Tire questions

[KillerIsMe]

I have an '06 Rubicon with stock wheels and crap tires from the previous owner. I do most of my driving on winding and hilly pavement - lots of rain, some snow. Anything off-road is logging roads, game lands, light trails and such. I do no rock crawling and no mud slinging.

So a couple questions: as you know most all of the stock TJR tires out there (245/75/16) are load range E but if I move to standard load tires I can open up a lot more possibilities. Would that be something I would live to regret on the gravel and light trail running I like to do? My other question concerns stupid aesthetics - if I would move to a 265/70/16 the tire would be basically the same diameter, just an inch or so wider (oooh!! wider stance!!). Is that a dumb thing to do?

I baby my Jeep and drive like the old man I am but I'm a big proponent of high quality tires. Any input would be appreciated.

Tom

 

[Fouledplugs]

I have an '06 Rubicon with stock wheels and crap tires from the previous owner. I do most of my driving on winding and hilly pavement - lots of rain, some snow. Anything off-road is logging roads, game lands, light trails and such. I do no rock crawling and no mud slinging.

So a couple questions: as you know most all of the stock TJR tires out there (245/75/16) are load range E but if I move to standard load tires I can open up a lot more possibilities. Would that be something I would live to regret on the gravel and light trail running I like to do? My other question concerns stupid aesthetics - if I would move to a 265/70/16 the tire would be basically the same diameter, just an inch or so wider (oooh!! wider stance!!). Is that a dumb thing to do?

I baby my Jeep and drive like the old man I am but I'm a big proponent of high quality tires. Any input would be appreciated.

Tom

If you really want to move to a C rated tire, which is the best for our TJ’s/LJ’s. Moving to a 15 inch wheel really opens up the tire selections with C ratings.

C rated is perfect for absorbing bumps in the road and is great offroad as well. When they are aired down, they “stick” to rocks really well, being they are a bit more plyable, providing lots of traction.

 

[Chris]

You need to move to a 15" wheel if you want a selection of C rated tires (and better tires in general). 16" is much too limiting of a wheel size, and the tire selection is dismal at best.

C rated tires are perfect for what you want to do. E rated tires are meant for a vehicle much heavier than the TJ.

 

[pagrey]

Honestly any road tire will do just fine with what you describe. Just air down a bit and you'll be fine. I know there is massive marketing and social pressure to get hard core tires but almost any tires available today will do just fine with what you describe. Just get some good C rated tires. There are a few budget options available in the size you mentioned the last time I checked. Gravel and light trails are things a stock honda civic tire could handle today with ease.

 

[KillerIsMe]

Honestly any road tire will do just fine with what you describe. Just air down a bit and you'll be fine. I know there is massive marketing and social pressure to get hard core tires but almost any tires available today will do just fine with what you describe. Just get some good C rated tires. There are a few budget options available in the size you mentioned the last time I checked. Gravel and light trails are things a stock honda civic tire could handle today with ease.

That's what I'm thinking. Toyo AT 2's are C rated as are Duratracs. E rated don't bother me so much either - the tires on there now are E and they honestly aren't bad. I have an f350 long bed - that's a harsh ride. So I'm thinking Bridgestone Revo AT 3 (always had good luck with Bridgestone), maybe Nokian AT Plus. Good highway tires that are decent on light trails. What I really wanted to know was if standard duty and extra duty tires would serve my purpose because there are quite a few of them out there.

 

[Moab]

You don't have to spend a ton on 15" rims either. 4WP's sells a gloss, satin or flat black rim for $43.

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/trail-master-tm5-wheels/10771
But there are lots of medium range rims out there. I think Quadratec sells a rim that is liked around here. I forget the name. It's not Momo. But something like that.

https://www.quadratec.com/categorie...merce_price_low asc&f[0]=im_wheel_diameter:15
https://www.quadratec.com/categorie...iameter:15&solrsort=ps_commerce_price_low asc

 

[MutantNinjaTJ]

Toyo AT 2's are C rated

They spooned these on my work truck and they are damn noisy.

 

[Fouledplugs]

They spooned these on my work truck and they are damn noisy.

Spooned?

Unlike most, I like an aggressive tire that hums running down the road.

 

[Goatman]

On my 06 TJR I went to a 265/75R16 Cooper AT3's LT tire. Comes in load range C, obviously a light truck tire. And for the same crapp8road conditions you say. They are excellent in rain, snow, ice road conditions, nearly silent and handle light to medium-ish off road conditions. They are also available in a E range so be clear when you call about them. 60,000 mi warranty is hard to beat. I cannot recommend them strongly enough. I've had several vehicles running these and they have been super on every one. 3/4 t p/u to little Suzuki and Subaru.

 

[KillerIsMe]

On my 06 TJR I went to a 265/75R16 Cooper AT3's LT tire. Comes in load range C, obviously a light truck tire. And for the same crapp8road conditions you say. They are excellent in rain, snow, ice road conditions, nearly silent and handle light to medium-ish off road conditions. They are also available in a E range so be clear when you call about them. 60,000 mi warranty is hard to beat. I cannot recommend them strongly enough. I've had several vehicles running these and they have been super on every one. 3/4 t p/u to little Suzuki and Subaru.

Thank you for the recommendation. I know it's all good intentions but when anyone with 16" Moabs asks for a tire suggestion the first thing that comes out of everyone's fingertips is "go to 15" rims". That's sound advice but for me I like the stock wheels and besides I don't want to spend a bunch of money on new ones just to have a better selection of C load tires. Not everybody's rolling in it.

So the Coopers - those are 31.6 x 10.5 and my TJ is stock with no intent to lift. Will they fit OK?

 

[bedhed]

Your driving conditions and style are similar to mine, minus the snow. Until last week, I had been running the same type tire (in my picture) for several years, LT 265/75/16 MT. Ran them at 26psi, so they had a pretty good ride, considering. But, I simply could not, for the life of me, rotate them often enough to prevent them from cupping and becoming ridiculously loud. I don't mind the roar of a mud terrain, I actually like a little roar. When it reaches a point where I don't even want to roll the window down, that's too much though.

Just like everyone else with 16" wheels, the limited options made for a frustrating search. Many have brands that they avoid, so that limits the search even more. Oh, and I'm the same when it comes to the tire's appearance. It's silly to some, but the same can be said about having a TJ for a daily driver, and many other things.

Anyway, after digging around the best I could, I ended up going with a brand I'd never run before, and I dropped down to 265/70, so that I could stay away from LT tires. I went with the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W. I paid roughly $600 out the door.

Oddly enough, I haven't changed the tire pressure that they were set at when installed (35psi), but they still have a stiffer ride than my LT tires at 26psi, so they'll be lowered more.

 

[KillerIsMe]

Your driving conditions and style are similar to mine, minus the snow. Until last week, I had been running the same type tire (in my picture) for several years, LT 265/75/16 MT. Ran them at 26psi, so they had a pretty good ride, considering. But, I simply could not, for the life of me, rotate them often enough to prevent them from cupping and becoming ridiculously loud. I don't mind the roar of a mud terrain, I actually like a little roar. When it reaches a point where I don't even want to roll the window down, that's too much though.

Just like everyone else with 16" wheels, the limited options made for a frustrating search. Many have brands that they avoid, so that limits the search even more. Oh, and I'm the same when it comes to the tire's appearance. It's silly to some, but the same can be said about having a TJ for a daily driver, and many other things.

Anyway, after digging around the best I could, I ended up going with a brand I'd never run before, and I dropped down to 265/70, so that I could stay away from LT tires. I went with the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W. I paid roughly $600 out the door.

Oddly enough, I haven't changed the tire pressure that they were set at when installed (35psi), but they still have a stiffer ride than my LT tires at 26psi, so they'll be lowered more.

View attachment 145520

Are they SL? Looking at the Falken website I see 265/70 in SL 4-ply and I'm also seeing a 255/70 in XL 6-ply. Either might be right up my alley. By the way is that a stock khaki Rubicon?

 

[bedhed]

Are they SL? Looking at the Falken website I see 265/70 in SL 4-ply and I'm also seeing a 255/70 in XL 6-ply. Either might be right up my alley. By the way is that a stock khaki Rubicon?

They are the SL. Yeah, it's stock. Well, mostly. I've only lifted the front 1.5" to level it out a bit. The fender flares are trimmed also. Aside from that, it's all stock.

 

[bedhed]

In case you are as strange as me about it, here's some pictures. While I was searching, I had a tough time finding the pictures I wanted to see.

 

[MutantNinjaTJ]

Spooned?

It comes from using tire iron's or "tire spoons" to install your tires. Motorcycle racers still use the term a lot.

 

[KillerIsMe]

In case you are as strange as me about it, here's some pictures. While I was searching, I had a tough time finding the pictures I wanted to see.

View attachment 145523
View attachment 145524
View attachment 145525
View attachment 145526
View attachment 145528

I like them a lot. I appreciate the pictures too.

 

[bedhed]

I like them a lot. I appreciate the pictures too.

No problem. Good luck in your search.

 

[Unacceptable mouks]

On my 06 TJR I went to a 265/75R16 Cooper AT3's LT tire. Comes in load range C, obviously a light truck tire. And for the same crapp8road conditions you say. They are excellent in rain, snow, ice road conditions, nearly silent and handle light to medium-ish off road conditions. They are also available in a E range so be clear when you call about them. 60,000 mi warranty is hard to beat. I cannot recommend them strongly enough. I've had several vehicles running these and they have been super on every one. 3/4 t p/u to little Suzuki and Subaru.

I agree, I have the same tires in the same size and load range ( the 4S version ) and I'm really happy with them

 

[Moab]

In case you are as strange as me about it, here's some pictures. While I was searching, I had a tough time finding the pictures I wanted to see.

View attachment 145523
View attachment 145524
View attachment 145525
View attachment 145526
View attachment 145528

I have been considering these for my next set. They look better in these pics than I have seen. DO you happen to have a full shot of your Jeep? Or one from further away?

I've been going back and forth between these and the Patagonia's. But I keep coming back to these. I think I'd be better served by an AT than an MT. And the Falkan's look pretty aggressive for an AT.

 

[bedhed]

I have been considering these for my next set. They look better in these pics than I have seen. DO you happen to have a full shot of your Jeep? Or one from further away?

I've been going back and forth between these and the Patagonia's. But I keep coming back to these. I think I'd be better served by an AT than an MT. And the Falkan's look pretty aggressive for an AT.

I'd hoped they would. We've probably seen the same pictures online. None helped me out neither. Same here with AT being a better suit. As much as I'd prefer them, I really don't need MT. These were the most aggressive that I could find in this load range. I take that back, these are the only ones that weren't WAY out of my price range.

I don't have any from further away, but I'll take some.

Edit: Did you see the set of pictures I sent first? One of those was from a little further back.