Help me understand 255/85/16 and wheel articulation

From what I understand there are only a few options for 255/85-16. BFG KM2 and Cooper ST Maxx are two very popular options.

 

That's what I fear. Fortunately I have a little time before I buy new tires so maybe UCAs will be affordable for me at that time. I guess I don't need to remove the sway bar. I spend most of my time on road and on hunting trails. No serious articulation required.

 

Look at the Dick Cepek Extreme Country. Jegs has the best price that I have found.

 

I ran 255/80r17 on bone stock suspension on stock wheels. The key to it not rubbing is the fact that stock wheels are nice and tucked in, and not pushed out towards the firewall mid turn. All I had to do to not rub was undo the two screws in the bottom front of the fender liner, and undo one plastic clip. Then I shoved them forward and zip tied it out of the way. Went wheeling and didn't rub a bit.

Before pushing it out of the way.


After shoving it back.


Edit: I'm now running a 3" lift with stock UCAs. I got 1.56° of caster and steering is a little twitchy at 70 mph, but it's not bad or unsafe at all.

 

Luckily my truck already had that trim work done because the PO had 2" spacers on it. My last alignment had the caster set at 2.2. The truck currently drives great with my 265s.

 

Are you going to bump up to 255s then?

 

I certainly am. Just a matter of time.

 

You won't know until you do it. be prepared to cut

 

This. I run the same. Great tire

 

I just put these on. I got them from Jegs earlier in the week. So far I am liking the tire.

 

So +3 for the extreme country's. I'll add them to the list!

 

+4 @CaliDevilDoc runs them in that size and loves them.

 

I own Bighorns. I really like them so far, (With 250 miles on them ).

 

Those do look nice! A little more aggressive than a KM2?

 

Well, I have never owned the KM2.

But I will say I would have bought M55s, but got these tires for 570 otd. so half the cost of the bfgs

 

I have the cooper st maxx in 255/85 on 16x8 wheels with 4.5 backspace 0 offset, on 2.5 inch lift. My caster is around 1.8-1.9. No sway bar. Pushed/zip-tied the fender liners in the front, and had to cut an angle off the front fender trim on the inside of the wheel well at the front. No rubbing at mud flaps, cab mount or pinch weld. That's at full stuff and lock. I assume it has a lot to do with the 1.8 caster that I don't rub at pinch weld.

 

It has as much to do with offset and tire poke as it does diameter; maybe more.
Most people go 285s on a 8"-9" rim, with zero to negative offset; when the go 'big'.
An extreme example is imagining a tire that sticks out 5 foot...you aren't going to be able to turn very far before hitting things.
If you keep the stock wheel, your chances of clearing are better.

 

Got my Dick Cepek EC's mounted up. $703 shipped from Jegs. Tires ride great and balanced WAY better than the Duratracs they replaced. Haven't had a chance to stuff them yet,so we'll see about rubbing. With my LR uca's I got 3* caster and 0* toe and camber.