This is my first post and i need help with a problem.

I just got a 99 Trooper with manual transmission 140kmiles. by the way, my first SUV since i had a 98 Trans Am be4 so i'm new to this.

The tires are shot except one new one (which will probably be my new spare so i can keep the spare cover cuz i like it).

I drive on the road a lot and highway half the time. However, i still want an MT for a couple reasons: 1)New Jersey winters! 2)look better 3)maybe i'll start offroading sometimes 4)i go camping a lot so maybe i can go to new more remote places.

See, i want the MT's for looks and added traction in snow and stuff but since i'm on the road a lot i dont want to be making a big sacrifice in safety or anything like that.

The tires i like are the Goodyear MT/R

first of all should i get an MT such as this one in my circumstances or is it a bad idea because it's not that safe on the road (highway).

If it's fine to use these as i will i'm stuck between 3 sizes: (i will use stock 16x7 wheels) and i dont want to suspension lift or body lift cuz budget and worse handling.
Goal: tallest widest tire that needs no mod to my stock suspension (or EASY free mod) that will not cause wear or safety issues or rubbing.
sizes: stocks are 245/70or75r16 (dont want this size)
options: goodyear wrangler MT/R
1) 255/70PR16 dia=30.3" weight=40lbs
2) 265/75PR16 dia=31.7" weight=55lbs
3) 285/75PR16 dia=33.1" weight=55lbs

sorry for writing so much but i want everyone to understand how i'm making this decision to get the best possible help.

one last thing to consider is i do want tallest and widest without modifying but i'm also considering weight as it affects the performance of the car in acceleration,braking, suspensionreaction time, etc. but i want the bigger diameter to make my gear ratios more mileage and highway favorable as well as improving ground clearance and better wear and less noise since knobs on tires aproach road surface at a better angle. i'm guessing only the first two will even possibly fit without mods but will the smaller one look too small?? because i like the weight savings of it.

if anyone has pics of MT tires on a 99 style trooper please post one because all i've seen so far is geolanters so far when i search for pics online.

Thanks for all the help and time.

Chris
NJ

265/75 deviates about 7% from stock size, 285/75 about 11%. Acceleration and braking will be affected the same amount.

I was very happy with the 265/75s on my old 99 Trooper, never felt tempted to go larger, not wanting to lose more power. I went wheeling at Moab several times with those tires and the OME lift. You don't have to have the lift to fit those, but I think it is an easy and worthwhile mod. A pair of OME coils for about $170, adjust the front ride height to match, and you will be an inch taller, AND have better load handling, more controlled ride, and even a little less body roll. Very easy install, too.

IMHO if you are doing any serious off-roading, then an MT is your best bet, and the MT/Rs are a good choice. But for light or infrequent off-roading an aggressive AT is going to be fine and will last longer, and be quieter, and usually better in the snow, too.

If I were you I would look at BFG ATs or Nitto Terra Grapplers...as ATs go they are pretty aggressive, relatively long lasting, and good on road. I have owned both and would not hesitate to buy either again. I think the Nittos are a little cheaper generally.

Here is a pic of my old 99 Trooper in Moab, sporting 265/75 Pirelli Scorpion ATs and a 1" OME lift.

First of allà WELCOME!


M/Ts arenÆt the *best* tire option for snow use, but as it just so happens, I have a set of 265/75/R16 Goodyear MT/Rs (on a Rodeo û sorry), and I can tell you all about their snow-handling capabilitiesà

(Probably more than you ever wanted to know! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" /> )

Good -and- Bad (plus Good again)

Somewhere in there, between the two links, youÆll probably find enough information to help you make an informed decision about whether or not a set of MT/Rs are right for youà (and youÆll probably also learn that your first post here at 4x4Wire really wasnÆt very long at all <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> )



To answer a couple of your questions directlyà

--- Yes, you can fit 255/70R16s on your Trooper without lifting ità and according to everything that I have read (and seen in person), a set of 265/75R16s should fit on there too (although the 265/75s will be a little more snug). --- HOWEVER, you probably wonÆt see the highway mileage gains from the 265/75s that youÆre hoping for, because your engine will have to work quite a bit harder going uphill, and the transmission will be downshifting a lot sooner than it would with stock-sized tires.

