Tire Selection

I'd forgotten how long tires can thump,at one time that was just all there was,and then there was radials.I put a set of deep lug old time bias plys on the ECJ-5 and had to stop and look I thought the wheels must be falling off....couple of miles and they got round again.LOL

 

Yep. Had Bandag re-treads on a J-2000. On a cold morning it was like having square wheels.

 

Most 235 85 16 truck tires are 10 ply. That would make for a pretty miserable ride in a cj.
If your just road riding most of the time, I would go this route. 4 NEW Wild Country XTX All Terrain Tires A/T P 235/75-16 235/75/16 2357516 P | eBay

 

I think it was oldtime pointed out the tallest /skinniest tire was the 215-85-16
That's what I have on the M38A1
They come in both 8 and 10 ply. D and E ratings respectively
I got mine from Tire Rack and took them to the local shop and had them put on. Overall it was the best price out the door.
I got the Geolander AT-S in 8 ply rating ($124/tire). Rides fine, good traction and quiet. Fits just right on the jeep. tire rack has one other tire in the that size and ply rating with a more aggressive tread.

Also consider things like tire weight- it's another thing I like about the 8 ply tires- they're lighter than the 235s (51 lbs vs 38 lbs) yet beefier than the "C" rated or 6 ply tires with little extra weight over the 6 ply which is 37 lbs weight. I think it's a good all around tire, but of course everyone's needs are different

 

True. My dad used to call that condition the "Flatwheel Express."

 

i run ten ply 235 16 at 20 psi they ride fine and wear even. helped with the squishy road manners with the passenger rated tire

 

If it were me I would try the Warden II. 95% of your driving seems to be highway driving. I agree they look like BFG A/Ts which I have never had due to the cost, but at a fraction of the price they get good reviews on road. I have had snow and mud treads on pickup trucks and they are far from fun, you will be disappointed with on road travel. I have had the yokahama geolander on a pickup and loved them. What Tim says seems right on.

 

So I'm mainly wondering what specific wheels you have to mount up ?
It can certainly make a difference on your tire selection.

 

Thanks all, I will continue to do some looking at AT tires. The Treadwrights are still by far the most affordable at $570/set, with the next closest being the ones Tim posted at $790/set after shipping.

Oldtime, I found a set of m38a1 wheels that I hope to pick up soon. 16" by 5.5" I believe?

While I agree that the ATs will be better on the road, I also plan to do A LOT of off road driving this summer as well... so that's why choosing the AT is an especially tough compromise.

As a side note, despite what many say about bias ply tires, I have had no complaints about the bias tires on my other Jeep. I daily drove it for about 3 years, including on the highway and off road. They are better in every way than the cheap Goodyear radial ATs they replaced. No balancing issues, and they only get minor flat spots when they sit for a month or two at a time. Even then everything goes back to normal after a couple miles. I'd be getting another set of the same if I could afford it.

 

Less sway, more rock-proof in the sidewalls, and taller profile.

I have no problem with bias tires for my purposes... which admittedly do not include wet highways or heavy traffic.

 

a1 wheels are riveted together arent they, i have a set of 4.5 wide rims that are . i don't know if a tubeless tire would leak around the rivets.the wheels i use are 5 inches wide and have a welded center.

 

Thats what I have on the other Jeep. unfortunately they are pretty pricey at $170 each for 7.50x16

 

Sorry to butt in, good thread. Beach66bum, can you post a side view pic of those toyos? what size did u go with? Cheers

 

Man… I remember when I used to pay $40 for tires just like that on my '50 willys pickup.

 

The A1 rims are 4.5" wide and have the beadlock on them- it's some kind of a feature the military spec'ed out for the M series jeeps. I think it is supposed to keep the tire on the rim in case of a flat. The 215 width fits well on the 4.5" and I think there are some guys running 235s on them as well and reporting good results. I do have, as my spare, a rim off a '57 Willys truck and it's 5" wide. It is a slightly better fit for the 215 I have as a spare, and it would probably be perfect for the 235 or 7.50-16. With the exception of the beadlock, it is identical to the .mil rim even down to the 1/8" hole drilled between a couple of the lug bolt holes.

If you can get a set of M38A1 wheels, I'd go for it- good trading material if nothing else.

 

LT235/85R16 / 10 Ply Nexen Roadian MT 120/116 Q Mud Tires Set of 4 | eBay

LT235/85R16 / 10 Ply General Grabber AT2 Tires 120/116 S Set of 4 | eBay

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