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Tires for the Jeep
Posted By Matt Woodruff On 7 July 2009 @ 20:38 In Jeep | No Comments
I have tried the OEM Wrangler MTR tires and they are noisy and too small for my lifted Jeep. I have also tried the Toyo 35 X 12.50 X 17s that came with the Jeep and they are nice, smooth on the road and quiet, but they are big and heavy, too big and heavy in my estimation. Most of the experts I have consulted said they are OK, but most say that 33s are the way to go on a Jeep, and most people go with 15 inch wheels. If I keep the 35s, I run the risk of scraping the body on a hard bump on a trail. They are also very heavy and I have a hard time lifting them by myself, especially after a long day in the 100+ degree Houston heat. The weight also means more stress on the axles and brakes. A few folks have said I should improve the brakes if I keep the 35s. So, they are going. I thought about 33s for the 16 inch OEM Moab wheels, but 16 inch tires cost so much more than the 15s that I can pay half the cost of the 15 inch wheels for the savings in tire cost. I am thinking 10 inch wide wheels, because people I talk to say they handle better on the road, even if you cannot air them down as much on the trail as a narrower wheel. One of my priorities is safe handling on the road, so that is the way I am going to go. As to which tire, I have not yet decided. I like the new Goodyear MT with Kevlar, but also recognize an AT is probably more in line with my needs and does better in sand. Since the new Goodyears are literally a half and half, with two distinct types of tread, that seems like a good compromise. If anybody reads this and has an opinion to share, leave it.
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