Yeah, big tires definitely suck. I put 35s on my electric scooter and it handled like crap. Knocked over an ice cream truck the other day. Much angries everywhere.
Thanks all for the feedback on this controversial video subject! Some good points were made in the comments and some unfortunately completely missed the point. I'ts a bit of a love-hate relationship I have with big wheels but the next few videos coming out should explain my statement better. Happy 4WDing and keep safe!
I do agree with you as my needs is similar and I'm running a narrow 32" to get the extra clearance on the diff but with the narrow tread 235 the weight is also down or very similar to 31". Must say I notice the difference straight away on the steering, turning a lot easier now. For me it's all about practicality and not looks
I was happy doing winch challenge on 33” with standard suspension. The stuff that really makes vehicles go well off road is under body armour and diff locks. If you can Just get on and ‘drive’ it without worry, the off-road performance goes up massively. *also a good hydraulic winch. No point smashing all the drive train if you can pull it through in neutral :o)
Great video. I wanted to change tyre size from 31inch. Would cost too much. Needed a wheel carrier, lift suspension. Decided to stick to original size. Still takes me on most trails.
100% agree with you. Here in the states I run the equivalent of 32x 11.50 on my Tacoma and don’t feel the need to go bigger as the problems just increase. Plus have a closer to stock rig takes more skill on the trails picking the correct line.
The whole concept of BIG FAT TIRES came about years ago or should I say decades ago (1970's) when Dick Cepek and others (Mickey Thompson, Iron Man etc.) were running in the desert and Baja. They wanted BIG tires for loose deep sand so they could "FLOAT" on top of the sand with enough horsepower. People loved the looks and without much thought believed the big fat tires could work in any situation. NOT SO! Granted, TALLER tires will in fact increase your ground clearance BUT it comes at a huge cost i.e. gearing and huge amounts of STRESS on various components. Taller and taller lift kits came into being and as a result THE LOSS OF A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY hence increased roll overs. Look, I'm an old guy now but I used to build this crap so I might know a little bit. Do yourself and your pocket book a favor and build your rigs for PRACTICAL USE instead of looks and LEARN TO DRIVE BETTER. You'll be a lot happier, your rig will break down less and life will be good!
can you give your tyre spec....also, did you do any other mods to acconodate the 33 inchers....?? i too want 33 inchers on my Everest, just wondering what other aspecta need to be taken care of....
@@PopEye2384 Hey, I have a 2" OME and a 1" front leveling kit. The tires are 285-70-17 Coopers. There was no need for fender trimming on the front because of the TJM bumper. The only adjustment was the camber angle that was set at max for better clearance away from the body. Sorry im not of more help
I like a solid built off road tyre like the BFG KO2 in a size that is available across the Country (Australia) its never a good idea to modify out reliability for looks if you are a remote traveler
Nice to see another vid Henri, Im running 32ich Khumo MT tyres on my Vigo with a 2 inch lift and I would say thats a limit before you need to start cutting fenders and changing rim offsets, my tyres flex cleanly under the worst conditions and on road its not too bad power wise with my 1kd. Look foward to seeing Fugly on a track some day.
I have a 2004 4Runner and went with 265/70/17 or 31” It is one step up from factory size. Like you I’m on the trails only about 10% of the time. I also went with C load rating which was 10lbs lighter than the E load per tire. My replacement wheels are also lighter than OEM. Therefore I lost just about 1.4mpg and the handling is about the same. I am very happy because I almost went bigger.
Couldnt agree more. Ive gone big on my rigs. Tie rods, axles and belts all explode. Not to mention even with proper clutching I lost major power. I go bigger than stock but within reason and I choose the lightest even if its not the best traction. I save 20 lbs per tire on an atv. Thats a lot for a 40hp motor. Haha. Great video!
Interesting, thanks! And good lookin 130 there! My Defender 130 is also running on 33's and it works well. Its a TD5 2001ym with only a mild chip tune.
Some sound practical advice there Hendri, tyre you might want to experiment with for expedition/trail now that you have the slower diffs is Michelin XZY 8.5R17.5 or XZL 9.00R 16. Both are really truck tyres but the bigger rims do allow you to fit the bigger brakes. The XZL has deliberately soft sidewalls to keep the heat in the tyre down when running at low pressure, and tread "caterpillar tracks" beautifully at low pressure for great flotation. Tread is also v aggressive for spectacular traction in mud, but rubber is properly compounded to be chip/chunk resistant in sharp rock/gravel conditions. The 8.5R17.5 XZY as more of a marie biscuit style option carries a lot more weight than an old school 7.50R16 without overheating or at lower pressure for better ride quality, so nice for trips to N Namibia, but also has a v strong casing, so is v puncture resistant, which is nice. Not an awesome sand tyre, but big OD with 100 profile means that it caterpillar tracks quite well if deflated for crossing dry river beds etc. Main attribute for long trips on dirt or gravel is good fuel economy, good handling and tough tyre that isn't going to require you peeling it off the rim or fitting tubes really often. Look forward to seeing more of your stuff.
bigwheels blacksmoke I run XZL 255/100r16 on a Land Cruiser 80. Have done for 60k overlanding miles. Amazing tyre BUT very, very heavy - 40kg per tyre, very noisy on the road and limited (legally) to 68mph
My rig is a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 TRX4 QC 5.7 Hemi leveled with FOX Factory Race Series coilovers with Eibach springs, 2.0 Performance series in the rear all new MOOG components sitting on a factory lift with just "31.5 tires on the factory offroad rims spaced with 2" adapters. I'm not into heavy crawling, more fast pace trail driving in the desert, open dunes, lake bed ect. And its perfect for how I drive. I built it to replicate a Ford Raptor on a pizza man budget. I feel its about how you use the vehicle. Bigger tires gonna give me clearance but isn't gonna be as stable when I'm left foot braking, getting sideways around the turn. Just depends I guess. I go where my big tire friends go, just different lines. Southern California🇺🇲
I agree too, I lived the BFG KM2 32s I had on my Prado, better puncture resistance but not much worse on fuel, handling and performance. The biggest advantage of big tyres is to give you better ground clearance for really technical trails and rock crawling. For 95% of trails, good technique, quality tread type, and a spotter will get you though with smaller tyres, and you don't get the downsides for all the other driving types.
