Wide vs Narrow Tires for offroad performance -- a scientific comparison

[GreyZ]

Tinkerer has a really neat video out about the effects of tire width on performance. I personally also really like the pizza cutter look. If only there were more options in the narrow tire catagory like these MTs. Would love a 255 load C tire.

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[FordFamily4Fun]

Here we have tests by a mechanical engineer of off-road tires. Mostly exact same tire in tests, except width on one 315 (SAS tire) and width on another only 255. And the winner is...

 

[MileHighCitizen]

TL;DW - He says he went with the 255 pizza cutters for weight and ease of fit.

 

[Rumbloki]

This says it all for me.

 

[Air Biscuit]

I happened to see this video shortly before I bought the skinnys. I was leaning towards them after going back and forth with what I was going to do. It sealed the deal for me.

 

[JEMSA]

Seems to me rather a stylized situation. Best tire depends on terrain/circumstance.

Snow different than sand different than rock different than highway, different than wet. Strictly a toy vehicle different than daily driver. So best tire dependent on user’s application.

 

[Snacktime]

Multiple reasons to select a tire, location and use are number one. Here locally its 37x13.5R17 because it the biggest you can run reliable at this time.

 

[Brian_B]

It’s great for info rock crawling. But that was about all he tested. No data on differences in weather, mud, sand, etc - a lot of other use cases than just rock crawling out there

 

[swamp2]

Agree with a few prior posts. This testing is incredibly narrow in scope and doesn't decide nor conclude much of anything

 

[RobWTX]

It’s great for info rock crawling. But that was about all he tested. No data on differences in weather, mud, sand, etc - a lot of other use cases than just rock crawling out there

With some of the potholes we have in Texas, it is sorta like rock crawling to get out of one.

 

[FordFamily4Fun]

Seems to me rather a stylized situation. Best tire depends on terrain/circumstance.

Snow different than sand different than rock different than highway, different than wet. Strictly a toy vehicle different than daily driver. So best tire dependent on user’s application.

I agree, which is why I am 265/70 (32"). Mostly beach driving just fine aired down, though wider would be fine too. Otherwise I am on pavement, so narrower for handling and mileage. For snow you want a narrower tire when not aired down on pavement and wider aired down off road. Mud wider. Rock climbing, the engineer indicated narrower.

 

[EL in NH]

Do all of these tires have the same load rating?

 

[604Bronco]

Interesting video - Far too much math and numbers for me though

 

[j_marinelli]

Interesting video - Far too much math and numbers for me though

Can someone convert it to "Units per maple syrup" for our northern brethren?

 

[5GENIDN]

Agree with a few prior posts. This testing is incredibly narrow in scope and doesn't decide nor conclude much of anything

I assume the pun is intended.....

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