Why a "flotation" tire?
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From: Pittsburgh
Why a "flotation" tire?
Anyone know how the term "flotation tire" came into being? I've heard it's because they're supposed to "float" on whatever you're drivng on, but somehow i don't buy it. Anyone?
Justin
Justin
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From: Senoia, GA
that's exaqctly what it means! instead of a pizza cutter trying to dig down and find bottom flotation tires try to stay on top of the mud or water and uses the large tread voids as paddles to propel itself across whatever you are trying to get across.
-jason-
-jason-
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From: Pittsburgh
Maybe that wasn't quite the "right" question, i'm a bit on the not all together side right now, so lemme try this again. 
You can buy highway tires in flotation sizes (i.e. 31x10.50/15), they don't exactly float once you get off of pavement. Why did ^ that designation become known as flotation measurement? There we go, taht's what i REALLY wanna know
Justin
You can buy highway tires in flotation sizes (i.e. 31x10.50/15), they don't exactly float once you get off of pavement. Why did ^ that designation become known as flotation measurement? There we go, taht's what i REALLY wanna know
Justin
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You're looking for the history. Its a term the wheeling world borrowed from the agricultural industry. In the midwest, they used to have problems with losing tractors to flash floods. After a prominent tire makers son (I think it was Kelley) drowned on his tractor in a flash flood, Kelley began making "floatation tires" that would allow the tractors to ride out the floods in perfect safey without sinking. Our sport borrowed the concept. If you look at off-road "floatation tires" you'll see that along with the usual M+S rating, it should actually read M+S+FF. Meaning of course, Mud, snow, and flash flood rated. These are good tires but you have to be carefull doing water crossings because you can accidentally float away. My buddy had them on his suburban and was trying to cross a shallow part of the clackamas river when he got swept away on the current. These tires really work! The sub got swept out to sea and we ended up having to drive all the way down to Pismo Beach to get him. So now you know.
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That happened to a brand new Toyota with a lift and large tires at the lake some years ago. The guy was trying to cross out onto a small 'island' that is normally a peninsula but because the lake was at a higher level than usual, part of that peninsula was under water. He got about halfway out and the truck started to float and ended up overturning with a couple of new jet skis tied down in the back of it.
In fast running water, any kind of car can be carried away, regardless of tires. When I lived in Phoenix, we got flash floods sometimes and invariably someone would always venture out into the fast running water in a car and end up getting swept away.
The wide 'floatation' tires work great on the soft sand here in the desert, especially at low pressure.
In fast running water, any kind of car can be carried away, regardless of tires. When I lived in Phoenix, we got flash floods sometimes and invariably someone would always venture out into the fast running water in a car and end up getting swept away.
The wide 'floatation' tires work great on the soft sand here in the desert, especially at low pressure.
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Not quite, i knew the history, i'm wondering the measurement designation. I thought AG tires were a width and then wheel diameter designation (like a 7x17), not a height, width, diameter designation, or do AG tires and flotations have the same measurement system?
Justin
EDIT: I just realized that in my second post the ^ doesn't point to the (31x10.50/15). It should have (it did when i typed it).
Justin
EDIT: I just realized that in my second post the ^ doesn't point to the (31x10.50/15). It should have (it did when i typed it).
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Uhhh.....I kinda thought the "he washed out to sea and we had to pick him up at pismo beach" line would pretty clarify that I was making all that up 
I have no idea where the term "floatation tire" came from. I only hear it used loosely in refrence to really wide tires. Although, it is true when you have a very light rig (like a toyota, jeep, sammy, etc.) shod with big fat tires they actually CAN float you enough to tip you over as described by Socal.
C'mon, flash flood rated!?
I have no idea where the term "floatation tire" came from. I only hear it used loosely in refrence to really wide tires. Although, it is true when you have a very light rig (like a toyota, jeep, sammy, etc.) shod with big fat tires they actually CAN float you enough to tip you over as described by Socal.
C'mon, flash flood rated!?
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Originally Posted by hoxiii
You can buy highway tires in flotation sizes (i.e. 31x10.50/15), they don't exactly float once you get off of pavement. Why did ^ that designation become known as flotation measurement?
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