I am more on tha high and narrow side of things, but they are not easy to find, not to many choice. So for many yeat, I was with 33x12 or 33x10.5 or 35x10.5. Not many choice when you have 15" wheels.

Now looking to go to 16" or 17" wheels.

Also went from off roading (rock, mud etc) to overlanding

 

So would you say narrow is better for overlanding?

 

I have had 34x10.-17 (which are a true 32.5") 285/70-17, 285/75-17 and 35x12.5-17. For DD pretty hard to beat the smaller tire, for playing in the rocks hard to beat the 35's (or bigger) for just all around stuff hard to beat the 285/75-17. The taller the tire the better pumpkin clearance you have. I think for me personally I would always pick a 285/75-17 (34x11.5-17) over a 33x12.5-17 just for the extra clearance. my cooper st maxx 285/75's measure an honest 33.25 when mounted and on the jeep so going to give you another .75" under the pumpkins compared to a 33x12.5

 

Just to make sure I understand you, you mean differentials right?

Yeah, your post makes sense to me. I am looking for good DD and good overlanding/exploring. I'm not hell bent on crawling but I do love solitude and hoping I can get that with sensible mods.

Thanks for the reply!

 

Unless you are dedicated rock climber, the narrow tire will almost always be the slightly better choice, unless you are just after looks and that is subjective anyways.

As @jadmt stated it's hard to beat the 285/75-17 as an all around tire. It's basically the same height as a 35 (within 1/4" typically) and it's lighter weight. It will perform better in bad weather as well. But because it's pretty tall, a regear is preferred unless you are starting with 4.10.

Typically for overlanding, you do choose the narrow tire over the wide tire.

Expeditions West: Tire Selection for Expedition Travel

 

Unless you are dedicated rock climber, the narrow tire will almost always be the slightly better choice, unless you are just after looks and that is subjective anyways.

As @jadmt stated it's hard to beat the 285/75-17 as an all around tire. It's basically the same height as a 35 (withing 1/4" typically) and it's lighter weight. It will perform better in bad weather as well. But because it's pretty tall, a regear is preferred unless you are starting with 4.10.

Typically for overlanding, you do choose the narrow tire over the wide tire.

Expeditions West: Tire Selection for Expedition Travel

That was a great read thanks

I have 3.73 and limited slip right now so just planning something 33ish but I'll be looking narrower than 12.5" now. According to your link, I should shop 10.5" width or so AFAIK. I do have to drive in snow in winter so maybe a compromise is best.

Man, great info in that test report.

 

To choose from the Tall tiers or wide tires. I will go with the wide tires as they are more attractive than the Tall one. However, Wide tires will affect the speed of the speed and pick up of your jeep. However, nothing could match more than wide tiers on jeep.

 

Like other have said, yep, for overlanding I will go narrow but high with the right gears.

I would also expect better fuel economy from a narrow tire. And in case of needs, deflate and have a nice long foot print.

 

I'm glad I posted this thread. I really thought wide was better for all the things it's not better for haha. So much to learn...

Thanks for your notes

 

well fatter does look really cool on tires tho LOL. yes pumpkins are the differentials.

 

I think that the wider tires also "look" bigger (taller) even if they aren't. Which adds to the effect. I do think if I was really honed in on the look, I would have 37's. But I'm after function over form for what I do.

 

I have to say I do like the fat tire look. Too bad the data isn't reversed

 

I have to agree with the fat tire look when they are covered by fender flairs, but yep, no good for travel.

 

I'm in the minority but I like the classic look of tall & skinny tires. Especially on a Jeep, hence my decision to roll with 33x10.5x15 KO2s for shoes. I'm happy I did, as I really like the way they look. YMMV, and invariably will...

 

One of the guys I run trails with has a TJ and refers to the wide tires as giving the Jeep the "pregnant roller skate" look.

 

Here in the beach sand, fatter is better. (tires that is)

 

I can go along with that... I think if I was building for sand, I would do the 33x12.5x15's. A little lower and wider.

 

Like em tall & skinny. (I mean tires) Also better for snow on the street.

 

How about a 235/80 17 on a stock wheel? is that too skinny? I have a 255/75 17 now.

I like tall and skinny.

 

To the OP, does your Jeep have stock wheels at stock height? Mine is and hence my dilemma since I do think tall & skinny is better, but my stock height and wheels limit my choices. Next time around I'm still waffling as to whether or not to go with 285/70/17 KO2 and a possible rub issue ($800+ experiment) or play it safe and get taller 255/80/17 M/T?

https://tiresize.com/chart/

 

For a comparison...

The 2017 Big Bears come with 265/70/17 KO2's. They are about 32ish inches in diameter.

 

Good question.

Classic Overlander From the UK to Africa to Australia and all places in between...

 

Glad I stumbled into this thread. I have the Big Bear edition and love the tires which run roughly 31.6x10.4 on 17" rims. I really like the rims and not spending money on new ones but am interested in going to 33" tires for my next set. If I go with 33x10.5, can I keep the stock rims w/o rub issues?

Thanks.

