Whats best? Fat tires or thin.......

[rocky]

I live in the 255/85-16 v 285/75-16 world and went for the so called pizza cutter tires three years ago...... Just my personal visual preference. But the 285s look good as well.

So its interesting to see a bit of testing on the fat v thin tire

and

 

[hillstrubl]

I'm a big fan of pizza cutters (currently running 7.5R16 BFG KM3s). The only time I see a need for wide is high horsepower, high RPM runs through a lake of soupy mud

 

[mgreenspan]

255/85 and 235/85s were my go to sizes. Benefits of 285/75 and 265/75 were negligible even in the change of terrain/mud from CO to VA. The biggest advantage of 285 over 255 is a wider choice of available tread types. It’s just not a very common size, unfortunately. Most of the 265s are all available in 235.

 

[blueboy]

265/75-16 were on my ‘95 D90 and seemed to work ok on it. Tried same size on the ‘94 LWB with 1.5” lift and just didn’t feel right. Went to 235/85-16 and much better. Had 235s on the 109 as well and on a Series they suit the vehicle. However my viewpoint is based on older Rovers.

 

[MountainD]

I’ve run both and thought that wider would be much better for Moab and CO, but I didn’t notice a traction difference. I did notice a weight difference. Been running 255/85’s for two decades now and will for the indefinite future… better gas mileage, less cost, less weight…

 

[pfshoen]

2 schools of thought for snow:
Wide tires to stay on top
Skinny tires to bite thru to traction.
Depends a lot on depth of snow.
Rally cars tend to go the skinny route since they typically don't do deep snow. Rally drivers always try to get their tires down to where the traction is, wet or dry. They'll hit the brakes hard just to scrub thru the marbles on top to the hardpack so they can steer.
I noticed a long time ago how Baja residents set up their trucks. Tall, skinny tires are ideal. They give good ground clearance and make it easier to miss worst bumps/holes/rocks.
Mounting and manhandling bigger sizes is harder.
Letting out about half normal psi widens the footprint when necessary. Bring a compressor/tank.
Wheels/tires are unsprung weight. Less weight is more better when it comes to suspension action and bearing wear etc.

 

[DefendersNW]

Trucks were designed for and run best with tall & skinny... Pump them up and reduced rolling resistance means better milage, better power transfer, better top end.

"I noticed a long time ago how Baja residents set up their trucks. Tall, skinny tires are ideal. They give good ground clearance and make it easier to miss worst bumps/holes/rocks."

 

[MountainD]

I really hate how some Defender folks kit out their trucks with fat fenders, tires and accessories to the point they fit in better with the jeep crowd. I know....some of you folks have fat tires and wide fenders.....I hate yours too

 

[blueboy]

Trucks were designed for and run best with tall & skinny

As mentioned my ‘95 D90 SW had 265/75-16 fitted from new. The 110 we had in Brasil from the local plant had 235/85-16 fitted from new. Both seemed to work well on each. The ‘94 RRC came fitted with 205/80R16 and for sure those were tall & skinny! Like 235/85-16 on it much better.

 

[Z.G]

I really hate how some Defender folks kit out their trucks with fat fenders, tires and accessories to the point they fit in better with the jeep crowd. I know....some of you folks have fat tires and wide fenders.....I hate yours too

I got made fun of plenty in our group when I was running 285/75s because BFG didn't have 255s in stock at the time. It's important to shame these serial offenders

 

[jymmiejamz]

I got made fun of plenty in our group when I was running 285/75s because BFG didn't have 255s in stock at the time. It's important to shame these serial offenders

The best was when you replaced the XZLs with those monster truck wide tires

 

[Z.G]

The best was when you replaced the XZLs with those monster truck wide tires

The 255s were already on order at that point, but yes it was a dark time in my life

 

[WreckITFrank]

it thought everyone was building those arctic trucks i used to watch on discovery.

 

[chuckc4]

it thought everyone was building those arctic trucks i used to watch on discovery.

Reykjavik style...

 

[mgreenspan]

I really hate how some Defender folks kit out their trucks with fat fenders, tires and accessories to the point they fit in better with the jeep crowd. I know....some of you folks have fat tires and wide fenders.....I hate yours too

They didn’t stop at the flares. Entire frame is Jeep.

 

[hillstrubl]

They didn’t stop at the flares. Entire frame is Jeep.

I love that they used TJ flares without the side markers

 

[Z.G]

They didn’t stop at the flares. Entire frame is Jeep.

Belongs in the LRTS thread

 

[mgreenspan]

Belongs in the LRTS thread

I had a moment of excitement walking out of the grocery store then disappointment. I wish I had not been in a rush as I saw the owners getting into it when I was driving away.

I’m not a purist when it comes to these vehicles, but this is substantially better and that one was awful. The extension behind the doors just looks so off on the Jeep lightweight.

 

[erover82]

At least they did it to a Lightweight, which imo are the ugliest of the classics. Fun, interesting, but ugly. There's a S1 here on a CJ frame. I'm guessing the chassis rotted out and Jeep frames were far more abundant.