Mix and Match Tires

Peregrine · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:40 am

Hi All,

I've run the course on my stock liberty CRD tires, 06 Limited.

I'm up in Alaska so the retail tire shops are expensive and there are only a couple to choose from, so I'm looking online for tires.

My driving conditions are mostly wet wet wet wet, with up to 200 inches of rain a year, with about 4-8 weeks of slushy snow a possibility each year.

There are over 5,000 miles of forest service logging roads to explore but I don't really take my jeep off the pavement much, I have a lifted GMC jimmy beater for that.

Most of the tire shops are recommending 10ply rated tires as thats what most people need up here with so much off roading, but I'm thinking I want to stick with good highway tires as 98% of my driving is on the blacktop.

I'm thinking either, General Grabber HTS, Firestone Destination LE, or Toyo Open Country AT.

I may eventually put a lift on the jeep and when I do I will want new tires, so I'm thinking about getting some used tires for the time being as I don't drive the jeep all that much.

So here is my question. I found a good deal on 2 sets of Toyo Open Country ATs, 1 set is 225/70/16 and the other set is 225/75/16.

Is it possible to use these tires together, 1 set on the front, 1 set on the back? If so, which ones should be on the front and which ones on the back?

Any drawbacks?

Thanks guys!

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 5:56 am

in 4wd you will need to have the same outside diameter on all corners. you could run a different size in pinch but I wouldn't drive that way for long.

TAHOE · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:16 am

Agreed that you need matched sizes on 4WD or you will quickly tear up the front diffy or transfer case or something. Even though there isn't a big difference in size, still not good on drivetrain, it would be equivelant to running different gears in front and rear.
On the tires, I run the Toyos on my Tahoe and really like them. They wear very well, I hope to get 40-45K on mine. I know what your thinking, but that's good on a lifted 7000# pig I drive and I run 285/75's. They do well in snow and rain, but can clog pretty easy in sticky mud.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:31 am

225-70s are awfully small as well, check to see if you can find a set of 245-70-16s they'll work great size wise

Peregrine · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:41 pm

Thanks Guys!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the stock libby tires were 225/75/16

I was thinking I would try to stay with the same size tires until I decide whether or not to do a lift.

My main use for the liberty is easy highway driving, I was thinking to stick with smaller thin tires, less rubber meats the roat, less resistance, more mpg, etc.

Thoughts?

Peregrine · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:12 pm

Ok, so I'm just going to suck it up and pay $990 for 4 tires installed here at the local tire place.

Going to get the Toyo Open Country A/T 10Ply E rated tires.

Should I get them in 225/75/16 or 235/70/16?

I care most about nimble handling and mileage on mostly pavement.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:51 pm

235-70-16 was a stock size as well
245-70s will work great and no loss of mileage etc.
going E rated 10 ply tires ? why?
$990 for 4 in that smaller size ? :shock:

I got 4 Goodyear Duratracs in 265-75-16s for a hair over 700 mounted / balanced/taxes etc

Peregrine · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:09 pm

Will 245-70s be ok with no rubbing?
E rated 10 ply tires just because thats what everyone else has up here in this part of Alaska. We have 5,000 miles of unpaved Shotrock logging roads and less than 200 miles of paved road on my island. I think the 10ply stand up better to the rocky condition where sidewall damage is a possibility. I really don't drive the jeep on those shotrock roads, but I guess if I had tires that would handle it with no problems I might actually explore some more.
Tire price is because of where I am... I'm on an island that is no where near the North American road system, everything is barged up.
We have a Les Schwab dealer here on the island and he assured me that the price in his store is the same as any other store in the country, but with the added cost of the shipping and city sales tax. There really isn't any competition for him.

There is a mom and pop outfit right here in my little town, they also recommended 10ply tires, although they didn't give me a brand name and model that they would recommend they said that the cost would be $220 per tire before installation.

I've spent 16 hours this week looking for tires on the internet that I could get shipped to Seattle and on the barge to me. To have tires UPS to me would be in the range of 150 dollars per tire, so the barge is the only option. The barge will run about 60 bucks for the freight, plus the ups freight to get the tires to seattle, then I still have to go to the local place to get them installed.

By my calculations the best I could do going that overly complicated route is save about $100 on the Open Countries.

If I go with a good passenger tire like Destination LE or General Grabber HTS, which none of the local places carry or will order, then I'm looking about 550 by the time I get them to me on the barge plus another 150 for installation and ballancing. So 700 bucks and I still don't have tires that will hold up in rocky conditions.

This whole thing is ticking me off, doesn't seem like there is anyway not to pay a bunch of money.

Mix and Match Tires

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