Larger tire size

[Rampage108]

Hey all.
Saw a search for larger size tires. but ended up being just mentioning the 16s. i have a 2001 one and looking for a larger tire size to fit the stock rims and ride height. any ideas or advice? Mainly looking for a low road noise aggressive tire for snow and to get me to my hiking trails

[Riff Raff]

I'd say pick one of these two tire choices as they fit the OEM 18x7 rims perfectly and both are very lightweight A/T's and Snowflake/Mountain rated:

A. General - Grabber AT2 in P275/65R18-116S (32" O.D./44 lbs). Pick this tire if you want an instant 1.25" increased ground clearance.

B. PRO-COMP - All Terrain in 285/60R18 (31.3" O.D./43 lbs). Pick this tire if you want a wider, lower profile tire.


Both size tires are bolt-on perfect when using the OEM 18x7 rims and do not require lifting, but may or may not require very minor cladding trim.

:bgwb:

[Ldub]

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=14685&highlight=tires+wheels

[BeeVenom]

We just put Goodyear's 'Silent Armour' tires on my son's Ford F-150 4x4 and they are fantastic. They have Kevlar in them which make them very strong and have a super aggressive tread for on/off road AND they are very quiet too. A friend of mine recommended them since he had them on his diesel 4x4 and they are great! You should take a look at them.
We got 265/70r17's and they were around $180/each PLUS Goodyear gave a $80 rebate which made them a little cheaper. Even without the rebate I'd buy them again. If and when I need tires for my Bee, those are the tires I'll get.

[VX KAT]

Went thru this too when I got my stock VX.

I bought the Cooper Zeon LTZ in 285/60-18 for my stock 18" rims. Here's my thread with many detailed pics. Also can see my Moab pics with them in 2010 and 2011 in the Moab threads.

Was VERY happy with the Coopers, VERY quiet on the highway (well, at least up to 7,500 miles I've done), but still plenty of bite on dirt and rocky roads. I decided to switch the Nitto Terra Grapplers from my other truck to my VX ONLY because I like the look a little better, the NTGs have amore square shoulder which I like.

**NOTE** Both the Cooper and Nitto websites do NOT support a 7" wide rim in this tire size, but it works fine.

Many VXers run the NTG in this size, and there's now several that run the Coopers. I sold my 5 Coopers to Knigh7s and he's happy with them too. So far I only recall positive comments, and specifically noting they're quiet on the highway.


There's several other good tire choices, so do a search on some brand names and you'll find a lot of threads. Maybe also put "18" into the search, to screen out the smaller ones.


Your FRONT OUTER EDGE CLADDING needs to be trimmed a little to fit the 285/60-18s but it's MINIMAL and super easy, can do it in 5 minutes with a dremel. I do NOT have any lift or TBs cranked, and this is all I had to trim. Here's the size of the piece you need to trim:
http://vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=15787&highlight=cooper+zeon



http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/MISC%20VX%20PICTURES/PictureVX_KODAK_MOMENTS_664.jpg


http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/MISC%20VX%20PICTURES/IMAG0231.jpg


http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/MISC%20VX%20PICTURES/IMAG0215.jpg







COOPER ZEON LTZ - 285/60-18:with about 8000 miles on them
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/PARTS/DSC_0352.jpg

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/PARTS/DSC_0349-1.jpg




NITTO TERRA GRAPPLERS - 285/60-18:with 7500 miles.

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/PARTS/DSC_0283.jpg


http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/PARTS/DSC_0279.jpg


http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/PARTS/DSC_0278.jpg



http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/PARTS/DSC_1736.jpg


http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/PARTS/0908111815a.jpg

http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g386/photokat4/PARTS/0908111814b.jpg

[Breezy]

x2 for Kat.
I just put on the Cooper Zeon LTZ 285/60R18s and LOVE THEM!
Truck looks like a Tonka now. Low road noise.
I can't hear the tires at all over my Flowmaster.
Beautiful.
:)

[Rampage108]

Thank you all! Getting severance in a month so needed something good to get me up the mountains. Appreciate it

[Riff Raff]

Thank you all! Getting severance in a month so needed something good to get me up the mountains. Appreciate it

Rampage108--- Since you're like me from mountainous & snowy WA State; I highly recommend to only consider those A/T type tires that have the coveted "Snowflake/Mountain" rating stamped on the side of the tire sidewall, and disregard those models that don't have the special rating. These are tires that have successfully passed stringent testing in severe snowy conditions, and most everyday A/T's fail the test except a valiant few. Here is a sampling of those that are considered all-year everyday type A/T's (non-Winter specific) and that have the Snowflake/Mountain rating:

A. General - Grabber AT2
B. PRO-COMP - All Terrain
C. Good/Year - Wrangler DuraTrac
D. Good/Year - Silent Armor
E. Dunlop - RVXT (although not available in 18")


Here is a TireRack article explaining the Snowflake/Mountain rating:

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=125


In addition; be weary of individual tire weight and try to focus your maximum tire target weight to no greater than 45 lbs max individual tire weight. Our OEM factory tires only weigh 34 lbs each, so try not to exceed 10 lbs over OEM weight to maintain safe braking with OEM brakes and good overall MPG. www.TireRack.com is a great website to verify individual tire weight. www.1010Tires.com is a great website to confirm "Snowflake/Mountain" rating, as it is indicated in a bright blue symbol next to the tire model.

