I notice that there are MANY people who run the 33x10.5's and I've been thinking about the advantages of stepping up to a 12.5 width. My primary concern is off-camber situations where every bit of width is crucial to keep from going wheels up. There's A LOT of side hilling, mud and the sorts in our area, and it puzzles me how people who wheel hard all the time with narrow tires like tc keep from rolling their rigs on the slopes...

Dunno if I'm beating the yotatech dead horse again , but just how much more lateral stability would the 33x12.5 hold over the 10.5? Is the gain only marginal? Or does the advantage in itself warrant increasing width? (All of this assuming no lift, IFS, 15x8 3.75 BS wheels)

Discuss...

 

I think that the difference is negligible, but I don't speak from experience in this instance. Short of getting a wide long travel system or SAS'ing with a wide axle, the only things you could do would be wide tires, wheel spacers, or changing the backspacing on wheels.

 

I could tell a big difference in lateral stability between my 31x10.5's on stock 4.75" backspaced rims and 33x12.5's on 3.75" backspaced rims. The biggest difference could actually be felt on curvy roads, and felt more stable in off camber situations. I drove the better part of this year switching between the two sets of tires and you could definately tell the difference with a wider stance. So, not exactly the comparison you were looking for since they were 31's not 33's, so take it for what its worth. Now if it was the difference between the two widths but same backspaced rim, I don't think it would be that noticeable. My comparison actually had an overall track width change of 4 inches.

 

I noticed a big difference from 32x10.50 to 33x12.50... but I think more of it had to do with differnt suspension, and a HEAVIER tire to keep the top side planted.

You will get a little more control, but I do think it is negligible, unless you are always teetering at the offcamber limit. Personally I hate that feeling (which is weird becuase a 60 degree bank in a helo is FUN and doesnt feel like your about to fall over ).....

Right now I have 285's and 35's.. And there really isnt much difference in "feel" when the traction allows me to play in the 285 All Terrains... The 35's stay planted better, but they are taller and heavier...

 

Didn't consider the tire being heavier, good point...

Bump for more opinions...

 

I did notice a big difference between 33x9.50 and 33x10.50 tires (on stock 6" solid axle rims) on sidehills. The 9.50 sidewalls wanted to roll over more while the 10.50s seem to be a lot more stable:

w/ 9.50s:


Have not run a 33x12.50 but did a lot of wheeling w/ 33x15.50 Swampers on 10" rims and those felt rock solid on sidehills, very stiff sidewalls.

But width increases stability, height decreses stability. Assuming similar backspacing, a 12.50 tire is wider than a 10.50, but that is also the lift needed to fit the tire. If you can fit a 33x10.50 w/ 0"-1" of lift and it takes 2"-4" of lift to fit a 33x12.50, then you'll be trading off height for width.