I believe I got these correct but thought I'd check,,,

225/75 = 29.2" (stockers on base)

235/85 = 31.72"

245/85 = 32.38"

I'm leaning towards an old school/retro look and like the narrower rubber. Anyone running a 235/85-16? I want slightly bigger than the 225/75 but am not ready to swap gears at this stage. Seems there are quite a few options available from a quick search.

Any pics?

 

I would do a standard 265/75 around 31.7"
but you are correct with your sizes, although you might find out it is hard to get a 245/85 unless you have already found a tire you like that comes in that size.

I went with the 255/75/17 which is 32.1 tall 10" wide and swapping gears is still a long way away. There are plenty on here running full 33's with stock gears.

By the way what gears are you running now?

 

265/75R16??? I understand where you are going wanting a narrower tire. The thought follows that a narrower tire will dig quicker to get to rocks under a thin mud layer
But why not go with a 255/75R17? New Rubi type BFG's are relatively in expensive. Steel rims can be had for around $60 each. JK takeoffs rims and MT's are often available on the for sale forum.
Did you know many Ford F150's have a 5 on 5 pattern? So do the WJ's. The WJ's came with both 16 and 17 inch wheel options. Only LTD and Overlands had 17's. Can you say Junk yard?

 

Why not a 255/85/16? they are a equivalent to a 33/10.5 and will fit nicely on the stock wheels and give you a little more height.

 

The math is correct, but the skinny tire thing is old school because the new school works so much better.



Of course, if doing it for the look rather than off road performance, etc...other than a sacrifice in on road braking and handling as well, the pizza cutters can look quaint.



One of the reasons for the old time skinny tires, is the fact that there WERE no fatter tires back then...the technology didn't exist to make them...even race cars had rolling stock that looked like something you'd find on a covered wagon.

Rigs were also lighter then...so it took less tire to hold them up, etc.

Of course, race cars now roll on much fatter tires, and professional off roaders who care more about winning than a look go with fatter tires as well, as they can win that way.

The theories about skinny tires being better than fat tires as they "are digging down for traction and having more ground pressure" have been long proved to be myths...the concepts are true, but the real world application is off base.

That's why people with money on the line go fat...and fat to almost the same point of diminishing return.

Its mostly a function of the rig's weight, and the amount of force a particular tread block can exert, vs many tread blocks sharing the same load, etc.

If you go TOO fat for the rig's weight, then you CAN lose traction....just like you can if you go TOO SKINNY.

I agree with the posters who recommend just getting some take off tires from a Rubi for example, as they are skinnier 32's (Like a 32 x 10.5) as opposed to a standard 32x11.5, as a compromise, so that you don't mount a tire that's SKINNIER than a stock tire...etc.

Of course, its your rig, and if you like the look more than the performance, that's fine....I just wanted to be sure you were aware of the sacrifices you were planning to make.

 

The ratio you have quoted on the 245 is incorrect. The Jeeps come with 245 75 16s, not 245 85 16s. I oughtta know. I have um on mine.

 

I have the 285x75 R16's (32.8") with stock Wrangler X gearing and I have no issues. In low, they will pull me over the rocks usually without any gas, so I wouldn't worry about gearing so much for any of these sizes. All of the ones you listed should work just fine though =)

If you do decide to go with the 285x75-16's, there are some minor rubbing issues at full flex and full turn that you might want wheel spacers to deal with.

 

Just curious....how does it drive on the road? Can you tell a noticable power loss?

 

No real power loss noticed at all. Mine are slightly more narrow than the 33x12.5's, and I think that makes a difference.

 

Thanks for the replies & suggestions. I am pretty good with the stock 225 size as far as traction, the limitations of them have yet to be exceeded on or off road.

I think the 235/85-16 is in my future, anyone got em now? I saw a set on a Toyota 4x4 pickup today,,, not too big, nor too small.