Need help picking a tire size!

[DrkZide]

Backstory....I need tires now but I still have the stock 10bolts. I won't be going heavily off-road any time soon, maybe just a dirt road to reach a campground. I have Bushwhackers but don't plan on lifting(4") until I swap axles. That being said, I don't want to have to change tires when switching from 6 lug hubs to 8 lug. I want a 35" at a minimum but would ideally like anywhere between a 37" to 39" to fill out the Bushwhackers. The truck sees a lot of road so I would like to stay with MT's or AT's if they're aggressive enough (No swampers or Iroks) but I don't want to get stuck anywhere if in a year I swap/lift and want to head off into a trail. I don't rock climb.

Here's the pickle. I can find 35"s in a 15" wheel but I don't think that's big enough to fill out a BW especially after the lift. I can find a 37" in a 17" but that's starting to look like a car tire, I like sidewall. I can maybe find a 39" but I'm not sure if that's too big. The 37 in a 17 is also $1000 more for a set than the 35 in a 15, I'm assuming that's going to be normal. At this point I'm not sure with what size to go with and what wheel size would give me the look I want. Basically, no rollerskates, no marshmallows and no car tires. Do you guys have any suggestions?

 

[77_Jimmy]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...dewall=Blackwall&partnum=935R7KTAKX&tab=Sizes

 

[496truck]

Don't go with 15s if you are swapping axles. Yes, you can grind brakes and stuff to clear 15s but is it worth the aggravation? 16s will get you more sidewall. 17s are becoming the norm these days. I went with 35s on 17s (really wanted H2s) there is a link to pics in my sig. The larger wheel/shorter sidewall will gain you a noticeable bit of lateral stability.

 

[DrkZide]

It does seem like I'm having an easier time finding 17s than 15s. Didn't think about the brakes. Your stance seems like what I'm looking for except I think I may need a 37s to fill out the fender well. How do you like those KM2s? I perused through the link 77_Jimmy posted and found those and the MTRs and Geolanders in the size that might work.The KX's are nice at a 39 but are only rated to 75mph.

Anybody heard of the GeoLanders before? Not a bad price for the 38x13.5s they had listed.

 

[dremu]

Yeah, if you're thinking axle swap, you want a minimum 16" wheel to bolt up without having to grind or fiddle oin some way. (Seems to me like it'd make more sense to swap axles and do wheels/tires at the same time, save you buying two sets of wheels.)

Assuming you're talking about Yokohama Geolander, Geolandar, however they spell it... I've been pleased with the Yokohamas I had on passenger cars in the past. They wore well, had decent traction without being audible and weren't stupidly costly. I don't know that I've ever had any of their light truck type tires though.

-- A

 

[496truck]

I really like the KM2s. Not loud on the highway for an MT tire, balanced out really well, and have pulled my truck through everything I have pointed it at off road. People say you are paying for the name, but I can rip up the highway at 70-80 mph and they are smooth as glass. Would absolutely buy them again if I need to.

 

[DrkZide]

(Seems to me like it'd make more sense to swap axles and do wheels/tires at the same time, save you buying two sets of wheels.)

That would make more sense but my tires now are shot and I won't be ready for the axle swap until next spring if not longer. I don't mind buying two sets of wheels as long as I don't have to buy two sets of tires. I can sell a set of wheels here pretty quick, everybody nitpicks over tires though.

 

[dremu]

That would make more sense but my tires now are shot and I won't be ready for the axle swap until next spring if not longer. I don't mind buying two sets of wheels as long as I don't have to buy two sets of tires. I can sell a set of wheels here pretty quick, everybody nitpicks over tires though.

Fair enough. Do stick with 16"+ though, save you a ton of grief down the line.

-- A

 

[gonefishin]

+1 on 16 or larger I have 8 or 10 hours of grinding time just to get my 15's to clear my calipers for my d60 and dual calipers on my 14bff