Here in the states people install 2 sizes larger then they should then complain about about things breaking. Good break down on the thought of what tire size to go with. I talked my son out of going with 38’s down to 35’s on our current Jeep TJ build. The funny thing is that he has all the drive train to handle the 38’s. Good video.
Toyo has begun making 35's in 8 ply for Jeep fitments. Light as a 10ply 33 but benefits of the taller tire. 35's are sometimes needed for ground clearance.
Hi, need your expert advice. I have Prado with stock Highway Terrain tires of 265/65/R16. Now I have gone for 2 inch suspension lift. I want to upgrade to All Terrain tires now. What tire size should I keep so my vehicle remains perfect in all aspects like stock Prado. I do weekend drives in deserts. Should I stick with 265/65 or upgrade to 275/70 or 275/65. After seeing you video I feel A/T 265/65 would be best for me
I am on my 5th defender and my 7th Land Rover. The best tyre size I have found is the 255x85x16,they have great width to height ratio. I have tried everything over the last 40 years and for me BFG mud terrains have been the best for my uses. I hunt all year round here in NZ, so even in summer after a strong NW weather pattern,the steep tracks and terraces get super slippery. I have tried all terrains,but no good. It would be great if a few more tyre manufacturers made tyre this size.
I agree on more manufacturers need to make this size. I am in the States where the obsession with big huge tires is absurd. I see them for rock crawling and such however I live in wooded heavy snow in winter state. I run BFG MT KM3's in 255/85-17 on my older Jeep Cherokee (04), I had to lift it 3" and trim a bit in front. Running a selectable locker in rear and a Tru Trac up front allows me to go anywhere I need to. I do switch to Nokian's in the winter, R3 SUV's in 245/70-16.
On defender I 100% agree, it's the best compromise I've found. I've had both BFG and Coopers in that size and they have been brilliant, they also fit nicely on wolf rims.
I'd really like to put 35s on my bobtailed Discovery instead of the 33" Insa Turbo Special Tracks I have now but mine is purely an off road toy in England and barely gets used on the road. All really good points though, I currently have a spare inside the back, a 35" spare wouldn't fit, I probably couldn't afford one and lifting the current 16" wheel and 33" spare up that high nearly kills me anyway. Gearing is already too tall as well, I swapped the old LT77 gearbox out for an R380 from my older Discovery when I got it and I think the LT77 had a Defender transfer box on it, the old 200tdi struggles a bit on hills. I could do the diffs but the rear has a KAM electric locker so it would be a real pain to take that apart. I guess I'll stick to 33" too!
Thanks for the excellent tips Hendri, much appreciated. Would re-gearing and a lift be necessary when fitting 33' tires to something like a Ford Ranger for example?
I have a Ford Ranger with a set of 33” AT’s, you require a lift otherwise you have some rubbing issues. I have not changed the gearing on the vehicle at all and she is running perfectly.
me looks at my new sting gray jeep gladitor rubi,i got a RK Pro x 3 inch lift.......38 inch tires and yes i welded a truss on the front and i got rcv's as well and i also kinda made the included truss from the RK kit and made it better/stronger and actually extended it further out but yeah i love my jeep man and to be honest i really dont feel the difference......maybe cause i only drove it for 5k miles and pulled the trigger on all my modifications
Nice vid, thanks for that. I'm gonna pick up my Subaru Forester this month, and I'm wondering what max size tires will fit under it (when not yet lifted). 😎
Both my rugs run 37s one in 14.5 and one 12.5 both my 3/4 ton suburban and my Toyota cralwer do awesome with them no lack of power or speed but gearing and motor work on both have been done to compensate. And bigger RCV axles
I own 245/75r16 no lift d22 first gen Malaysia bought currently my home. I am interested in a little taller and wider tire.i have accomplished many risky adventures I probably should not attempt.i like you made it clear on personal preference.good helpful video
I have 4 inch lift with 33 ×12.5 R17 on my 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4×4 and their perfect for on and off road as long as You You do everything correctly as I did. Those 35s looks great on your ride.
All depends on what type of wheeling you do. For me 37s are worth it. But I have one tons, low gearing and clearence to offset all the negatives you mentioned.
I bet you the zombie offroad guys will say 40 inch tires suck for rock crawling... Tell that to the jeep and Toyota guys that run king of the hammers with 40 inch tires....
@@meateaterwhitetail7291 If it's a dedicated rig for one purpose and built to run 40s then I don't see any issue. Build the vehicle according to the terrain and use. Use your own discretion
I have a 93 toyota truck with a 4cyl engine. 31's are the biggest I'm gonna go. I'm not trying to kill this little 22re engine and it goes anywhere I need it to, mainly on the beach here in Texas. The only thing I want now are lockers.
I lived off a remote dirt track for about 15 years....I was about 40 kms along the track...it was only graded once a year and every time it was I can tell you that I always destroyed the big tyres... best all rounder for my Defender was 235/85 R16....
1980s here in the states we had monster mudders that where 44" tall x 14" wide on 16 " rims they where on 3/4 ton ford chevy pickups I had 30"x 9.50 wide 15" Tims on my 84 ford f150 tall skinny 33" are the tallest id go today on steel rims
2nd gen 4runner 22re on 5" suspension lift 3" body lift and 35s. been running it daily 5 years offroad and on road. more off road though. no problems. all stock. bigger tire equals more airdown more traction more clearance smoother ride. tried 33s and lasted couple months before i ditched them and went 35s. i run gravel boulder trails sand and snow year around.
smaller tires require more psi. rattling your rig and self to pieces. have bang that same line over and over redline the tach wearing parts more often than a big tire aired down idle through. spend the cash buy a lift and 35s you'll thank yourself in the long run. i run 65mph on 35s at 10psi no sway bars. seriously how could anyone say 33s are better than 35s? the ones who don't want to cash a lift.
I reckon you should’ve called this video “Big tyres are awesome but here’s how they can suck”. You make good points and your right on all counts. I think 35’s are minimum size on a ‘dedicated’ vehicle. Great video!
It all depends on your vehicle and its components. My TJ is running 255/85-16s, with a 4” lift their 33” height is perfect and I much prefer the 10” width to 11.25” (285/75-16) or 33x12.5-16 since the larger ones rub at full lock. No sense having a Jeep if your turning radius is close to that of a full-size truck! Stock brakes are still adequate, and you’ll have to work at it to break a 4.11:1 Dana 44 with 33” tires. Now, for my YJ project I’ll be running 38” tires, maybe 40”. Axles are Ford Dana 60 front and GM 14-bolt FF rear, most likely with gearing in the 5.38:1 range because it’s going to be my off road toy, not something I’ll drive at high speeds on the interstate. They’ll be narrowed so the shorter shafts will be less prone to twisting, and the axle components meant for use in 10,000lb+ GVWR applications won’t even break a sweat in a Jeep that’ll max out at under 5K pounds. Same goes for brakes.
Big versus smaller tires: Depends on ones ego really. Public lands here, while enormous compared to other states of our Union, serious level 5 rugged rocky terrain mandates large tires, but, again, these areas are becoming shortened to even closed down due to so much abuse, trash, fecal matter, dirty diapers, holes as deep as Subaru wagon and lastly, Spray Painting Rock formations. So many fine attributes as millions take to the outerbanks too family recreation as never before in the History of mankind. Think overpopulation. Even in our pandemic, the multitudes are hitting the campground/trails in droves. Me, at 65 I’ve sold everything off-roady an now, re-evaluating my entire strategy to multi-state travels. Cheers!
The trails in my local area are so rutted out you can't have less than 33" tires and even make it at all, maybe with a independent suspension vehicle, but the axles drag even on little toyotas and suzukis. 35"+ is ideal but I'm running 33x10.5r15 as a compromise on my truck which drives better on 31s but if I want to hit the real trails I'm stuck going big.
I have a 79 series land cruiser V8 and run 265/75/16. General overlanding type stuff and a serious grade trail every so often. I have never really felt the need for bigger rubber (except for it looking cool). The disadvantages (rotational force, breaking reduction, having to lift the vehicle, general wear and tear, and potentially not going into the garage anymore) outweighs the advantages. It's just not worth it. As I say, a nice chunky tyre does look good through, but that's about it....
Built up a 86 ford ranger, with 33s i could drive it like a sport quad and never broke anything! Added a 3 body lift then went with 35s and later some 40s, broke axles like crazy
Couldn't agree more Hendri! There is a point where you're not helping your vehicle, you're just going for looks. On the Jeep SUV's and Trucks i've owned, 33's are about the apex of usefulness. I prefer the 31-32" on my CJ/YJ's and 33-35" on my Cherokee/J10's.
There is a time and a place for almost every tire size. For example we in Iceland run our snow wheeling vehicles as a minimum 38" tire modification. Some of the larger, heavier trucks like the F350 and Rams go up to 54" and I know about one F350 which is going n 58". We drive a Toyota Tacoma on 44" in the winter and 42" in the summer. We cut into the body of the vehicle somewhat extensively to make room for the larger tires so it does not require so much lift. On the Tacoma we only have just over a 2" lift to fit the 44" tires. Some do not lift at all but make extensive body and frame modification. All to keep the center of gravity down. We want the tires so large so we can float on top of the snow running as low as 2 psi in the tires if needed. Think snowshoes on your feet. We have travelled all over Iceland in the winter like this, and some of us have traversed the icecap of Greenland and Antarctica with these trucks. They are not great on the road, but with proper modification it is well doable to have a truck that performs well in that regard as well.
33” is about right size for most vehicles and applications. I just bought 33” (33x12.5/15)tires and will mount them on 15x10” wheels to replace 285x75/16 tires.
I have 35' and i like them...but im thinking going down to 33's... 1. I need more lift to stop hitting my fenders, and 2. Regearing.. Id rather go back 2 inch. Going up requires more upgrades then i want to worry about
Only regeared because of the mismatched gearing between the Cruiser TC and Land Rover diff ratios. Afterwards between the 33s and 35s weren't an issue with gearing
It is all relative to your needs. My overland machine comes stock with 35's. It would be idiotic to go down in size, also because I have a large machine I would drag everywhere. Now mainly in the sand like you, maybe not so much. But when you are climbing boulders or fording mud they make a difference. And I did recently try 40's, then went back to 35's. So I do know exactly what you are talking about, however I will be going to 40's eventually.
Spot on. The term big is relative to the vehicle. Generally one size up won't affect too many things and will keep it reliable. In your case maybe a 37" tire?
Basically, tires larger than your stock clearance allows are probably too big to drive on the road. Bigger tyres really help with raising the approach angle, sometimes to 90 degrees, and providing ground clearance. Only good for serious mud bogging and rock crawling where you're traveling about 10kph tops.
When I built my vehicle I chose Nitto 35x12.5r17 terra grappler AT tires and wheels to give extra clearance without having to put on a lift kit. Having said that, I noticed that the front commonly hit the fenders when turning. I still did not want to use a lift kit because in addition to the extra cost for the kits, they also affected the suspension negatively and threw the center of gravity far too high, making roll over a real possibility. As a solution I chose instead to modify the fenders to accommodate the larger tires and to use 17" wheels with a 6" negative offset to push them farther away from the frame. The result was a more stable vehicle when on or off road than the lifted version would have been. Here is a video of the vehicle in various stages of build. czcams.com/video/wC6Dv6tBao0/video.html
The 7.5x16's that were the original Defender and Series size, are 32"... If you have the power/torque, fit the 33s. But on a normal Tdi 200/300 or S2/S3 Landy, stick with the 7.5x16. They look better, and contrary to popular belief, actually work way better in soft sand. (on these low power vehicles. Include the likes of the 4.2 n/a Cruiser in this argument as well) I used to live in Walvis Bay. Sand is what we had to play on every weekend😁
Some may think 35" tiresarebig but on my full size Bronco with a just 4" cut & turned long suspension /wheel travel lift so I am not too high. With 4.56 gears & lockers Fiberglass fenders & bedsides bulged out to fit them in they work very well & look good to me happy with performance in the whoops & the dirt & sand. Even had a run into stripedbuite Death Valley & just over Mengal Pass it was 2-3 foot oval shape rocks everywhwere for a long ways It was hard to see if I was in the trail just these bug rocks everywhere? HOW DO THEY GET THAT WAY? Happ y when I found a vacent placeto spendthenight . Just me and my nowwife on thistrip. I was happy & surprisedto learn my hubsnot locked& transfer case not shifted to engage I did that long mess of rocks not getting stoped to try again & at a steady pace not fast but not what I have seen on video. In 2 wheel drive ? Yjanksto rear lockers big enough tires& Cut & turned Lift maybe too without a 4" bracket hanging straight down to catck on a rock & break, I was still very surprised I did it in 2wd! I was also surprised when I made a mistake parked with a big rock about chest high a7 in 4x4 low it climbed straight up & I thought I was stuck not even knowing t did that I saw both drivers sidetires a foot off the ground haning way down in the limit straps My Broncos Frame set down slow & gentle on the top of the rock I had to winch the big thing offone tire climbed straight up over it. NICEBUT BETTER BE CAREFUL WGERE i TELL IT TO GO!
The benefit of larger is the airing down. Greater contact patch for increased traction. You air down a 33, you can lose almost 2" of clearance. Air down a 35 or 37 the same amount and you still have more clearance than the 33. If your tires are balanced, and properly at the correct pressure, on-road driving shouldn't be an issue. As you say, it is preference but I personally have used every tire size 29-37 on virtually every terrain, and I'll stick with the 37s
I ran 42 inch tsl's on my 81 cj7 on Chevy 1 ton axles. 3.5 in lift bds leafs over the axles mounted and tube front fenders and opened and tubed rear fenders 5 inches bigger. That jeep worked perfectly, couldn't ask for a better rig for running trails here in Ontario Canada. 4.2L amc 6cyl engine with np435/np205 pulled it down the highway just fine. I also run 37 inch nitto mudgrapplers on my super duty daily driver that I also use off road very often. Again can't ask for a better truck for what I do.
I'm running 265/65/r17 (or 30,6 tall, if you're using inches) on my Jeep GC WK. It could easily handle bigger tires, but for my use there's no need and I haven't lifted my Jeep (and won't be using spacers). They're big enough for my application (and because Quadra Drive 2 rocks). We don't have big sand dunes or anything like that here in Finland, and our forests are mostly off the limits for off roading, so usually I drive in fairly decent conditions (no rock crawling either... our country is boring and flat). No need for bigger tires at all and certainly wouldn't be doing big+spacers just for the looks (because those wheels way away from the vehicle look just so damn stupid and they're illegal here). If you need bigger tires and you got the power to run them (sure, WK would have), then by all means. If there's no need for something like 35s or bigger, then no reason to use them. Simple :)
The only benefit for a bigger tire is under diff clearance. Id go for a better suspension setup. That'll help you control your car better off-road and handle better off-road. You'll rarely need those extra 2inches once you have correct lift, brakes, gearing and some decent off-road technique
37s in the States can be had for less than 35s and the work you have to do to fit 35s is nearly as much as the work for 37s anyway. I’d skip 35s altogether. 32s for a daily that does occasional camping. 33s for a daily you off road a lot in but still want to get there comfortably. 37+ for a dedicated off road machine. Has always been our mindset anyway. There have been about 1-3 places a year we wished we had 33s instead of 32s. The rest of the time we’ve been able to camp in pretty remote places pretty easily and be happier on the road with 32s on our various Toyotas.
The difference is that those massive tires suck for real overlanding... but the folks that just go weekend warrioring around love them... they’re not crossing borders or running in areas where there is literally no access to them... in Oaxaca I couldn’t find anything bigger than a 265 70 17 in an a/t... huge tires are also a huge heat score in Central America!!
Yeah, big tires definitely suck. I put 35s on my electric scooter and it handled like crap. Knocked over an ice cream truck the other day. Much angries everywhere.
Hey, at least it looked good and when cruising, that's what matters.
@@jeffmayers6896 Yep! It was gangsta!
I fully agree, you need to find a balance for your setup to fit its purpose.
Best comment here.couldn't be more dead right.well said👍
& ITS USE FOR WHAT YOU WILL BE IN .
Thanks all for the feedback on this controversial video subject! Some good points were made in the comments and some unfortunately completely missed the point.
I'ts a bit of a love-hate relationship I have with big wheels but the next few videos coming out should explain my statement better.
Happy 4WDing and keep safe!
I do agree with you as my needs is similar and I'm running a narrow 32" to get the extra clearance on the diff but with the narrow tread 235 the weight is also down or very similar to 31". Must say I notice the difference straight away on the steering, turning a lot easier now. For me it's all about practicality and not looks
Lourens.....Suid Afrikaans? (That
I was happy doing winch challenge on 33” with standard suspension. The stuff that really makes vehicles go well off road is under body armour and diff locks. If you can Just get on and ‘drive’ it without worry, the off-road performance goes up massively. *also a good hydraulic winch. No point smashing all the drive train if you can pull it through in neutral :o)
Great video. I wanted to change tyre size from 31inch. Would cost too much. Needed a wheel carrier, lift suspension. Decided to stick to original size. Still takes me on most trails.
I have 37" on my 110 but i have salsberry axles frunt and back plus a 6L Cummings to turn them so she rocks.
Sounds like a beast!
@@HendriMouton yeah its a good one also got a galve chassis on it. So it dosent dissolve over night.
Cummins?
@@donaldbacklund5420 yes sorry thats what i ment.
Not a daily driver..
100% agree with you. Here in the states I run the equivalent of 32x 11.50 on my Tacoma and don’t feel the need to go bigger as the problems just increase. Plus have a closer to stock rig takes more skill on the trails picking the correct line.
The worst part I’ve found with bigger tyres is the braking. The extra inertia is so noticeable.
Especially on a Land Rover! The upgraded brakes I did on a previous episode helped immensely. Definitely worth the cost
The whole concept of BIG FAT TIRES came about years ago or should I say decades ago (1970's) when Dick Cepek and others (Mickey Thompson, Iron Man etc.) were running in the desert and Baja. They wanted BIG tires for loose deep sand so they could "FLOAT" on top of the sand with enough horsepower. People loved the looks and without much thought believed the big fat tires could work in any situation. NOT SO! Granted, TALLER tires will in fact increase your ground clearance BUT it comes at a huge cost i.e. gearing and huge amounts of STRESS on various components. Taller and taller lift kits came into being and as a result THE LOSS OF A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY hence increased roll overs. Look, I'm an old guy now but I used to build this crap so I might know a little bit. Do yourself and your pocket book a favor and build your rigs for PRACTICAL USE instead of looks and LEARN TO DRIVE BETTER. You'll be a lot happier, your rig will break down less and life will be good!
