Matt16

This relates to my 4Runner (different weight vehicles need different width tires). The 31x10.5s really don't work so well on ice and snow. If fact they kind of suck. I'm thinking of going to a 9.5" tire instead to increase the ground contact psi. The way I see it, it is easier to control the size of the footprint (thus contact psi) with a 33x9.5" tire. (Recall that most of the tire foot print size gained my airing down comes from tread length not width. I urge you not to reply saying that your 12.5" wide tires are great on shallow snow/ ice, the laws of physics would prove you wrong.) Also, if you do not own 33x9.5 tires, please rea this article first: http://www.expeditionswest.com/equip...bfg_mt_km.html

Tubbyfatty

Not only do wider tires look cool, they are amazing on ice, i dont know what you are talking about, the bigger the tire the better. LOL jk.


I have some 30x9.5R15 Mudcat M/Ts (same tread pattern as BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM) on my 94 runner haha. Got em for $100 for all 4, 50% tread left.

Id say go for it, narrow tires for the win.

4x4YOTA

iTrader: (2)

greatest tires I have "ever" owned I cant wait to get another set for my new truck

Bigblock

They don't drive as good as the 12.50's but who cares?
Bigblock

Matt16

Precisely what do you mean by this?

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Go for it.

Matt16

It won't be this year, I have too much tuition to pay. But, when it comes time to change the tire out, I want to have it in my mind what is best. On top of the cost of tires, there's the cost of 4.88s or 5.29s (lets not get into that debate).

Trustyrusty

Just run 33x12.5's and stop yer whinin! If it rubs beat the crap outta your pinchweld and ignore it.. If you don't wanna listen to it rub.. lift it two inches..

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

I've run both 9.50s and 10.50s, both on 6" rims. I actually prefer the 10.50s, but the 9.50s work well, too. Only two downsides I had to the 9.50s was they would not air down as far as the 10.50s. Much below about 10 psi and the center of the tread buckles upwards and the tire actually lose traction. The 10.50s don't seem to do this, perhaps related to the tire vs. rim width. Also I find the 9.50 sidewalls tend to lay over a lot easier on side hills than the 10.50s. But for driving in wet snow, slush and ice, the skinny 9.50s perform well.

Matt16

Opinion noted and disregard. Do they teach reading in Kansas?

Tubbyfatty

HAHA, holy crap.

bigt

just barn yard relations 101

Matt16

Have you run 10.5" tires as well as 9.5" tires? Did you notice any difference if you did?

Matt16

Were the 9.5s significantly better on ice than 10.5s? I find myself at a loss of traction most often in the winter. In the warmer months, I find if my forward travel is stopped, I can back out of it, and usually try another line. In snow, as often as not, once I lose forward momentum, I'm stuck.

Tubbyfatty

Na. Ive only ran stock or the ones i have now.

RobD

My main concern with the 33x9.5s is limited availability. I looked at them last year and the only ones who made that size is BFGoodrich. The tire dealer told me that they were discontinuing that size because everyone wants big fat tires and not pizza cutters.

Just my 3 cents.

Matt16

That's a real shame. It annoys me that people consistently choose looks over performance time after time. About the only place wide tire seem to excel in "bottomless" soft mud and snow such as muskeg.

The 1997 front wheel drive (open diff) VW van we had with 205/65R15 snow tires did about as well in snow (considering respective ground clearances) as my rear locked 4wd 4Runner. Granted the VW had snow tires, but the 4Runner has 2 more drive wheels (3 vs. 1 drive wheel). Whereas the 205/65r15 tires seemed to dig down to something worth gripping, the 31x10.5s seem to be quite content to turn the packed snow to ice.

Once must also take into account the frontal area of the tire when going through deeper snow.

FredTJ

If you look at his profile you'll see why he spews out nonsense




Fred

86tuning

Snow tires will ALWAYS work better on snow than all-seasons/terrains or pretty much anything else.

When I had snow tires on my mk1/2/3 jettas (I've had a bunch of vws over the years) I could outrun almost anyone in the city when it snowed. Easily outrunning awd wonders like subies and whatnot that were on all seasons.

That said, we'll see how well my 33x10.5 km2's feel this winter on the pickemuptruck.

turboboost

I personally think that is a fantastic size for snow and ice.