 

The parking garage I use for work has a jku with 35x12.5s parked next and older Tacoma on 255/100r16s. I really like the way the 255s look but seeing the 2 side by side I think that the 255s may look odd on the jku, not sure if it's the huge wheel wells or the fact that you really don't see a skinny tire that tall on a jku.

 

It probably only would look odd because so many people run a wide tire on a Jeep even the older ones that it's like we've been mentally conditioned to think wide is the right look and skinny doesn't look right. Whenever I see anything with really skinny tall tires I think it looks odd (old Land Rover's etc.) but then I remember it's just because everyone is putting wide stuff on now and also I think coming from the world of sporty cars where wider is better that doesn't help.

 

Tall and skinny all day long. Better traction, handling, wear. The wide tire "stance" is just to look cool to those who dont know.

 

Here;s some skinny tire off-roading. Deep snow, .. rock crawling.... (It's actually amazing what you can do with tires that aren't much more than bicycle tires).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaNgYhvmtzA

 

Is there a tallest, skinny tire I can fit with stock 17s and lift? Is the stock tire on my Willys it? Thanks.

 

255/80/17?

 

That is the size I'm going to replace my stock ones with. BFG makes the Mud Terrain in the 255/80/17 size and pencils out to be 33.1" or 1" taller than the stock 255/75/17. If you get those, post up some pics and performance observations as I'm curious to see how they'll perform aired down over rocks.

 

255/80-17 is a nice pizza cutter.

 

If I don't want a taller gearing and want to stay at 32 OD, is 235/80 17 too skinny?

 

Tall vs. wide

The 235/80r17 will work on the stock 17" wheels, however that size and the 255/80r17 are only offered in E load rating which can be pretty stiff for a jeep. These tires were designed for 3/4 and 1 ton pickups. A few days ago I was down at the local tire shop getting some tires balanced and looked at some sets of tires on display. Two I looked at were some KM2's and KO2's. KM2's were 305/70r17 load E and the KO2's were 265/75r16 load E. I checked the tires sidewalls for thickness and flexibility. The sidewalls of both tires were quite thick and were extremely stiff. I virtually could not get them to flex any by hand. I believe you could have mounted either of these sets on a Jeep aired them up to seat the beads then let all the air back out and they still would not look flat. I can not imagine either of those tires flexing very well when aired down but would probably be very resistant to sidewall damage. The stock size, 255/75r17 (32"), are available in P metrics and Load C and would perform much better on a Jeep. I would suggest checking the side wall and tread stiffness on any tire you plan on installing on your Jeep. The 2 examples above may not reflect all load E tires as I am sure there are differences between various manufacturers. My $.02 FWIW.

 

The 235/80r17 will work on the stock 17" wheels, however that size and the 255/80r17 are only offered in E load rating which can be pretty stiff for a jeep. These tires were designed for 3/4 and 1 ton pickups. A few days ago I was down at the local tire shop getting some tires balanced and looked at some sets of tires on display. Two I looked at were some KM2's and KO2's. KM2's were 305/70r17 load E and the KO2's were 265/75r16 load E. I checked the tires sidewalls for thickness and flexibility. The sidewalls of both tires were quite thick and were extremely stiff. I virtually could not get them to flex any by hand. I believe you could have mounted either of these sets on a Jeep aired them up to seat the beads then let all the air back out and they still would not look flat. I can not imagine either of those tires flexing very well when aired down but would probably be very resistant to sidewall damage. The stock size, 255/75r17 (32"), are available in P metrics and Load C and would perform much better on a Jeep. I would suggest checking the side wall and tread stiffness on any tire you plan on installing on your Jeep. The 2 examples above may not reflect all load E tires as I am sure there are differences between various manufacturers. My $.02 FWIW.

Thank you. The E load is the only thing that is stoping me from going to a 235 from 255.

 

Your welcome David9962000. Personally I think the 255/75r17 is a good size for a JK. The JKU's suffer a poor breakover angle due to having a wheel base as long as a Chevy Tahoe. They benefit from some lift and taller tires if you are going on more difficult trails. My JK Sport S has Rubi take offs on it and has logged about 4500 trail miles on rocky CO trails over the past three summers. I run 15psi on the trails and the tires flex and wrap rocks really well. It seldom spins a tire unless it is wet. I have watched a lot of other Jeeps on the trail with lifts and 35's or 37's, which are almost all load E, and even aired down to 10psi those tires do not flex like I think they should. They do deflect on rocks but the tread does not really wrap the rocks like a softer tire. I have followed Jeeps so equipped and went everywhere they did. I did have to choose easier lines at times. I am not a rock crawler and do not run the 9-10 trails as rated by trail damage. I use the Jeep to explore and get to fishing and hunting spots

 

go wide man. the wider the better it looks and will handle imo. I'm running 14 wides with 2 inch spacers and I love the look. hence the name

 

Function over form.

Expeditions West: Tire Selection for Expedition Travel

 

Function over form.

Expeditions West: Tire Selection for Expedition Travel

Absolutely! But, I'm willing to compromise a little to obtain both