Hi everyone, first I'd like to say a quick thank you for all the help I have gotten thus far on the forum! You folks really know your stuff and I appreciate it alot!
In reading through the forum I have read of many folks trying to fit 285/75s who have had to do a body lift, a suspension lift, wheel spacers, and in some cases had to beat down pinchwelds etc. in order to make them fit. So my question is how much extra capability off road will a 285/75 tire provide over a 265/75 or a 235/85 tire? And under what circumstances is it really worth all that trouble? Finally, how much difference will a good aggresive mud terrain tire make over an all terrain tire off road and in what types of terrain will it make the biggest difference? Thank you!
The answer is.... it depends (of course). :biggrin2:
It is a balancing act. bigger tires mean less power. Bigger tires mean more clearance.
If you are just starting out and are not sure what type of wheeling you want to do, I would recommend that you invest in a more aggressive tread instead of increasing tire size. Especially if you have a rear locker, that truck will get through some pretty nasty terrain with the simple addition of aggressive tires. 265/75/R16 is either a tall 31 or a short 32, depending on make. 285/75/R16 is a short 33. It is basically the same as the 265/75/R16. just proportionally bigger. You will not notice much difference strictly due to the tire size increase.
You can complicate things by changing the tre size to a size that acts differently, such as a 235/85/R16, a short 32, or a 255/85/R16, a tall 33. These tires are skinny and tall (85% aspect ratio). They confer certain advantages, particularly in the rutted muddy roads of the back country. They will provide just as much bite as the 285/75s but will have a narrower stance, which makes them a little less stable and provides less flotation (like in deep mud). For my type of off-roading (Overland travel), this tire type is ideal due to greater efficiency and the additional clearance without increasing drag and rolling resistance.
Clearance is the other factor, and is at the core of the issue. Additional clearance makes driving the trails easier... less for you to worry about. It will be harder for you to get hung up on stuff and you will have more available lines to choose from when traversing rough terrain. High clearance also comes to the detriment of lateral stability, something you should keep in mind when making your selection.
Here is my recommendation: Get improved suspension, such as the OME kit
here, and invest in some M/T tires. The small amount of additional clearance coupled with the increased traction will get you through surprisingly nasty terrain.
If you decide later that you want to go bigger, just add a body lift and the bigger tires. Once you have made the modifications to run big tires, its tough to go back.
There is one thing you must understand about getting big tires on these trucks... its a slippery slope. Putting 33s on or adding a lot of weight and you will be wanting to upgrade your brakes. Bigger tires will leave you hurting for power, and you will want gears. All this costs money. Be prepared to spend around $5000 if you want to have the ride characteristics you have now with 33" tires. Of course you don't have to spend it all at once, and there are plenty of folks who don't change gears or upgrade brakes. They are making a compromise in return for the benefit of slightly higher ground clearance.
Hope this helps,
Leary
EDIT: Sorry for the long response... didn't see your last post.
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