[LoneLeaf]

Hi all, why do you use 33 inch tires (285/75-16) instead of the OE size?

This will probably become the next 500-post threadnaught, haha! :laughing2: I searched hundreds of threads here about 33s but the reason why people buy them seems to be lost in the sands of time.

Why do I want to know? I need new tires on the bone-stock 2015 Pro I just bought. I have no real reason to mod anything other than for shifts'n'grins because I feel like it. I think 33s look funny without a lift, so buying them would automatically commit me to a lift. Not against that, sounds fun, whatever, and if I replace the bumpers (also just for fun) I'll already need to swap some suspension parts anyhow for the extra weight, so might as well add the lift at the same time (~2 inch).

My theories:
1. Looks. (Like large rims on road cars where 99% do it for looks.)
2. To get a wider tire that fits our stock rims, and the next-widest size available just happens to be a 33 inch. And the reason for wanting wider may be primarily theory #1 again.
3. Marginally increased ground clearance. (Maybe 0.5 inch, depending on tire, inflation pressure, load, etc.)
4. Some reason about wider or more-compliant (softer) tire for offroad use.
5. Because small tires don't look as good with a lift. And the reason for the lift may be theory #1 again.

And hey, no judgment here! I don't care if it's for looks, or you haul mail 100 miles a day on a rocky two-track, or your sister just works at JoeTire and gets a great deal on 33s, whatever! I'd just like to know why people use 33s. Maybe I'll learn some things

Thanks!
:happy1:

 

[Lowcountry idn]

http://4x4abc.com/ML320/ml320_large_tires.html

Advantages and disadvantages of larger tires in link above. There are additional reasons - depends mostly on how you use your rig (or how you want it to look).

 

[LoneLeaf]

http://4x4abc.com/ML320/ml320_large_tires.html

Advantages and disadvantages of larger tires in link above. There are additional reasons - depends mostly on how you use your rig (or how you want it to look).

Okay, but what's your reason for using them?

 

[Random Person]

Okay, but what's your reason for using them?

The internet told me to.

 

[jtzako]

An inch more ground clearance and a bit easier to get them to roll up onto things for offroading.

 

[jsexton]

My reasons for 285's (or bigger in general)
1. Height - that 1/2 - 1" clearance depending on what model you started with actually makes a big difference offroad.
2. Width - Also helps offroad, but arguably not as much as height. Helps a lot on-road except for winter and very heavy rain. Not much worse in the winter/rain though.
3. Looks - they look better than a 33" pizza cutter (255/85r16), and a lot better than your typical 31" or 32" from the factory.

#1 and #2 made me go to 315/75r16's. Talk about a huge difference offroad when you get up to a 35" tire. If I didn't drive my x on the road, I would have probably stuffed 37's under there.

 

[Airmapper]

Because it's more better.

 

[bucksnort]

Because all the kool kids have them along with multiple led lite bars.

 

[LoneLeaf]

An inch more ground clearance and a bit easier to get them to roll up onto things for offroading.

Y'know that's a good point, I forgot that the non-Pro/OR trims have smaller tires (265/70-16 or 30.6 inch), so there's a bigger ground clearance increase going from those to a 33.

 

[wickedX]

It makes your X more bad ass!

 

[outback97]

Hi all, why do you use 33 inch tires (285/75-16) instead of the OE size?

The previous owner of mine had 265/70/16 passenger tires on there. I wanted to upgrade tires, and going to 285/75/16 gave me a pretty noticeable increase in clearance as well as slightly improving approach and departure angles and ease of rolling over stuff.

Also my old car was a lifted Subaru and it was unacceptable that the Xterra had less clearance at the rear differential... so that had to be improved :laugh:

 

[Brambleheart]

I was coming from the stock Rugged Trails, so I wanted better tread, better sidewalls, a little better clearance, and I knew I was going to lift.

Looks didn't hurt either.

 

[JNR]

I decided *against* going larger, as the new (stock size) STT's already added enough weight and the gearing is already high enough, even the 3.69's...the little bit of extra ground clearance would not be worth the negatives, especially if I had to pay more....have had 32's before on other smaller vehicles and they were great offroad IMO.

 

[CThoreal]

My main reason was 1) The larger diameter tire generally rides better off road, by staying on top of washboard and other small obstacles better 2) I'm lifted and stock tires would look silly. 3) 33s sounds cooler.

 

[Surf and Snow]

More ground clearance and a bigger traction footprint when off roading. And looks mo bettah.

 

[Tim13con]

Because everyone knows bigger tires = bigger penis. In an astoundingly shocking revelation, the same can be said for driving a manual.

TIL: you can write "penis" on this forum without getting censored.

 

[dirtyfoot]

'cause this:

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[LoneLeaf]

'cause this:

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

So you can run over your bumper when it falls off?

 

[itsyvesxterrra]

I had an X model, so I got a little more clearance than I had by just going up to 265/75/16s. I was more interested in getting an E-rated tire. I had two flats with the stock BFGs. I do more winter driving up to the ski resorts than off roading in the summer, so the 32s gave me a little more clearance, thicker sidewalls, and didn't hurt my mpg too bad.

 

[kebler2005]

because pee pee size