Equivalent tire size on 18" rim - question............

[ShadowsPapa]

I really like the Overland 18" wheels, too.
My thought was to go with these.
E load rated, which isn't my first choice, but "only" 59 pounds and very good in the snow and ice.
Have run load C and E BFG A/T before on a Chevy Suburban (twice), on a TJ and JK and really liked them all.
Price isn't bad either and if you ever need to get one on a road trip to replace your spare after a flat, they are readily available.
33.2 inch diameter is in the ball park...

Good luck with your decision.
As with most things Jeep - too many choices!

Choices, you've got that right! Thanks, yes, that's another option. I know Jeep people have those tires and like them, looking for someone who has run the General tires with real life experiences. But these are a close second so far.
Looking at LT275/65 because the diameter is EXACTLY the same as stock, so no adjustment needed to speedometer, etc. and keeps the weight down as well.
The Falken I've been running on Rubicon wheels are heavy and 32.8" compared to the stock 32.2 (or 32.1 as some say) but the extra weight and width does impact ride and MPG. The MPG not being critical but it rides so nice.......... don't want to go heavier tires at all and my wife already complains about the height of the truck getting in, so sticking in that 32.x range is my best choice to avoid calibration, shifting issues with the automatic that already struggles to hold any gear more than a minute at best. Larger diameter is just going to make that thing struggle more with the 3.73 ratio, wind resistance and constant shifting.
The BFGs were another choice, a lot of people like them and they do well in snow. That's a big thing here - bad weather.

I have read reviews on the General A/TX tire - great reviews, no negatives I've found, they seem to be quiet, and are owned by a German company (not Chinese)

But trying to find example of actual JEEP JT owners who have used them. The BFG T/A KO2 there's a lot of folks who have Jeeps who run those, so that's likely right up there as well - likely those or the General tires.
The local CHEVY dealer sells the Generals and can get me 5 of them, installed on 5 Overland wheels (yes, I bought a 5th for spare) all set, out the door, for 1500.
If I show them the Jeep dealer JUST aligned it - show them the paperwork, they may knock off the 100 for alignment. I mean, what's to set on a Jeep anyway? Toe?

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[ShadowsPapa]

Got a quote back from the local Jeep dealer (the one that did the steering gear, alignment, warranty stuff and WAVE stuff)
........ for the tires I asked them about, they matched internet pricing.
I can't get them any cheaper online. The whole package price 5 tires, mounting/balancing, tax, not a lot more than I paid for the Rubicon wheels and tires I have in my garage.

So now - to get real-world opinions on the tires - and size I'm looking at.
The price is right, generally the online reviews are fine, but has anyone run these tires on a Wrangler or Gladiator?

 

[jeepin48]

Based on the spec you choose a good riding tire with low weight (45lbs)...... IMO this Michelin is the smoothest tire (not an E rated) I have used on my JK. I wanted more height and not width for snow conditions like you so 265/70R18 was my perfect fit.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks, but ....... I know what's out there, and I've narrowed the search already and I'm looking only at A/T tires, not highway or H/T tires.

Wondering if anyone has any real-world experience with the tires I have already settled on (unless I I'm moving away from H/T to A/T, all terrain tire.

I guess what we're finding here is that no one here has any experience with General tires, specifically the Grabber A/T X SL tire.

The accessories guy I've been emailing with at the dealership suggested they should be as good as the Falken A/T like the Rubicons have.

 

[Gatorized]

Thanks, but ....... I know what's out there, and I've narrowed the search already and I'm looking only at A/T tires, not highway or H/T tires.

Wondering if anyone has any real-world experience with the tires I have already settled on (unless I I'm moving away from H/T to A/T, all terrain tire.

I guess what we're finding here is that no one here has any experience with General tires, specifically the Grabber A/T X SL tire.

The accessories guy I've been emailing with at the dealership suggested they should be as good as the Falken A/T like the Rubicons have.

Gets good ratings on Tirerack - 3 peak rated for snow...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Gets good ratings on Tirerack - 3 peak rated for snow...

Thanks. Oddly that's one place I had not looked at for reviews and info. Thanks. Yes, they get very good reviews there, pretty much in all areas I care about.

 

[WXman]

I guess I should add that I don't want 2" thick sidewalls and heavy-duty truck tires that ride like solid rubber. The Falken tires ride a tiny bit harsher than the Duellers.
All I need to do is maintain the load range appropriate for the truck.

Well, funny you say that because the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is one of the most rugged tires on the market. Even with 2 ply sidwalls, they are THICK. That's why those tires weigh so much compared to other tires of the exact same size. Heavy and thick. Having said that, they're still the best tires I've ever run.

