure contact with the ground.

This noticeably cuts down on vibration and harshness transmitted into the cabin and chassis.

Overall, the Kelly Safari TSR has a positive impact on ride quality for both on and off-road driving.

The tires excel at absorbing imperfections in the road while resisting flex, enhancing comfort. The stable feel also inspires driver confidence.

Truck and SUV drivers report the Safari TSR rides smoother than expected from an all-terrain tire , making it a quieter, more comfortable choice for mixed on/off-road use.

The Kelly Safari TSR tire has proven to be quite durable according to customer reviews.

The tire features an impressive 80,000 mile treadwear warranty, meaning the tread is expected to last for 80,000 miles before needing replacement.

The tire’s construction uses a specialized tread compound and stiff casing design to improve treadlife.

Independent tests have shown the Safari TSR achieving over 50,000 miles before the tread depth legally requires replacement.

Owners of SUVs and light trucks report getting 65,000 to 75,000 miles on average before needing new tires.

Reviews of the Kelly Safari TSR praise its long-lasting tread. Many owners say they are impressed with how the tire wears evenly and delivers the promised mileage.

There are very few complaints about premature treadwear or unexpected flats, indicating a sturdy and damage-resistant construction.

The exceptional durability of the Kelly Safari TSR makes it a cost-effective choice that avoids frequent replacements.

Drivers can rely on this tire to last for the long haul thanks to its impressive treadwear warranty, construction quality, and proven owner experience.

The long treadlife and damage resistance add confidence and value for drivers doing serious offroading or highway miles.

The Safari TSR tire has a lower rolling resistance rating than the standard Kelly Safari tire, making it more fuel efficient.

Rolling resistance measures the energy lost as a tire rolls down the road , with a lower rating indicating less energy loss.

According to owner reviews on tires forums and retailer websites, the TSR provides a measurable improvement in fuel economy over the standard Safari tire.

Many drivers reported getting an extra 1-3 mpg with the TSR tires installed . This can add up to significant fuel savings over the life of the tires .

The lower rolling resistance comes from changes to the tread compound that make it less deformable and easier to roll.

Kelly also optimized the tire construction to reduce friction. While these changes make the tire roll easier, Kelly says it does not compromise on traction or braking performance.

Overall, the TSR is a great option for SUV and truck owners looking to improve their fuel efficiency without sacrificing on-road performance.

The owner feedback indicates the TSR delivers on its promise of improved fuel economy.

The Kelly Safari TSR tires have very competitive pricing, making them a great value buy compared to other all-terrain and all-season tires on the market.

They come in a wide range of common sizes from 15 to 20 inches.

The 15-inch tires retail around $100 per tire, while the larger 18-inch tires cost around $130-150 per tire.

The biggest 20-inch options range from $160-180 per tire . This puts the Kelly Safari TSR at the budget end of premium tire brands like BFGoodrich and Toyo, which can run $50-100 more per tire .

When compared to other cheaper off-road tires from brands like Ironman or Dynapro AT2s from General Tire, the Kelly Safari TSR is just slightly more expensive but delivers much better performance and durability.

Overall, it provides an impressive blend of quality, capability, and value at a very reasonable price point for an all-terrain tire . Most buyers find the extra cost worthwhile for the improved traction, comfort, and long tread life.

Kelley Safari TSR tires come with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the tread.

This means that if the tire has a defect or fails prematurely due to materials or the manufacturing process, Kelly will replace it free of charge.

The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, damage from road hazards like punctures, cuts, or impacts from potholes or curbs.

It also does not cover improper inflation pressure, overloading, or misapplication like using the wrong size tire for your vehicle or rim.

To be eligible for the warranty, you need to have your tires installed according to Kelly’s recommendations and maintain proper tire pressure and vehicle alignment.

The tires must be rotated regularly as well.

One limitation is that the warranty only applies to the original purchaser and is not transferable if you sell the vehicle.

Also, you will need to have documentation showing proper maintenance and the original purchase receipt to make a warranty claim.

Overall the Kelly warranty provides good protection against early defects, but does not cover abuse, wear, or damage during use.

Following the proper care guidelines will help ensure you get the full life out of your Safari TSR tires.