:bgwb:

[Ldub]

coveted...stringent...valiant...:confused:

meh...I dunno about all that...:rolleyesg

Y'suppose those Canadians know much aboot snow & ice?


http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=snowflake%20mountain%20rating&source=web&cd=6&sqi=2&ved=0CE0QFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wheels.ca%2FTire%2520Talk%2Fa rticle%2F196342&ei=TL3RTvrLNKPW2wWGppiZDw&usg=AFQjCNHzk3Rd1bME70gtJF1s-E3G8pJNLg&sig2=V1K33ZzCsUP33e1U8uQ1pA

[nocturnalVX]

I just had some BFGoodrich AT KOs put on my VX. So far, I love them. The VX is quieter, handles better, and stops better than it did with the Pro Comp Xterrains. It has been too long since I had the Pro Comp ATs, so I can't compare the All Terrains. However... one thing is certain. The BFGs are taller than the Pro Comps. I ran 31" Pro Comps before I lifted the VX, and they fit with minimal trimming. Now, the new BFGs rub BADLY even though the VX has been lifted. No wonder Cece's VX was so much taller than mine... she had 32" BFGs on hers!

[etlsport]

You need to be more specific about the goodyear silent armor. They make a wrangler silent armor, a fortera silent armor and a few others.

The wrangler silent armor is very nice and agressive without being too loud. It still had the severe weather rating too....but the only sizes that will work well on the vx factory 18s would be 265 60 18 or 265 65 18

[Triathlete]

All this worry about road noise? Just turn up the stereo...no more noise! :D

[samneil2000]

All this worry about road noise? Just turn up the stereo...no more noise! :D

What? :bgwb:

[circmand]

Rampage108--- Since you're like me from mountainous & snowy WA State; I highly recommend to only consider those A/T type tires that have the coveted "Snowflake/Mountain" rating stamped on the side of the tire sidewall, and disregard those models that don't have the special rating. These are tires that have successfully passed stringent testing in severe snowy conditions, and most everyday A/T's fail the test except a valiant few. Here is a sampling of those that are considered all-year everyday type A/T's (non-Winter specific) and that have the Snowflake/Mountain rating:

A. General - Grabber AT2
B. PRO-COMP - All Terrain
C. Good/Year - Wrangler DuraTrac
D. Good/Year - Silent Armor
E. Dunlop - RVXT (although not available in 18")


Here is a TireRack article explaining the Snowflake/Mountain rating:

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=125


In addition; be weary of individual tire weight and try to focus your maximum tire target weight to no greater than 45 lbs max individual tire weight. Our OEM factory tires only weigh 34 lbs each, so try not to exceed 10 lbs over OEM weight to maintain safe braking with OEM brakes and good overall MPG. www.TireRack.com is a great website to verify individual tire weight. www.1010Tires.com is a great website to confirm "Snowflake/Mountain" rating, as it is indicated in a bright blue symbol next to the tire model.

:bgwb:

However you can save quite a bit with new lighter weight rims as opposed to the heavy peeling low quality OEM rims

[Riff Raff]

However you can save quite a bit with new lighter weight rims as opposed to the heavy peeling low quality OEM rims

True; however, aftermarket rims don't have the OEM backspacing/offset that help keep larger oversize tires neatly tucked inside the tightly cramped front wheel-wells of the VX. Using aftermarket rims opens up an entire new can-o-worms of fitment and rubbing issues due to their non-OEM backspacing/offset specifications. For the record, the 2000/2001 OEM 18x7 VX rim weighs 28 lbs each.

For the ultimate lightweight tire/wheel combination on a VX with Snowflake/Mountain capability would be to use 1999 OEM 16x7 VX rims which weigh a featherlite 20 lbs each, and mount Dunlop - Radial Rover RVXT tires in P265/75R16 (31.7" O.D./40 lbs) which are Snowflake/Mountain rated. This tire/wheel combination only weighs 60 lbs total combined weight. By comparison, the 2000/2001 OEM factory VX has a combined tire/wheel weight of 62 lbs using OEM factory tires (a whole 2 lbs heavier). Just food for thought.

:bgwb: