Largest Functional Tire Without Mods

[AZGrenadier]

Did you fit a 285/75r17 on stock 17” steel wheels with no lift?

No, I went 285/70r17. I did consider going bigger but it would mean street parking from now on.

 

[mikemadden]

No, I went 285/70r17. I did consider going bigger but it would mean street parking from now on.

Okay I saw your post on the garage height - I had the same issue with a 67 bronco - nightmare I couldn’t get it in had to deflate the tires…eventually had to increase the height to 84” …i think the 285/75r17 might fit.

 

[TahoeGren]

I got pizza cutters:

I went with the Duratrac RT in 255/80R17 on Method 703 wheels. The slightly smaller offset on the Methods maintained the same scrub radius for the taller 33” tires so I don’t feel any difference in steering compared to stock. The Methods and the Duratrac RT ended up weighing exactly the same as the stock alloys and KO2s at 81.2 lbs each. So other than the slight loss in gearing, I don’t feel much difference in acceleration or power going uphill. I’ve raised the garage opening to 7’ so the Grenadier will now fit the garage with the Leitner rack installed.

You may be wondering why I bothered getting the alloy wheels and KO2s. I originally ordered them and then changed my mind but I wasn’t able to change my order anymore. Should have got the steel wheels. I will be using the stock alloys with winter tires, probably the Hakkapeliitta LT3.

 

[Commodore]

I got pizza cutters:
View attachment 7863191

I went with the Duratrac RT in 255/80R17 on Method 703 wheels. The slightly smaller offset on the Methods maintained the same scrub radius for the taller 33” tires so I don’t feel any difference in steering compared to stock. The Methods and the Duratrac RT ended up weighing exactly the same as the stock alloys and KO2s at 81.2 lbs each. So other than the slight loss in gearing, I don’t feel much difference in acceleration or power going uphill. I’ve raised the garage opening to 7’ so the Grenadier will now fit the garage with the Leitner rack installed.

You may be wondering why I bothered getting the alloy wheels and KO2s. I originally ordered them and then changed my mind but I wasn’t able to change my order anymore. Should have got the steel wheels. I will be using the stock alloys with winter tires, probably the Hakkapeliitta LT3.

That looks great. I’m very curious on the effect on gearing. It is a fairly significant difference in tire size.

 

[anand]

That looks great. I’m very curious on the effect on gearing. It is a fairly significant difference in tire size.

255/80/17s are only about 4.5% larger than stock, so it isn't a vast change, at least not super noticed given the gobs of low end torque and 8spd transmission... Perhaps on 35s a regear could be considered.

From doing the same tire size change on several Toyotas in the past, it was much more evident and pronounced on those vehicles

 

[G-Man]

That looks great. I’m very curious on the effect on gearing. It is a fairly significant difference in tire size.

Standard 265/70R17 tires are 31.6" diameter so only a ~ +4% change in gearing

 

[Manzino]

I put 285/70r17 on the stock Steelers. New KO3s. No rubbing at all. Haven’t done hard wheeling in it but my driveway usually makes things rub if it going to.

Mind sharing a photo?

 

[TahoeGren]

That looks great. I’m very curious on the effect on gearing. It is a fairly significant difference in tire size.

The Duratrac RT comes large in that size at 33.3” in diameter, so the difference is 5.4%, but that’s not too big. I wouldn’t consider regearing until 34” or 35” tires. I believe the Grenadier’s stock R&P ratio is 4.1:1. Common ratio after that is 4.56:1 which would be perfect for 35” tires. We’ll have to see who comes out with gears for the Grenadier.

 

[DaBull]

I got pizza cutters:
View attachment 7863191

I went with the Duratrac RT in 255/80R17 on Method 703 wheels. The slightly smaller offset on the Methods maintained the same scrub radius for the taller 33” tires so I don’t feel any difference in steering compared to stock. The Methods and the Duratrac RT ended up weighing exactly the same as the stock alloys and KO2s at 81.2 lbs each. So other than the slight loss in gearing, I don’t feel much difference in acceleration or power going uphill. I’ve raised the garage opening to 7’ so the Grenadier will now fit the garage with the Leitner rack installed.

You may be wondering why I bothered getting the alloy wheels and KO2s. I originally ordered them and then changed my mind but I wasn’t able to change my order anymore. Should have got the steel wheels. I will be using the stock alloys with winter tires, probably the Hakkapeliitta LT3.

Hi TahoeGren, I like your thought process on rims and tire size and keeping the same scrub radius. What are your thoughts in regard to on road sound noise level vs the KO2's. DaBull

 

[TahoeGren]

Hi TahoeGren, I like your thought process on rims and tire size and keeping the same scrub radius. What are your thoughts in regard to on road sound noise level vs the KO2's. DaBull

Noise level is about the same, maybe a little bit quieter but sounds different. I would characterize it as a different pitch. The original Duratracs get loud when they wear down. I’m hoping the RT stays a bit more quiet since they have compromised a bit with narrower voids now, making them more like a regular AT tire.

