Can't go taller - Going wider

[JesseRohr]

Ah the wide verses narrow discussion
Wide creates more resistance in soft stuff, fact
Narrow verse wide when deflated makes virtually no difference because the length of the tread is what creates floatation not width.
There is plenty of science backed and actual comparison tests on the net so do your own research
Wide looks way cooler and better for pulling the chicks when cruising the mall…

There was no discussion as I laid out my needs at the beginning of the thread that taller wasn't an option due to restraints.

 

[ECrider]

Would wider whether inflated or deflated not offer more of a contact patch from the beginning? Perhaps not a game changer in sand but clay/mud would probably offer an advantage?

 

[MattA]

There was no discussion as I laid out my needs at the beginning of the thread that taller wasn't an option due to restraints.

But you want to go wider to get better performance off road…
Wider off road is worse not better, you mentioned really soft sand, go lower pressure, soft stuff I go straight to 15 psi front and 18 rear, if it’s really soft I then go down from there and drive accordingly, that’s in a fully kitted out touring room g that weighs over 3 ton
If really soft is a regular thing go a set of bead locks and you will be better off
If your hellbent on wider as many are ask yourself why and I bet it’s because you think it looks better if you’re honest with yourself, each to their own
I go function over everything else, especially looks

 

[JesseRohr]

But you want to go wider to get better performance off road…
Wider off road is worse not better, you mentioned really soft sand, go lower pressure, soft stuff I go straight to 15 psi front and 18 rear, if it’s really soft I then go down from there and drive accordingly, that’s in a fully kitted out touring room g that weighs over 3 ton
If really soft is a regular thing go a set of bead locks and you will be better off
If your hellbent on wider as many are ask yourself why and I bet it’s because you think it looks better if you’re honest with yourself, each to their own
I go function over everything else, especially looks

I disagree both in theory and in my own real world experience. You’re entitled to your own opinion but please don’t solicit it here as fact when it is not.

 

[MattA]

Just trying to help with information, did you watch the video? There are also 100’s of other comparisons on the net but that’s ok you do you

 

[DaveB]

As above, why anyone would go 18 inch rims over 17’s on a 4wd is beyond me

The good part also with the factory alloy options was that the 17" looked much better than the 18" rims.
If they did them the other way around I would have had to go with the steelies and then go aftermarket.

 

[DaveB]

I bet a lot of people still go the wide tire even after watching that video with all the fact not just opinion shown clearly

This one from Robert is also very good.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spOUcaUzIHY

 

[MattA]

This one from Robert is also very good.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spOUcaUzIHY

I have seen that one before, over many years of 4wding I have studied, experienced, seen and discussed this topic many times, the outcome is always the same in practice and discussion always goes the same way with some

 

[Commodore]

I disagree both in theory and in my own real world experience. You’re entitled to your own opinion but please don’t solicit it here as fact when it is not.

You are welcome to disagree with wide vs narrow or believe that the world is flat but both are settled science at this point.

 

[Tinerfeño]

The good part also with the factory alloy options was that the 17" looked much better than the 18" rims.
If they did them the other way around I would have had to go with the steelies and then go aftermarket.

My Grenadier had 18" alloys but I changed them to 17" steel wheels at purchase. My experience is that steel wheels are more reliable in off-road. We have couple of times repaired dents in bead ares (causing leaks) on-site. Only once steel wheel has failed completely being irrepairable.

 

[Tinerfeño]

Would wider whether inflated or deflated not offer more of a contact patch from the beginning?

The wider tyre will have wider wall of sand in front of tyre causing higher resistance and tendency to dig in. It's not just calculated pressure that counts.