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33x12.5-15 vs 285/75-16

DaveW

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Utah
The 285/75-16 size tire is gaining popularity. It has the 11.5" width that works great on an XJ. It has the D load range and usually thicker/stronger/tougher side walls.

For those you have/are running the 285...
Why did you go with it?
If you have run 33-12.5 tire which do you prefer and why?
Does the stiffer tire ride harder?
Can you run a lower pressure on the street to compensate?
Is the sidewall really tougher?
What is the air down performance?
Does the stiffer 285 conform to rock like the 33-12.5?

I don't want this to be just another tire thread and either tire will looks good so please give answer that include specifics on performance.
 
if i understand correctly you don't want a d loaded tire. i thought it was better to have a triply c loaded tire. d loaded tires are for heavier rigs and won't conform to rocks as well. atleast that was what i was told.
 
In passing Dave, I have found 2 33x11.50 (BFG and Cooper) and BFG also makes a 33x10.50 and 33x9.50. I think this is the route I'm going in another $1000 (and many months) from now.
 
I would love to see 3 pics of the same rig running the 33x 10.50, 9.50, and 12,50 then I could decided on what I want. I have 32s x 11.50 and when I replace I might go with the 10.50s cause I like a little narrower of a tire and I find the 11.50 is a little wide for the height.. at least for my tastes.
 
Im running a local tire shop brand tire in the 33x12.5" M/T flavor and I love it. We mostly do mud and mild trails, no rocks and it works great for everything I throw at it. I also am not a big fan of skinny tires as I just think they dont look as nice as a wider tire, I feel a wider tire gives a meaner, bigger looking stance and grips mud a lot better in my opinion.
 
I run a 285/75/16 MTR with no problems. They will conform to rocks when you air them down. I run them at 20 when driving around town and air them down to 12 when playing in the rocks. I run them on stock Rubicon Moab wheels. Hope this bit of info helps.
 
SCW said:
In passing Dave, I have found 2 33x11.50 (BFG and Cooper) and BFG also makes a 33x10.50 and 33x9.50. I think this is the route I'm going in another $1000 (and many months) from now.
OK, where? Which tires?
Give it up we wnat to know....
 
shimmy said:
if i understand correctly you don't want a d loaded tire. i thought it was better to have a triply c loaded tire. d loaded tires are for heavier rigs and won't conform to rocks as well. atleast that was what i was told.
That is my understanding... But the D load tires are being user more and more. I want to get some clear and specific info on how the work.
 
Winks00XJ said:
I run a 285/75/16 MTR with no problems. They will conform to rocks when you air them down. I run them at 20 when driving around town and air them down to 12 when playing in the rocks. I run them on stock Rubicon Moab wheels. Hope this bit of info helps.
This is just the type of info I'm looking for....Thanks.
I expected a lower pressure in the stiffer tire.
Does the stiffer wall ride and conform to rock more like a bias tire with the light XJ?
 
DaveW said:
OK, where? Which tires?
Give it up we wnat to know....

Here is a page about the BFGs. I was at the Costco in Bountiful last week and was quoted $145/tire for them, Big-O in bountiful was $185 each for the same tire.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/all-terrain-t-a-ko/44.html

Earlier this week I found the Cooper Discoverer STT in 33x11.50-15, but now it looks like it's a discontinued tire. Maybe a retailer still has some in stock though.

Wesite here-
http://www.coopertire.com/Flash/index.aspx

If you don't mind the 33x12.50, the Big-O XT looks like a great tire, and the Big-O warantee is bullet-proof. I don't want one that wide though. I also would preferr to keep the stock rims, and I think the 33x9.50 will allow me to do that. Pizza cutters though.


EDIT- if you look at the BFG mud tires, they also come in 33x10.50
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/mud-terrain-t-a-km/1152.html
I'm not sure why you'd want a skinny mud tire though....
 
Last edited:
DaveW said:
This is just the type of info I'm looking for....Thanks.
I expected a lower pressure in the stiffer tire.
Does the stiffer wall ride and conform to rock more like a bias tire with the light XJ?


I cant compare to a bias ply as I havent run with anyone that has bias ply. The d rated MTR's will wrinkle up real nice and perform wonderfully.
 
SCW said:
Here is a page about the BFGs. I was at the Costco in Bountiful last week and was quoted $145/tire for them, Big-O in bountiful was $185 each for the same tire.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/all-terrain-t-a-ko/44.html

Earlier this week I found the Cooper Discoverer STT in 33x11.50-15, but now it looks like it's a discontinued tire. Maybe a retailer still has some in stock though.

Wesite here-
http://www.coopertire.com/Flash/index.aspx

If you don't mind the 33x12.50, the Big-O XT looks like a great tire, and the Big-O warantee is bullet-proof. I don't want one that wide though. I also would preferr to keep the stock rims, and I think the 33x9.50 will allow me to do that. Pizza cutters though.


EDIT- if you look at the BFG mud tires, they also come in 33x10.50
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/mud-terrain-t-a-km/1152.html
I'm not sure why you'd want a skinny mud tire though....

I've been to those lnks before and still cannot find any 33x11.5 tire. They all have 32x11.5 and 33x12.5. BFG has 33x10.5 and 33x12.5. But no 33x11.5 except in the 285/75-16.

I do thik BFG at least may have had that size in the past. But not now.
 
IIRC BFG doesn't make 33x9.5 any more.

I used to run them on my long wheelbase Samurai.

You really want at least a 33x10.5.

I'm a fan of the metric sizes with 16" wheels. My build uses 265 Truxus MTs but I'll speculate the tire height is the same as a BFG 285. When I buy ATs I'll probably go 285s.

$0.02
 
BFG has never made a 33x11.5,and I think the 33x9.5 is only available in the AT's.Ive been running the 33x10.5' for several years now and like them.
 
im currently running 285/75/16 maxxis bighorn mts on my 92 xj. i just stepped up to this tire size from a 265/75/16. i have no problems with the d rated tires on an XJ. I've only gone on two trips with the new tires, one was a wet/creek rock garden and they did great even at full air pressure. the second trip was this past weekend and it was very soupy mudd. they did well but i think they needed to be aired down more. i was running them at 15psi and 30 on the street. they are stiff on the street but i plan to drop the street psi down to around 20. hope this helps.

you can see a pic of them here(white 92 xj): http://www.backyard4x4.com/Bio.html

lincoln
 
DaveW said:
I've been to those lnks before and still cannot find any 33x11.5 tire. They all have 32x11.5 and 33x12.5. BFG has 33x10.5 and 33x12.5. But no 33x11.5 except in the 285/75-16.

I do thik BFG at least may have had that size in the past. But not now.

My mistake, the size I saw was 32x10.50.

There sure is a LOT more options if you want a wider tire on a 16" rim. Tough decision, I really like my stock rims.
 
I would feel comfortable running either, depending on which rims I already had. I've run 33x12.50x15 MTRs and have been on runs with other running 285/75/16 MTRs and they perform equally well. I'm currently running 245/75/16s and I'm a little nervous at the lack of sidewall. I will eventually move up to a 265 or 285 and will be keeping my 16" wheels.

For those you have/are running the 285...
Why did you go with it? Already had 16" rims
If you have run 33-12.5 tire which do you prefer and why? No preference.
Does the stiffer tire ride harder? Not noticable
Can you run a lower pressure on the street to compensate? I run them both in the low 20s in town and high 20s on trips.
Is the sidewall really tougher? No tears in either
What is the air down performance? Same
Does the stiffer 285 conform to rock like the 33-12.5? Seemingly yes.

Check out the following pics in the links:

Flexy taco pic:
Ryan heading up
http://www.boulderredneck.com/PicArchive.aspx?vector=Four%20Wheeling/2006_04_Moab/Cliff%20Hanger

First Twist
http://www.boulderredneck.com/PicArchive.aspx?vector=Four%20Wheeling/2006_08_21%20MSV%20and%20Coney%20Flats
 
Last edited:
woodkrawler said:
im currently running 285/75/16 maxxis bighorn mts on my 92 xj. i just stepped up to this tire size from a 265/75/16. i have no problems with the d rated tires on an XJ. I've only gone on two trips with the new tires, one was a wet/creek rock garden and they did great even at full air pressure. the second trip was this past weekend and it was very soupy mudd. they did well but i think they needed to be aired down more. i was running them at 15psi and 30 on the street. they are stiff on the street but i plan to drop the street psi down to around 20. hope this helps.

you can see a pic of them here(white 92 xj): http://www.backyard4x4.com/Bio.html

lincoln
Sound like that are a bit stiffer but airng down will take care of that.
Good to here there is not much difference in performance.
I am hoping to kep a more stok look to the flares andthe 11.5 tire will allow that.
 
condoor said:
I would feel comfortable running either, depending on which rims I already had. I've run 33x12.50x15 MTRs and have been on runs with other running 285/75/16 MTRs and they perform equally well. I'm currently running 245/75/16s and I'm a little nervous at the lack of sidewall. I will eventually move up to a 265 or 285 and will be keeping my 16" wheels.

For those you have/are running the 285...
Why did you go with it? Already had 16" rims
If you have run 33-12.5 tire which do you prefer and why? No preference.
Does the stiffer tire ride harder? Not noticable
Can you run a lower pressure on the street to compensate? I run them both in the low 20s in town and high 20s on trips.
Is the sidewall really tougher? No tears in either
What is the air down performance? Same
Does the stiffer 285 conform to rock like the 33-12.5? Seemingly yes.

Check out the following pics in the links:

Flexy taco pic:
Ryan heading up
http://www.boulderredneck.com/PicArchive.aspx?vector=Four%20Wheeling/2006_04_Moab/Cliff%20Hanger

First Twist
http://www.boulderredneck.com/PicArchive.aspx?vector=Four%20Wheeling/2006_08_21%20MSV%20and%20Coney%20Flats

Thanks for the info. Right now I'm leaning toward the 285s to get the hight and width I want.
It appear the only differences are a bit stiffer, higher cost and a bit more weight.
 
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