Opinion thread on larger tires

[River2016]

To start with I want to just say this is my experience and opinion.

I just moved from my stock 245 tires to a set of bfg ko2 295 tires (295/70r17)

looks: it looks fine. It looks stock really, like what it prolly should have been factory. I’m not as excited as I thought I would be. I am thinking I maybe should have at least went with the 285/75r17 but I do like the width of them. I also see why everyone wants to go 35s now out the gate. They are definitely an improvement, but it’s nothing crazy.

performance: I was of the opinion and made it known here that I thought the 3.6 with 3.73 with stock tires was quick enough. I was content with the power it had over the 35k miles I drove before buying new tires. For me it isn’t my toy, I got one of those, it’s my work truck so it was good enough. Now that I have the new tires it is definitely slower. So much so that I am debating on a re gear. (I may trade in for a 4xe if it comes out so dumping money into this one is on hold). It does find 8th gear on the highway so that’s good for my trips to projects, but the jump off the line it had is gone and highway passing has diminished significantly. With the ko2 the grip around corners has increased although that could be simply from being a wider tire.

ko2: looks good. Handles well. With it being an LT tire I have aired it down quite a bit but it still rides rough. It’s not loud yet but I’ve been told it may be as it wears and frequent rotations are a must.

conclusion:my thinking was this tire wasn’t a ton taller than stock abs maybe it would help out with the3.73 while still looking good. I’m not thrilled nor completely disappointed, im just meh about it. It does look some better but not awesome. It drives slower and I’m a lead foot. - I knew I’d want to re gear w 35s and I didn’t want to make that financial commitment yet. Overall it’s fine. I needed tires. Idk if I would do anything different except maybe try the 285/75r70 to be a bit taller. Given the performance loss idk that it would make any difference and may look slightly better.

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[WILDHOBO]

I’d put it in this perspective. The Willy’s comes stock with 3.73 and the same metric 33’s that come on a rubicon. I believe those were 285/75/17’s. So maybe it’s a bit slower, but shouldn’t be a huge problem if you’re using it as a daily work truck, especially if Jeep sells a trim with that same tire/gear combination.

 

[Rahkmalla]

I’d put it in this perspective. The Willy’s comes stock with 3.73 and the same metric 33’s that come on a rubicon. I believe those were 285/75/17’s. So maybe it’s a bit slower, but shouldn’t be a huge problem if you’re using it as a daily work truck, especially if Jeep sells a trim with that same tire/gear combination.

Willys has 32s. 255/75 17s

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’d put it in this perspective. The Willy’s comes stock with 3.73 and the same metric 33’s that come on a rubicon. I believe those were 285/75/17’s. So maybe it’s a bit slower, but shouldn’t be a huge problem if you’re using it as a daily work truck, especially if Jeep sells a trim with that same tire/gear combination.

Stock Rubicon Falken Wildpeak are 285/70R17 which is a 32.8" tire

Stock Overland tires (3.73:1 ratio) are 255/70R18 which is a 32.2" tire

If Willys has, 255/75 17s as said (and I am not doubting that) those are ~32.1"
(some say 32.06 so, whatever)

There's a reason I stuck with the 32.2" diameter - 275/65R18 - when I went to A/T tires.
I tow. IF I go larger in the future, it will be 33, possibly 34 but no bigger on these gears, most likely will stick in the 33 range.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Willys has 32s. 255/75 17s

My bad. I test drive one with the same size as a rubi. Maybe the dealer put them on.

 

[mdyucca]

To start with I want to just say this is my experience and opinion.

I just moved from my stock 245 tires to a set of bfg ko2 295 tires (295/70r17)

looks: it looks fine. It looks stock really, like what it prolly should have been factory. I’m not as excited as I thought I would be. I am thinking I maybe should have at least went with the 285/75r17 but I do like the width of them. I also see why everyone wants to go 35s now out the gate. They are definitely an improvement, but it’s nothing crazy.

performance: I was of the opinion and made it known here that I thought the 3.6 with 3.73 with stock tires was quick enough. I was content with the power it had over the 35k miles I drove before buying new tires. For me it isn’t my toy, I got one of those, it’s my work truck so it was good enough. Now that I have the new tires it is definitely slower. So much so that I am debating on a re gear. (I may trade in for a 4xe if it comes out so dumping money into this one is on hold). It does find 8th gear on the highway so that’s good for my trips to projects, but the jump off the line it had is gone and highway passing has diminished significantly. With the ko2 the grip around corners has increased although that could be simply from being a wider tire.

ko2: looks good. Handles well. With it being an LT tire I have aired it down quite a bit but it still rides rough. It’s not loud yet but I’ve been told it may be as it wears and frequent rotations are a must.

conclusion:my thinking was this tire wasn’t a ton taller than stock abs maybe it would help out with the3.73 while still looking good. I’m not thrilled nor completely disappointed, im just meh about it. It does look some better but not awesome. It drives slower and I’m a lead foot. - I knew I’d want to re gear w 35s and I didn’t want to make that financial commitment yet. Overall it’s fine. I needed tires. Idk if I would do anything different except maybe try the 285/75r70 to be a bit taller. Given the performance loss idk that it would make any difference and may look slightly better.

I went with the 285/70 17 with the 3:73 axle and feel like you about the effect on the truck. When on the freeway with any slight grade the transmission drops to 7th then 6th frequently. Should have got a Rubicon with the 4:10 axles.

 

[sass JT]

I’d put a couple dollars down on a throttle controller… I put an idrive on mine (37’s and 4.10’s) it’s it like night and day difference. IMO.

 

[endurojeep]

I’d put a couple dollars down on a throttle controller… I put an idrive on mine (37’s and 4.10’s) it’s it like night and day difference. IMO.

Tell me more Sass what is this idrive you speak of

 

[sass JT]

https://www.offroadelements.com/ultimate9-evc-throttle-controller-jeep-toyota/

https://www.ultimate9.co/au//evc-th...O7dE3R4YXU36xM_6Ym--98ilyo73PnEUaAlHnEALw_wcB

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/idrive-throttle-controller.46014/

 

[sass JT]

Tell me more Sass what is this idrive you speak of

there’s some others out there too. This one a buddy bought me.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Width also adds to rolling resistance.
You add diameter, width, weight, it's more to handle. Takes more to get such a tire rolling. The width difference alone, like in the case of the Overland, those tires are 1" wider. That's a lot of extra rubber on the road. The foot print is much bigger.

 

[River2016]

just how i feel about the whole thing. Just my opinion.

 

[River2016]

Update
I’ve put about 11,000 miles on these and I drive pretty aggressive. They have worn well so far. Very impressed with the way they handle the street for an AT tire and the noise is manageable.
The looks has also grown on me to the point that I don’t think I’d want a bigger tire. Im pretty satisfied. I have also taken it through some pretty decent trails at a local off-road park and again I’m impressed with the truck and tires.
I purchased the taser and updated the Speedo. That helped some in the driving and gear shifting.

I’m tempted to put some 4.88 gears on it now and keep my foot in the floor.

 

[Discount Tire]

@River2016, thank you for taking the time to post an update on how your KO2's are working for you.

Hopefully this will help others looking at tires as well.

 

[Rocksalt]

285 70 17 on Sport S. 3.73 gears . Once I recalibrated using JSCAN i am seeing 8th gear more. Just sayin

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