Did a search and could not find this topic.

I'm getting ready for new skins; I either going with 235/85R16 or 285/75R16.

My driving is 95% highway, I'm here in the Phila. area so we get snow but not like the old days so I'm thinking of a good M/S.

Do you guys perfer the bigger fatter or the taller thinner tires, why?

Thanks for any input.

Steve

 

I like the looks of the 285-75-16...But prefer the OEM size...265-70-16 for snow traction. I have found that the wider the tire, the more it packs the snow instead of cutting it.

Ummmm Are you sure of the 235 measurement? That seems too narrow.

 

My truck came with 235/85R16s from factory and I have 285/75R16s on now. Theres no comparing the two IMO. I have far better traction in all conditions with the 285s including snow. My 285s are more aggressive than the 235s were but..... Never going back to 235/85s or 265/75s.

 

My F250 originally can with the 235/85R16's. I moved to 265/75R16 which are now bologna skins.

My truck is a 6.0, CC, LB 4X4

 

Hmmm interesting....I thought the 265 were the OEM size. Oh well....
JMO

 

There were different tires options. If you got the optional A/T OWL tires you got 265/75R16 if you got the standard BSW tires they were usually 235/85R16s. Both the 235s and 265s have almost identical diameters because of the aspect ratio. I believe duallys usually came with 235s also.

My dads 99' and his 03' both came with the 265 firestone steeltexs because he got the optional OWL A/T tires. My dad was a happy camper when he got rid of the steeltexs on both trucks and went to 285 BF A/Ts, those steeltexs were horrible tires traction wise. My 04' came with the standard BSW 235s.

 

I have had 325's (13.5") with my 07 CC 250 and I am very impressed with the traction in the snow. I have heard some make the argument that thinner tires are better in the snow but from my personal expierience with highway driving, I feel very comfortable with the wider tires in white stuff. Braking sucks in the snow any way you look at it but I am sure that your tire type will also affect the performance in adverse weather conditions.

 

A lot of factors go into a tire's snow performance. Width is just one factor.

Also important are big open blocks of tread to throw off snow and prevent packing.

Rubber compound designed to flex in snow and throw off snow.

Siping, small cuts in tread to give rubber many edges to grab on ice.

Maybe bubbles in the rubber to cat like mini suction cups. Blizzaks and maybe a couple others have these.

I probably missed a few of these, since 1) I have lived most of my life in southern Calif. 2) I am not a tire expert.

I did live for about 14 years in Oregon and my experience is that it is more important how you drive, but your tires do make a difference. I had an Impala SS with big fat tires, got along fine in snow, ice was tricky, even my blizzaks were marginal.

Studded tires work well in ice, so so in snow and are terrible on dry or wet clear pavement.

Chains are good when all else fails but good for only a few hundred miles before they drive you crazy or snap a link.

My F250 with skinny tires and 4x4 is OK in most snow, not good on ice. I even towed my 30 foot travel trailer in snowy mountains at low speed just fine, even when others in 4x4 and no trailer, stopped driving.

OH, back to reasons... 3) I am not too bright.

In general I would say narrow tires work better for me on snow and ice(Barely). I can get around fine on fat tires if I drive carefully. Hard dry COLD ice is easy to drive on. It is the sloppy just wet snow or ice that is dangerous.

Jim Henderson

 

Stockers are 235/85/16 or 265/75/16 depending on the trim package. I would go with the latter or a 285/75/16 since the 235s look way too small.

 

Taller, thinner, everyday and for almost all occassions.

 

Personally, I like 275s on SRW Super Duty's for all occassions. 235 andd 285 are two extremes so you could split the difference

 

Lived in Northern Canada for 20 years and agree totally with Ace..

 

The fatter the better! JMO

 

We're still talking tires, right?

 

Not on snow and ice! I have 35x12.50 tires now, I think my next set will be 285/75/18 which is about a 35x11.50