A different sort of tire question: going narrower

[Sabre]

I have a Gen III (16x7 wheels) with stock 265/70's on it. Rather than go with a wider tire, I'm interested in the more traditional narrower, taller tire. Think Land Rover.

I know that a 75 profile will fit without lifting (springs ain't in the budget, boys), but what sort of width might I look at? 255? 245? Narrower?

Realistically, this is a family car with only occasional forays onto logging and forest roads; dirt and gravel rather than a lot of mud. Of course, it's 99% pavement. Yeah, sorry. But we do see some gosh-awful snow!

And what about the ply rating? The cheap-*** tires that came on mine are 4-ply passenger car tires. I've been warned that 10-ply rubber will be overly harsh (it's a family car, remember?). Is there something like an 8-ply equivalent?

Thanks in advance!

 

[datrupr]

Before I put the lift on mine, I was running 265/75's A/T's on mine and I didn't notice a difference in ride compared to the stock "p" rated tires. As for going narrower, I couldn't tell you as I am planning on going just a bit wider with 285/75's.

 

[Sabre]

It's hard to believe that Mitsubishi spec'd a passenger car tire on these trucks. The Yoko Geolanders that are on there aren't bad tires as passenger car tires go, but the poor truck wallows like it's on marshmallows when I lean my shoulder against it and give the fender a shove. No, not body roll as in bad shocks, but YAWING, as in no sidewall stiffness at all. Scared the bejeepers out of me when I first drove the poor thing.

Range Rover Classics with a 235/70 R16 tire look "classic" to me (and thata car weighs about the same as the Mont/Pajero IIRC). A lot of guys run a 235/85 on their Defender 90's and Series Landies, and they look "proper." This would fit perfectly on the Mitsu as it has the same diameter (about 31.7 inches) as the 265/75. I had similar tires on an old Series IIA that I used to drive, but that car had a primitive suspension and the ride quality was not something one thought about. I just don't want to spoil the pleasant road manners of the Mitsu in wanting a narrower tire for improved snow traction and (perhaps marginally) better fuel economy.

Datrupr, if I were to lift this thing I'd go with a 255/85, but I fully understand the position of those who want to go wide.

 

[agerb]

I had 255/85R16's on my last gen III, with an OME lift of course. They were BFG MT's. I liked them, but they were heavy and stiff (10 ply) I bit overkill I thought, and killed the mpg's. This time around I went with the basic 265/75R16. The best call I think would be 275/70R17 fitted on 05-06 wheels.