My current tires, Yokohama Geolandar X-AT are a very close second. Fantastic in all weather conditions. I love them.

The General Grabber AT2 and ATX line is a pretty good tire, but that tread pattern has some issues. High rolling resistance and throwing gravel being a couple of them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That's interesting as write-ups I've seen on tire rating sites say the pattern helps prevent holding and throwing rocks/gravel.
I've not seen any of the testing making mention of rolling resistance. Any references for that?

Weight I want to avoid - want to keep unsprung weight to a minimum, the Falken of the equal size is only about 2.5 pounds a tire more, though. The 17's I ran in the winter are rougher riding tires on our nasty broken uneven paved roads. Blacktop not so bad, but the pavement joints and broken areas you can feel them a lot more than the originals.

 

[WXman]

That's interesting as write-ups I've seen on tire rating sites say the pattern helps prevent holding and throwing rocks/gravel.
I've not seen any of the testing making mention of rolling resistance. Any references for that?

Weight I want to avoid - want to keep unsprung weight to a minimum, the Falken of the equal size is only about 2.5 pounds a tire more, though. The 17's I ran in the winter are rougher riding tires on our nasty broken uneven paved roads. Blacktop not so bad, but the pavement joints and broken areas you can feel them a lot more than the originals.

It has to do with the interlocked tread pattern. The BFG KO an KO2 tires have the same problem. There aren't really circumferential rows of tread around the tire. Instead the tread is interlocked and covers the entire face of the contact patch equally. That increases friction and resistance.

If you eye ball the other tires on the market like the Falken, Yokohama, Cooper AT3, Firestone, etc. etc. you'll see that there are aggressive tread blocks but they're still somewhat oriented in circumferential rings around the tire. That keeps the noise down and the resistance down.

I'm not saying the General is a bad tire. I ran the AT2 a couple of times which was the precursor to the ATX and they lasted a long time and were good tires. I just feel like there are better ones out there these days.

The Falken that is stock on the Rubicon is a 51 lb. tire even in P rated sizing. By contrast, other tires in the 285/70R17 size are in the 45 lb. range with the P or SL rating. But, the good thing about those thick Falken sidewalls is that they are resistant to flats!

 

[FutureOdin]

I purchased a set of the General AT/X for my previous Gladiator, currently on my mother's JL. Love the tire a lot, great grip in the winter time, looks aggressive, went from the H/T to them, didn't think they were that much louder.

Liked them so much my stepdad ended up buying the same set on his Ram Rebel. I would've purchased them for my currently Gladiator but didn't want a load range E tire.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

LOL - I guess I don't see the big difference between the Falken tread and the ATX tread. Two outer rows and the center is pretty much like a puzzle and not distinct rows - in both tires.

The rating places I've looked at say that among A/T tires, the General are among the most quiet. That's not a big deal, I always though the Falken tires were noisy after a few miles.

 

[FutureOdin]

I looked at the AT/X and instantly thought that it looked like the KO2s. And the KO2s are (IMO) the top of the line A/T tire.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I purchased a set of the General AT/X for my previous Gladiator, currently on my mother's JL. Love the tire a lot, great grip in the winter time, looks aggressive, went from the H/T to them, didn't think they were that much louder.

Liked them so much my stepdad ended up buying the same set on his Ram Rebel. I would've purchased them for my currently Gladiator but didn't want a load range E tire.

They aren't load range E. They are SL - you have a choice. I won't run E tires either - and am looking at the SL tires here - These are also a newer tread and tire design than a lot of the A/T tires out there.
A/T tires will almost always be SOME louder than an HT tire made for comfort, quite and free-rolling but among A/T tires, I've run across 3 comparisons that suggest these are the quietest of the A/T tires out there.

So far I can't find anything at all, not a thing, talking about rolling resistance.

 

[FutureOdin]

They aren't load range E. They are SL - you have a choice. I won't run E tires either - and am looking at the SL tires here - These are also a newer tread and tire design than a lot of the A/T tires out there.
A/T tires will almost always be SOME louder than an HT tire made for comfort, quite and free-rolling but among A/T tires, I've run across 3 comparisons that suggest these are the quietest of the A/T tires out there.

So far I can't find anything at all, not a thing, talking about rolling resistance.

You're correct--I was looking at buying 35x12.5, which only come in load range E.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I looked at the AT/X and instantly thought that it looked like the KO2s. And the KO2s are (IMO) the top of the line A/T tire.

You aren't the only one to think that. I ran into a reviewer who said they were very close in pattern and it instantly reminded them of the KO2. Dunno about that, but you aren't the first person I've read saying that.

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