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Information on Tires & Tire Maintenance Off-roaders live on their tires. Tires are probably the most important equipment you'll ever buy. They have to get you to your favorite trails; they have to run on hot pavement at high temperatures and high speeds; get you along on your trail, mud, snow, holes, washouts, over rocks, over logs, thru water, up hills with maximum traction, down trails with maximum braking; bashing thru sagebrush, sidewalls busting against jagged rocks. Think about how you depend on those tires. Learn what kind of tires you need - and how to maintain them! |
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| Check out ► Article References on TIRES► for articles that contain more detailed information and tire tests on individual brands, models, maintenance, etc. | ||
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Approximate Size Equivalent Chart |
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LT225/75R16 D = 29.5 inch dia. LT215/85R16 D = 30.6 inch dia. LT245/75R16 C = 30.7 inch dia. LT265/75R16 D = 31.9 inch dia. LT235/85R16 E = 32 inch dia. LT265/75R16 D = 31x10.50R16 LT255/85R16 D = 33x10.50R16 LT285/75R16 D = 33x11.00R16 LT305/70R16 E = 33x12.50R16 LT295/75R16 D = 34x11.50R16 LT325/70R16 D = 34x13.00R16 LT315/75R16 D = 35x12.50R16 LT365/65R16 D = 35x14.50R16 LT325/80R D = 37X13.50R16
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265/70R17 = 31x10.50R17 |
sidebar on tires
"2) Air down for the trail, to increase the footprint. How much is determined by the trail conditions, the weight of the vehicle and the tire and rim combination. "3) Adding chains to any tire, especially a non aggressive one, improves mud traction dramatically, as well as snow. "4) A warm tire grips better than a cold one. "5) Custom siping and tread modification, when done by an experienced person, can add grip in many trail situations. Possibly at the expense of tread life and probably at the expense of the tread wear warranty."
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| 285/60R18 =
31x10.70R18 LT325/60R18 D = 33x13.00R18 LT325/65R18 D = 35x13.00R18 LT355/65R18 D = 37x14.00R18 |
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TIRES |
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| Tire Ratings: | No "P" rated tires - use only "LT" or better
rated tires, "P" stands for 'Passenger' and should not be used on dual
purpose vehicles, they have thin flexible sidewalls, tighter tread pattern,
thinner tire casings and less thread depth A/T tires should be adequate for all but the worst of weather & trail conditions, they usually get better gas mileage, run quieter, get better tread-life M/T tires are recommended for bad weather (mud & snow) & trails 31/2 and higher |
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think about having two full sets mounted-up - one set for street use and one set for offroad your offroad set may become unserviceable as normal driving tires because of cuts, bruises etc; but will be OK for offroading at lower speeds |
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| Spares | use full-size spares only If your vehicle is equipped with limited-slip or locking differentials, your spare must be the same diameter as the other tires check your spare tire often for correct air pressure check your spare tire often for condition - tires mounted on the outside of the vehicle are subject to deteriorating by UV, ozone, etc. |
| Tire Maintenance | rotate tires to even out wear treat your tires with UV protectorates - offroading subjects your tires to environments which will rapidly deteriorate your tires keep lug nuts tight - the best method is to check using a torque wrench |
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WHEELS |
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| Types | the strongest wheels are forged alloys, then cast alloys & good quality steel rims |
| Spacers | do not use wheel spacers or adapters, get the proper backspacing and lug pattern |
| Beadlocks | |
