12.5” or 10.5”!?!

[JMF661]

Just finished the 4” lift on my 94 ranger. I’ve got 31” KO2s on it now. I’m looking to put some 33”s on it, I have my eye on a set of KM3s. With the wheel locked I have a pretty minimal amount of space before rubbing will occur.
I should probably pick up a set of 15” x 8” wheels with less backspacing and offset than my oem deer hooves.
So, the debate I am having is! Does one go with some 33” x 12.5” or 33” x 10.5” KM3s. The ranger probably looks better with a thinner tire. However I’m not bigly concerned with the “looks” as much as I am with not getting stuck in some craphole in the California desert. I am merely concerned with rubbing.
An aftermarket wheel with 3.75” backspace and -19mm offset at 8” wide compared to my factory wheel basically puts me in the same spot I currently am, a 12inch wide tire seems like it will rub.
Maybe I’m being overly cautious, I hope some folks out in ranger land have some thoughts on this!

 

[Curious Hound]

With 8” wide rims, I would recommend the narrower tires.

While tire size is important, proper tread pattern for the terrain may be even more important.

Best tools for avoiding getting stuck in a crap hole are driver skill and discretion.

 

[gaz]

JMF661:

The way I understand it the more narrow tire will be able to get to the bottom of the mud or snow better, offering better traction; less resistance to "sinking in". While the wider tire offers better traction on solid dry surfaces it will float easier on wet.

I live in a very wet environment and settled for a compromise, 32x11.5R15. My second choice is 33x9.5R15, which I consider the best wet, mud or snow traction and the least appealing look.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I like the looks of a 33x10.50x15 on a 7 inch wide wheel. I plan to pick up a set for my Alcoas some day. "pizza cutters"

American Racing AR172 - 15x7 3.76 back space. Dick Cepek Extreme Country 33x10.50x15. I nearly bought this set up for my truck... but I just couldn't pass up the deal I got on the set of 5 I ended up with. This package ends up coming in at 66lbs per wheel/tire... hard to beat for weight. Seems nobody cares about the weight... for me it was the first thing I looked at. You make a couple poor choices and you get to 90+ lbs per wheel/tire in a big hurry.

 

[Curious Hound]

Seems I recall having a set of 33 -8.50-15 BFG mud terrains on my 88 F150 years ago. My favorite tires for that truck. I don’t know if they still make that size. Or maybe they were 9.50 wide. It’s been a while.

 

[gw33gp]

I run 10.5x33-15 KM2 tires on stock Alcoa wheels with only a 1.5" torsion bar lift. I do some pretty rough off-road trips too. I get no rubbing but did have to bend the mud flap brackets a little to get good clearance at near full turn. I had 11.5x32-15 tires before those and would get an occasional light rub.

 

[JMF661]

With 8” wide rims, I would recommend the narrower tires.

While tire size is important, proper tread pattern for the terrain may be even more important.

Best tools for avoiding getting stuck in a crap hole are driver skill and discretion.

I agree, it’s important to try and stay out of something you are unlikely to make it out of. Experience matters.