Another Tire Question..but it's new to me.

[Pavelow Leaks]

So I've ordered my 3" body lift, and already have a 3" suspension lift. When my tax returns come back I'm getting a steering upgrade...looking into the TK1 mod, since I have a friend with a machine shop that said he could do it if I get the parts..my mind is not completely made up on that one.

 

So anyway, in my vast amount of looking at tires while I'm at work :type: I discovered BFG has started making the mud terrains and All terrains in 33x10.50x15. Now in my little brain it makes sense to get this size for the pathfinder, height for a lil more ground clearance, yet still stock width to minimize rubbing and maybe a lil less strain on the steering/drivetrain.

 

Just wondering what you guys think about this.

Edited January 20, 2007 by Pavelow Leaks

[88pathoffroad]

It'll still strain the steering, the additional weight of the 33's are the problem, not necessarily the width. I liked my 33x10.50's, they worked fine and didn't rub.

[Pavelow Leaks]

I know its mostly the weight, but width has to strain it as well, more contact patch = more friction = more strain...at least thats what I'm thinkin. I'm getting a steering kit, wether it be a bolt on or the TK1 mod, so I know it'll be ok, but I beat on it pretty hard, so I'm just thinkin about ways to ease the load on the steering. Being that I need the 33's for the lil extra clearance they'll give,and a 12.50 doesn't really benefit me that much, the 10.50 seems a good route to go.

 

BTW, I'm doin this in prep for a possible, pretty much definate if I get all my ducks in a row, trip to Moab in May, I wanna do the GoneMoab run. I'm just thinkin about easing as much of the strain on the steering as possible to minimize my chances of breaking stuff.

 

I'll have the clearance, and new tires for the trip, plus the steering upgrade and sliders, and possibly a locker in the rear..if not its not that big a deal. Just lookin for input.

[nige]

that would be a great setup for me. I like how my 10.5" cut through snow (can you even find that in new mexico*?) I don't think they would fit without rubbing on my truck because i only have a 3" sus lift. I haven't heard of anyone trying yet so who knows. I do know i'll probally never do a body lift on mine. I was thinking of getting 32"x11.5" but those would look kinda funny on your truck after you do the body lift. Im not 100% but i think you should get 15x10 wheels for 33x12.5 tires as opposed to an 8 inch wheel for the 10.5" tires that will probably make a difference in wear and tear on your steering, but if you upgrade, i guess it'll be fine. Judging by your pictures, it looks like you drive a lot in sand. I've never driven on it before, but I hear wider tires are better in those conditions. I guess it mostly comes down to what you drive on most of the time.

 

what's the difference in price between them? it can't be that much. and where do you get that tk1 steering from? i need to do my centerlink too

Edited January 20, 2007 by skrillaguerilla

[nige]

I'm just thinkin about easing as much of the strain on the steering as possible to minimize my chances of breaking stuff.

 

you can carry some spare parts with you to get you home if something breaks. they don't call these things 'partsfinders' for nothing

[Pavelow Leaks]

I know things are gonna break, thats not what I was getting at, I'm gonna have spares...I just want to do as much as I can to not have to use them on a trail.

[nige]

if you do your steering up, i'd go with the 12.5". you'll probably end up liking them in sand because they're wider

[nige]

i don't know if you saw this, but it's worth a read too:

http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=12585

[88pathoffroad]

You don't need 10-inch wide wheels to fit 12.5" tires. My 33x13.50's mount up fine on 8.5" wheels.

[Cuong Nguyen]

I have the 33x10.50 BFG MTs on 15x8 with 3.25" BS. I have a body lift and a slight crank of the torsion bars. I already tore up my fenders and cut up my tires--that's only because of the backspacing. I ran 33x12.50s on 4" bs with very, very little rubbing. They're great, but I might selling these tires or trading them for 33x12.50s or 35s.

[Pavelow Leaks]

I do drive on sand alot, and rocks even more so....I usually air down to about 15-20 psi, and the 10.50's I have now do fine, I know the performance would be fine, also..I've mounted 12.50's on 8 inch wheels before, so I'm not worried about that.

Narrower vs. wider tires in the sand only comes into effect if

a. your truck is heavy enough to worry about sinking down in the sand on narrow tires....pathfinders are not.

b. you have enough horsepower to need paddles and wide tires so you dont dig in under extreme acceleration, i.e. sandrails.

other than that, any decent a/t or mud tire will get you around just fine in sand.

 

What I was thinking was with the 33x10.50's I would have 0 rubbing, in any situation, and it could possibly lessen the load, however minimally on the steering and drivetrain. So I went to the most informative place I could think of and asked for opinions.

[Mr. Pickles]

Do they give any actual stats on weight per tire, 10.5 vs. 12.5? With the same diameter, I'd be curious to see if you really are saving much weight from material.