Another Tire Questions

litton · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 4:31 pm

I pulled a tire off to repair a flat and noticed that the tire is about 60% gone...and that is with just 19,000 miles. Quite disappointing but it does move me towards a better tire.

What I'm looking for is the largest tire that will fit an unlifted Libby and has above avg capabilty in snow, mud, ice etc. I've read that a 235/75 or a 245/70 will both work without rubbing. Is this correct? Also, any brand recommendation would be greatly appreciated. I need to get these on before heading to Montana next month.....just in case I hit any snow along the way.

Thanks for any input.

Threeweight · **Joined:** Mon May 14, 2007 5:57 pm **Posts:** 679

My 235/75/16 Firestone Destination AT's DO rub slightly on the plastic liner in the wheel well at full lock. Not an issue in every day driving... little worried it may be an issue with snow chains (no AT tire will ever be so good in snow as to negate the need for chains in really nasty weather).

Check out tirerack.com for consumer reviews of various makes and models of tires.

Pote · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:57 pm

Nokian Vatiiva AT 245/70/16 with zero rubbing unlifted. Probably the world's best snow tire company now venturing into AT and MT tires with their famous Hakka siping. Google Hakka siping, and Nokian tyres (scandinavian tire spelling), you'll see. I just got a set of 5 and they are the bees knees. Can't wait for the snow to fly.

http://www.nokiantires.com/en/tire_vati ... son=summer

And this is their 'summer' lineup...imagine what the winter lineup does in snow...Z-rated snow tires...that's insane.

btw, they look bad-arse on the KJ...just aggressive enough with a great square shoulder on the sidewall. they have a Revo-style tread pattern with oodles of siping...more than any other tire I've seen. They stick to the pavement in rain like glue...I imagine it only gets better with snow and ice where they are supposed to perform heads and shoulders above the competition. my two worthless cents.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 6:22 pm

Went with the 235/75/16 to get the most height increase with no rubbing...29.84". I had no rubbing issues at all AND they look good even after a 2.25" lift.

Hercules Terra Trac ATs

Pote · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:10 pm

DarbyWalters wrote:

Went with the 235/75/16 to get the most height increase with no rubbing...29.84". I had no rubbing issues at all AND they look good even after a 2.25" lift.

Hercules Terra Trac ATs

That is a very similar tread pattern as on my Vatiivas...much like the Revo right.?!

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:12 pm

I am running 245/70-16 Toyo Open Country. No rubbing but I don't off road much to have tested it at full flex and lock to lock. Lock to lock on normal driving doesn't rub though. I am stock on the suspension.

barnez224 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:28 am **Posts:** 130

It seems to be that based on what people are saying, the middle number (height to width ratio - 245/XX/R16) is what determines the rubbing. People who seem to run 75's unlifted, have some rubbing while those with 70's do not. Anybody else seem to think this is true?

ed. · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:14 pm

barnez224 wrote:

It seems to be that based on what people are saying, the middle number (height to width ratio - 245/XX/R16) is what determines the rubbing. People who seem to run 75's unlifted, have some rubbing while those with 70's do not. Anybody else seem to think this is true?

I was under the impression the 70/75 is a % value of the width of your tyre (the first number).
so
235/75 = 176.25
245/70 = 171.5

But different tyre manufacturers have different tyre diameters so not all 235/75 or 245/70's have the same diameter.

litton · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:41 pm

I like the Nokian Vatiiva but they sure are pricey. I see 147.00 each and that is a tad more then I want to pay.

The comments on 245/70's look pretty positive and I'm a firm believer in putting max meat on the road.

Now to find the right combo for hwy, occasional light snow, and moderate off-road....sand, mud, and etc.

I have the Cooper Discvovery ATR's on my GC and they are great but I have not had them in slippery stuff. I'm heading off in the morning for an Elk hunt and getting the new tires will be at the top of my priority list when I get home.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:47 pm

barnez224 wrote:

It seems to be that based on what people are saying, the middle number (height to width ratio - 245/XX/R16) is what determines the rubbing. People who seem to run 75's unlifted, have some rubbing while those with 70's do not. Anybody else seem to think this is true?

basically ya....i mean its all a screwy ratio BS that makes it weird.

for example, a stock sized 225/75/16 is 29.3" tall.

a 235/75/16 is 29.9" tall.

so while we did not change the 75 we did change the width by 10mm, which increased the overall height by 6/10 of an inch.

then all sorts of tires have different profiles and slighty different overall hieghts.

So what it comes down to is that you just need to look at a tire size calculator and see what the dimensions of that tire are compared to the stockers.

here is one:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

litton · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:34 am

How much of a mileage hit should I expect with a 245/70 vs. the 225/75 tires.

IndyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:36 am

I have been driving on 245/70 Firestone Destination ATs for about 4000 miles and could not be happier with them. They are quiet and have great traction. I do not have a lift and have never had any rubbing. I like the look of a 70 series tire.

It was pouring rain on the way to work this morning and was just thinking to myself while I was driving that these tires are way so much better than those Goodyears....they didn't slip once on my drive. I would have spun the wheels at every stop with those old tires.

I highly recommend the Firestones.

Pote · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:47 am

litton wrote:

I like the Nokian Vatiiva but they sure are pricey. I see 147.00 each and that is a tad more then I want to pay.

The comments on 245/70's look pretty positive and I'm a firm believer in putting max meat on the road.

Now to find the right combo for hwy, occasional light snow, and moderate off-road....sand, mud, and etc.

I have the Cooper Discvovery ATR's on my GC and they are great but I have not had them in slippery stuff. I'm heading off in the morning for an Elk hunt and getting the new tires will be at the top of my priority list when I get home.

Don't let that fool ya...I think you are seeing some MSRPs on that. Mine were $103/tire...almost $50 less than the comparable Revo. Check around for actual tire place pricing. OTD my 5 ran $515 plus tax or $550 roughly...for 5.

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:34 pm

245/70X16 Vatiivas, I paid $110 per mounted and balanced, free flat repair and rotations at the Tire Factory. Love the tires in all weather and road conditions.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:40 pm

I took about 1.5 MPG hit when I put on my TOYO's but I am not fixing a flat now each time I see a grain of sand on the road.

chrispitude · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:28 pm

IndyCRD wrote:

I have been driving on 245/70 Firestone Destination ATs for about 4000 miles and could not be happier with them. They are quiet and have great traction.

We love ours too, but make sure you keep up on tire rotation as they age. Ours started to get very noisy after the 50% tread point, but rotating does help some.

- Chris

litton · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:57 pm

I just got back from a week of Elk hunting and I can tell you these worn out stock tires really suck in the back country. I would also like to take as much of the 3 mph error out of the speedo as possible. That would suggest that I go with the 235/75/16 tires unless I could squeek in 245/75/16's.

The actual tire itself is still up in the air as I do need decent off-road performance and tire wear is a bit less important. Tire Rack give the Scorpion ATR high mark as well as a couple of the Goodyear tires. I have Cooper Discovery ATR's on my GC and they are supurb but I have no experience with them in light snow or ice.

tim wulf · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:18 am

I have the Firestone Destination AT and really like them. They look good are quite on the highway and seam to be wearing well as I have 40,000 on mine and the off road performance is still very good. They eat thru standing water and handle snow and ice with ease.

Now mud is a different story. This is not a mudding tire. Grass and moderatly damp dirt are no problem even on incredably steep stuff. I have the same size as IndyCRD and once when my rear tire was completly bottomed out it rubbed the trim by the rear door a little but not enough to cause any damage. Handling is fantastic as the tire squares up the stance and stands up well in high-speed turns.

Price wise they are a bargin compared to Bridgestone Revo AT.

chrispitude · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:42 am

litton wrote:

Tire Rack give the Scorpion ATR high mark as well as a couple of the Goodyear tires.

I have a set of these on order. They'll probably go on next spring.

- Chris

litton · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 12:19 pm

I'm narrowing my choices down to the Nokia, Firestone, and Cooper. The size....235/75 or 245/70 is still up in the air as I can see some benifits both ways. A little more ground clearance and speedo correction with the 235/70 leads me in that direction.

I wish that there were some good Nokia internet sales sites as the best price I can find is ~130.00 each while the Firestones go for $93.00 at tire rack. Coopers run the same but I think I can get free shipping.

My off-road driving is typically in shale rock, hills, ruts, and sand. Very little to no mud but my new place in MT has a fairly steep gravel drive that I'm sure will be a bit slippery during the winter.

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