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Tire size question

LSUpete

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 11, 2001
Messages
2,060
My Bronco has a 1" body lift with a 2 1/2" suspension lift. I'm looking at going to a set of 17x8.5 wheels but wanted to know what tires you all have been using with this rim size.

My usage will be 80% road driving.

:cool:
 

crankman

Sr. Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2008
Messages
414
Im running 285/70/17 on US Mags 17x 8 with no lift and not close to rubbing. There are quite a few threads on tires and wheels some with nice pics if you do a search. Thats actually how I ended up with my setup. Nice looking ride you got there to.
 

bronconut73

Bronco Guru
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
9,916
I ran 1" bl and 2.5" sl with cut fenders for quite a while and didn't rub with 15x10's and 33"x12.50"x15".

Going metric I would think you could easily get 305/70/17 in there so you'd be a little wider than the 285's.
Sometimes 285's seem narrow.
Try to go a little wider if you can.
Check the tire brand and style you like and see what sizes they have in the 17" diameter you are wanting.

Some tire manufacturers sell a 33x12.50x17 so there's no need to convert the metric sizes.
But if you want to convert them....

The first number is the width of the tread in millimeters.
The second number is the aspect ratio (sidewall height).
The third number is the rim diameter.

So a 285/70/17 is

11.2" wide
7.84" each sidewall (upper & lower)
17" rim diameter
Equals a 32.68" tall 11.2" wide tire for a 17" rim.
 

74 Bronco Billy

Contributor
Sr. Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2016
Messages
775
I ran 1" bl and 2.5" sl with cut fenders for quite a while and didn't rub with 15x10's and 33"x12.50"x15".

Going metric I would think you could easily get 305/70/17 in there so you'd be a little wider than the 285's.
Sometimes 285's seem narrow.
Try to go a little wider if you can.
Check the tire brand and style you like and see what sizes they have in the 17" diameter you are wanting.

Some tire manufacturers sell a 33x12.50x17 so there's no need to convert the metric sizes.
But if you want to convert them....

The first number is the width of the tread in millimeters.
The second number is the aspect ratio (sidewall height).
The third number is the rim diameter.

So a 285/70/17 is

11.2" wide
7.84" each sidewall (upper & lower)
17" rim diameter
Equals a 32.68" tall 11.2" wide tire for a 17" rim.
Thanks for posting the conversions. Always wondered how you get there.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
 

Nothing Special

Sr. Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2016
Messages
804
I've got the same 1" body lift / 2.5" suspension lift (estimates, they were done by a PO). I'm running 33/10.50-15 tires currently. Generally I like that size, keeping the tires fairly narrow has some advantages. But one disadvantage is that the tires do nothing to keep the body away from harm. If you are going to be on road only 80% of the time you must be doing a lot more off-road than most. I don't have much experience with wider tires, but I think if my Bronco was off-road that much I might prefer 12.50 wide tires.

And yes, I'm talking 15" rims. But I'm sure you can find similar size tires for 17" rims too.

80-drivers_flare_4eba751905e8e1d6075e3e45b8f00fe248a0a038.jpg


Here's an old picture when I first got it, with 33/12.50-15

80-picture_php_pictureid_125619_170f503c63b448efae73432a1bb8848d8ef3d1b7.jpg
 

rguest3

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
3,778
LSUpete - Are the fenders cut or uncut on your Bronco?

I really like Method Racing Wheels in a 17x8.5 with a 4.75" Back spacing. I have these wheels currently on my 76 and 71 Broncos.

With these wheels and your lift:

If your fenders are Uncut (Like my 76) then a 265/70/17 will fit great with no issues. Maybe a 285/70/17 but it's starting to get a little tight.

If your front and rear fenders are cut you can install a 285/75/17 or the 305/70/17 with little to no rubbing issues. The wider 305 is more likely to rub the front Radius Arms when turning sharp.
 
OP
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LSUpete

LSUpete

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Messages
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Tire rack was $30 more per tire than my local 4x4 shop, so I went with the Toyo Open Country AT II - Size: LT285/70R17.

Once I get them mounted, I'll post some photos.
 

jmhend

Bronco Guru
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
2,733
Tire rack was $30 more per tire than my local 4x4 shop, so I went with the Toyo Open Country AT II - Size: LT285/70R17.

Once I get them mounted, I'll post some photos.

Any pictures of the new tires?
 
OP
OP
LSUpete

LSUpete

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Bronco Guru
Joined
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Messages
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