Good video Henri! I’ve got 33” on my Hilux and I can’t imagine going bigger. Your truck looked sick with the 35’s though.
Keep up the good work mate!
can you give your tyre spec....also, did you do any other mods to acconodate the 33 inchers....?? i too want 33 inchers on my Everest, just wondering what other aspecta need to be taken care of....
@@PopEye2384 Hey, I have a 2" OME and a 1" front leveling kit. The tires are 285-70-17 Coopers. There was no need for fender trimming on the front because of the TJM bumper. The only adjustment was the camber angle that was set at max for better clearance away from the body. Sorry im not of more help
Popeye The Sailorman Everest will fit 275/65 R18 on the stock rims with no modification. Probably only minor things needed to fit 33’s.
I like a solid built off road tyre like the BFG KO2 in a size that is available across the Country (Australia) its never a good idea to modify out reliability for looks if you are a remote traveler
I like my 34" tires. Close to a 35 but more ground clearance then a 33. I run narrower tires and wheels to reduce weight and strain on the drive line.
Nice to see another vid Henri, Im running 32ich Khumo MT tyres on my Vigo with a 2 inch lift and I would say thats a limit before you need to start cutting fenders and changing rim offsets, my tyres flex cleanly under the worst conditions and on road its not too bad power wise with my 1kd. Look foward to seeing Fugly on a track some day.
Thinking about fitting double rims on the rear of my Jeep. Great content. Thank,s
I run 265/75 16 on my Defender 110 and works perfect for overlanding
What rims do you use with which offset? Considering buying this size wheels, but concerned about the wheel offset
Awesome video man! Some good tips there 👍🏽👍🏽
I have a 2004 4Runner and went with 265/70/17 or 31” It is one step up from factory size. Like you I’m on the trails only about 10% of the time. I also went with C load rating which was 10lbs lighter than the E load per tire. My replacement wheels are also lighter than OEM. Therefore I lost just about 1.4mpg and the handling is about the same. I am very happy because I almost went bigger.
Very sensible approach. Thanks.
Great video & insight as always boet
You hit all the points! I just put narrow 30.5 on my van, as big as I can go or want to go.
Couldnt agree more. Ive gone big on my rigs. Tie rods, axles and belts all explode. Not to mention even with proper clutching I lost major power. I go bigger than stock but within reason and I choose the lightest even if its not the best traction. I save 20 lbs per tire on an atv. Thats a lot for a 40hp motor. Haha. Great video!
Excellent video! Thanks for making it. Showing bigger is not always better. Nice defender! ,😁😁
That is such a bad ass rig! I'd keep 35s but I can see how for your use 33s work better. I'm on 37s on crawler and 32s on exploring overland rig
enjoyed it immensely. Subscribed. Cheers for sharing.
Interesting, thanks! And good lookin 130 there! My Defender 130 is also running on 33's and it works well. Its a TD5 2001ym with only a mild chip tune.
Some sound practical advice there Hendri, tyre you might want to experiment with for expedition/trail now that you have the slower diffs is Michelin XZY 8.5R17.5 or XZL 9.00R 16. Both are really truck tyres but the bigger rims do allow you to fit the bigger brakes. The XZL has deliberately soft sidewalls to keep the heat in the tyre down when running at low pressure, and tread "caterpillar tracks" beautifully at low pressure for great flotation. Tread is also v aggressive for spectacular traction in mud, but rubber is properly compounded to be chip/chunk resistant in sharp rock/gravel conditions.
The 8.5R17.5 XZY as more of a marie biscuit style option carries a lot more weight than an old school 7.50R16 without overheating or at lower pressure for better ride quality, so nice for trips to N Namibia, but also has a v strong casing, so is v puncture resistant, which is nice. Not an awesome sand tyre, but big OD with 100 profile means that it caterpillar tracks quite well if deflated for crossing dry river beds etc. Main attribute for long trips on dirt or gravel is good fuel economy, good handling and tough tyre that isn't going to require you peeling it off the rim or fitting tubes really often.
Look forward to seeing more of your stuff.
bigwheels blacksmoke I run XZL 255/100r16 on a Land Cruiser 80. Have done for 60k overlanding miles. Amazing tyre BUT very, very heavy - 40kg per tyre, very noisy on the road and limited (legally) to 68mph
My rig is a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 TRX4 QC 5.7 Hemi leveled with FOX Factory Race Series coilovers with Eibach springs, 2.0 Performance series in the rear all new MOOG components sitting on a factory lift with just "31.5 tires on the factory offroad rims spaced with 2" adapters. I'm not into heavy crawling, more fast pace trail driving in the desert, open dunes, lake bed ect. And its perfect for how I drive. I built it to replicate a Ford Raptor on a pizza man budget. I feel its about how you use the vehicle. Bigger tires gonna give me clearance but isn't gonna be as stable when I'm left foot braking, getting sideways around the turn. Just depends I guess. I go where my big tire friends go, just different lines. Southern California🇺🇲
I agree too, I lived the BFG KM2 32s I had on my Prado, better puncture resistance but not much worse on fuel, handling and performance. The biggest advantage of big tyres is to give you better ground clearance for really technical trails and rock crawling. For 95% of trails, good technique, quality tread type, and a spotter will get you though with smaller tyres, and you don't get the downsides for all the other driving types.
Here in the states people install 2 sizes larger then they should then complain about about things breaking. Good break down on the thought of what tire size to go with.
I talked my son out of going with 38’s down to 35’s on our current Jeep TJ build. The funny thing is that he has all the drive train to handle the 38’s.
Good video.
With under tyre and over axle you have that piece of mind to go a bit harder at it 👍
Toyo has begun making 35's in 8 ply for Jeep fitments. Light as a 10ply 33 but benefits of the taller tire. 35's are sometimes needed for ground clearance.
Offroading I use 35" on my Series 3 88", but for everyday usage and overlanding it's 33" all day. I also have the same gearing.
you are right !!!! but the look on my 2016 f250 with 37"s look amazing
Great breakdown of expenses and performance.
Hi, need your expert advice.
I have Prado with stock Highway Terrain tires of 265/65/R16.
Now I have gone for 2 inch suspension lift.
I want to upgrade to All Terrain tires now.
What tire size should I keep so my vehicle remains perfect in all aspects like stock Prado.
I do weekend drives in deserts.
Should I stick with 265/65 or upgrade to 275/70 or 275/65.
After seeing you video I feel A/T 265/65 would be best for me
Yes you make a good point so true I have 33 35 and 37 or 4 different occasions
I am on my 5th defender and my 7th Land Rover.
The best tyre size I have found is the 255x85x16,they have great width to height ratio.
I have tried everything over the last 40 years and for me BFG mud terrains have been the best for my uses.
I hunt all year round here in NZ, so even in summer after a strong NW weather pattern,the steep tracks and terraces get super slippery.
I have tried all terrains,but no good.
It would be great if a few more tyre manufacturers made tyre this size.
I agree on more manufacturers need to make this size. I am in the States where the obsession with big huge tires is absurd. I see them for rock crawling and such however I live in wooded heavy snow in winter state. I run BFG MT KM3's in 255/85-17 on my older Jeep Cherokee (04), I had to lift it 3" and trim a bit in front. Running a selectable locker in rear and a Tru Trac up front allows me to go anywhere I need to. I do switch to Nokian's in the winter, R3 SUV's in 245/70-16.
Yep. Agree.
On defender I 100% agree, it's the best compromise I've found. I've had both BFG and Coopers in that size and they have been brilliant, they also fit nicely on wolf rims.
hi, and thanks for sharing - my question is how do they perform on the road, as I'm driving about 90 in my hometown... thanks, Pat
Awesome info
I love my skinny’s 235/85/16 and will never use anything else
Lekker day hier uit Australia
That’s what I run on my Tacoma TRD Offroad
I'd really like to put 35s on my bobtailed Discovery instead of the 33" Insa Turbo Special Tracks I have now but mine is purely an off road toy in England and barely gets used on the road. All really good points though, I currently have a spare inside the back, a 35" spare wouldn't fit, I probably couldn't afford one and lifting the current 16" wheel and 33" spare up that high nearly kills me anyway.
Gearing is already too tall as well, I swapped the old LT77 gearbox out for an R380 from my older Discovery when I got it and I think the LT77 had a Defender transfer box on it, the old 200tdi struggles a bit on hills. I could do the diffs but the rear has a KAM electric locker so it would be a real pain to take that apart. I guess I'll stick to 33" too!
just went to 33s (Hilux Surf) and love the added capability, but already need to re-gear for my mountainous location.
Thanks for the excellent tips Hendri, much appreciated. Would re-gearing and a lift be necessary when fitting 33' tires to something like a Ford Ranger for example?
I have a Ford Ranger with a set of 33” AT’s, you require a lift otherwise you have some rubbing issues. I have not changed the gearing on the vehicle at all and she is running perfectly.
me looks at my new sting gray jeep gladitor rubi,i got a RK Pro x 3 inch lift.......38 inch tires and yes i welded a truss on the front and i got rcv's as well and i also kinda made the included truss from the RK kit and made it better/stronger and actually extended it further out but yeah i love my jeep man and to be honest i really dont feel the difference......maybe cause i only drove it for 5k miles and pulled the trigger on all my modifications
Nice vid, thanks for that. I'm gonna pick up my Subaru Forester this month, and I'm wondering what max size tires will fit under it (when not yet lifted). 😎
Keep an eye out for the future uploads. Safari cars incoming🤘🏻
Both my rugs run 37s one in 14.5 and one 12.5 both my 3/4 ton suburban and my Toyota cralwer do awesome with them no lack of power or speed but gearing and motor work on both have been done to compensate. And bigger RCV axles
I own 245/75r16 no lift d22 first gen Malaysia bought currently my home. I am interested in a little taller and wider tire.i have accomplished many risky adventures I probably should not attempt.i like you made it clear on personal preference.good helpful video
I agree with you. Points well made.
Which V8 engine you have and what kind of fuel consumption you get out of it?
Hey, just curious, do you know the fuel economy of your Defender? Greetings from Costa Rica.
I have 4 inch lift with 33 ×12.5 R17 on my 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4×4 and their perfect for on and off road as long as You You do everything correctly as I did. Those 35s looks great on your ride.
All depends on what type of wheeling you do. For me 37s are worth it. But I have one tons, low gearing and clearence to offset all the negatives you mentioned.
"why I think 35s suck, im poor" ahahahah XD
The struggle is real
I bet you the zombie offroad guys will say 40 inch tires suck for rock crawling... Tell that to the jeep and Toyota guys that run king of the hammers with 40 inch tires....
@@meateaterwhitetail7291 If it's a dedicated rig for one purpose and built to run 40s then I don't see any issue. Build the vehicle according to the terrain and use. Use your own discretion
I run on 31's, they do just fine on the Mojave Desert, California
I have a 93 toyota truck with a 4cyl engine. 31's are the biggest I'm gonna go. I'm not trying to kill this little 22re engine and it goes anywhere I need it to, mainly on the beach here in Texas. The only thing I want now are lockers.
Looks like it's a good workout lifting those heavy tires
I lived off a remote dirt track for about 15 years....I was about 40 kms along the track...it was only graded once a year and every time it was I can tell you that I always destroyed the big tyres... best all rounder for my Defender was 235/85 R16....
Intelligent comment!
1980s here in the states we had monster mudders that where 44" tall x 14" wide on 16 " rims they where on 3/4 ton ford chevy pickups I had 30"x 9.50 wide 15" Tims on my 84 ford f150 tall skinny 33" are the tallest id go today on steel rims
2nd gen 4runner 22re on 5" suspension lift 3" body lift and 35s. been running it daily 5 years offroad and on road. more off road though. no problems. all stock. bigger tire equals more airdown more traction more clearance smoother ride. tried 33s and lasted couple months before i ditched them and went 35s. i run gravel boulder trails sand and snow year around.
smaller tires require more psi. rattling your rig and self to pieces. have bang that same line over and over redline the tach wearing parts more often than a big tire aired down idle through. spend the cash buy a lift and 35s you'll thank yourself in the long run. i run 65mph on 35s at 10psi no sway bars. seriously how could anyone say 33s are better than 35s? the ones who don't want to cash a lift.
I reckon you should’ve called this video “Big tyres are awesome but here’s how they can suck”. You make good points and your right on all counts. I think 35’s are minimum size on a ‘dedicated’ vehicle. Great video!
AT 35s on 17in on my Aussie 79 series. Its become perfect for on road as i can put along >100kmph at a perfect RPM.
It all depends on your vehicle and its components. My TJ is running 255/85-16s, with a 4” lift their 33” height is perfect and I much prefer the 10” width to 11.25” (285/75-16) or 33x12.5-16 since the larger ones rub at full lock. No sense having a Jeep if your turning radius is close to that of a full-size truck! Stock brakes are still adequate, and you’ll have to work at it to break a 4.11:1 Dana 44 with 33” tires.
Now, for my YJ project I’ll be running 38” tires, maybe 40”. Axles are Ford Dana 60 front and GM 14-bolt FF rear, most likely with gearing in the 5.38:1 range because it’s going to be my off road toy, not something I’ll drive at high speeds on the interstate. They’ll be narrowed so the shorter shafts will be less prone to twisting, and the axle components meant for use in 10,000lb+ GVWR applications won’t even break a sweat in a Jeep that’ll max out at under 5K pounds. Same goes for brakes.
Big versus smaller tires: Depends on ones ego really. Public lands here, while enormous compared to other states of our Union, serious level 5 rugged rocky terrain mandates large tires, but, again, these areas are becoming shortened to even closed down due to so much abuse, trash, fecal matter, dirty diapers, holes as deep as Subaru wagon and lastly, Spray Painting Rock formations.
So many fine attributes as millions take to the outerbanks too family recreation as never before in the History of mankind. Think overpopulation. Even in our pandemic, the multitudes are hitting the campground/trails in droves. Me, at 65 I’ve sold everything off-roady an now, re-evaluating my entire strategy to multi-state travels.
Cheers!
Nice video!
The trails in my local area are so rutted out you can't have less than 33" tires and even make it at all, maybe with a independent suspension vehicle, but the axles drag even on little toyotas and suzukis. 35"+ is ideal but I'm running 33x10.5r15 as a compromise on my truck which drives better on 31s but if I want to hit the real trails I'm stuck going big.
I have a 79 series land cruiser V8 and run 265/75/16. General overlanding type stuff and a serious grade trail every so often. I have never really felt the need for bigger rubber (except for it looking cool). The disadvantages (rotational force, breaking reduction, having to lift the vehicle, general wear and tear, and potentially not going into the garage anymore) outweighs the advantages. It's just not worth it. As I say, a nice chunky tyre does look good through, but that's about it....
Built up a 86 ford ranger, with 33s i could drive it like a sport quad and never broke anything! Added a 3 body lift then went with 35s and later some 40s, broke axles like crazy
Yeah, that's the problem with bigger tires. Welcome to the party 😁
In the snow and mud big tires are essential! E.g in iceland it is a must!
False, skinny tires dug into the snow and ice better
Couldn't agree more Hendri! There is a point where you're not helping your vehicle, you're just going for looks. On the Jeep SUV's and Trucks i've owned, 33's are about the apex of usefulness. I prefer the 31-32" on my CJ/YJ's and 33-35" on my Cherokee/J10's.
I just need a tire that's black and round, cuz" black tires matter."
ATM. LOL
..white letters move them farster
Lol😝😝😝
Go Bubba lol
Dont forget about black lines they matter too.
There is a time and a place for almost every tire size. For example we in Iceland run our snow wheeling vehicles as a minimum 38" tire modification. Some of the larger, heavier trucks like the F350 and Rams go up to 54" and I know about one F350 which is going n 58". We drive a Toyota Tacoma on 44" in the winter and 42" in the summer. We cut into the body of the vehicle somewhat extensively to make room for the larger tires so it does not require so much lift. On the Tacoma we only have just over a 2" lift to fit the 44" tires. Some do not lift at all but make extensive body and frame modification. All to keep the center of gravity down. We want the tires so large so we can float on top of the snow running as low as 2 psi in the tires if needed. Think snowshoes on your feet. We have travelled all over Iceland in the winter like this, and some of us have traversed the icecap of Greenland and Antarctica with these trucks. They are not great on the road, but with proper modification it is well doable to have a truck that performs well in that regard as well.
"somewhat extensively" I think is an understatement! Love those Icelandic beasts though - really need to get up there and visit one day.
33” is about right size for most vehicles and applications.
I just bought 33” (33x12.5/15)tires and will mount them on 15x10” wheels to replace 285x75/16 tires.
I have 35' and i like them...but im thinking going down to 33's...
1. I need more lift to stop hitting my fenders, and 2. Regearing..
Id rather go back 2 inch.
Going up requires more upgrades then i want to worry about
Did you regear again when fitting the 33s?
Only regeared because of the mismatched gearing between the Cruiser TC and Land Rover diff ratios. Afterwards between the 33s and 35s weren't an issue with gearing
It is all relative to your needs. My overland machine comes stock with 35's. It would be idiotic to go down in size, also because I have a large machine I would drag everywhere. Now mainly in the sand like you, maybe not so much. But when you are climbing boulders or fording mud they make a difference. And I did recently try 40's, then went back to 35's. So I do know exactly what you are talking about, however I will be going to 40's eventually.
Spot on. The term big is relative to the vehicle. Generally one size up won't affect too many things and will keep it reliable. In your case maybe a 37" tire?
Basically, tires larger than your stock clearance allows are probably too big to drive on the road. Bigger tyres really help with raising the approach angle, sometimes to 90 degrees, and providing ground clearance. Only good for serious mud bogging and rock crawling where you're traveling about 10kph tops.
When I built my vehicle I chose Nitto 35x12.5r17 terra grappler AT tires and wheels to give extra clearance without having to put on a lift kit. Having said that, I noticed that the front commonly hit the fenders when turning. I still did not want to use a lift kit because in addition to the extra cost for the kits, they also affected the suspension negatively and threw the center of gravity far too high, making roll over a real possibility. As a solution I chose instead to modify the fenders to accommodate the larger tires and to use 17" wheels with a 6" negative offset to push them farther away from the frame. The result was a more stable vehicle when on or off road than the lifted version would have been. Here is a video of the vehicle in various stages of build. czcams.com/video/wC6Dv6tBao0/video.html
LOL Forget the 35's availability.
