Torn Between 315/70R17 or 35x11.5x17

[amadeus303]

I think I've finally decided on new tires for my wheels - going with the Toyo Open Country AT3...but I'm torn on whether to go with 315/70R17 or 35x11.5x17. For my use case, the JTM is primarily a daily driver with some occasional light trail and over landing. It rarely, if ever, sees any rock crawling, etc. I don't tow anything.

Can anyone help me decide one way or the other? I like the lighter weight of the skinny tires, and I assume the skinny tires would also be slightly better in rain and snow. Both also measure at the same 34.5 inches. Is the only real advantage to the wider tire better dry traction and aesthetics?

If it matters, my wheels are 17x8 +12 w/ 4.97 backspacing.

Sponsored

 

[mjg4xe]

I wouldn’t call 315/70R17 “skinny” tires by any means and I think they are a good happy medium for your use case.

 

[Ferg]

I love my tires. They're NITTOs, but you get the idea.

 

[Mx113]

The 315 is wider than the 12.5. That’s what I’m running with no lift and stock Rubicon wheels. No rubbing and look great imo.

 

[OffAxis2021]

Wide tire type guys will not like this, but …
I would not say wide(r) tires have “better dry traction.” It is all about pounds per square inch.

 

[smlobx]

I went with the 35x11.5’s and love them.

 

[kevman65]

34.4" x 12.4" is 315/70R17

So basically it's a 35" x 12.5" tire.

You just need to decide if you want 12.50" or 11.50" width.

In the grand scheme of things, it's the same tire.

 

[Billkowski]

Got the 315/70.....wished I got the 35 11.5. Also in the tires I have looked at, the 35 11.5 ones were closer to actually being 35s

 

[JTGuy]

I had the 315-70-17 BFG KOs and they were nice . But I went to the 37-12.5-17 BFG kos and they are great. Weigh only 1 pound more. They are a little narrower and I have no rubbing with a 2 inch lift. They really do ride better than the 315s did. If you go 315s get the C rated ones.

 

[amadeus303]

I wouldn’t call 315/70R17 “skinny” tires by any means and I think they are a good happy medium for your use case.

Oh...I was referring to the 35x11.5x17 as the "skinny" tires since they'll fit on a 7.5" rim.

 

[amadeus303]

I love my tires. They're NITTOs, but you get the idea.

Those look great...those are 315s or 11.5?

 

[amadeus303]

34.4" x 12.4" is 315/70R17

So basically it's a 35" x 12.5" tire.

You just need to decide if you want 12.50" or 11.50" width.

In the grand scheme of things, it's the same tire.

That's exactly why I'm torn...they're essentially the same thing. That's why I'm asking the question. Is there any practical advantage to the 12.5 other than *maybe* aesthetics? Otherwise, I might as well go with the lighter tire.

 

[MarkC419]

Just installed Toyo AT III’s 35x11.5x17’s on my Gladiator. So far they have been great. Run the same tires but at 285x70x17 on my 4Runner for years.

 

[kevman65]

That's exactly why I'm torn...they're essentially the same thing. That's why I'm asking the question. Is there any practical advantage to the 12.5 other than *maybe* aesthetics? Otherwise, I might as well go with the lighter tire.

If one is C rated and the other is D or E then the C is lighter in weight.

On the road, the wider the tire the more you're going to feel cracks, seams, tar snakes and the tire will try to follow them.

If you're not going off road, get the lightest tire you can.

If you're going to be off roading, you want the strongest side wall you can get (E).

Sponsored