Thanks for posting those hi-res pictures, now I don't have to post mine. What resolution did you take those at? They are so awesome. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (But they do make a good comparison..... )
Something to consider for those using
stock 6" wide rims that do any good amount of wheeling in tight spots. With
the stock BS and a narrow tire (9.5 or 10.5) you leave yourself open to a lot more body damage. I will get some pictures posted of the damage on both sides of my truck, but I have learned the hard way
wider tires or rims with 3.75"-4" BS do a lot of good to help you keep your truck off of obstacles.
The thing is unless you get wheel spacers you will have to get new rims with a different backspacing (BS) to make the tires stick out a little bit further from the fenders. And at that point if you are investing in new rims you might as well get an 8" wide rim and run some wider tires anyway. You would have to buy a 7" wide rim, and then limit your future options (going wider) so you could be able to run a 9.5" wide tire (also increased risk of popping beads). You could get away with a 10.5" tire on a 8", but it would be interesting airing down to lower PSI ranges/possibly popping beads.
So really unless you just have $$$$ growing on a tree in your back yard if you run skinny tires on stock rims you run a large risk of body damage on any serious wheeling in tight spaces. Pictures of damage to fallow. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />
This picture is great to prove my point. The width of the tire is not the tool that is preventing the damage but the added distance that it adds inbetween the object and the body. I can run a 2 inch wide tire three feet from the edge of the axle, or I could run it inside the fender not producing any protection buffer. That and that alone is what is saving you body from damage not whether or not the tire is 2 inches or 2 feet wide. You could mount a wider tire onto a vehicle and adjust the backspacing so that the tire does not protrude from the body at all. So if you want to prevent body damage go buy wheel spacers, or different backspaced rims, not wider tires. The rule of thumb I've followed is for every inch you lift it up, you need to make it atleast an inch wider. Besides Eli you need to bury those superwinches some.
Please review my original post, I think I say narrow tires plus stock backspacing a couple times. And I said it would be wider tires plus better backspacing at least once, and that spacers would be an option once too. Its cool Jason I know you were trying to say you agree with me. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Secondly: A skinny tire will increase your contact pressure. Your contact patch is smaller, but your pressure is greater, hence more traction, when traction is available... You can run a narrower rim, so the combo gives you less rolling resistance getting to your favorite trail, less rotating mass, less unsprung weight. These are some of the reasons why skinnies often = Good.
This is actually why I run skinny tires. When it was posted earlier wider tires=better contact pressure, but I opted not to say anything or post these:
![[Linked Image]](http://www.expeditionswest.com/research/white_papers/deformation.gif)
http://www.expeditionswest.com/research/white_papers/tire_selection_rev1.htmlBut that is all beyond what we are talking about here really.
Also keep in mind my statements on running a 15x7 with a "x wide tire" or a 15x8 with a "x wide tire" are my own reasons to why I wouldn't go with possible alternatives. Because I knew someone would say "Well you can just run a 9.5" on a 7" rim, so go buy some 15x7s with a 3.75" Backspacing". The point was if you buy new rims with a better backspacing to push the skinny tires out more, its more cost efficient (in my opinion) and makes more sense to (me to) just buy a wider rim and run wider tires. Because you go buy those 15x7s (with the better backspacing) and say in the future you decide to run some 12.5s tires (in my own comfort zone I wouldn't run 12.5s on 15x7s if I didn't have to, not to say you couldn't). So you would just end up having to spend more money and buy 15x8s in the end. And the last option which are wheel spacers, at the cost of steel rims you are better off just buying new rims if you are going to drop that kind of money.
So to summarize my points at least:
15x6 Rims with Stock Backspacing running 9.5" wide tires in rutted spots with high mud walls not good.
15x7 Rims with 3.75" Backspacing running 9.5" wide tires in rutted spots with high mud walls better but not cost efficient if you ever plan on running 12.5s+ wide tires later on.
