Upgrading Tires and Looking for Real World Input On Sizing

[EazyCheezy]

I'm stuck between two tires: the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T and the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT. The Cooper I'm looking at in a 285/75R17 (34") and the MT Baja is either a 295/70R17 (34") or a 255/85R17. I am currently running the factory General Grabber AT/X tires and they're nice, but I'm not interested in getting the same tire again. 34" is the minimum height but the 35" provided by the "pizza cutters" is nice as well. I will be running the Bilstein 5100s to give a little bit of lift. I am not interested in an M/T tire.

I'm in Florida so wheeling consists of dirt, sand, sandy dirt, sandy mud, and sandy sand. Oh yeah, and water I suppose.

I'd love to hear from you if you have:

1. Run/ran the AT3 XLT now or in the past, on any vehicle and what your experience off road is like (if applicable). I'm familiar with how they handle on-road from driving a work truck with them on it.
2. Have the MT Baja's and how you'd describe their on-road manners.
3. Have moved from a wider tire to a skinnier & taller tire and what your experience was.
4. Bonus points if you've specifically moved from the General AT/X to one of these tires.

Any input helps!

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[swami37]

Nitto ridge grappler hybrid tires

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

I’m a tire nerd. Mostly a Tacoma guy.

here’s my $0.02

295’s are pigs, very wide. IMPE 285/75R17 in general is a fantastic size for most 4x4 vehicles that moonlight dirt and daily tarmac.

IMPO anything wider than 12.5 is a diminishing return. Plus wide = fitment issues all day long.

tires are temporary, try em’ and if you don’t like them switch it up next year.

 

[Merc4x4]

I ran the Discoverer AT's (pre XLT and other new variants) which are similar to the new XLT on my Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Not much time off road, so I can't offer much help there.
I was very impressed with the Coopers, I went with the S/T Maxx (275/70r18) on my gwagen. Excellent on and off road. Very durable. Very good wear. Very good traction. Never had an issue for 40k miles, except they pull a little to the right on the highway. Couldn't tell much with the solid front axle and recirculating ball steering, you're always sawing at the wheel to make it go straight anyway.

I'm pretty set on getting 37" MT Baja Boss AT's for the Bronco. I want a more aggressive look and am very happy with Cooper, specifically the 3 ply construction and silica tread compound, both of which have made it to the Baja Boss. 3 peak snowflake rating is a nice plus, too.

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