• Excellent off-road capability with good traction on various surfaces
• Durable tire construction that offers an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
• Lower rolling resistance compared to the standard Safari tire , offering improvements in fuel efficiency
• Competitive pricing positions the Kelly Safari TSR as a valuable option in the all-terrain tire market
• Manufacturer’s warranty provides protection against early material and workmanship defects
• Tends to generate more noise at highway speeds owing to its aggressive tread design
• Less high-speed stability due to the large tread lugs
• Fuel economy suffers slightly in comparison to touring tires

After reviewing the Kelly Safari TSR tire, it’s clear this model offers superb off-road traction and durability thanks to its aggressive tread pattern and sturdy carcass construction.

Drivers looking for an all-terrain tire that can handle mud, rocks, and other challenges will be well-served by the Safari TSR.

On the downside, the aggressive tread produces more road noise than a highway tire , and the large lugs reduce high-speed stability.

Fuel economy also suffers slightly compared to a touring tire .

The Safari TSR is best suited for off-road enthusiasts who spend most of their time on dirt, gravel, and uneven terrain.

It’s an excellent choice for overlanding vehicles, Jeeps, pickups, and SUVs that see regular off-road use.

Drivers looking for a blend of on-road comfort and off-road capability may want to consider the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 as an alternative.

The KO2 offers a quieter ride and better stability at high speeds while still providing impressive traction off-road.

In the end, the Kelly Safari TSR is a superb specialist tire focused on off-road performance . For drivers who spend more time off-road than on, it’s an excellent choice that delivers robust traction and durability.

What kind of vehicles are the Kelly Safari TSR tires suitable for?

The Kelly Safari TSR tires are suitable for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks that are driven on both tarmac roads and off-road terrain.

Are the Kelly Safari TSR tires all-season?

Yes, the Kelly Safari TSR tires have an all-season tread design, which provides traction in dry, wet, and wintry conditions.

How does the Kelly Safari TSR perform in terms of durability?

The Kelly Safari TSR tire has an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, and customers have reported their tires lasting for this mileage. This indicates a promising level of durability.

How is the fuel efficiency of the Kelly Safari TSR tire?

The Kelly Safari TSR tire, compared to the standard Safari tire, is more fuel efficient due to its lower rolling resistance. Customers report an average improvement of 1-3 extra mpg with the TSR tires installed.

Do the Kelly Safari TSR tires come with a warranty?

Yes, Kelly Safari TSR tires come with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the tread.

What are the pros and cons of the Kelly Safari TSR tire?

The Kelly Safari TSR tire offers excellent off-road capability, durability, improved fuel efficiency, and competitive pricing. However, it can produce more road noise, offers less high-speed stability, and its fuel economy is slightly inferior to that of touring tires.

Who makes Kelly Safari TSR tires?

Kelly Safari TSR tires are made by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Where are Kelly Safari TSR tires made?

Kelly Safari TSR tires could be made in Akron, Ohio, Chile, or Mexico.

Is the Kelly Safari TSR a good tire?

Yes, the Kelly Safari TSR is a good tire. While they come in at a lower price point than many competitors’ tires, the Safari TSR offers the same materials, workmanship and advanced performance features.

Does the Kelly Safari TSR have a tread life warranty?

No, the Kelly Safari TSR does not have a treadwear warranty but is covered by a 12 month limited protection policy.

Product Brand: Kelly / Goodyear

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Kelly Safari TSR

The Kelly Safari TSR is a great all around performer with a can do attitude youll love. Its deep treads are ready to take you through just about any type of rugged terrain you can find and feature zigzag siping for excellent control in wet weather too. And on road you can expect a surprisingly comfortable and quiet ride. Add studs for extra traction in snowy conditions. See all Kelly Tire styles

0% APR Financing Available Through Affirm ! Apply Now!

Kelly Safari TSR

The Kelly Safari TSR is a great all around performer with a can do attitude youll love. Its deep treads are ready to take you through just about any type of rugged terrain you can find and feature zigzag siping for excellent control in wet weather too. And on road you can expect a surprisingly comfortable and quiet ride. Add studs for extra traction in snowy conditions. See all Kelly Tire styles

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Kelly Safari TSR

Key features.