--- While the weight of the tires is a somewhat of a factor (felt mostly when braking) û depending on which size you choose - the wider you go, the more rolling resistance you will experienceà And the wider the tire, the less Contact Pressure it will have; meaning that as the width increases, in average snow situations, youÆll actually LOOSE traction versus an otherwise identical narrower tire (*except in extremely deep snow, mud, or on dry sand, where flotation is actually a desirable trait).


Something else to considerà
On our recently acquired VehiCROSS, I installed a set of 255/70R16 Bridgestone A/T REVOs, and I simply cannot say enough good things about them! --- Granted, theyÆre not M/Ts û but æWOWÆ, do they ever get around in snow! (Yes, even better than my MT/Rsà a whooooooooole lot better!)

A friend in NYC (Rubo) picked-up a set of Pirelli Scorpion A/Ts for use in snow (and a bit of off-roading) - I had a set of them originally myselfà Both of us think pretty darn highly of their overall capabilities. --- Again, theyÆre not M/Ts, but from what youÆve said about your intended uses, IÆm not so sure that an M/T is really what would serve you best.


Anyway - hope this helps <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />


Cheers! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Smiley

Yep, 265's will go right on with no problems.
Jerry just put 265's on his.
He noticed a little bit of acceleration loss, but does
cruise at a much lower RPM on highway.
We checked it with GPS afterwards and if I remember right,
the speedometer was about 7 mph slow.





I agree. I put the 245 Revo's on my '95 and I love 'em.
They ride good, seem to be wearing really good, and
they are just aggressive enough to be mostly street driving
with an occassional off-road romp.
They have a fairly aggressive appearance as well.
Kind of expensive, but so far, well worth the money.

I run Dueler Revos 265/75/16 most of the time, when I'm not running 33" Kumho MT's for hunting or trails. The Revos have been great and everything these guys say. Right now Bridgestone is offering a $100 rebate on purchase of 4...PLUS, you have a 30 day money back guarantee. Such a deal!

i'll second (fourth?) the positive opinion on the revo's. I had the 255/70-16's on my Rodeo and moved them to the '99 Troop along with the 912's with no problem. If I had money to throw around, i'd be looking to getting the 265/75-16's. The 255/70-16 is almost kinda small on the troop with 1.5" lift.

Thanks for all the help and advice. I might go with the revos but i'm not sure yet.

I've been looking at more tires too and i was wondering if anyone has heard anything about the mickey thompson ATZ's.

The ones i really like even better than the mt/r's are the Mickey Thompson MTZ's but again, from what was said i dont know how practical that is for me. My heart is saying "get some real tires!" I know the revos are better for road though.

I have one last question. If i get MT's like the Mickey thompson MTZ's for example. how much dry road stopping and turning capabilities am i losing (assuming a relatively soft MT)? Basically what is the downside and how bad (not including noise-doesnt bother me, and not including wear-30k miles is fine for me). is it that ill lose 10% stopping and turning traction which i can live with (i know my trucks not a racecar anyway) or is it that i will probably spin out in the rain all the time and rear end people if im not careful? See i wish i could try the dam tires and then decide but i cant. If it's a small sacrifice in traction i'll go with m/t's and have an excuse to try off-roading but if it's a serious issue and a reduction of like 50% traction in rain or something then i wont do it.

Thanks again for all the help (and any more you can offer).

From everything you're typing, the REVOs are a better choice for your uses. You stress how important performance is to you; but also want to "look cool". You need to decide what matters most. The REVOs are going to be better for daily driver use than a set of MTs... especially when the slushy or packed snow hits the roads. I usually tell people that are on the fence between ATs and MTs to go for the MT's if they are into off-roading; but to realize MTs come with some sacrifices from a daily driver standpoint. Everything but the look cool factor in your posts are pointing me toward ATs... and these guys are all correct in that the REVOs are an excellent tire. And they look pretty cool for an AT since that is important to you. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />