Tire Question??

[Ol Thumper]

Ok im not a complete idiot on tires but on a 4,000 pound jeep would you go with a tall skinny tire or a tall wide tire for mud, when I say tall im meaning something in the 35-36" range. Im not looking for a mud bog tire but Im torn if I would be better going with wide or skinny tire for a hunting rig. I have the thinking of a wider tire for floatation but I cant see it making much difference and the skinny tires I would think should be easier to steer in mud. All my tires in the past have been 15.50" wide or wider but im thinking going skinny this time, whats you oppinion?? I plan on running a set of Swamper TSL radials if this makes a difference in your oppinion.

[TyWebb]

I think taller and skinny is better for mud, in theory the tire digs deeper to more firm ground below the slurry, and skinny should throw the mud better too if you have a decent lug pattern. The old military jeeps were set up like this. This is not my set up, however I have been wanting to go this direction for quite some time. My jeep drives more like a dang boat in mud, and I've just been lucky to not ever get her stuck!

[Kiwifan]

As wide as you can fit without clearance issues. an inch of difference in width between 2 otherwise identical tires can make a huge difference in floatation. Wider tires equals a larger contact patch with the ground and thus lower contact pressure.
The whole "dig to firm ground" sounds fine in theory, but I've seen many places where you'd be up to your windows before you got there...

[JMG]

Doesnt look cool but the theory holds for the mud we have. We run skinny tires on our jeeps.

[Ol Thumper]

Anyone else?

[Head Hunter]

Mud= skinny tire with and aggresive tread is best. Wide tires tend to pack up then you are left with slicks and no traction.

[PSD Ryan]

I mainly did rock crawling in my TJ, but I ran 35x12.5's. You air them down to about 8 psi and they will hold the bead and have a gigantic footprint. My jeep was unstoppable in mud.

[TexMax]

Skinny. Also, assuming a fairly stock jeep its going to have a harder time turning a wider tire which means they won't clean as well.

[chief longshaft]

Depends were we farm there's no bottom so I run 12.5 wide for flotation. But wear we hunt there is a bottom so we run skinny skinny also pick up less thorns

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[schlag77]

wide tires are much loader also, uncle has tall skinny on da jeep. it has never been stuck,

[Coach W]

I ran wide 44inch trxus on my K5 blazer. They were 21.5 inches wide... they never sunk down, dug down... they simply stayed on top kept the axles for the most part out of the mud (less drag) and I NEVER GOT STUCK IN THAT BEAST.

Also depending on your lift (with a 35-36" tire I figure you have atleast 6 inches of lift) the WIDER THE TIRES THE BETTER. The wider the base the less chance you have of endind up on your roof!


So I have to disagree with the skinny cut to the bottom of the mud theory, that will eventually get you caught, sunk door deep trying to find the bottom of the mud. (once you dig down to the frame, the drag of the jeep will keep you there)

Get wide be more balanced, stay on top of the mud, give her all the gas she wants, and have fun!

Note: This is more for my area where there is no rock base... just straight farming top soil forever.

[STICKIT]

Depends on soil. In the S. Texas red dirt you will get so cakes up with clay gumbo on the big tires it acts like brakes with the fenderwell. Biggest benefit I have found is having a locker with two being best.

[Reaper33]

i would go as wide as you can. the bigger surface area is what i have always gone for bc like the guys are saying if you plan on diggin down to better ground it just mights be 3ft down then you are done anyways. i prefer to stay on top not burried in and trying to push my frame through mud. JMO