Need sound advice on TIRE UPGRADE!

[Beavertractors]

My stock Brigstones were worn out at 32,000 and had dry rot. I have been using the BF Long trails for a few years,(good price at Sams club) I have a set on my 97 Wrangler 30 9.50 15 50-60,000 miles and at least another 10,000 left. they are real noisy,but thats what the 500 watts and subs are for.. I had a set on my Caddy and Chevy Pu no problems,...I run 3or4 cars I can't spend 700 on tires. Tony B

[LITTLELAURIE]

I just thought I'd add my two cents......I just bought new Yokohama AVS tires, size, 285/70/16's. They fit great,(with a bit of trimming), and fill up the wheel well nicely and they give my VX that desirable bulldog stance! I think the Yoko's are the perfect summer time tire!

[Moncha]

I've had my Yokes for 2 seasons now, they suck in snow but are a major blast on dry pavement! I even ran them in Moab last year and a lot of folks were very impressed at their grip on the rock... I run 255/55/R18 and they do fill up the wells and look perfect with the vehicle.

Hells Gate in Moab with Yokes.

[VXNIT]

Seek new tires for 01 Kaiser, 18's stock rims. Want widest and tallest tire that will NOT require trimming to cladding or any suspension mods, just mount and go. Drive mainly on road but alot on sandy beach. Please advise. Thanks

[Kenny]

I'd recommend not being too dead set against trimming. If you find tires you like and they're border line on size, the amount of trimming is literally insignificant (a tiny 1" triangle in an un-noticeable location). With an angle grinder or dremel with a cutting blade, it will take all of 5 minutes and no one but us would notice, and that would take a very hard look. Good luck.

[Cobrajet]

I ran the Pirelli Scorpion Zero 285/55/18 on the stock rims, and they definitely require NO trimming. I just recently downsized to Kumho Ecsta STX 265/60/18 for two reasons. 265 is in the recommended width range for a 7" rim, and I really didn't like the way the 285 felt. They LOOKED great, but the handling just seemed off. Maybe they ARE too wide for the 7" rim. Maybe it's just the nature of the Scorpions. The Original Bridgestones had 35K miles on them when I replaced them and felt better than the Scorpions, which were garbage at 28K, and most of that was highway miles. I have no complaints with the Kumhos (yet.) I feel more comfortable throwing the VX into a corner with the Khumos than I ever did with the Scorpions. New shoes are nice!

[psychos2]

if you do not want to trim or have the speedo off then go with stock tire size. or go a little wider with stock height.here is a pic with the small amount of trimming. shawn

[videoboy]

hello all,

i seriously need some new tires. i have the '99 stock rims. 33k on the oem tires

are these the ones that require cladding trimming ?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

any advice ? aggressive street/hway driving only...no offroad (not on purpose anyway)

want them to look cool, of course, and not cost too much

i value this boards opinion

thanks!

stephen
nashville,tn

[Tone]

Kumho Ecstas are under $100 ea and are H or V speed rated depending on size. Hankook also makes some good but inexpensive tires.

[Ldub]

I agree with Tone, I put Hankook Ventus on mine this spring & like them a lot.
I really have to throw it into a turn HARD to get any tire noise at all...great traction & a pretty smooth ride for twentys.

[Ron Pfeiffer]

VXNIT,

Just chiming in here with my two cents - don't be put off by the trimming thing. I am running Terragrapplers, and LOVE 'em. Got over 20,000 miles on them, and they still look brand new. So far, haven't failed me in snow, ice, sleet, rain, or mud. Don't have any experience with sand, but they should be fine there too, I would imagine.

The trimming took all of ten minutes, and you can't even see it from outside the wheel well. Even from inside the well, you wouldn't know it had been done without before-n-after pics. I have images in my gallery of the cuts and the piece I cut off if you want to see how easy/minor an operation it was:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...php?photo=3926

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/sh...php?photo=3927

If 'grapplers are appealing to you, don't let the trimming stop you. Good luck!

-Ron

[VXNIT]

tomdietrying, Can I get a pic posted or email me with those tires?? Thanks

[Joe_Black]

I'm running the Kumho Ecsta STX on the Dragon right now in 18" and I'm a full-on Kumho convert now. After being a die-hard tire snob for 20+ years I'm thoroughly impressed! A fantastic street tire at a great price.

[Triathlete]

On the street I am running my beat and worn out BFG AT's (265/75/16's). Offroad (and on-road to the trails) I am now running Goodyear MTR's in the same size. I have to say the MTR's are much better offroad than the AT's. In Moab they performed awesomely...on some obstacles out allowing me to ease up stuff that much better built vehicles had problems doing (either that or I was just a superior driver ) They are a bit louder on the road than the AT's and if driven daily would probably wear faster though. If stock height some slight trimming may be required.