Help me choose a practical tire size

[ford4wd08]

Hi guys, as the '85 Bronco 2 nears body work completion, I am looking forward to getting a new set of tires to mount on my stock aluminum rims from a ~1990 RBV.

The big question is what tire size? This rig will see very little off the pavement driving. Maybe some hunting or gravel roads, but that is the worst of it.

I have made up my mind that the tires need to be an All Terrain Tire

It currently has 225/75R15 Coopers on it that are no longer made. I know that is up from the stock tire size of 205/75R15, but they seem to work well. Only trouble is there are only a couple of choices on the 225/75R15 tires.

If I go to 235/75R15's there are a ton of choices still made. I believe they'll fit it stock the way it is, but not sure. I do have a set of this size that came on my aluminum wheels I can try first to get an idea...

I also see 30x9.50R15's out there and think they would look great, but not sure what it would take to make them fit.

I would like to leave the rig pretty close to stock if I can, but will entertain a small budget lift or similar as long as I can keep the alignment in check.

I have a healthy A4LD with a shift kit and 2.8 duraspark distributor and GM HEI module. I also have larger trans cooler to install.

The rig runs well, I don't do much interstate driving and I think it could probably handle a little larger tire size, but don't want to put too much on this rig with a D28, 7.5" rear and all.

What are everyone's thoughts with the first gens and experiences?

 

[Shran]

I am pretty happy with these on my Ranger... they are inexpensive (used to be $74/tire!!!)

Robot or human?

If your budget allows it, BFG All Terrains are excellent

Robot or human?

Also available in 30x9.50x15:

https://www.amazon.com/BFGoodrich-All-Terrain-Radial-Tire-30x9-50R15/dp/B009PL9GFK

I think those 30's would fit fine if you use your stock wheels. I had them on 8" wide Mickey Thompsons and they rubbed in several places. That was mainly due to the offset and backspacing of the wheels, not the tire size.

 

[Curious Hound]

I wouldn't hesitate to go with 235/75R15

 

[Roert42]

I can second those cooper discoverers, very nice tires for a daily driver.

 

[ford4wd08]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I won't say money isn't an object, but I'm not afraid to spend some money on good tires (considering the michilens on my '16 F150 cost ~$1400 ouch!)

I'm drawn to 30x9.50R15 for some reason. I just think that would be an awesome size on a stockish rig.

I'm good with the coopers have ran a few sets, but might go with something a little more aggressive looking.... Not sure.

Biggest concern is getting it aligned if I run into an issue and have to level the front some or use spacers on the coils. Not sure I can find anyone who knows what a TTB is anymore

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

What is you gear ratio? Your stock tire of 205/75r15" is ~27". Going to 30" might lower your fuel mileage in town. The automatic helps tho.
Go into the tech section and play with the calculators.

 

[ford4wd08]

What is you gear ratio? Your stock tire of 205/75r15" is ~27". Going to 30" might lower your fuel mileage in town. The automatic helps tho.
Go into the tech section and play with the calculators.

Good point, 3.73 is my current ratio.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Going from 27" to 30" makes the ratio act like 3.36. Probably fine for pavement and occasional offroad.

 

[Shran]

235/75/15s are MUCH more common although most of them are P rated tires. So easier to find a spare if you need to...or blow one out.. or whatever. Those Coopers and the BFGs are LTs. That was why I bought the Coopers in particular.

I am pretty sure you can get Super Swamper TSLs in like a 28" size... if you want to go really agressive My buddy has them on his Toyota Previa van, lol

 

[Roert42]

My buddy has them on his Toyota Previa van, lol

This I would like to see. That's one of those mid engine supercharged vans right?

 

[Shran]

Actually it was a Sienna... he has had a bunch of Toyota vans. IIRC he had to put spacers on it to keep the tires from rubbing pretty much everything on the front.

 

[gaz]

@ford4wd08,

Because you mentioned practical,

With 3:73 I would only consider 28.5" tires for fuel economy; as I understand 235x75r15 is = 28.9x9.3r15, so that would be nearly as perfect.

When I put 30x9.5r15 on my stock 87 Ranger 4x4, they rubbed everywhere and I installed a 4" body lift to clear the rubbing, whereas I'm sure the 28.5" would have cleared without issue.

At 29x8.5r15, I vote for the Super Swamper TSL SAM-25, $180 each.

 

[ford4wd08]

@ford4wd08,

Because you mentioned practical,

With 3:73 I would only consider 28.5" tires for fuel economy; as I understand 235x75r15 is = 28.9x9.3r15, so that would be nearly as perfect.

When I put 30x9.5r15 on my stock 87 Ranger 4x4, they rubbed everywhere and I installed a 4" body lift to clear the rubbing, whereas I'm sure the 28.5" would have cleared without issue.

At 29x8.5r15, I vote for the Super Swamper TSL SAM-25, $180 each.

Thanks for the feedback. What are you looking at for fuel economy? The gear charts?

I'm leaving 235/75R15 and don't mind them being P rated tires as they are usually lighter unless someone has a good reason to run LT fires on a B2?

 

[gaz]

@ford4wd08,

3:73's with 28.5" +/- ½" (nearly the same as 235x75r15) rubber will result in your engine operating in the correct RPM range at normal, legal highway speeds.

It would be my #1 choice for fuel.econmy and that it is exactly why.

 

[Craig0320]

Ko2's all day long for me. DON'T go to walmart and get wrangler authority's a/t. They are horrible junk to the point where walmart ordered me a set of ko2's for free to replace the 11k mile wranglers on my truck because they shake and wobble so bad.