33" tyres

KNine · Jul 2, 2015

I have just got back from Morroco and recon I need 33" MT tyres to improve my off road capability on my D1.
I currently have OME springs and shocks giving a 2" lift and run 235/85/16 BFG AT's on standard wheels.
I am also about to fit 2" flexi arches.
I am looking at getting either 255/85/16 or 285/75/16 from maxxis Bighorn or BFG, but don't really understand the pros or cons between the two sizes?
Which one fits best under the 2" flexi arches on modulars without poking out?
Also, I don't understand what size modular "j" I would need for these two sizes?
Final question, is 16" modulars the way ahead or should I be looking at 15" and why?
Any advise is greatly appreciated on this subject that I can't get my head arround.
I understand that some people don't like questions about tyres, but this question is directed at those that are keen to help,
Many thank.

TrilloThrillo110 · Jul 2, 2015

KNine said:
I have just got back from Morroco and recon I need 33" MT tyres to improve my off road capability on my D1.
I currently have OME springs and shocks giving a 2" lift and run 235/85/16 BFG AT's on standard wheels.
I am also about to fit 2" flexi arches.
I am looking at getting either 255/85/16 or 285/75/16 from maxxis Bighorn or BFG, but don't really understand the pros or cons between the two sizes?
Which one fits best under the 2" flexi arches on modulars without poking out?
Also, I don't understand what size modular "j" I would need for these two sizes?
Final question, is 16" modulars the way ahead or should I be looking at 15" and why?
Any advise is greatly appreciated on this subject that I can't get my head arround.
I understand that some people don't like questions about tyres, but this question is directed at those that are keen to help,
Many thank.

I am looking at getting either 255/85/16 or 285/75/16 from Maxxis Bighorn or BFG, but don't really understand the pros or cons between the two sizes?
255s are taller than 285s, despite them both supposedly being 33s. 255s are nearer 33.5" tall and some 285s are only 32.7". Doesn't sound much but every inch counts! 255s are a tad over 10 inches wide but 285s are around 11-11.5 inches wide, meaning wider rims and the tyre itself sticks out more. The advantage with 285s is technically they should 'float' over thick mud. However 255s should dig through the mud into any more solid stuff at the bottom of any mud. But, in saying this, they're both kind of in between wide and narrow, so the difference won't be as big as fitting 12.5" wide tyres after running 750x16s say. However, you will notice a difference in gravelly roads, where narrow tyres perform far better. The dig down to the base and provide far more grip than 'skating' on top of the gravel. For me, even going from 245s down to to 235s was a marked improvement. With 255s, tyre availability will be harder, are there is a smaller range compared to 285s but seeing as you know what tyres you're looking at, it shouldn't be a problem unless you have to hurriedly source a spare while, maybe overlanding (considering you just got back from Morroco

). Personally I'd definitely go 255, as 285 just seems too wide, and that tyre is more suited to a 110. 10.5 inch wide tyres seems to be what most people like on their Discos too, but generally as a 32", not 33", but that shouldn't matter.

Which one fits best under the 2" flexi arches on modulars without poking out?
The 255s, as they're narrower and don't need such wide and such high offset rims.

Also, I don't understand what size modular "j" I would need for these two sizes?
Dunno sorry about the 'j'. I assume you mean the width of the rims? If so, you'd want 7-8 inch wide rims, 9 at a stretch (literally!) for the 255s and 8-10 inch wide for the 285s. So, if you didn't want to run modulars, you could still run your factory alloys with the 255s, although you'd loose the offset which might need correcting with some wheel spacers.

Final question, is 16" modulars the way ahead or should I be looking at 15" and why?
Well if you go to 15 inch rims then none of the sizes above will fit. But if you want to get 33s on 15" rims you really have 2 options. 33x10.5x15 and 33x12.5x15s. If you want 285 width tyres on 15 inch rims, the closest tyre you could get is 32x11.5x15. I'm planning on fitting 33x10.5x15s to my truck some time soon, but I've found that size to be hard to source. Of your 2 picks, only BFG make the 33x10.5 15. They both make the 33x12.5 but that seems far too wide for a Disco.

Hope this helps!