• Patented rock-patterned tread offers great traction and appearance.
• Rim protector to help protect wheel from accidental curb damage.
• Deep, self-cleaning tread elements and staggered shoulder blocks allow for enhanced handling in deep mud, sand, and gravel.
• Multi-directional zigzag siping provides for better handling in wet weather conditions.
• Pinned for #16 metal studs** for strong traction in winter conditions.
• Non-symmetric, free-form interlocking tread blocks to help reduce noise and improve traction.
• Rim Protection
• Off-Road Traction
• Wet Traction
• Enhanced Winter Traction

Vehicle Category: Light Truck/SUV

Performance Category: All Terrain

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Tire: Kelly Safari TSR

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Address: 41 Kenmount Rd. St. John's, NL, A1B 1W4

Phone: 709-754-5000

Address: 459 Torbay Rd. St. John's, NL, A1C 5H4

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Address: 38 Confederatin Dr. Corner Brook, NL, A2H 6J3

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Kelly Safari TSR Reviews

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28 SimpleTire reviews

Here's the scoop on the Kelly safari tsr. I've been running this tire since 2014 & just about to put my 3rd set on my 2003 Toyota Tacoma. I got 49,000 out the 1st set & will have roughly 41,000 out of the 2nd set with 7/32nds left. I estimate about 15% of my driving is off road & 4wding with these tires. They've seen action in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico & my home base is in Colorado. Great in the slop, float on the sandy washes, grippy as hell on slickrock, & are pretty sticky on snowy roads so long as you don't drive like a nincompoop. Overall the TSR's have handled everything I've put in front of them & then some. A truly functional & dominating tire! Get it, you won't be disappointed!

• Miles driven on tires 10k - 14k

Kelly makes a great tire. Not a household name but been around a long time. Very underrated. The TSR's have worked great on my Tundra.

• Would you buy again? Yes

Love the tire had them on three trucks on mine and will continue to use them!! Highly recommend

• Miles driven on tires 5k - 9k

Love these tires, really aggressive tread and do great in mud and snow. Little noisy on the road but for how meaty the tread is you'll get that.

• Miles driven on tires 30k+

Ive had these for about 6 months on my explorer sport (2 door explorer) and they are wearing great. In 2wd it spins like crazy in the ice and snow but in 4wd it doesn't bat an eyelash.

• Miles driven on tires 20k - 29k

Great off road tires, not noisy on the pavement. We used these tires in the open pit mine I worked at and they performed extremely well in the rocky environment.

I currently have these on a 2017 2 door Jeep jk in 315/70r17. The first 8,000 miles took away roughly 7/32 but after that they began to wear pretty slowly. I have 22,000 miles on them now and they have 8/32 of tread left. That being said I do take my vehicle Offroad occasionally and they perform pretty well.

• Would you buy again? No

Haven't had tires long enough to rate the tread life or winter traction but I believe with depth of tread I should have long life. Been in muddy areas on the farm & traction was good. Ride noise not bad at all. Even though I have 7.4 engine in my ton with dual exhaust. I was glad to get them with a 10 ply rating too. Very satisfied.

• Driving habit Cautious
• Driving habit Aggressive

To new for thread life or winter but so far there great quiet for such a aggressive tire

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Kelley TSR safari tire review

Discussion in ' Wheels & Tires ' started by bigskyguy , Dec 6, 2009 .

#1 bigskyguy [OP] High priest of the obvious

Just got a set of Kelly safari tsr's 265/70r17's mounted on Friday and couldn't be more pleased with them. They are made by Goodyear and have almost an identical tread design as the dura-tracs but go for about fifty dollars less per tire in a 10 ply. We have quite a bit of snow and ice here and I had about a 50 mile drive home from the tire shop and I put them through the paces. Ride quality was improved and snow traction was quite good. Road noise was minimal especially for a tire this aggressive. I took a side trip through a hay field with about 8 inches of snow and had no issues getting traction. If your in the market for new tires check em' out. I'll post pics tomorrow.  

#2 Blumpkinson Fuelled by plutonium and wild animals

Nice, i've got 265/75 r16 msr's and i love them. However, since mine are the msr's they're noiser than hell. Good luck with the tires.  

#3 colinb17 If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving

I am going to be getting a new set of tires in a week or two and was looking at the dura-tracs...so i will be paying close attention to this thread. can't wait for the pictures.  

