Decision between 235 75 R15 vs. 30 x 9.5 x 15

[PetroleumJunkie412]

So, parts truck tires are going to have a shorter life than expected. Dry rot is going g.to take two of them probably before winter.

Anyone have any experience with the 235 75 R15 vs. 30 x 9.5 x 15? My decision is coming down between the two.

I like the extra width offered by the 30x9.5 (would like a 10" wide tire if I could get one), but the cost spikes for them.

Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[Uncle Gump]

You can't get a 31 x 10.50 under there?

 

[pjtoledo]

go to a dealer site,,,tirerack.com,,,, pick out the specific tires and compare the specs. the actual numbers vary a lot between brands.

 

[wildbill23c]

Looking into 235's for my Bronco 2 as well...really no tire options with the stock 205/75-R15's anymore.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

You can't get a 31 x 10.50 under there?

I probably could, but trying to keep center of gravity low.

Really would like to gain stance width as well, but I'm pretty sure I can't run wheel spacers with manual hubs. Also, aren't they super bad for twin I beam?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

go to a dealer site,,,tirerack.com,,,, pick out the specific tires and compare the specs. the actual numbers vary a lot between brands.

Looked around quite a bit like that.

I suppose it would help if I said what.i wanted out of them. In order:

1) quiet
2) good in snow
3) not sh*tty on dirt

 

[pjtoledo]

you mentioned dirt. how about small rocks/gravel???

I have Firestone Destination LE 2 on my 2005 2WD , 235/70-15.
good tire on your counts 1 & 2

but DAMN do they like to pick up small rocks!!!!! if you drive on any gravel expect lots of flying rocks.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

you mentioned dirt. how about small rocks/gravel???

I have Firestone Destination LE 2 on my 2005 2WD , 235/70-15.
good tire on your counts 1 & 2

but DAMN do they like to pick up small rocks!!!!! if you drive on any gravel expect lots of flying rocks.

Eh. Flying rocks aren't a big deal. Not like I have bodywork to protect ?

 

[JerryC]

Looking into 235's for my Bronco 2 as well...really no tire options with the stock 205/75-R15's anymore.

I'm looking at the Goodyear Trailrunner AT now that the General Grabber AT2 I have now is no longer made in 235/75/15.
Not as aggressive, but several pounds lighter per tire and not as expensive.

My AT2's are hardly used and look new but have 4+ years on them, ride like rocks and suck down the MPG. They do what I bought them for though, they are truly awesome in snow and really good on ice. I'm using their age as a reason to replace them but I'm looking forward to a better ride and MPG.

 

[wildbill23c]

I'm looking at the Goodyear Trailrunner AT now that the General Grabber AT2 I have now is no longer made in 235/75/15.
Not as aggressive, but several pounds lighter per tire and not as expensive.

My AT2's are hardly used and look new but have 4+ years on them, ride like rocks and suck down the MPG. They do what I bought them for though, they are truly awesome in snow and really good on ice. I'm using their age as a reason to replace them but I'm looking forward to a better ride and MPG.

Those Good Year Trail Runner AT's would be just fine for no more than I need, right now I have Starfire SF-340's which are the cheapest of cheap all season tires...granted they did OK in the snow/ice but I wasn't able to drive it much during the 2016-2017 winter where we had well over 2 feet of snow in my driveway for over a month, but I can say it made it through not very easily but it did make it, I want something a bit more all terrain with some better traction on back roads and for winter...I don't want studded tires as I don't care to have to swap them back and forth and I don't need studded tires, never have needed them, so to me its a waste of money getting tires you can't just leave on all year round.

I've found my B2 rides rough as well, but I 100% attribute that to the shocks that were installed on it which if I recall are light truck so they're a bit stiff.

The Good Year's look like what I want/need.

 

[09fx4guy]

I have the Grabber AT2's on my Ranger, 265-70R16. They ride ok (you know they are an at tire). There is some noise with them but it's not bad. Great in snow, fine off-road. I've never put them in mud but my guess is they would perform as well as an at tire could in mud. There are some still available on Tirerack i think. If I have to replace the tires, I would probably put the Goodyear Trailrunner AT's on as well. They look a little bit more like the older Goodyear Wrangler RTS which were a good tire, and the Trailrunners should be a pretty quiet tire.

I will also be putting the Trailrunners on my Jeep XJ in size 235-75R15. I think they are available in 235-75R15 as well as 30x9.5R15. Take a look at tire rack.

I'd steer clear of the Destination LE2's. A friend of mine had them on his newer Jeep cherokee, and they had no bite to them. He got less than 30000 miles before they woreout, and he had to clean out the tread weekly because of all the little stones and garbage that got stuck in the tread.

 

[8thTon]

My truck came with new Goodyear Wranglers (only made in 235/75-15). I don't like Goodyears and would never have picked them. The sidewalls are soft and I would not off road with them, but I gotta admit they work quite well for cheap tires. They're decent in the snow and handle better on dry roads than they ever should. Not too loud on most surfaces, ok in rain.

And they're actually round unlike any other Goodyears I've had. I find round tires work better than the other shapes.

 

[sgtsandman]

I hated the Wrangler SRAs that came with my 2011. After the first couple years, their wet road traction was absolutely horrible. I only ran them in the snow the first year and got dedicated winter tires and rims after that. They did ok. Not great, not horrible. Just ok.

I’ve yet to be impressed by any OEM tire regardless of who the car manufacturer is.

 

[Josh B]

Mine came with 265/70R/15 (which my 93 doorpost specifies, basically a 31 I think ) Goodyear Wrangler AT/S and those were great tires but after the first 50k miles or so began to wear out and I replaced them with goodyear wrangler 235/75R/15. In the process I searched "265/70R/15 VS 235/75R/15" and some site had extensive information about the differences. I think it was a tiremaker such as Michelin but can't remember for sure. The 235s are 7% smaller in diameter, meaning if my speedo showed 100mph I'd actually be going 93, etc. It basically gives me more Brake HP, only achieving the traction to use it would be elusive. It actually gets better mileage now at 22 where it was a steady 20 with the 265 (even factoring in the 7% drop in odometer miles)

 

[Shran]

I have had multiple sets of the cheapo 235-75-15 Goodyear Wranglers from Walmart - the $70 tires - only one set I bought new though. The others all dry rotted bad after just a few years. Decent traction offroad. What I did NOT like was how they will follow grooves in the road, very annoying.

I was between 235's and 30x9.50's too and the main difference is whether you're getting P or LT rated tires. P's are a lot cheaper. I had like $900 into tires on my Explorer, that was four new BFG KO-2's in 30x9.50x15 at Discount Tire. They have come down in price quite a bit since for some reason.

If it's just for temporary use... find a couple good used ones on Craigslist or something.