Wide vs Narrow Off-Road Tires -- a Scientific Comparison

[TheDerb]

I'm still running stock wheels on kenda 35x10.5 and they fit perfect for me. Except my first set in 2020 cost me $850. I just replaced them with the same 5 months ago and it jumped to $1200. I have a feeling the Kenda's are getting more popular. Plus as was stated, not many options for 10.5" wide tires.

Same here- The Kendas on the stock wheels. 5 of them cost me $1180 at the big W, plus $17/tire for mounting at tire discounters.

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[Renegade]

great video and interesting data. but, i would add that load range E tires are not ideal for setups. stiff load range e sidewalls are contributing to a lack of flex.

This? He didn't mention what load rating the super flexy BFG KM3 tires were.

 

[fourfa]

Similar Mickeys in 37x12.5-17 are D-range, which many of us are using on Gladiators pushing close to 7000 lbs. This was E-range on a FJC at 4300 lbs? Shouldn't be surprised they didn't flex. Did he drive on them outside the driveway tests? Might find they ride like granite

I like this guy's channel and his approach to things. But might not want to infer too much from this comparison between exactly three tires; definitely don't infer anything about all pizza cutters vs all wide tires from this

 

[TwelveGaugeSage]

I put 33x10.5 BFGs on my TJ when I lived in Arizona and never looked back. I ran them as low as 8-10psi on stock wheels with no problems and the traction on rocks was wonderful. I plan to wear out the stock MTs on my JT then get the narrowest 35s I can find. The science is sound and I like the look. Tire selection is crap though thanks to all the mall crawlers wanting their fat tires.

 

[Blade1668]

I've not watched the video yet but I've got 33x10.5x17 on my JT less rolling resistance more MPG's better wet, snow "road" use. All the benefits already made by others. I've ran 33x12.5 on my XJ and Wrangler heavy ass MT's good but with on road losses in MPG's road noise and added wear on suspension, engine on and on.
Planning on 35x10.5 as next tires for JT... I should have got them when I got the 33s

Thanks for heads up on pricing for these

I'm still running stock wheels on kenda 35x10.5 and they fit perfect for me. Except my first set in 2020 cost me $850. I just replaced them with the same 5 months ago and it jumped to $1200. I have a feeling the Kenda's are getting more popular. Plus as was stated, not many options for 10.5" wide tires.

Same here- The Kendas on the stock wheels. 5 of them cost me $1180 at the big W, plus $17/tire for mounting at tire discounters.

 

[Stan H]

I saw this posted last night but didn’t watch it until now. I’ve been a skinny tire guy forever because I’ve seen the difference in action, and I’m glad to see I’m still right ?
Another bonus that he didn’t cover is the ability to take a different line on the trail and squeeze between rocks and other obstacles. I really like having a narrower track.

Meh, I see how he came to his conclusion but there is a fatal flaw in his data . The tire flex on the trail has forced weight of the movement of the vehicle pushing into the rock not just sitting down on something.
The skinny tire can sometimes work and then again get you in trouble.
A Skinny tire will cut through a top layer of mud sometimes and get down to harder material pulling the vehicle through it . Where as a wider flotation tire will ride on top more so than the skinny. The skinny will have you super hung if there is no bottom of harder dryer material beneath that deep-ish mud. The wide tire can pull over top a little better . To be honest in my part of the world it's all clay mud and I mean the really sticky kind. I have got stuck with both types of tires. He is very scientific but Science doesn't always equal real world review. I want to see a review with a set of skinny and a set of wide out in the field on a trail over rocks in mud etc...etc... then the outcome of that will convince me better.

 

[BourbonRunner]

A Skinny tire will cut through a top layer of mud sometimes and get down to harder material pulling the vehicle through it . Where as a wider flotation tire will ride on top more so than the skinny. The skinny will have you super hung if there is no bottom of harder dryer material beneath that deep-ish mud. The wide tire can pull over top a little better . d on a trail over rocks in mud etc...etc... then the outcome of that will convince me better.

Which is why skinny tires work better in snow- they cut through the crud to the pavement.

 

[Chunky White]

Someone at a former off-road shop near me once told me the wider the tire the more traction you need when I was looking for tires for a different Jeep. I have heard that saying in different ways for 30 some years

 

[Chunky White]

Which is why skinny tires work better in snow- they cut through the crud to the pavement.

but worse in sand

 

[Volt0]

Traction definitely isn’t one size fits all.

 

[Rusty PW]

There is 2 trains of thought on tire width. Skinny tires to dig down to solid ground. Wide tires to float on top of the soft stuff.

 

[OffAxis2021]

I have not read this entire thread (yet) and I may be may not be a little “mine altered” at the moment, but this video (below) convinced me to follow though with my intention and go with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T 255/85R17 on base Mojave wheels for my Michigan winter ride tires. Man, the BEST winter ride setup I have ever experienced. Jeep, tires and all. I have nothing but confidence in my first ever Jeep (self ordered too), driving in the winter here in Michigan (born/raised).

I absolutely intended on these being my year round tires on two different sets of wheels, but at the time, I could not wait for “out of stock” and decided to put on Kenda Klever R/T 35x10.5 on 17x8.5” and 0 offset Method wheels for warm weather. Not about to run the Methods through Michigan winter.

I am a “pizza cutter” fan for life. You can achieve “the look” with the proper offset wheel.

I am 51 and should have listened to my dad (RIP) when I was 16 and was told that wide tires were… well, not the best of idea. Especially on a lightweight vehicle, as stated somewhere in the my shared video. I will leave that for others to… find (judge).

Good day/weekend all.

P.S. He mentions not having 12.5” on his daily…

P.S.S. I eat a lot of pizza.

 

[Sandevino]

My load range C Falken A/T3W 33's are 10.5" wide. Anything wider would begin to negatively affect fuel economy as those would be heavy tires. Granted, these weigh in at 64 pounds each but 35's are 70 pounds plus.

 

[legend007]

Excellent Video

 

[Chief_jeep]

Similar Mickeys in 37x12.5-17 are D-range, which many of us are using on Gladiators pushing close to 7000 lbs. This was E-range on a FJC at 4300 lbs? Shouldn't be surprised they didn't flex. Did he drive on them outside the driveway tests? Might find they ride like granite

I like this guy's channel and his approach to things. But might not want to infer too much from this comparison between exactly three tires; definitely don't infer anything about all pizza cutters vs all wide tires from this

I was thinking the same thing. He spent so much time on the science but failed to pick a tire with the right load range for his vehicle. And the BFG is most likely not a E-range tire which skews the data even further.

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