#4 bigskyguy [OP] High priest of the obvious

So I have about 4 grand on my set of 285/70 r17 10ply tsr's and I thought I'd give ya'll some feedback on them. First off they are very quiet for an aggressive tread tire. They were about $40 less then the dura-tracks and they are made by goodyear for Kelly. I live in Montana and the roads have run the gammit from packed snow and ice to mud and everthing in between. On snowy roads they handle very well. Very grippy in four and have a very predictable drift in two (I enjoy hanging it out a bit on the mtn. roads). On gravel they hook up quite well and don't load up all that bad in the mud. They have almost no sign of wear after 4 grand. The only thing that is not so positive is they kinda feel squirmy when pushed on curvy highway roads. But they are a tall treaded tire. I have cooper st's on my 99 landcruiser and I think I'll switch to the TSR's for next winter. We'll see how they wear after the summer. All in all I'd say I got my $'s worth.  

#5 SoCalBlack08 Well-Known Member

pics? where can u get them? ive never seen them before... nice review  

#6 PreRunner Well-Known Member

pics or it didn't happen.  

#7 rob1 Well-Known Member

PreRunner said: ↑ pics or it didn't happen. Click to expand...

#8 uood8 If You Search...You Shall Find.

they do look alot like goodyear duratracs  

#9 bigskyguy [OP] High priest of the obvious

I'll post pics with them on the truck soon. Left my camera at work over the weekend.  

#10 RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

Any more info on these after you've put some miles on them? I like the looks of em and the 315/70/17's at 34.4x12.5 would work well on my truck when time comes for new tires  

#11 fau8823 Well-Known Member

I'm in the market for that same sized tire and was looking at the duratracs. I'm concerned with the gas mileage drop, so I'd be interested to know how they affect that.  

#12 RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

fau8823 said: ↑ I'm in the market for that same sized tire and was looking at the duratracs. I'm concerned with the gas mileage drop, so I'd be interested to know how they affect that. Click to expand...

#13 bigskyguy [OP] High priest of the obvious

RelentlessTaco said: ↑ Any more info on these after you've put some miles on them? I like the looks of em and the 315/70/17's at 34.4x12.5 would work well on my truck when time comes for new tires Click to expand...

#14 RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

Thanks for the link. They sound like they're a pretty good tire for how I'd use them as well.  

#15 RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

Thanks for the link.  

#16 fau8823 Well-Known Member

Thanks, relentless  

#17 StaticFilter Well-Known Member

Went with the Kelly Safaris in 285/70R17, look good, i'll miss my 35"s though $597 installed and out the door.  

#18 StaticFilter Well-Known Member

#19 socalblack08 well-known member.

StaticFilter said: ↑ Went with the Kelly Safaris in 285/70R17, look good, i'll miss my 35"s though $597 installed and out the door. Click to expand...

#20 StaticFilter Well-Known Member

SoCalBlack08 said: ↑ nice price! where did u get them? Click to expand...

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Kelly Safari TSR

• Kelly Tyres
• All Terrain and Off Road All Season tyres

The Kelly Safari TSR is a All Terrain and Off Road All Season tyre designed to be fitted to SUV and 4x4s.

Tyre review data from 1 tyre reviews averaging 49% over 5,000 miles driven.

The Safari TSR is unranked of 68 All Season All Terrain and Off Road tyres .

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Kelly Safari TSR or Goodyear Duratrac

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I am running duratrac's on both my trucks. If you can rotate them, 50-60k is easily doable. My dually has Alcoa rims, and you rotate the tires, not the rims - so with 2 rotations (outers to front, then inners to front) I am getting ~45k-50 off a set. The rears on both trucks are staying square, but no matter how often I align the front, the edges (both inner and outer) round and the tires cup fairly fast. Once they are cupped, they get quite loud. They are decent on dry pavement, and do quite well in wet, and snow/ice. I tow an 18k 5er and they work well there as well. on a fairly new set I was working on farm roads - packed clay with ~6-8 inches of brown clay mud on top, I could barely keep my footing, and the truck never got stuck - it crabbed most of the way, but never got stuck.  

I would echo most of the previous post based on my experience with duratracs on my truck. As soon as these wear out, i will buy another set. Jon  

Good info, my tire sale looks like it fell through, so I got more practice R&Ring tires:hehe:I recently purchased a set of Duratracs for my work truck/plow truck LBZ it has had General Grabber A/T2's with studs for the last 3 years and they have been very good. I am looking to get my front tires to wear more evenly. Two years and two alignments and both front tires are still cupping. My next alignment will be at a Chevy dealership. Anyone with some Kelly Safari TSR comments?  