KNine · Jul 2, 2015

TrilloThrillo110 said:
I am looking at getting either 255/85/16 or 285/75/16 from Maxxis Bighorn or BFG, but don't really understand the pros or cons between the two sizes?
255s are taller than 285s, despite them both supposedly being 33s. 255s are nearer 33.5" tall and some 285s are only 32.7". Doesn't sound much but every inch counts! 255s are a tad over 10 inches wide but 285s are around 11-11.5 inches wide, meaning wider rims and the tyre itself sticks out more. The advantage with 285s is technically they should 'float' over thick mud. However 255s should dig through the mud into any more solid stuff at the bottom of any mud. But, in saying this, they're both kind of in between wide and narrow, so the difference won't be as big as fitting 12.5" wide tyres after running 750x16s say. However, you will notice a difference in gravelly roads, where narrow tyres perform far better. The dig down to the base and provide far more grip than 'skating' on top of the gravel. For me, even going from 245s down to to 235s was a marked improvement. With 255s, tyre availability will be harder, are there is a smaller range compared to 285s but seeing as you know what tyres you're looking at, it shouldn't be a problem unless you have to hurriedly source a spare while, maybe overlanding (considering you just got back from Morroco ). Personally I'd definitely go 255, as 285 just seems too wide, and that tyre is more suited to a 110. 10.5 inch wide tyres seems to be what most people like on their Discos too, but generally as a 32", not 33", but that shouldn't matter.

Which one fits best under the 2" flexi arches on modulars without poking out?
The 255s, as they're narrower and don't need such wide and such high offset rims.

Also, I don't understand what size modular "j" I would need for these two sizes?
Dunno sorry about the 'j'. I assume you mean the width of the rims? If so, you'd want 7-8 inch wide rims, 9 at a stretch (literally!) for the 255s and 8-10 inch wide for the 285s. So, if you didn't want to run modulars, you could still run your factory alloys with the 255s, although you'd loose the offset which might need correcting with some wheel spacers.

Final question, is 16" modulars the way ahead or should I be looking at 15" and why?
Well if you go to 15 inch rims then none of the sizes above will fit. But if you want to get 33s on 15" rims you really have 2 options. 33x10.5x15 and 33x12.5x15s. If you want 285 width tyres on 15 inch rims, the closest tyre you could get is 32x11.5x15. I'm planning on fitting 33x10.5x15s to my truck some time soon, but I've found that size to be hard to source. Of your 2 picks, only BFG make the 33x10.5 15. They both make the 33x12.5 but that seems far too wide for a Disco.

Hope this helps!

Trillo, thanks for the comprehensive answer, much appreciated. I will go for the 255/85/16 Maxxis bighorn MT. I am still a bit confused about the modulars though; I would like the tyres to sit nice and square under the 2" flexi arches that I am fitting tomorrow, so my question is, what offset will the modulars need to have to make this happen. Many thanks

robbh · Jul 2, 2015

KNine said:
Trillo, thanks for the comprehensive answer, much appreciated. I will go for the 255/85/16 Maxxis bighorn MT. I am still a bit confused about the modulars though; I would like the tyres to sit nice and square under the 2" flexi arches that I am fitting tomorrow, so my question is, what offset will the modulars need to have to make this happen. Many thanks

I can help. I'm running 255/85/16's BF Goodrich muds on my disco.

On standard offset steel wheels i was using 30mm spacers to make the tyre sit under the extended arch.

Now running 16x8 modulars with - 35 offset. Sit nicely in the arch and look good to boot!

KNine · Jul 2, 2015

robbh said:
I can help. I'm running 255/85/16's BF Goodrich muds on my disco.

On standard offset steel wheels i was using 30mm spacers to make the tyre sit under the extended arch.

Now running 16x8 modulars with - 35 offset. Sit nicely in the arch and look good to boot!

Thanks Robb, that is exactly the info I was looking for so much appreciated. If you happen to have a front on picture to post that would be fantastic.
Many Thanks.

robbh · Jul 2, 2015

KNine said:
Thanks Robb, that is exactly the info I was looking for so much appreciated. If you happen to have a front on picture to post that would be fantastic.
Many Thanks.

No problem.

I don't at the moment but I can get on tomorrow.

TrilloThrillo110 · Jul 3, 2015

KNine said:
I will go for the 255/85/16 Maxxis bighorn MT.

I had been planning on those as well, until I saw the General Grabber comp. tyre in 33x10.5R15. They look really good for me (cause I'll be doing lots of road driving too and very little mud).

KNine · Jul 3, 2015

TrilloThrillo110 said:
I had been planning on those as well, until I saw the General Grabber comp. tyre in 33x10.5R15. They look really good for me (cause I'll be doing lots of road driving too and very little mud).

They look good, but I want the bighorns for off roading, I will keep my AT,s for road use. Cheers

TrilloThrillo110 · Jul 3, 2015

KNine said:
They look good, but I want the bighorns for off roading, I will keep my AT,s for road use. Cheers

I'd rather the Bighorns for my truck too but I do so little mud (only riverbeds and road driving really) that the fact that the Grabbers are guaranteed to last more than 2x as long as the Bighorns, I reckon the Grabbers are for me

33" tyres

KNine

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KNine

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robbh

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KNine

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robbh

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TrilloThrillo110

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KNine

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