Wider tires?

[Freightshaker]

Currently my 09 EL has 255/70/18's & considering going to 275/65/18. They're almost the same diameter. Has anyone changed sizes as well?...

 

[Trainmaster]

Why? These things drive like whales already, and I've never gotten stuck on the beach with stock tires?

 

[1955moose]

Like any tire size change, one must be mounted, and checked for clearance. A 265/65r18 is the exact replacement size. When I sold tires years back, that was a no brainier. The dimensions are the same as the smaller 255. 2 sizes up like your trying to do will change things ever so slightly, gearing, speedo reading, etc. Hope that helps a little.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[Freightshaker]

These just look like they're borrowed from an Escape. Also figured on a little more flotation on sand as well.

 

[Flexpedition]

No issues with 295's then 305's on mine.






A 255 is 10" wide. My 305 is 12.5" wide.
How a 10" would make it across sand but a 12.5" would sink is beyond me.
Maybe if my head was in the sand or if I drove on it, I'd understand.

The ride is fantastic.

 

[Adieu]

Currently my 09 EL has 255/70/18's & considering going to 275/65/18. They're almost the same diameter. Has anyone changed sizes as well?...

Hmmm I *was* gonna say that 255/70 and 265/65 were the most similar, but calculator proves me WRONG....

255/70r18 and 275/65r18 are both 32".

275 width works just fine on expeditions, 20" and 17" wheels often end up with those.

So yeah, all good, go for it


PS food for thought, though... if you shop around, 255/70r18 *is* pretty much THE cheapest tire size known to man. You can usually find a set of 4 Michelin or Bridgestone for just over 400 shipped, and a pretty wide choice if you go to 500

 

[JerEazy]

All things being equal: Wider tires should make it more stable in corners and when towing along with better wet traction right?

 

[1955moose]

Ever wonder why with the big wheel wells, most 4 wheel drive vehicles use skinny, tall off road tires? Its simple, the thinner tire will plow through sand, and soft snow better than a lower wider one. Has to with physics I guess. Maybe one of our resident geniuses can embellish why this is so. That's what I've been told over the years, hope I wasn't lied to!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[Freightshaker]

For snow yes, but for soft sand though you want more of a footprint to keep from sinking in.
Now I've come to realize that the difference in width is minimal. Just about .7 inches wider. In millimeters it sounded so much wider.

 

[Black]

All things being equal: Wider tires should make it more stable in corners and when towing along with better wet traction right?

I always thought the same but this guy makes a decent argument for skinnier tires.


I took from it you can be too skinny but you can also be too wide.