That is some *crazy* backspacing on those wheels.
Where'd you get those??
Yeah, i agree 33” is just the right size!
X2! 😁
I have 31s on my XJ, I like them and looks great. Also I would never go bigger than 33 on XJ.
Smallest you can get away with.
The 7.5x16's that were the original Defender and Series size, are 32"...
If you have the power/torque, fit the 33s. But on a normal Tdi 200/300 or S2/S3 Landy, stick with the 7.5x16. They look better, and contrary to popular belief, actually work way better in soft sand. (on these low power vehicles. Include the likes of the 4.2 n/a Cruiser in this argument as well)
I used to live in Walvis Bay. Sand is what we had to play on every weekend😁
Some may think 35" tiresarebig but on my full size Bronco with a just 4" cut & turned long suspension /wheel travel lift so I am not too high. With 4.56 gears & lockers Fiberglass fenders & bedsides bulged out to fit them in they work very well & look good to me happy with performance in the whoops & the dirt & sand. Even had a run into stripedbuite Death Valley & just over Mengal Pass it was 2-3 foot oval shape rocks everywhwere for a long ways It was hard to see if I was in the trail just these bug rocks everywhere? HOW DO THEY GET THAT WAY? Happ y when I found a vacent placeto spendthenight . Just me and my nowwife on thistrip. I was happy & surprisedto learn my hubsnot locked& transfer case not shifted to engage I did that long mess of rocks not getting stoped to try again & at a steady pace not fast but not what I have seen on video. In 2 wheel drive ? Yjanksto rear lockers big enough tires& Cut & turned Lift maybe too without a 4" bracket hanging straight down to catck on a rock & break, I was still very surprised I did it in 2wd! I was also surprised when I made a mistake parked with a big rock about chest high a7 in 4x4 low it climbed straight up & I thought I was stuck not even knowing t did that I saw both drivers sidetires a foot off the ground haning way down in the limit straps My Broncos Frame set down slow & gentle on the top of the rock I had to winch the big thing offone tire climbed straight up over it. NICEBUT BETTER BE CAREFUL WGERE i TELL IT TO GO!
The benefit of larger is the airing down. Greater contact patch for increased traction. You air down a 33, you can lose almost 2" of clearance. Air down a 35 or 37 the same amount and you still have more clearance than the 33. If your tires are balanced, and properly at the correct pressure, on-road driving shouldn't be an issue. As you say, it is preference but I personally have used every tire size 29-37 on virtually every terrain, and I'll stick with the 37s
Yep. With a fullsize truck flotation tires are necessary going through deep solt or sand. Other than that they are unnecessary.
nice one hendri
Running 44's on my CJ-5. Am I doing it right?
I ran 42 inch tsl's on my 81 cj7 on Chevy 1 ton axles. 3.5 in lift bds leafs over the axles mounted and tube front fenders and opened and tubed rear fenders 5 inches bigger.
That jeep worked perfectly, couldn't ask for a better rig for running trails here in Ontario Canada. 4.2L amc 6cyl engine with np435/np205 pulled it down the highway just fine.
I also run 37 inch nitto mudgrapplers on my super duty daily driver that I also use off road very often. Again can't ask for a better truck for what I do.
Stock size, with a mud terrain tyre. Gearing and fuel bill unaffected. I use Maxis Bravo in 32"
I agree. I run 265/70r17s. 18 years straight.
I agree.
I have 37s in my Suburban with no lift, been like that for several years, never going back to smaller tires.
Your name says it all 😁🤟🏻
Running 35's MTs on a TD42T Patrol, no hassles, love them.
Great vehicles. Big tyres on tuned turbo diesels are less noticeable than with N/A engines.
Thank you
Lol, just bought 40" toyos for the m37/4w73. Welp, I guess I'll have to wait and see. Legacy uses them so I think I should be fine.
Pls can u put wrangler gears,engines & fuel tank on the defender if u prefer big wheels?
I'm lost?
@@HendriMouton I'm trying to put a jeep wrangler engine into a defender and I want to know if there wont be any inconveniences
I agree. I am dropping from 285 75 16 down to 265 75 16.
Wish we could she cool vehicles like that here in the US.
They are availables... but the price are kind of silly
32s (235/85rx16) seem to be the sweet spot for 2017 PX2 Ford Ranger.
I'm running 265/65/r17 (or 30,6 tall, if you're using inches) on my Jeep GC WK. It could easily handle bigger tires, but for my use there's no need and I haven't lifted my Jeep (and won't be using spacers). They're big enough for my application (and because Quadra Drive 2 rocks). We don't have big sand dunes or anything like that here in Finland, and our forests are mostly off the limits for off roading, so usually I drive in fairly decent conditions (no rock crawling either... our country is boring and flat). No need for bigger tires at all and certainly wouldn't be doing big+spacers just for the looks (because those wheels way away from the vehicle look just so damn stupid and they're illegal here).
If you need bigger tires and you got the power to run them (sure, WK would have), then by all means. If there's no need for something like 35s or bigger, then no reason to use them. Simple :)
Agree
The only benefit for a bigger tire is under diff clearance. Id go for a better suspension setup. That'll help you control your car better off-road and handle better off-road. You'll rarely need those extra 2inches once you have correct lift, brakes, gearing and some decent off-road technique
Set up one with portals and 35”s and one regular with 265/75r16 or 235/85r16
I mean, when you own a defender I suppose everything else in your life would suck
That's what she said
Hendri Mouton 😂😂
37s in the States can be had for less than 35s and the work you have to do to fit 35s is nearly as much as the work for 37s anyway. I’d skip 35s altogether. 32s for a daily that does occasional camping. 33s for a daily you off road a lot in but still want to get there comfortably. 37+ for a dedicated off road machine. Has always been our mindset anyway. There have been about 1-3 places a year we wished we had 33s instead of 32s. The rest of the time we’ve been able to camp in pretty remote places pretty easily and be happier on the road with 32s on our various Toyotas.
The difference is that those massive tires suck for real overlanding... but the folks that just go weekend warrioring around love them... they’re not crossing borders or running in areas where there is literally no access to them... in Oaxaca I couldn’t find anything bigger than a 265 70 17 in an a/t... huge tires are also a huge heat score in Central America!!
How do you manage the fuel ⛽️ on those trips?
Work hard and save up I guess😁