Tire question

I have a 73 cj5 with a chevy v8 and 4 speed tranny. I am running 33" BFG tires with big lugs - definitely mud tires. They pull like crazy in the mud but I hate them on the highway, where most of my driving happens. I am thinking of switching to 31's with a less aggressive tread. I'm sure others have done this kind of switch - just wondering what your results have been both on the road and in the mud. Thanks

Josh

 

I have the luxury of having a daily driver Toyota FJ Cruiser and a project/fun Jeep CJ-5. Sounds like you drive the '5 a lot on road. I won't talk about your 33" to 31" concern. You'll have to do the gearing math for that to decide what's best for you. I do have a tire recommendation, however.

I replaced the lousy factory Dunlops on the FJ with Falken Wildpeak A/T's after reading article after article when they first came out about how aggressive they were for an A/T yet how quiet they were on the road. What I was reading was verging on the unbelievable. Finally, I bit and shod the FJ with 5 new Falkens. That was a couple years ago.

I have to say they are the quietest tire (for a LT type tire - no Michelin's were considered for that statement). It's truly impressive. I've got about 15k miles on them and they continue to impress me each time I drive the FJ. I just took a friend on a road trip and he commented on how amazed he was at the on-highway lack of sound from these aggressive looking tires. They handle well on-road too.

I will add that I've had the FJ at Hollister Hills off road park in the mud the day after it rained. The Cruiser did pretty good with the Falkens (it's no CJ5 with M/T's). I've had it in snow and dirt. The tires have performed exceptionally in all environments I've thrown at them. All in all I couldn't be happier and have to say what I had read about them was indeed true. Because I tow a lot with my Cruiser (Miata race car, popup camper, CJ-5), I chose to go with the E load rating. If I had to do again, I'd probably choose the D load rating for a more compliant sidewall since I tow less with it these days.

YMMV - but probably not.

 

I always recommend smaller tires.
31s are a good size and the max I would use. 30x9.5 and 235/75 are good, too and drivability is better. And narrow wheels, too. Footprint/ contact patch does not equal traction.

 

Leftlane - love the color on your Jeep ... What is that if you don't mind me asking, and what tires you running on there?

 

Thanks. It's the factory color Medium Blue Poly (code 562). The tires on my '5 are BFG KM2's in 33/10.50R15. Check out my build thread (the Blue Lemon) for more.

 

I'm running Mickey Thompson Baja Claws in a 33x12.5 size and must say they are amazing on the road for an aggressive mud tire. I had early BFG MT's before these and I reckon these are quieter. The pulling to one side sounds more like an alignment issue rather than a tire one. I can let go of the steering wheel at 60mph and it will travel in a straight line. I drive my Jeep to the event and wheel then drive home, I also use it a bit round town. Couldn't recommend a better MT tire for both conditions than these.

 

I run 31" Cooper STT's
They're a very aggressive off road tire, but drive good on road, and not very loud for such an aggressive tread.

 

Agree with the 31 inch tires.

 

If you're otherwise happy with how your Jeep rolls down the highway I'd stick with 33's.
I run 33X12.5 Trxus M/T’s and they’ve been a great off road tire, I don’t spend enough time on the highway to comment on how they wear though.

 

What do you hate about the BFG's? I have BFG M/T KM2's in 33x10.50 and drive mostly on the highway with no issues

 

Love my 33x12.5x15 BFG M/T KM2's on and off-road.

 

An old Jeep on mud tires with a Chevy V8 isn't meant to be driven on the street... Its basically a street legal tractor.


Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

 

That's exactly what I have but it's closer to a racecar than a tractor

 

another key question is what gears are in your axles? if they are pretty deep, like 5.38's or something, you may want to get taller tires to help with highway speeds.
i had 5.38's in an old M170 and went to 235/85x16 tires. tall (32"), skinny, all terrain tread, much quieter, much smoother, still cleared all the body and frame parts in a tight turn, and cruised the highway well with the added saturn od i had on it.
just a thought.

 

Cooper Mastercraft MTX 32-11.50-15 on my '68 odd fire V6 CJ5, T98, D18 3.73 diff's. Granny lo in lo range is about 2 MPH at 2,500 rpm. Fairly quiet on the pavement, although only drive there when I need to get gas. Awesome off road!!