Dat

Looking at comparison charts, the 255/75r17 stock tire says 10.4 inches wide, but the tread width measures only 8.5 contact to the ground measuring after driving through the dirt.
the 285/70r17 says 11 something on width, but what is the actual ground contact tread width on those tires?
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karls10jk

It'll depend on what 285 you're looking at but it'll be wider. I don't have a tape in front of me but I can measure the 285 Falken ATW3's on stock wheels when I get home if you'd like.

D-Dub

My 285/70-17 falken atw3 measure
tread 9.5"
sidewall 11.5"
height 32.75"
mounted on 8.5" wheel @35 psi

nthinuf

A good place to start is to find your specific tire on the mfg's website, or tirerack/discount tire/where ever. Then click the Specs list for that size, and it will state the Section Width and Tread Width (and height/depth/load/etc).

Just remember than all tires are different, and the specs that are listed may not be what you find when you actually measure the tires!! Both height and width can vary an inch or more for the exact same stated size between mfg's. (some tires are fairly well known to run smaller than advertised, others are more known to be closer to the stated size. Just depends.) And there can also be differences due to the width of the rims the tires are mounted to, the weight of the vehicle pushing down on the tires, the psi they are inflated to, etc...

Dat

Thanks, I remember back in the day, I'm showing my age, that most of the mud tires, like the old buckshots, the wide mudders, and the ground hawgs were pretty much the same tread width as the sidewall width, sometimes wider,the lugs stuck out instead of tapering in. I guess with folks complaining about rough ride and road noise the tire manufacturers cut back on lugs and tread width.
i guess I kinda like the "pizza cutters" that are tall and have the same tread width as a so called wider tire that isn't actually any wider on the business part that meets the ground

Mr.T

About 9.4" tread width on my GY AT Adventures (285-70/17).

In my case of wanting to use stock wheels (without spacers); when the axles are at full tilt, having the tread width significantly less than the section width helps with clearance. Like you said, they ride better -- probably squat down more when aired down too. Still see mudder tires where it looks like there isn't much difference between section and tread width.

jadmt

I have recently run 285/70-17, 295/70-17, 35x12.5-17, 285/75-17, 315/70-17 and 255/80-17. currently I always have two sets mounted that I switch off back and forth with and currently have 315/70-17 on AEV wheels and 255/80-17 on stock wheels. I gotta say the 255/80-17 (33x10) are a really nice size tire for most things short of major rock crawling.

Dat

I was thinking about the 255/80r17 too, I like the size, but looks like kinda limited on brands, but I was mainly looking at the Goodyear

jadmt

I am running Falken at3w and love them. BFG ko2 in 34x10.5-17 is identical size I have run them as well and are nice but I like the Falkens better. Toyo has a couple tires in that size that are good as well.