Had a buddy that ran those and the sidewalls don't like rocks at all. He ripped holes in 2 before he got rid of them and they only had about 10k on them. Plus I like to spend my money on American products when I can and tires are one of those things. Hankooks are a Korean tire so they don't qualify.
Man, I really dig that.., American over all else. (seems like you'd have to have the life-style of a Quaker if all your products were to be made in America anymore). I agree with you about rocks, as I had so stated. BUT, where I live it's all about mud.., and for mostly a stock XJ, they are 1) available, and 2) are rated as being best for mud, mud, mud. The Kevlar tires, (smallest being 31"), are too big for us stockers.., which besides mud, would make me feel more confident around rocks, etc., and therefore would be my first choice.., if'in I could get them in a more or less stocker size, but them stupid Americans won't make 'em small enough for us stockers, 27"-28"-29"-30", nyet, nyet, nyet, nyet.., ...as the Capitalist Motto goes: "Find a need and fill it", does not seem to be on their minds in order to make their wallets fatter.., i.e., shooting themselves in the foot! Find the logic in that.., and then go shopping, lol!!!!!!! I really detest going SYE/propeller shaft upgrades, and fender trims, etc., i.e., another thousand bucks plus just to wear Kevlars, etc., when all I need is the ability to get out of the freak'in mud. (...ah...where are my XJ repair parts made anyways?).
I've rarely ever ran American tires down to the cords, i.e., mostly ripped, punctured, sliced, and diced them, (been a buyer since 1964), and have found, for example, Blizzacks as the best non-studded winter tire out there, (non-American), and those around up here in Alaska find that they are like real safe, i.e., saves lives braking for the moose, and non-attentive idiots drunk on their cell phones, lol, etc. (One thing about the Koreans.., well two things.., by and large they are our allies, and are Christians mostly, and I'd rather buy from them, than from those Godless communist chinese--or from those American capitalists who have outsourced their products to be made there, i.e., throwing American Workers under the bus).
Under what condition did your 'buddy' trash the Hankooks? More details would be useful, if you would share them. Was he ram-rodding through sharp rocks, or being sanefully technical traversing such obstacles? It would be good to know what pressures he was running at the time too, i.e., was he running low p.s.i. and causing rim damage? What were the ambient air temps?
...and not to forget to mention: The discussion really is about mud tires, (I thought), not rock tires.
Happy Trails 'ya all.
P.s. Kevlars in my future, lol.$$$$
