Wide vs. Skinny

[spressomon]

That's the challenge allright...try to find a good off-road/on-road tread pattern in a tall narrowish size in 16". I am running 285/75R16 M/TR's and would like to go to 35" and stay with the same 11"-11.5" width...and the tire I would like to try, Toyo OC MT are even wider due to their tread width being almost as wide as the casing width.

 

[7P's]

Ha, yes. I suppose saying it is merely "good" is a severe understatement. It has me seriously considering the BFG Mud Terrain 255/85/R16's.

Excellent choice - I siped the two middle rows and had 48K miles and good thread left on them before I went to 35's.

 

[e9999]

all these "skinny" votes...
really got to specify what for.
Can't imagine skinny is better for sand. And I'm pretty sure it's gotta be better for rocks. So that only leaves mud then?

 

[IdahoDoug]

It would take quite a bit of discussion to clarify, but a longer contact patch (in the direction of travel) gets you better braking and accelerating traction. This is the type of contact patch a skinnier tire gets you. At the same tire pressure, the contact patch of either a wide or skinny tire is the same surface area, but the shape changes. One of many skinny advantages - this one accrues on the street, and while seeking traction on relatively flat rock surfaces. The wider tire on rock may protect the rim lips better. I say may because if the wider tires meant the owner installed wider rims then this may not be the case.

Anyhow, skinny.

DougM

 

[RCFloyd]

Right On my Skinny Broth'a's!

OK, I'm sold. I knew that I remembered very good things back in '80 on my FJ40 and those skinny, siped Michelins that I ran...

Now I'm looking for the best price on the BFG MT KM 255/85R16's.
Costco can get 'em @ $176 complete Mounting, Balanced, Hazzard, etc.

Tire rack $152 + shipping, etc.

While looking for tires in this size, the only other ones available were the Range Rover's from Dunlop @ $144 before the necessities. Any word on these?

Rob

 

[cptmud]

I think that in the mud or jungle a skimnny tyre is better suited because it sinks into the mud better to get to the hard surface below, and to a degree has less resistance. A wider tyre is better on rocks because it gives a wider footprint therefore more traction

 

[firetruck41]

all these "skinny" votes...
really got to specify what for.
Can't imagine skinny is better for sand. And I'm pretty sure it's gotta be better for rocks. So that only leaves mud then?

Did you read the Expedition West article??? ;p

 

[spressomon]

Did you read the Expedition West article??? ;p

ft: You beat me to it

 

[IdahoDoug]

cptmud said "wider footprint therefore more traction"

Um.......nope. Helps in serious rocks but on what mere mortals consider "the rocks" (rock faces, ledges, Moab rocks, steep smooth rock climbs, etc) I disagree. Sure, if you compete then wider is a safer bet, but.....


Rob,

I'm thinking you mean the Radial Rover, right? If so, I've used the R/T version studded and siped as a winter tire and also wheeled them in winter/mud conditions. Liked them a lot - tough tire but design standards have changed over the years and I'd say time has passed them by. However they are tried and true. The other models of Radial Rover are completely different and this is not applicable to them.

DougM

 

[coldtaco]

Right On my Skinny Broth'a's!

OK, I'm sold. I knew that I remembered very good things back in '80 on my FJ40 and those skinny, siped Michelins that I ran...

Now I'm looking for the best price on the BFG MT KM 255/85R16's.
Costco can get 'em @ $176 complete Mounting, Balanced, Hazzard, etc.

Tire rack $152 + shipping, etc.

While looking for tires in this size, the only other ones available were the Range Rover's from Dunlop @ $144 before the necessities. Any word on these?

Rob

The following make tires in the 255/85/16 size:
BFG MT
Maxxis MT-762 Bighorn
Cooper Discover ST
Dayton Timberline A/T
Interco TSL Thornbird and Txxus MT
Dunlop Radial Rover RVXT
Toyo M55
National Chapparal A/P
Goodyear Wrangler A/T

 

[MJB]

Don't forget wide tires effect on mileage and acceleration and braking, I recently went from 33/10.5./15 bfg's to 33/12.5/15 MTR's , the wide tires are slower to accelerate and harder to stop. I didn't think 15pds. would make much of a difference but they are night and day.

