Narrow vs. Wide Off-Road Tires

[RangerPaul]

Here is a really informative article on the subject of tire width and its effect on traction

http://www.expeditionswest.com/research/white_papers/tire_selection_rev1.html

[missouri]

Wow that's an ear full. Good site for the fatties to read, eh!:D

missouri

[Smirty]

That has got to be the most comprehensive write-up on such a narrow topic (pun intended) as I have ever read. I have written down the formula for the coefficient of friction (Ff = Cf x Fv) and put that in my wallet...I can see myself using that one a regular basis :rolleyes: .

All kidding aside, I learn quite a bit from that article. I have been thinking of getting a new set of tires and this have given me food for thought. The real question I have is what is the real world experience from those that run tall/narrow tires. Most everyone I know are running 33x12.50's or something similar. Is that because they have real world experiences that have steared them to the wider tire or are they doing it because they perform OK and simply look good. Would those same people give a narrow tire a real try and step out of the wide tire look/coolness factor.

Ranger Paul, after running a narrow tire for a while now, what is your feedback on it's performance. I have to imagine you are in the narrow tire camp because you have posted up this article but do you see any real/major differences?

[78cj7]

Well next weekend at the Ranger Paul Invite we can test some theories, as I just put some 35x14.5x15 boggers on my cj
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/78cj7/tires%20and%20rims/tires1-7-07015.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d173/78cj7/tires%20and%20rims/tires1-7-07014.jpg

I plan on seeing how this combo works on my new scout axles, and if swap is game maybe I will see if I can get up that rock face without snapping an axle shaft this time (oooh here comes the pucker factor again) :eek: .