Tires

[Agnem]

OK, so now that the Moosestang is going to be my full time work commuter, my plans for the axle swap although still pending, are put on hold until such time that I commandeer another vehicle. Therefore, I'll be getting rid of those nice tires* that Scott the traitor trailer driver gave me. So, I want to put some tires on that will give me the best fuel economy. I'm running 31's right now, and turning about 2400 at 55MPH with the C6. I'd like to go bigger to bring my R's down, and I'm pretty sure I could go as high as a 35", but my big question is do I go wide or narrow, and what kind of tread. Normally I'd go with some BFG's like I have on the Moose Truck, but considering the fact that there will be no snow this year (or at least none until I buy tires that aren't any good for it. ) I'm not too worried about traction issues. If I can squeek an extra MPG out of a certain tread or width, then I might want to go that way.

 

[84TD]

I dont think the width matters that much as long as you stay under 12.50. 35's would lower your cruising rpms a bit increasing your highway milage but your around town milage will go down. So it really just depends how far your commute is to see if it is worth it.

 

[Russ]

Tall and skinny=best MPG. Also tall, skinny tires will cut down though the snow to get to some pavement better than a wider tire would.

 

[tonkadoctor]

In my experience wide tall tires were NOT good for fuel milage.

My '82 F150 4x4 always got about 20 mpg with the original F-78-15 tire on it and when I put on my 11.50 32 tires it got about 15 mpg.

Keep with nothing more agressive than an all terrain like BFG has for primarily street driving, the howl and poor tread life from mudders on pavement gets old really quick.

Check out http://www.nebraskatire.com/ for some really good deals on tires.

Here are the hot deals and price fighter tires

http://www.nebraskatire.com/hot_deals/light_truck/lt_truck_hot_deals.htm

http://www.nebraskatire.com/lt_truck/lt_to.htm

I have purchased from them before and will do it again some day.

 

[tonkadoctor]

Also tall, skinny tires will cut down though the snow to get to some pavement better than a wider tire would.

Very much agreed, hated running the wide tires in the winter when I lived in Michigan & Nebraska

 

[adrianspeeder]

Stock height bronco, 33"s are the biggest you can fit no lift with an 80-86 front end. 87+ require the bumper to be slightly trimmed or spaced forward.

35s ya need a lift or fender trimming.

33x12.5 look good and end up being even with the body.

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Adrianspeeder

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Are you still running the 1/2 ton axles and 15" wheels? That kind of limits the tall / skinny tires. Now if you could source some 16" wheels then you could look at some 85 series tires.

I love tall skinny tires. I wish I was tall and skinny!! Or even skinny.

 

[IHWillys]

...Now if you could source some 16" wheels then you could look at some 85 series tires....

I like 255/85R16. Definitely tall and skinny. Here's Cooper ST in this size on my 'IHWillys' ('77 Scout chassis/'51 Willys wagon body).

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Ken

 

[typ4]

I had 33- 12.50- 16.5's on the cc and they suck everywhere but sand. I went to 285-16 and the thing drives like a new truck.Definately stay narrow for handling, I can't imagine a short bronco would like fat tires, way twitchy methinks.
my 50 c
Russ

 

[troutwest66]

Tall and skinny. Find some 16" 5 hole rims for 1/2 ton axles and go with 235/85R16s. I have those on my F-250. Avon SXT Mud Terrains. A less aggressive version of the BF Mud Terrain. Good traction little noise. Mine are 10 ply (E Range) but you could go with 8 ply (C Range).

 

[Exekiel69]

Mel I remember You said You'll start making BD some time ago, that would cut Your fuel cost big time since Your commute is so distant and no need to change tires it really does not take so much to convert a vehicle and it sure is worth it.

 

[82F100SWB]

I'm pretty sure BFG still makes a 33x9.50R15 A/T, that'd work nicely as an all around tire, but, I don't know how they are for sidewall stiffness.
Personally, I run 235/85R16's for winters, and 305/70R16 muds for summers... I get better mileage with the 305's, but, only 1 or 2 mpg

 

[rubberfish]

I'm pretty sure BFG still makes a 33x9.50R15 A/T, that'd work nicely as an all around tire,

I think you're right, they do still make it.
That'd be the same as a 255/85/16 and
you don't need to change wheels.

There ya go buddy.
We all decided for you.
You're getting 33x9.50-15's

If you do go with them, I think you'll be happy.
I have 315/75-16's m/ta's and hate the wide tire handling.
They suck huge in the snow.

 

[apextrans]

Therefore, I'll be getting rid of those "nice tires" that Scott the traitor trailer driver gave me. .

We mock what we refuse to understand. I had to do it!! You give a guy some tires, wish him well repeatedly after he piles up his gasser & this is how you get treated.

Anyway, I would suggest the 33/9.50/15's also. Maybe go with a mild A/T tire for MPG's. The PSD had aggressive A/T's on it when I picked it up & when I swapped out on the way home, I was forced to go narrower & one size shorter in a Firestone Destination A/T. Very nice tire, quiet & handles better on the highway than the wider meats did. My MPG went up about 1.5 even though I went down a size I guess due to the smoother tread surface & less rolling resistance.

 

[Agnem]

Let the beatings continue until moral improves! Or in your case, until your in an IDI again. ;p

Sorry Scott, you know how it is. You'll be fair game for at least a year. I thought you were coming to beat me up on the traitor trailer driver bit, but perhaps you missed it. I also noticed nobody picked up on the * by the word tires, with the definition being "they were tires in the sense that they were once round and made of rubber."

Seriously though, I do appreciate your giving them to me. They got me through a year and I probably put about 18K on them, but they were not like wine, and didn't improve with age. So I'm not complaining, and do thank you for your generosity.

So yes, in the course of my conversations with others off-line it did become appearant to me that a 33" is the biggest I'll be able to go with only the 2" body lift. Turns out there is only a 100 RPM difference between a 33 and 35, so it's not that big a deal, however at this point I was hoping for as large an RPM reduction as possible. I'm off Monday, so time is short, and it looks like I'll be stuck using my 15" rims, as I don't want to put more money into wheels I don't plan to keep too long. I'm going to look at another Bronco today and if I end up getting it, I'll be swamped with mechanical work for the forseable future on my next conversion, so who knows how long it will be until either is totally the way I want them.