 

[e9999]

keep in mind a skinnier tire will have higher pressure on the ground, therefore be more likely to be punctured or damaged, everything else the same...

 

[RCFloyd]

Doug, & ColdTaco,

Thanks for the replies! Now out of these, (dang, I feel a real dumb question coming on...), what do you like?

BFG MT/KM
Maxxis MT-762 Bighorn
Cooper Discover ST
Dayton Timberline A/T
Interco TSL Thornbird & Txxux MT
Dunlop Radial Rover RVXT
Toyo M55
National Chapparal A/P
Goodyear Wrangler A/T

Personally, I've seen the Toyo M55's and I like 'em, but they're too dern spendy for me @$240. Great reviews tho...
I've been told that the Cooper SST's don't balance out well...

What do you all think?
Rob

 

[Kalawang]

Skinny tires have less rubber on the road and can be the difference where traction is needed. Fat tires need more engine to roll and can be the difference where power is needed.

Looks are everything where Mall Cruising is the primary need.


Kalawang

 

[ElJefe]

all these "skinny" votes...
really got to specify what for.
Can't imagine skinny is better for sand. And I'm pretty sure it's gotta be better for rocks. So that only leaves mud then?

I've been all over Baja on BFG 255/85R16 MT's. San Felipe to Bahia de los Angeles... couple hundred miles of deep sand and beaches, Muleje, shipwrecks on the coast, and camping beaches from Todos Santos all the way to Cabo in deep sand. I've never been stuck once. Blue agave leaves make short work of the 315 sidewall pincussions hanging out there like a ripe fruit waiting for the kebab skewer!

 

[IdahoDoug]

Before a recommendation, provide some insight into what things are most important in descending order of importance. Some of those will really be harsh on the road, others expensive, etc...

DougM

 

[RCFloyd]

Doug,

Sorry about the absence/lag time in getting back to regarding this question.

I've read of your insights throughout the other threads on tires, and I've gotta say, we're in 'about' the same boat. I too reside in Idaho, so you're familar with the terrain that we face. I live in the mountains south of you (sun valley area), but I don't tow a big load like you do. My primary goal is to get out deep in the hills for hunting and exploring, but not necessarily 'rock crawling'. In the winter here, softer compounds are required (by me) so the BFG AT is out. I'd like something more radical than your Revo's for the hills, and also I would like to get into a 255/85 R16. I need to drive it down the paved road too, but not too much as the price of fuel keeps it from being a DD. I like the Toyo M/T's, but they don't come in the size that I'm looking for. Les Schwab does have a nice looking tire in their 'house brand' (sorry I don't remember the designation of it), but unsure as to this 'no-name' approach, and whether it's 'penny wise, but pound foolish'...

Still scratching my head...

TIA

Rob

 

[Grench]

255/95 R16

Does anyone make a 255/95 R16? Wouldn't that be kind of the ultimate tall & narrow for an FJ80 with an OME lift? I went looking, and I've not been able to find anything in that tall of an aspect ratio though. Would it be unsafe with that much sidewall?

 

[re_guderian]

The following make tires in the 255/85/16 size:
BFG MT
Maxxis MT-762 Bighorn
Cooper Discover ST
Dayton Timberline A/T
Interco TSL Thornbird and Txxus MT
Dunlop Radial Rover RVXT
Toyo M55
National Chapparal A/P
Goodyear Wrangler A/T

Big-O Bigfoot XT also comes in a 255/85/16 size. It looks like they've recently updated the tread pattern as well with more siping and more angles. The voids looked larger in person than in the picture. I saw this while I was getting some 255/85 BFG MT's put on the cruiser. I haven't wheeled it yet, so I'll keep you posted.

 

[ElJefe]

Some of the 2-ton transport trucks here on the Sub-base in San Diego have 255/100/16 Michelin's on them... good luck finding one though.