I don't think too many run 12.5 wide on stock rims. Do you ride much with them aired down? Any troubles?

The 12.5s clear okay on the stock offset?

I would love 11.5" wide tires, but would have to go down to 32's. Will a tire shop even install 12.5" wide tires on a 8" rim if the MFG suggest a wider width for the tire? There is a lot of extra weight in 12.5's and with this being my daily driver, mileage and on-road handling cant be completely sacrificed. I am curious too, about rubbing issues with that wide a tire.

Well, I actually checked the measurements on the stock tires for my truck, 265/70/15. I was surprised to see that they are about 29.6 inches tall by 10.6 inches wide. That can vary a bit depending on the brand and model of tire. So if I go 33x10.5x15, I will not be increasing the width of my tires at all! I can't see the rationale for raising the height by 3+" and not adding any width!

At least one person has commented that 33x12.5's fit fine on the stock '98 full size Montero wheel. Any other experiences?

The tire manufacturers recommend a minimum 8.5" wheel for that size. Am I putting myself or my family in danger if I go this route?

I find it curious that the max inflation pressure for that size drops to 35 psi, whereas for the 32x11.5 and the 33x10.5's it is 50 psi. The lower pressure will adversely affect fuel consumption but improve offroad grippiness??? Is that correct? Once again, thanks for your indulgence.

Well, I ordered my tires yesterday at Costco, BFG All-Terrain T/A KO's 33x10.5x15's, they should be in early next week. Since the stock wheel is only a 15x7, I couldn't bring myself to ordering 33x12.5's...didn't seem like the safe thing to do.

So I walk into Costco and the guy asks me what type of truck - '98 full size Montero, how much lift - 2.75" suspension lift - and he proceeds to call up his manager who tells me that they will not go more than 3% over stock or the tire size already on the truck. Well, 33's are 10% larger than stock.

I am not liking this turn of events. I explain to him that many other Montero owners are running 33's with no issues. He starts talking about liablity, ABS systems not being designed for larger tires, and such.

So finally I work out a compromise with him. He will mount the tires on my rims, but I will have to install them in the parking lot so he doesn't have any liablity. Kind of a joke, but they are the cheapest and I had a $60 off coupon, so I guess I can't complain too much. I am paying $675 plus tax for a set of 5.

They are putting Nitrogen in the tires at 26 psi (unless I tell them differently). Will I have any issues if I lower them down to go offroad, then put regular air back in to fill them up? I am assuming not, but wanted to make sure. Thanks.

Standard practice for Costco, and pretty annoying. You'd think they would just put a "Non-stock size" warning/disclaimer on the work order.

No, you won't have any issues with mixing nitrogen with plain air (which is mostly nitrogen anyway).

I have 33x12.5x15 tires mounted on 15x8 rims. I've had them for over three years. I've never popped a bead on any of them, even having aired down to as little as 10 PSI. Got them from Discount Tire. Although I had them mount the tires on the rims and then I just threw them in the bed of my pickup to haul home, they would have installed them on my truck.

When my 33s wear out, I'm thinking I'll move up to 35x12.5x15s.

When I still had the stock rims (15x7), at one point I mounted 31x10.5x15s on them and they were fine.

EDIT: Oh, and I upgraded my brakes to bigger brake disks, but not until about two years after I'd gotten my 33s.

I have been running 32x11.5x15 on my 2000 (which is more similiar to your 98) and just recently put on OME HD shocks all around and turned the torsion bars a little to level out the ride. I am looking at converting to 16" wheels and going with 255/85. This will give me a 33.5" tire with a width of about 10". Not sure when I will get to this (read wife approval), but the 32" fit without any lift and since I did do the OME suspension it gave me enough of a lift that there is a lot of day light in the wheel wells so I think that 33" will fit fine. The OME suspension was the best thing I ever did to the truck. The rear got the new shocks and springs and the front I only upgraded the shocks as I do not plan on a winch/bumper. The ride is very smooth loaded or with only me. My only concern with going to 33's is the ability to climb on the trails as I too live in Colorado and some of the trails can require more gearing than what we have stock (on big wheels).

Good luck!

I want 32x11.50 BFG ATs for my Big Truck. As you no doubt found out, they are nowhere to be found right now. I even called 4WheelParts and the guys says they show 200 tires sold and none in stock. Something about BFG being in a production run for a new tire at the same plant.

The wife's car needed new feet too. So we got her the same 31x10.50 Michelin LTX M/S that I have had for so long now. I wanted them on mine for now until the 32s came in. She had other ideas. Now my 95 with 1" of lift is sitting on stock 265s. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

With you on the 33x10.50 and width. Also on the wieght of 33x12.50. My 95 with its tired 150k miles doesn't turn them well. The 87 with its fresh 2.6 turbo handles them well though!

The 33s are on steelies now. I want the 32x11.50s and will get some 15x8 alloys in the end. I look forward to hearing how yours feels with the 33x10.50s. Of course, you have the 200HP 3.5 on yours, which will make quite a difference over my 3.0.

With the stock tires, this truck really gets up and goes. I have no problems passing or climbing over the mountain passes. I expect to lose some of that oomph, but I hope it isn't too bad. It has been recommended to me that I should swap in 4.90 gears and if I am doing it, I should put in a front locker... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I liked the idea of 32x11.5's but the price they quoted me was a lot more than the 33x10.5's, in fact it was more than 33x12.5's, so I didn't even get to the point of finding out if they were available!

I am planning on a front bull bar w/ winch, so that was a motivating factor in getting the ARB torsion bars. I will let you know how it feels. I hope it all goes on well tomorrow. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

I took the 33s off of Big Truck, where I was using them for the winter, and put them back on Little Truck, which I am now driving with the summer weather. While I wait for the 32s to come available, I have a spare set of 235 "rollers" on Big Truck so I can move it around.

Qucik tip for a good 20+ seat-of-the-pants HP... Swap your 33s for 235s! It's like I bought a sports car... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />