285/75/16 vs 255/85/16

Ballah06

Well-known member
Jan 21, 2007
5,638
16
Savannah, GA
Big_mark said:
Go wide, you get better "flotation" with a wider tire. This helps in the "deep stuff" (Snow, Mud, grass, soft ground, etc..)

Unless you are trying to cut through the snow, mud sloppy stuff and get to the solid stuff for traction. Personal preference I suppose, although I myself have always stuck to the wider tire choices.
 

KngTgr

Well-known member
May 20, 2005
1,323
14
Fairfax, VA
I don't think that a 2.5 Ton truck can be floated with any tire, however more traction is obtained by increasing the contact area of the tire, mostly by lowering the tire pressure, making the "footprint" longer, not wider, the CT trucks must have used narrow tires for that reason, right?
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
265/75R16 KM1 at 45psi.

Various conditions alter the pressures I'll run and where I run them, but every single number on my chart is higher than most would consider. Snow and ice pressures cannot be charted. Dangers are increased, and every condition is different. Pressures in extreme cold weather environments vary drastically depending on what I see, hear, smell and feel.

I run higher pressures than average with a tire that's sort of in the middle, so far as width is concerned.

That shows you that I value a solid grip on terrain, and a tire that will bite in and try to find solid ground, while being short enough to maintain good lateral stability and a progressive, predictable release at high pressures. Given a choice, I'll lean toward a narrower tire, a stiff sidewall, and high pressures.

The size I use is a popular size for a DII, but it's a good size. I fit different tires for expected conditions at times, but this is the default rubber.

Essentially, I go hard and narrow. Others go fat. It depends on what you do and how you do it, as well as personal preference. There is never a perfect choice. Every tire is a compromise.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

garrett

Well-known member
Jun 18, 2004
10,931
5
53
Middleburg, VA
www.blackdogmobility.com
Big_mark said:
Go wide, you get better "flotation" with a wider tire. This helps in the "deep stuff" (Snow, Mud, grass, soft ground, etc..)

This is very incorrect information.

FIRST you want a TALL tire and SECOND you want a WIDE tire. Ideally you want a tall AND wide tire.

As you reduce the air pressure in a tire the contact patch gets longer. It does NOT get wider. The longer the contact patch the better. You're increasing the LENGTH of the "pull" that the tire will have - like a tank tread. A taller tire allows this to happen unlike JUST a wide tire where that "pull" is marginal/shorter. This only increases the chances of you losing traction/spinning.

"Deep stuff" is to include soft ground and grass? Interesting.
 
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rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,651
246
Remember to completely change out all the air in your tires whenever you return from an off road trip in case it gets contaminated.
 

JustAddMtns

Well-known member
Jun 22, 2007
1,877
0
NC
garrett said:
As you reduce the air pressure in a tire the contact patch gets longer. It does NOT get wider. The longer the contact patch the better. You're increasing the LENGTH of the "pull" that the tire will have - like a tank tread. A taller tire allows this to happen unlike JUST a wide tire where that "pull" is marginal/shorter. This only increases the chances of you losing traction/spinning.

I just learned something.
 
Jan 25, 2010
3,544
4
your moms bed
I just went from 265/75/16 to 235/85/16. I have'nt taken them off road yet but I'm looking forward to seeing how they do campaired to the 265's.I also put in summer air even though its still technically "winter".
 

Big_mark

Well-known member
Feb 16, 2011
210
0
Spaceship orbiting the Earth
Flotation does not mean "Floating the vehicle" Soft wet grass can quickly turn into the "deep stuff" if you're running the Pizza cutter type tires on a "2.5 ton truck" as described above.

Yea I ran a Jeep for many years so what does that make my wheeling, modification, various tire styles and size ownership and use and driving style changes moot?

Garrett, "FIRST you want a TALL tire and SECOND you want a WIDE tire. Ideally you want a tall AND wide tire." you just described a great tire, tall to get your vehicle higher, and wider for better traction. How does this differ from what I posted...

You guys school me since you know so much...;)
 

Ho

1
Staff member
Big_mark said:
you just described a great tire, tall to get your vehicle higher, and wider for better traction. How does this differ from what I posted...

You guys school me since you know so much...;)

you want a tall tire that when aired down, will give you more traction because of LONGER contact patch. not wider.

and here's a bit of schooling: Wider tires only help your Land Rovers look like Jeeps.
 

whatroad

Banned
Mar 8, 2007
631
0
Union, ME
Big_mark said:
Flotation does not mean "Floating the vehicle" Soft wet grass can quickly turn into the "deep stuff" if you're running the Pizza cutter type tires on a "2.5 ton truck" as described above.

Yea I ran a Jeep for many years so what does that make my wheeling, modification, various tire styles and size ownership and use and driving style changes moot?

Garrett, "FIRST you want a TALL tire and SECOND you want a WIDE tire. Ideally you want a tall AND wide tire." you just described a great tire, tall to get your vehicle higher, and wider for better traction. How does this differ from what I posted...

You guys school me since you know so much...;)


Mark, let me bring you up to speed. The thought process around here is tall and skinny. :banghead:

I prefer to wear snow shoes as opposed to ice skates personally.
 

KyleT

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2007
6,059
8
39
Fort Worth, TEXAS
315/75/16. Go for broke. Honestly either works well and either requires a slightly different driving style. I have run alot of different ones from 235 to 12.50" now and all work good enough to get me stuck just the same....
 

Ballah06

Well-known member
Jan 21, 2007
5,638
16
Savannah, GA
whatroad said:
Mark, let me bring you up to speed. The thought process around here is tall and skinny. :banghead:

I prefer to wear snow shoes as opposed to ice skates personally.

I like ice skates.....and vodka...
 

btp98w

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2005
739
0
Loo-es-ville, KY/Sheboygan, WI
fwiw, I'm running 255/85's(on a d1) and they are a decent size, but I will be replacing them with a larger tire when the time comes. Like previously stated, I think it comes down to preference.
 

DiscoJen

Well-known member
Aug 27, 2004
3,652
0
54
The Lou!
I likes 'em tall & skinny as well. Through the mud, through the sugar sand in FL, and on the rocks in TN and here in MO.