Wider tire Pros and Cons

[kevman65]

I know the tire height I want, trying to decide whether to go with a 70 on factory wheels, or get 12.50 on aftermarket wheels.

Other than wandering more on the road and the initial cost of new wheels, what other Cons on the wider tire?

Planning on doing a level on the front, and Daystar .75 spacer in the rear. Light trail driving, nothing technical or difficult.

Throw your Pros in also please.

Did a search, didn't see this specific topic covered. Have seen comments for and against wider tires in various threads.

I know this is like an oil thread, opinions abound. But generally within all the opinions there are nuggets of information.

Thanks

Sponsored

 

[Incommando]

The “70” is not the width. It is the height of the sidewall as a ratio of the width which is the 3 digit # expressing the width in millimeters. 275, 285, etc.. is the width.

 

[kevman65]

The “70” is not the width. It is the height of the sidewall as a ratio of the width which is the 3 digit # expressing the width in millimeters. 275, 285, etc.. is the width.

I understand this, 35 is the width, focus on the 12.50 as that requires a wider wheel versus the 70 on the factory wheel.

Tried to make it clear, wider tire, 12.50 Pros and Cons.

 

[Incommando]

I understand this, 35 is the width, focus on the 12.50 as that requires a wider wheel versus the 70 on the factory wheel.

Tried to make it clear, wider tire, 12.50 Pros and Cons.

The 70 has nothing to do with the rim width. It does not correlate to the 12.5 at all. But whatever

 

[kevman65]

The 70 has nothing to do with the rim width. It does not correlate to the 12.5 at all. But whatever

70 correlates with the FACTORY wheel. Pretty much the only option I see for the factory wheel is a 70 series when you get to the top end of that spectrum.

12.50 correlates with a wider, aftermarket wheel.

Neither is important to the question I asked.

I used those references just to clarify I was looking at WIDER tires.

Whatever yourself.

 

[Digger70]

There is a 12.5" wide tire that will fit on the stock wheels. If you look at the tires' specs it will show you the wheel width it can fit on. I think it might be the BFG KO2.

 

[kevman65]

There is a 12.5" wide tire that will fit on the stock wheels. If you look at the tires' specs it will show you the wheel width it can fit on. I think it might be the BFG KO2.

So far, everything I've seen says 8-11.50 wide wheel for the 12.50.

 

[Digger70]

So far, everything I've seen says 8-11.50 wide wheel for the 12.50.

Also depends on the tire shop you go to. Someone on one of the other threads here went to a Discount Tire to get 12.5" wide tires mounted and they wouldn't do it but it has been done and well documented here and on the Wrangler forums. I saw a video of someone had 37x12.50x17 mounted on stock tires before putting a lift and wheel spacers on just to show that it can be done. Just look at the 35's or 37's thread https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/35-or-37-s-what-to-do.21356/

 

[Digger70]

What tire do you want to get?

 

[Digger70]

Here it is, it's the Nitto Ridge Grapplers

I might have answered my own question.

Looks like the Nitto Ridge Grapplers will work on the OEM wheels:

• Wheel Diameter
  17
• Aspect Ratio
  12.5
• Section Width (Cross Section)
  35
• Overall Diameter
  35
• Rim Width Range
  7.5-11.5
• Rim Width
  
  
• Weight
  74

74 lbs tires seems like a huge hit to on-road performance though. vs. WRANGLER DURATRAC at 68 lbs. But those require 8.5" wheels.
33" tires are normally around 50-55 lbs.

20 lbs of unsprung weight per wheel is a substantial hit to on-road performance. I think the rule is 3x.

So 80 lbs x 3 is like adding the equivalent of 240 lbs to the truck. FML! And that's just for 35"s. Imagine 39 and 40.


https://www.americastire.com/buy-tires/nitto-ridge-grappler/p/30600

 

[kevman65]

What tire do you want to get?

Going with 35's, have a Rubi and going to do the spacers listed in OP.

That is what I'm trying to decide, what tires I want to go with.
If I stick with factory wheels, then I am stuck with 70 series tires with about the same footprint as factory tires.

Trying to find out if the wider based tires, requiring wider rims, is too much of a headache to deal with on the streets.

With all the tar snakes, cold patches, broken asphalt and split concrete, that wider profile seems to catch EVERYTHING.

I owned an '86 CJ-7 with a 3" lift that ran 35 x 12.50 and THAT was no fun on the road.

 

[Digger70]

Going with 35's, have a Rubi and going to do the spacers listed in OP.

That is what I'm trying to decide, what tires I want to go with.
If I stick with factory wheels, then I am stuck with 70 series tires with about the same footprint as factory tires.

Trying to find out if the wider based tires, requiring wider rims, is too much of a headache to deal with on the streets.

With all the tar snakes, cold patches, broken asphalt and split concrete, that wider profile seems to catch EVERYTHING.

I owned an '86 CJ-7 with a 3" lift that ran 35 x 12.50 and THAT was no fun on the road.

Cool. I'm not trying to plug the thread I started but I did start a thread about the Kenda Klever 35x10.50r17 tires. They are heavy at 67lbs each but are pretty tough looking. You wouldn't have to get aftermarket wheels or wheel spacers. Maybe you already saw the thread and don't like them which is fine but if you didn't here is the link and it has links to other info about them https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/kenda-klever-r-t-kr601-35x10-50r17.28656/ Personally I've had 315/70r17 C rated KO2's on my former JK Wrangler and they were nice, heavy but nice. MPG sucked. I didn't really notice any problems and had run the stock tires before that.

 

[Reasons]

Here is a 35 x 11.5 x R17 by Nitto that fits perfectly on Stock Gladiator wheels:


Although the tires are pricey, still cheaper than purchasing wheels/tires combo.

This video pretty much sold me on these tires. I like the Rubicon's stock Granite Crystal wheels and plan on keeping them. Plus, Matches my Granite Crystal body color. I just need to find a matching spare.

 

[Renegade]

I understand this, 35 is the width, focus on the 12.50 as that requires a wider wheel versus the 70 on the factory wheel.

Tried to make it clear, wider tire, 12.50 Pros and Cons.

I’m still trying figure out what a 35” wide tire would look like on a JT...
What tires are you comparing?

 

[JT_Ollie]

Go on discount tires website, I’m not sure why but they will install 37/12.5/18 on a 7.5” wide rim but won’t do 35/12.5/18. No idea how the calculations are done.

Sponsored