Stay away from the Kelly's. Bought 4 and 3 were bad from the start and had to have them replaced. They were that far out of balance. The new ones were not that much better.  

Thanks, I hate dealing with tires that don't balance well. I don't like rebalancing tires I sell for free and having the headaches.  

I loved the FC 2's on my 04, tried a set of the Safari's on my 11 and I found them to be great in the mud but so/so on the snow & ice. This fall I put on a set of duratracs and I gotta say they are way better on the snow & ice, guess i'll have to wait another month or so to see how they are in the mud, but a lot of guys I've talked to say they won't run anything but duratracs from now on.  

I was thinking hard about pulling the trigger on the duratracs, but I just don't like how flimsy the sidewalls are. When I asked my tire rep about them he told me a lot of the coal mines were running them, but have been going to something different due to issues with rock drilling. I really wanted to try the Mickey Thompson ATZP-3 because I think it is a good hybrid, I don't like the looks of the new Cepek Fun Country and the last set of Mickey Thompson MTZ's I had didn't like towing as I was watching the tread wear. I really have been happy with the Cepek FCII, but they will soon fade away. So, for now I will try the Nitto's and see how they are. They definately have a beefy sidewall. I thought about mounting them up on my old PYO's until my new wheels get here, but with what they weigh, that is too much work.  

The sidewalls in the duratracs are an issue. I didn't have any punctures or anything but you could feel them flex/bounce and the tires felt really loose at the end of their life. Replaced mine with E rated Toyo AT2s and very happy. 80% the winter traction but better handling and quiet, smooth ride.  

I considered the Toyo A/T2, but I usually find myself in mud every now and then that would render the Toyo useless. The Cepeks really impressed me in that regard. They will be tough shoes to fill.  

I hated duratracs on my 2006. Threw rocks like nothing I've ever owned before. Had 4 slow leaks that had to be fixed, tire shop said it was a puncture by rock each time. Only tire ever to leave me or anyone on our farm (5 dmaxes runnin around) on the side of the road. Will Never own another set  

Exactly the reason I opted against them. I almost tried the Mickey Thompson MTZ's again, but the last set I had didn't wear anything like the first set I had. It really bugs me when the rubber compounds get changed from one set to another. I am kind of curious on the Nitto Trail Grapplers I just bought because this set is made in Japan and most of the other sets I have sold have been made in the U.S.  

Follow up to this thread. I ditched the Nitto Trail Grapplers after 11000 miles becaused they were wearing too fast. I went ahead and bought a set of Goodyear Duratracs and installed studs in them. They are awesome on snow! I have now put about 15k on the duratracs and have a few comments. Quiet they aren't, but they aren't too bad. They do OK in mud, but not as good as the Cepeks. The sidebiters help with forward progress in ruts. The tires have held up very well with towing heavy with 1000lb+ of torque. At the current wear rate these tires look like they will make the 30k mark. The tread width is narrow for the size. I haven't had any flat tires and only minimal chipping from spinning the tires in the mud. I have never been in a spot where I couldn't gain forward momentum. I almost didn't make it up a small hill while deer hunting while towing my horse trailer behind my 5th wheel, but 540 rwhp finally made the climb happen. Overall I am happy with the duratracs, but I have installed 3 sets of Cepeks in the last month and I might have to try them again. These duratracs are a very good tire.  

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Kelly Safari TSR

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Anyone have experience with this tire on a JKU? I've always liked Kelly tires!  

Not a JKU, but on my work truck, they are pretty much same as Dura trac and are an awesome all around tire. It is what I am getting next. Great on snow, moderate mud, and hiway. Do real well off road as well. My work truck is a Chevy 3500 4x4. Do a lot of work in rural and off road. Very impressed with them.  

I have a set of 315 70 17's D rated on stock rubicon wheels. They are a good tire but dont clean out as a dedicated mud tire. Not too noisy on the road and they wear good. Mine is a 2dr but you get my idea.  

I ran them on our 13 JKU. All around good tire on and off road. The only thing that was a negative is they only had a 2ply sidewall. Out here in the rocks of the south west I was always worried about cutting open a side wall. Never did but went with a different tire with 3ply sidewall for our next set.  

