Tire Difference
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 34
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From: NC
Tire Difference
What is the difference between 33/12.50/16 and 285/75/16 tires? 
Isnt the later a 33in tire? I hope this question doesnt seem to amatuer. I'm trying to decide what size to buy and I want to make sure I'm getting exactly what I want. Thanks
Isnt the later a 33in tire? I hope this question doesnt seem to amatuer. I'm trying to decide what size to buy and I want to make sure I'm getting exactly what I want. Thanks
JK Jedi
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,567
Likes: 1
From: So. Cal.
This should help you out!
http://www.raingler.com/tech/metricTire.asp
Calculated Tire Size: 32.8" x 11.2"
http://www.raingler.com/tech/metricTire.asp
Calculated Tire Size: 32.8" x 11.2"
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Different manufactures tires may have slightly different sizes even though they say the same thing on the sidewall. Check the tire manufactures sites and make sure you check the rim they measured the tire on. Some Manufactures uses different widths. Compare Apples to Apples. most 285's are listed to be 33" tall. The Super Swamper SSR, according to the manufactures site, measures 33.9. The tallest of the 285's I have found.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 5
From: Lawrenceville, NJ
Its not apples and apples when converting from metric to LT sizes....
Take a 33x12.5/15 tire....depending upon brand, etc...it might be 32" tall to 33.5" tall, and it might be 11.5" in section width, or it might be 13.5" in section width.
In metric sizes, the section widths don't vary as much as the LT sizes, and, depending again upon the brand, the TREAD widths and SECTION widths may have only a loose relation.
For example, for one tire in a 305/70/16....the tire may have a slightly narrower section width (Width of tire bulge for sidewall to sidewall distance), but it might have a fatter TREAD than the 33x12.5/15 LT sized tire, as it is a 70 series tire, rather than a 78 series tire (LT are closer to being 78 aspect ratio tires).
On my BFG AT ko's for example...the 305/70/16 is taller, and fatter treaded, than its 33x12.5/15 LT equivalent...even though the sidewall to sidewall distance is about 305 mm instead of 315 mm (315 mm = 12.5")
Take a 33x12.5/15 tire....depending upon brand, etc...it might be 32" tall to 33.5" tall, and it might be 11.5" in section width, or it might be 13.5" in section width.
In metric sizes, the section widths don't vary as much as the LT sizes, and, depending again upon the brand, the TREAD widths and SECTION widths may have only a loose relation.
For example, for one tire in a 305/70/16....the tire may have a slightly narrower section width (Width of tire bulge for sidewall to sidewall distance), but it might have a fatter TREAD than the 33x12.5/15 LT sized tire, as it is a 70 series tire, rather than a 78 series tire (LT are closer to being 78 aspect ratio tires).
On my BFG AT ko's for example...the 305/70/16 is taller, and fatter treaded, than its 33x12.5/15 LT equivalent...even though the sidewall to sidewall distance is about 305 mm instead of 315 mm (315 mm = 12.5")