Look at WWII jeeps and their "skinny" tires.

[Mtbcoach]

I can say that my 33 X 10.5's don't suck, they perform very well for me. I can't imagine a place where the extra 2" would benefit me other than being in deep mud. But, with the right air pressure and driving techniques, no issues arise with the "pizza cutters".

Opinions vary, mine is only that, an opinion and lets hope this doesn't go down the same path as the winch rope thread...

[woooody]

My 2 cents

A taller tire does one thing, and one thing only -- it lifts the lowest point of your rig. The only way to get more clearance under your diffs is to use taller tires.

A suspension and/or body lift should have one primary purpose -- to provide clearance for the tires you've decided that you need to provide the diff/under frame clearance that you need.

A 2nd purpose of both taller tires and bigger lift is to improve approach/departure angles.

i would like more diff clearance, and a better approach angle, so I'm looking to go with 34's and a 3" OME. I don't need a 6" lift, as I don't feel the need to run larger than 34's for the trails I intend to run with my FJC.

As for tire width this is a different discussion --

1st is availability of widths -- Certain sizes only come in certain widths for the pattern you decide you like.

2nd is the amount of contact patch you feel is best for what you are doing.

3rd is overall vehicle width, as really wide tires will stick out, but may add the stability you desire.

There aren't a lot of choices in sizes that will fit -- but figure anywhere from a 9.5 to 13.5 would be your "normal" choices.

Although wider will provide more flotation, it will also provide better traction. This can be a negative, as I usually see more breakage with wider tires. Sometimes a little wheel spin is good. Sometimes it is bad.

Your best bet is to talk to people who run the types of trails you want to run, and see what they use, and how they like them.

I've been surprisingly happy with AT's. my other rig runs 36x14.5x15 TSL's. No way I would run that large or wide of a tire. I used to run 35x12.5x15 BFG MT. My next set for my 40 might be a set or 39.5x13.5x17 Irok radials. My issue is clearance to get them in. And carnage to the axles (need to upgrade front axles to cromoly shafts).

Hope that shed a little light.

[MJSFJ]

better for the mud

[gascolator]

timbo2 previously said:

I also believe ther was a rubber shortage at that time, but I don't know if that was relavent to the size selection.

Yeah, the whole platoon was issued one and had to wash it out between
uses.

[Point_Loman]

Air2air previously said:

Those guys are of course NOT offroaders and kept me out of offroad for a long time because I thought they represented the breed.

Once you get out there on the trails, you won't see them again. Until your next Hooter's visit.

Christ ... that is nicely put and spot on. Its a corollary to "Most guys (and gals for that matter) who drive PT Cruisers look sorta like Kenny Rogers.

I agree ... I was kinda kept away from the offroading scene because I thought they represented the breed.

[chango]

I have a soft spot for old Willy's jeeps but your average modern 4x4 truck based SUV will equal or outdo a stock Willys in the dirt (maybe not as tough though, and definately not as cool). We have "evolved", but at the time a MB smoked the average man's Model A and those damn Nazi's kublewagons. Too bad Jeep only went downhill from there

[5280FJ]

highbeams previously said:

you have to remeber that was top of tire technology in 1941,
In fact the off road tire was not truly invented until the 1980s when Atlas Tire Co came out with the first tire to use a z pattern in it's tread, before that most off road tires were hand cut. Since the introduction of the Atlas tire the bridge has been expanded to what is offered today. 2 decades is not a long time considering the length of time tires have been made.

LOL, dick cepeks were hand cut? Gates rubber made muds back in the 70's. Back then many retreads were the way to go.

Read the link Lance posted. Also, tire companies make tires that people will buy, just like car companies make crappy cars that people think are cool. Don't tell me how many posts you've read here where people talk about the tires looking "cool" or "buff", etc. You think Nitto's look that way because their side wall performs better than a Goodyear or BFG?

And some of you people rag on savage for "reading and doing research".

[FJ Tex]

woooody previously said:

My 2 cents



2nd is the amount of contact patch you feel is best for what you are doing....

...Although wider will provide more flotation, it will also provide better traction. This can be a negative, as I usually see more breakage with wider tires. Sometimes a little wheel spin is good. Sometimes it is bad....

i had thought the EXACT same thing, but i consulted the article that was linked to earlier in this thread ( ) and found an interesting point: when airing down 80% of your gain in contact patch (traction) is front to back, thus lending points to a narrower tire, this coupled with greater vertical load generates greater rubber deformation and mechanical keying. i cant explain it very well and from my rough interpretation here there are probably many holes not filled in so i do suggest reading the article because its very enlightening and does have some decent real world examples and research backing it up.

jsut my .02

[pkhart]

I have a 1948 Cj2a and it has the pizza cutters, and it is almost impossible to get it stuck in different substrates as it is so lite just keep the wheels spinning and it will move forward.

You also have to look at the wartime applications.

Think semi improved roads that become slick with 2 in of mud, not swamps, not rubicon trails but muddy roads where being able to cut through to the more firm stuff gets you control.(I would say that is the main player in the tire choices then).

Then you get into the tiny dana 31 and 25 axles that were well meshed with the tiny engine and lighter tires, they could take all the torque that system could throw, but with bigger tires things start to break fast.


As for the larger tires they are better for true offroad not "WarTime conditions"

[5280FJ]

pkhart previously said:

As for the larger tires they are better for true offroad not "WarTime conditions"

HUH?