Mini Review: Pro-Line Trencher 2.8″ LP’s on a 2wd Rustler

After running the Trencher LP’s on the Arrma Senton 4×4 MEGA I felt like they would be better suited to a truck with more power and fewer driven wheels. The lower power and 4wd drivetrain of the Arrma can make most any tire look good and the fact that the LP’s did well was no surprise. I love the look of the stadium size wheels and tires on an SC truck but they truly do belong on an ST, and it just so happens that I have a trio of Rustlers on hand to give them a workout.

Swapping the LP’s from the Arrma to a (stock) Rustler is as easy as removing 24 screws, swapping the adapters and re-installing the screws. The stock Rustler uses the wide offset hex (included in the package) in the front and the narrow offset hex in the rear. I didn’t run this particular setup on my restored Rustler as that truck has a 25 year old 20t Stinger motor in it and wouldn’t be a challenge for a modern tire. I used the wide offset hexes all the way around on my Breast Cancer Awareness truck to extend its width even further (it has a wide-modded front end) and the monochromatic black of the Raid wheels looks mean in contrast to the pink accents on the truck.

It is amazing how much a tire can improve the handling of a vehicle. I had been using a set of Traxxas 2.8″ Victory tires (stock rears from a Jato 2.5) and the truck had a noticeable push when cornering and the forward traction was lacking, even on textured concrete. Making the switch to the Trencher LP’s was a night-and-day transformation. The truck now feels very planted in turns and is easy to point where you want it. The balance of traction from front to rear is good, despite the truck having such a rear-biased weight balance, and keeping the front planted is as simple as being smooth with the throttle. Forward traction on most surfaces is really strong; the truck accelerates quickly and will wheelie on command. On loose dirt the truck throws a lot of debris in the air behind it while still accelerating at an impressive pace. Grass and loose debris under tree cover is dispatched with quickly and I feel that this is where the Trencher is most at home. Straying from the yard to the edge of the woods and watching the truck slide through leaves and loose dirt is a blast. The rougher the terrain, the better the Trencher performs. It seems that the lug pattern fares better when there is an edge to grab on to, such as tree roots, rock outcroppings, or loose soil. The only place that the Trencher doesn’t fare well is gravel. Most tires struggle with this surface and the Trencher is no different (at least on a high-powered 2wd). Careful throttle application and gentle steering inputs are the key to keeping the truck pointed in the right direction.

I would rank the Trencher 2.8″ LP’s in the same ballpark as the Badlands, but with slightly less traction in all directions thanks to the smaller lug height. Coming from me that is a big compliment. The Badlands in their various sizes are my favorite tires for bashing and have never let me down. The addition of the Raid 6×30 wheels is a huge plus as it eliminates the worry of ruining a wheel due to a stripped hex (which can be a problem in these over-powered brushless equipped trucks) and they also make swapping between trucks much easier as well.