Another "perfect exped." tire question...

[The Adam Blaster]

I was thinking about another topic of discussion...

Tall and skinny, or tall and fat?
Height and tread pattern being equal, and the vehicle's ability to fit both models of tire, would you go fat or skinny?
Do you think a tire that is skinnier would get better gas mileage?
Do you think a fatter tire would offer the vehicle better stability especially considering we might tend to pack a lot of gear up on the roof rack raising the cog of the vehicle?

Start the ramblin!

[Elwenil]

Depends on the terrain in your intended area of travel. Skinny tires do allow a vehicle to get better mileage due to less rolling resistance and weight. Wide tires offer more stability, floatation and traction if the vehicle weighs enough to keep good ground pressure with the added weight. It really depends on the vehicle and what you want to do with it.

[Johnny Quest]

tall and skinny. you can air down a skinny tire to make the footprint larger, but you cant make a fat tire skinnier when you want a smaller footprint.

[Bandit0]

Tall and skinny, less rolling mass, easier on the brakes and the power steering.

[WTweeder]

tall and skinny and adjust your loading procedures to lower your CG

[Disco12]

Tall and Skinny. Those tires just seem to go so good with Expedition Type rigs

255/85/16's , 235/85/16's ,33x10.50's those are all good sizes.

[The Adam Blaster]

Ya, the 255's i have heard a lot of expo guys running, my only issue wit htat size is that it doesn't seem too popular. At least not through most of my channels, and i'm in the tire business.
I like the 33-10's quite a bit, I would probably get some wheels with a better offset to have the stance a bit wider.

[lifekicksass]

Anybody have ideas on a 35 range skinny tire. I have 35X12.5 now would like to go skinnier but can't seem to find anything. Thanks

[Elwenil]

These are 34" with an 8" width:

http://www.intercotire.com/site32.php

You can also get TSLs in about a 9" width. I don't trust the measurements from Interco though as they always seem to be an inch off one way or the other. I don't care for the quality either.

[p14175]

I am predicting that the Big 3 automakers as well as the tire manufacturers will start promoting tall narrow tires as a way to get better fuel mileage from light trucks and SUVs. Wide tires are going to become less popular as people realize how much they affect fuel mileage.

[MilspecXJ]

I recently ordered a set of 33x10.5's to replace my 33x12.5 BFG/MT's.

Fuel mileage, flare coverage to keep mud off the side of the rig and a :grinpimp: look were deciding factors for me. I grew tired of the wider tire making the side of the rig muddy when running wet forest roads etc.

These will be mounted on 8" wide and 4.5" BS wheels on an XJ.

[p14175]

Anybody have ideas on a 35 range skinny tire. I have 35X12.5 now would like to go skinnier but can't seem to find anything. Thanks

You'll need to look at the Military Vehicle or Power Wagon forums. They are the best sources I have found for locating 9.00-16s and 11.00-16s.

[BigBlueToy]

www.militarytires.com out of Montreal. I used to have michelin 9.00x16s and they kicked ass. even on black ice!!! have a buddy with em on a M57 and he plows yards all winter. Now I have 325-85-r16s now and at 50 bucks each you cant argue with the price they are pretty much indestructible tires. and they never wear out and they are regroovable. Cheap and reliable. exactly what you want in an expedition rig.