w_b
Observer
I know nothing about these, but I've seen them advertised -- thought they might help:jginca said:
Flush mount slotted cap valve stems by Gorilla
I'm in Tire Agony; BFG A/T KO 33x9.5R15 vs 33x10.5R15 vs ???
- Thread starter w_b
- Start date
Flush mount slotted cap valve stems by Gorilla
dieselcruiserhead
16 Years on ExPo. Whoa!!
I've owned both (and just mounted a set of 33x10.5s last night). I don't think I'd buy the 33x9.5 again but I like the 33 x 10.5.
Maximus Ram
Expedition Leader
10.5's get my vote. I'm running 31x10.5x15's BFG A/T's on Jeep Canyon 15x8 rims with no problems when aired down on the XJ .
The new BFG M/T km 2 are a sweet tire also. I'm running the old skool M/Ts now on the Dodge and plan on going with the KM II's when I buy a new set.
I've never had a problem with any of the BFG's I've owned and have/am getting excellent mileage out of them.:coffeedrink:
The new BFG M/T km 2 are a sweet tire also. I'm running the old skool M/Ts now on the Dodge and plan on going with the KM II's when I buy a new set.
I've never had a problem with any of the BFG's I've owned and have/am getting excellent mileage out of them.:coffeedrink:
OverlandZJ
Expedition Leader
IMHO your backspacing is too shallow for the 10.5's. Theres no reason to have a 10.5 tire outside of the flare on an XJ, espescially with 3.5" lift... you'll probably run into issue with contact during uptravel.
Is selling/trading the set of 8" wheels an option? Some guys with taller/wider meats run the 3.75"bs, you could probably swap easily. Or consider using the 7" wheel and a 1" spacer.... but that opens up another can of worms.
Heres 33x10.5 on an 8" wheel and 4.5" backspacing.
Is selling/trading the set of 8" wheels an option? Some guys with taller/wider meats run the 3.75"bs, you could probably swap easily. Or consider using the 7" wheel and a 1" spacer.... but that opens up another can of worms.
Heres 33x10.5 on an 8" wheel and 4.5" backspacing.
dieselcruiserhead
16 Years on ExPo. Whoa!!
I didn't even know they made the 9.5 any more, I thought it'd been replaced with the 10.5. I am a fan of the skinnies but the 9.5 is too skinny, makes the stability of the tire a little weak and they even sort of look a little odd. The 10.5s are well balanced, look and feel and perform well for a 'narrow' tire. On a 7" rim they are great, perfectly balanced. Hope it helps, Andre
OverlandZJ
Expedition Leader
dieselcruiserhead said:
I believe BFG no longer offers the MT in a 9.5" width. A bud of mine ran this size but was unable to order a new set. It could be that they are phasing out the lesser volume sales as they increase sizes in the KMII lineup?
w_b
Observer
I considered the M/T KM2s but the customer on road reviews of this tire are so diverse and even contradictory, I just don't want to take the chance. Not yet at least. I really think some of the reviewers are rating the original KMs and not the KM2s. Or maybe they're just running 35x15s on a rig like a Toyota Tacoma and blame their lack of wet traction on the tire, not the tire size/weight of the rig.Maximus Ram said:
I believe you're right. I called my son at 4-Wheel Parts. They don't have 10.5s in their warehouse nor does their distributor -- special order only which means I'll have to pay shipping too. I feel like I've been swimming upstream since I've started the narrow/tall tire research. I'll order a spare too and keep the tire repair kit in the rig. It would be unfortunate, to say the least, to spend a week somewhere waiting for a tire to come in. At least the BFG A/T KOs have a reputation for being durable.Taz said:
You make a good point. I have 31x10.5R15s BFG MT KOs on those wheels now and you're right, they stick out past the flairs about an inch. I probably could sell these wheels, they're Eagle Alloys -- a little too "bling" for my liking anyway, and for what I'd get out of them I could probably buy steel wheels with a different backspace. Hmmm...OverlandXJ said:
I've never personally seen a spacer fail, but I've read the stories...
Root Moose
Expedition Leader
I hated my 33x9.5s - this was on a light vehicle (~2500 lbs dry).
I'd go 10.5.
If you decide on 9.5s you can run the 8" wide wheels. IIRC this is within the range of what BFG recommends for them. I had them on narrower wheels initially, they worked better on the 8" wheels.
I'd go 10.5.
If you decide on 9.5s you can run the 8" wide wheels. IIRC this is within the range of what BFG recommends for them. I had them on narrower wheels initially, they worked better on the 8" wheels.
w_b
Observer
Everyone's input has helped. I'm very grateful.dieselcruiserhead said:
I cannot order the tires until Monday but Monday morning I'll order 5 BFG A/T KOs in 33x10.50R15. I hate to spend that kind of money, but I've owned this rig for five years and have been running hand-me-down tires on it the whole time. I guess it's time for a new set, especially considering we're going to be relying on the rig a lot more and relying on it in more remote and potentially deadly places.
I'll think about selling the old wheels and getting new. If I go the new wheels, I'll get them in a 7" width as that seems to be the preferred width and it makes sense to me.
Backwoods Rambler
Explorer
I run 33x10.5 MT's on my stock '98 aluminum wheels with no flares and I have less than 1" of the tire sticking out. They do rub on my control arms though, but only at nearly full steering lock in either direction.
OverlandZJ
Expedition Leader
Heres a cheap steel wheel in 15x7 with 4" backspacing @ $46.99 each.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/92602_4XX_B_PG.htm
Lots of guys running black steelies, this style is the newest. Theres a few other style out there this cheap. Might be able to get a good package deal somewhere.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/92602_4XX_B_PG.htm
Lots of guys running black steelies, this style is the newest. Theres a few other style out there this cheap. Might be able to get a good package deal somewhere.
ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
I've run both sizes of BFG A/T's and one set of BFG 10.50 M/T's. The 9.50 A/T's and the 10.50 M/T's on an 8" rim and the 10.50 A/T's on a 7" rim.
The 9.50's look decidedly odd on an 8" rim. Unfortunately I have no pics of this. A 10.50 on an 8" gives a 'square' shoulder. A 10.50 on a 7" rim looks the best and has been giving me the best tire wear.
The only reason that I've gone to the 10.50's is availability. Were the 9.50's as available I would have purchased rims narrower than the 7 inch that I got. I expected to take a mild mileage hit with the 10.50's over the 9.50's, and I did, to the tune of maybe 1 MPG.
My normal tire pressure is 30 psi and my trail tire pressure, when I bother to air down, is 19 psi. I've yet to need to go lower and I have run several serious trails with the truck. It isn't until the trail is in the shallow end of the hard-core pool (Doran Cyn, John Bull, Swamp Lakes) that I typically need to air down.
Attached shows the M/T's on 8's and in the bed is a 9.50 on a stock (~6.5") rim.
The 9.50's look decidedly odd on an 8" rim. Unfortunately I have no pics of this. A 10.50 on an 8" gives a 'square' shoulder. A 10.50 on a 7" rim looks the best and has been giving me the best tire wear.
The only reason that I've gone to the 10.50's is availability. Were the 9.50's as available I would have purchased rims narrower than the 7 inch that I got. I expected to take a mild mileage hit with the 10.50's over the 9.50's, and I did, to the tune of maybe 1 MPG.
My normal tire pressure is 30 psi and my trail tire pressure, when I bother to air down, is 19 psi. I've yet to need to go lower and I have run several serious trails with the truck. It isn't until the trail is in the shallow end of the hard-core pool (Doran Cyn, John Bull, Swamp Lakes) that I typically need to air down.
Attached shows the M/T's on 8's and in the bed is a 9.50 on a stock (~6.5") rim.