 

[Commodore]

The Duratrac RT comes large in that size at 33.3” in diameter, so the difference is 5.4%, but that’s not too big. I wouldn’t consider regearing until 34” or 35” tires. I believe the Grenadier’s stock R&P ratio is 4.1:1. Common ratio after that is 4.56:1 which would be perfect for 35” tires. We’ll have to see who comes out with gears for the Grenadier.

My mistake, I thought you went with the 34 1/2 inch pizza cutters. That is what I want to do but I’m very concerned about gearing. My bronco with “35’s” has 4.70 axle ratios 10 speed auto, and similar power in a lighter vehicle. New gearing is expensive to install and who know when they will be available.

 

[parb]

I too have the duratrac rt. A very nice tire, no rubbing at all. Fits in the rear door and still let's me close the small door without a relocation bracket. I have the Ineos 18" alloy rims, I actually like how they look.

Sourced a set of steel 18" rims for my k02 that I took off the alloy rims. Going to use that combo for longer off-road adventures where I care about function more than style...

 

[MileHigh]

I put 285/70r17 on the stock Steelers. New KO3s. No rubbing at all. Haven’t done hard wheeling in it but my driveway usually makes things rub if it going to.

Mind sharing a photo?

Photos and any more feedback? I've narrowed it down to the KO3s you mention. Can't do a lift due to garage issues also. Just looking to do a tire swap from the standard non-KO2 tires on steelies

 

[owl]

My mistake, I thought you went with the 34 1/2 inch pizza cutters. That is what I want to do but I’m very concerned about gearing. My bronco with “35’s” has 4.70 axle ratios 10 speed auto, and similar power in a lighter vehicle. New gearing is expensive to install and who know when they will be available.

I have 255/85r17 on mine and there are no noticeable drivability issues on or offroad with the stock gearing.

 

[Tom109]

I have 255/85r17 on mine and there are no noticeable drivability issues on or offroad with the stock gearing.

Mickey Thompson? Are they the only one that make that size?

 

[Psignore00]

Mickey Thompson? Are they the only one that make that size?

That seems to be the best one for pizza cutter, but I keep being tempted to go rogue.

My off-road brain is telling me to do the 34x10.5x17 Super Swamper LTB, but my daily-driver brain is telling me I don’t want bias ply.

I’d love to see a Grenadier wirh these

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[holdmybeer]

Mickey Thompson? Are they the only one that make that size?

Yes. I was quite bullish on that particular tire & size but community wisdom here suggests a lift kit will be required for 255/85R17. And now I'm listening to CV/joint/boot/shaft failures that might maybe possibly be more likely with a lift.

So I'm backing off the 255/85R17 and looking at 255/80R17 (a little over 33") which we know works without other mods and is actually a bit taller than a 285/70R17 which is wider than I want anyways. I wish the Mickey Thompson was available in 255/80R17. It's not. There is a lot of choice in that size though. Falken Wildpeak AT4 (or AT3 if still available) would suit me on mostly wet or wet snow surfaces and wet traction is why I don't want to go wider than stock in the first place. @anand thinks highly of that size and the AT3, I believe.

 

[anand]

Yes. I was quite bullish on that particular tire & size but community wisdom here suggests a lift kit will be required for 255/85R17. And now I'm listening to CV/joint/boot/shaft failures that might maybe possibly be more likely with a lift.

So I'm backing off the 255/85R17 and looking at 255/80R17 (a little over 33") which we know works without other mods and is actually a bit taller than a 285/70R17 which is wider than I want anyways. I wish the Mickey Thompson was available in 255/80R17. It's not. There is a lot of choice in that size though. Falken Wildpeak AT4 (or AT3 if still available) would suit me on mostly wet or wet snow surfaces and wet traction is why I don't want to go wider than stock in the first place. @anand thinks highly of that size and the AT3, I believe.

I'm a huge fan, the Grenadier is the third vehicle I've used a 255/80/17 Wildpeak A/T3W on with great success on all of them in dry, dirt, rain, fresh and packed snow, etc. They aren't phenomenal in mud, but then again, no AT is great in mud.

 

[Logsplitter]

I'm a huge fan, the Grenadier is the third vehicle I've used a 255/80/17 Wildpeak A/T3W on with great success on all of them in dry, dirt, rain, fresh and packed snow, etc. They aren't phenomenal in mud, but then again, no AT is great in mud.

The best tyres I had on my Defender were Falken Wildpeak.

 

[TCMColorado]

The Toyo AT III is available in a sweet spot size of 34x10.5R17. Still quite skinny with a specified diameter of 33.5 inches and a modest 55 pounds.