Tire Talk

[80 Cruiser Rod]

Ok, my next step is upgrade my tire size. With the 2.5" standard OME lift I have BF Goodrich 275/70R 16D on stock rims. I want to stay with an AT tire and the size I would like to go with is the 305/70R 16D. I think I need to go to a 10" rim for this size too. Is this a good direction to go in and if I do replace my rims are there rims that look similar to the stock rims? Does anybody have any suggestions on a different tire size and rim that will not compromise handling with my new lift and tire size?

 

[Bikeman]

You can keep your factory 8" rims.

The 3/4 ton truck crowd put 305's and 315's on narrower 7" wheels all day long, on 6000lb trucks, with no ill effects.

 

[Doc]

You can use your stock wheels. Plenty of folks here do.

 

[Grench]

Umm... Why are you changing rims to run 305/70R16 tires? It sounds like you want to keep the factory look but are concerned about the new tires and your rim width.

From your post I suppose you like BF Goodrich.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/all-terrain-t-a-ko/44.html

That chart shows a rim width of 8 - 9.5" IIRC factory FZJ80 rims are 16x8. Technically 10" rims would be too wide for the tire if I understand the chart right.

Did I miss something in the question?

 

[80 Cruiser Rod]

Umm... Why are you changing rims to run 305/70R16 tires? It sounds like you want to keep the factory look but are concerned about the new tires and your rim width.

From your post I suppose you like BF Goodrich.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/all-terrain-t-a-ko/44.html

That chart shows a rim width of 8 - 9.5" IIRC factory FZJ80 rims are 16x8. Technically 10" rims would be too wide for the tire if I understand the chart right.

Did I miss something in the question?

No, you are right, my mistake, I though I read that I needed 9-10.5 rim. So, going to the 305/70R 16D is a good choice with my stock rims. What do most guys think of BF Goodrich tires compared to others?

 

[Grench]

I like my 285/75R16 Goodyear MTRs. I wish I had gone with 315s, but I did tires first then lift. Someday when they wear out I'll decide how big of a tire I want based on how much I'm willing to cut off the truck.

 

[80 Cruiser Rod]

Will the 305/70R 16D being taller and making in more narrow in perspective create any handling problems? Or should I go to a wider tire too?

 

[TX80Fan]

check out the Toyo Open Country AT or MT's...my Toyo AT's have been great for moderate trail riding and mostly hwy cruisin'. Use ebay for pricing on your desired tires to help w/pricing at your local tire shop...I did and it saved me alot.

 

[80 Cruiser Rod]

My tire dealer also suggested Mickey Thompson's. Any thoughts . . . .

 

[TX80Fan]

I've heard they're good tires but soft and don't last very long...

 

[80 Cruiser Rod]

What other good choices are there?

 

[TX80Fan]

I think it comes down to personal preference...everyone's probably got a story to tell about every tire out there. I'd go w/something fairly 'mainstream' and tested by folks here on this site. BFG's are great and look great too...they are just expensive. I really like my Toyo's and would recommend them to any LC owner...

 

[Tools R Us]

Nitto is also made by Toyo, I love my Terra Grapplers, they have worked very well. But my wheeling terrain is desert, mostly rock and sand, so have no idea how they would work in slop!

 

[80 Cruiser Rod]

Most of my driving will be on hardtop and I do spend a good bit of time off road in the woods. Going with the ATs will accommodate both demands and keep me out of trouble when I do go through mud and sand. The ATs will also give me better performance on the road while keeping the road noise to a minimum. That's why I want to got with the ATs rather than a more aggressive tire.

 

[Tools R Us]

The Nitto's are very well behaved on the road, very smooth and quiet for an A/T.

 

[Grench]

Will the 305/70R 16D being taller and making in more narrow in perspective create any handling problems? Or should I go to a wider tire too?

From what I understand you're lifting the truck and adding taller tires. Neither of those is good for handling. The center of gravity is pushed up.

That said, I like the way my OME 850/863 on 33" GY MTR tires handles better than the one on stock suspension & stock Micheline tires. I'm not going to go any larger than 33" until after regearing.

My wife and I have been kicking around doing a stock height OME with 33" AT (255/85R16) tires on her red one. Although lately she's commented that she likes the additional ride height on my truck. I/we aren't in any big hurry to change this truck as it is in the role of kid hauler.

I drive mine most of the time and her's when we go out because the kid seats are already in it. The stock suspension feels a bit boat like in comparrison. Between the two, her's gets more miles per year.

Just my $0.02. YMMV.

 

[peepers]

if i were not headed to 35s... this would be my tire with out exception. bulletproof: TOYO M55

http://www.hubcap-tire-wheel.com/toyo-m55-tires.html

 

[goin' deaf]

Everyone here has great suggestions, if you want more you can go to

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compa...mark=1&performance=ORAT&RunFlat=All&x=78&y=10

You can get millions (maybe thousands) of driven miles worth of opinions. On tirerack.com they have a comparison feature where you can compare several different tires of a given size in a bunch of different aspects, i.e. snow, road noise, durability, etc. That feature was pretty helpful when I was looking.

After thinking about it for some time, I went with Bridgestone Duelers AT Revos. They're great. They're awesome offroad (for an AT tire) and on the road I couldn't ask for a better tire. They're quiet on the asphalt, good in the rain and pretty good from what I can tell in the snow (although I only have 20-30 miles in the snow) and they last. My 2 cents worth. Good luck.

 

[LandCrusher'70]

295/75r16's fit really well on a 2.5 hvy/med lift. Slightly taller than the 305's.

 

[corsair23]

There is a tire section of the FAQ that may be worth you while to read through...

That aside, I REALLY like my siped Toyo MTs. For a MT tire they are amazingly quiet (actually seem to get quieter the faster you go ) and with the sipes they are amazing in the snow. The only real complaint would be when coming to a stop you can "feel" the lugs which feels to me like driveline vibration but isn't.

Others I looked at were the MT Baja MTZ which I like the look of and have heard good reports on.