Low-noise, road-first, all-terrain wheel upgrade for Big Bend - looking for recommendations

[dvonjan]

Hi, brand new Bronco owner here: 2.3l Big Bend soft-top, eruption green. Love the looks, but am installing a Black Diamond grill and running boards and am looking to upgrade the rims and tires.

I am looking for something
- wider than the stock 255/75 R17 Bridgestone Dueler
- but not necessarily much taller since I want to avoid having to lift it
- with low noise (road-first / all terrain) characteristics since I likely won't go mudding or rock crawling but hope to discover some New England / Adirondack dirt roads and don't want the road-noise to go up significantly
- that works well in wet and snowy conditions and
- that's better looking than the stock BB rims.

Curious what people here are suggesting since I'm having a hard time getting helpful search results with the above parameters!

Thanks much!

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[Pressurized]

The 285/70R17 size is the logical upgrade. There are some great tires in that size too. The Falken AT3W in P285/70R17 would be my choice. No need for an LT tire with your desired use... Great tire, quiet, durable and look great. And can handle all of the off-road you throw at it.

 

[BlueWaffle]

Grabbers


/thread

 

[MEAT_GOD]

Not sure if you Americans have Black Bear tires, but I've been thoroughly enjoying them on my Bronco, and have been more well-mannered on the road than the stock Bridgestones. I went with 285/70R17's, but after a lift kit, I'm wishing that I went with bigger.

 

[Pressurized]

Grabbers


/thread

LR-E for a tire used on the street is not a great choice...

 

[BlueWaffle]

LR-E for a tire used on the street is not a great choice...

The atx is c (mabey d?) Rated.. unsure of size options though. Had some on my bronco for a couple weeks until I got my e rated 35s and literally noticed zero ride quality difference

 

[spuddy59]

I run Falken Rubitrek 285/70R17 on mine and love them.

It's the more on road version of the hugely popular AT3W. I know I'll spend 95% of my time on asphalt but the Rubitrek seems good enough for the 5% I'm hitting fire roads or mild trails.

 

[JR23]

I replaced the same tires on my obx with Grabber atx. Same situation, dirt roads in New England at most for off roading and wanted a lighter tire. They are fairly quiet but they do grab stones, so you’ll want front flaps for sure.

 

[Pressurized]

The atx is c (mabey d?) Rated.. unsure of size options though. Had some on my bronco for a couple weeks until I got my e rated 35s and literally noticed zero ride quality difference

Their website only shows an E tire in that size... But I'm super sensitive to load ratings and can usually tell immediately if I'm driving a LR-E. Some people it may not bother at all.

 

[kodiakisland]

If highway ride and noise is the primary concern, you aren't going to beat a set of Michelin LTX tires on whatever wheels you prefer over the ones you have now. A 265/70 will probably be what you are looking for, but going up to the 285/70 would still fit as well.

 

[swami37]

Nitto ridge grapplers

 

[dvonjan]

If highway ride and noise is the primary concern, you aren't going to beat a set of Michelin LTX tires on whatever wheels you prefer over the ones you have now. A 265/70 will probably be what you are looking for, but going up to the 285/70 would still fit as well.

Thanks - is that the MICHELIN LTX A/T 2 or the Defender LTX?

 

[FoxFour281]

Black Bear tires

Not through regular retail channels like Discount Tire or Tire Rack. Found them on eBay for 300 usd per tire.

At that price range, Baja Boss in a 285 /70 R17 116T SL is 296/tire. Same with Nitto Ridge Grapplers, Toyo Open Country A/T.
I'm a fan of the OE Grabber A/TX on the BD. They ride fairly smooth and the noise they do make is more towards to a white noise in the background.

 

[dvonjan]

Thanks all, super helpful.
So I have here, from more road to more rugged:

-Michelin LTX (A/T2)
-Falken Rubitrek
-Black Bears
-Nitro Ridge Grappler (look more rugged than the Recon Grappler, any opinion on the latter?)
-General Grabber ATX
-Falken AT3W (Wildtrack, I assume)


That's a good short list, thanks!

 

[Wilbur's son]

Check out the Ford Performance Bronco website. Might have something you would like. I had these 17x8 Sinister Bronze wheels put on my stock General Grabbers last week. Same +55 offset as the stock 17x7.5 black steelies.

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