I have em and I love em !!! Mine are 265-75-16 , I removed the 18" Sahara wheels and Dualers, and went to the TSR's for fall and winter... Good traction and QUIET !! I have the LT and I like mine in the heavy Rock roads I drive on in the Coast Range..... They do real good in our Mud here also, so far I have only been in about 8" of snow but I have not had any trouble with traction. About the same depth of mud. I don't do Rock gardens and I don't do deep mud holes. These are "TWEENS" , in between a highway/all terrain and a true mud tire..... Well worth a look !! "Jeeper Jake" has em on 18" wheels and likes em, he suggested them to me , I'm glad he did ! Hope this helps... "BH"  

I have 285/70/17s on my 2012 JkU and love them. Very good on road manners and very little noise for an aggressive tire. They do very good in snow, however, they are awful on Ice or packed snow. I have 32k miles on mine and they still measure 55-60% tread depth from new. I rotate every 6000 miles and maintain a 5 tire rotation pattern. I'd highly recommend this tire for a JKU that sees both open road and trails.  

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I have had the same sense the jeep was new, I currently have 73k on them and they're used up, i will be replacing them with the same. They were the best tires I've owned  

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• Life & Culture

In 1989, it snowed in St. Petersburg. It led to a family reunion.

• Roy Peter Clark Contributing Writer

Everyone knows that it rarely snows in Florida. It is less likely to fall in a place like St. Petersburg with its palm trees and semitropical breezes. But I can tell you that it can snow in St. Pete. I saw it with my own eyes. Some people who were there say it was a miracle. It happened on Dec. 23 or 24 (Christmas Eve, or Christmas Eve Eve), in the year 1989.

The principal characters of this story are members of the Clark family, a cozy group obsessed with snow. They had come to St. Pete from New England and New York, so they were used to cold weather, ice storms and blizzards. Mom and Dad knew how to ice skate, glide down a hill on a sled, make snow angels, gear up for snowball fights and not play in the yellow snow.

They learned to love Florida with its dolphins and pelicans, but when Christmas rolled around, they felt something was missing: that nip in the air, woolen mittens, white flakes falling from the sky. Mr. and Mrs. Clark had three daughters: Alison, who was born in New York, Christmas week of 1972. She had seen snow and loved it and missed it anytime she heard the song White Christmas .

Emily was born in 1976 in Alabama, and had never seen snow, except on television and in the movies. Little Lulu was born in Florida in 1980. By the magical holiday of 1989, Alison was 17, hanging out with her cool theater friends; Emily was 13, sneaking off to the mall; and Lulu was 9.

Lulu’s birthday was in November, and she persuaded her parents to let her adopt two hamsters. One had black fur with a white stripe across its back. She named him Fred — after Fred Flintstone. The other had a reddish fur, so of course, he became Barney. Barney was a bit of a rebel.

Fred and Barney lived, played, worked and slept in a comfortable hamster cage, which contained food, water and one of those wheels for exercise. Some people use the phrase “hamster wheel” as a negative metaphor for someone who works hard but goes round and round while getting nowhere. But I can tell you from experience that hamsters like their wheels.

A treat for the hamsters and the Clark family was to place Fred and Barney into separate clear plastic spheres and put them on the floor where they could explore every corner of the house.

The Clarks had a cat named Voodoo, with dark gray fur, green eyes and a deep musical purr. Outside the house, he was kind of a tough guy, protecting the front and back yards from invaders, and bringing home the gift of an occasional garden snake or fruit rat.

Voodoo was curious about the new hamsters, but was civilized enough to leave them alone. As the hamsters rolled across the orange rug in their plastic spheres, the cat would sit in one place like the Sphinx. If there was mischief in his heart, he did not reveal it.

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Every few days, Lulu had to clean out the hamster cage. She’d reach in, first grab Fred, then Barney, and place them gently in a hard cardboard box, specially designed with breathing holes, so they could stay safe while she tidied up their home.

This happened a number of times without incident. Then, one day, Lulu removed the top of the box. “Mom,” she gasped. “Barney is gone.” And so he was. Hamsters can squeeze into tight places. The evidence indicated that Barney had probably climbed on Fred’s back, scratched or bit one of the air holes to enlarge it, and made his escape. Fred, with no one to climb on, was left behind.

Over the next few days, the Clark family looked everywhere. Obviously, a hamster can’t get very far. But hamsters are small and there are countless places near the house and in the bushes to hide. Lulu missed Barney, but soon had to imagine she would not see him again. She took special care of Fred, especially when she cleaned his cage.

The days and weeks went by, the weather got colder, especially cold for Florida. As the Clarks counted down the days to Christmas, they made their traditional preparations. Stockings were stuffed. Bright-colored presents spread halfway across the rug. Outside, white lights that looked like icicles hung from the roofline.

Historical records show that on Dec. 23, 1989, a cold front descended from the North across Florida, leaving a measurable amount of snow and freezing rain on the city of Jacksonville. Even a little snow or ice can be tricky in a place like Florida.

Reports from 1989 indicate the cold front that brought snow in Jacksonville continued south and covered all of Pinellas County, including the city of St. Petersburg. There the Clarks were in their cozy house, eating cookies, drinking hot chocolate and getting ready to celebrate Christmas. Members of the family now disagree as to whether the miracle occurred on the 23rd or 24th.

It was already dark, time for Dad to put out the trash. He lifted the garage door. He could not have been more shocked at what he saw. Mom and the girls thought there was something terribly wrong. He was jumping up and down and waving his arms. “Come out! Everyone, come out! It’s snowing! It’s snowing in St. Petersburg!”

The weather service report would suggest that what had been sighted was not snow, but sleet. But you could not tell that to the Clarks. They rushed outside, made footprints in the light covering of white that decorated the grass. They scraped off the frosty covering on their cars, rolled it into mini-balls and, with crackling bursts of laughter, flicked them at each other. A snowball fight, Florida style.

Out of breath, they hugged and made their way back into the garage and noticed something peculiar. Oblivious to the snow, Voodoo the cat was pawing his way into a collection of clay flower pots kept under the workbench. The cat’s posture was unusual, his tail up, his head down, as if he wanted to move the pots to get at what was hiding behind them. “Step back,” said Mr. Clark. “It’s either a snake or a rat.” He grabbed Voodoo and handed him to one of the girls.

With a broom, he nudged the clay pots to see what had attracted the cat’s attention. And then he saw it, eyes as wide as when he first saw the snow. Not a rat or a nest of snakes. No, it was a hamster. A hamster with red fur. It was Barney! The prodigal hamster, returned after a two-week stay-cation.

If it had not been for that once-in-a-lifetime dusting of white, which drove the Clarks outside, which tempted the cat into the garage, who sensed something behind the clay pots, Barney would have been lost forever.

It must be said, because we always tell the truth, that Fred the hamster did not seem particularly excited to see the return of Barney. Fred must have liked the extra space and not having a roommate climb up on his back.

But both Fred and Barney got some extra special hamster treats that Christmas and earned a good view of the Christmas tree. Voodoo sat on the rug nearby, looking proud of himself — as if his intention was to rescue Barney and not eat him.

The girls enjoyed their presents. Mom and Dad kissed under the mistletoe. The miracle of the St. Pete Christmas snow was complete.

Contributing Writer

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Visiting Oranienbaum and Lomonosov

Oranienbaum is perhaps the least visited of St. Petersburg's suburban palaces, despite the rich and unique treasures it has to offer. This can partly be attributed to the decades of neglect that have left most of the buildings in critical condition and allowed the park to be overrun by nature. Thankfully, the estate has now come under the auspices of Peterhof's management, and a massive renovation programme is already underway. For the next several years, however, it will be necessary to check which parts of the park and which buildings are currently open to the public.

Oranienbaum is only 12km along the coast from Peterhof, so it is possible for those with some stamina to combine the two in a single daytrip. A marshrutka minibus (K-348) connects the two estates. From St. Petersburg it is possible to take a minibus (K-300) from Avtovo Metro Station, or suburban trains from Baltiskiy Station. Either way, the journey takes a little under one hour.

Oranienbaum Park

Located on a slight incline, this pretty landscaped park is slowly being restored to its former glories, and contains a number of unusual architectural features.

Grand Menshikov Palace

This superbly elegant baroque palace was originally built for Peter the Great's closest adviser, and was the only suburban palace to survive World War 2 intact.

Chinese Palace

The favorite retreat of Catherine the Great, this small but exquisitely designed neoclassical villa has superbly restored interiors in "Oriental" style.

Palace of Peter III

This modest two-storey building was built for the future Peter III, and was the centre of Petershtadt, his peculiar model fortress of which he styled himself the Commandant.

Built as part of a Summer Palace for Peter III, this simple two-storey block by Antonio Rinaldi was later used as a Lutheran church, and is now an exhibition and concert hall.

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