How to Choose the Best LT Tires | Harry Situations

Wondering what to look for in a tire? Many people purchase their tires and wheels based solely on looks, but there are many more factors that you should take into consideration before making your purchase. For tires, considerations include not only appearance and sizing, but tread pattern, load rating, tread depth, rubber compound, and more. Wheels are similarly complex and considerations should be given to not just size but load rating, width, backspacing, and construction. We dive into all the details to be informed on to make the best decision for your own needs.
The good news is, you can have your cake and eat it too with Nitto’s new Recon Grappler tires. Now available in over 70 sizes, the Recon Grappler has aggressive good looks and generous tread depth with a computer-designed tread pattern to optimize traction and minimize noise. We run 37x11.5R17s with 17x8.5 AEV wheels on our 2014 Ram.
Drop a comment and let us know what you want to see next from Harry and Mike!
Subscribe to Driving Line for more: kzbin.info...
Want to know the different features of the Nitto tires we used?
www.nittotire.com/light-truck...
Introduction 0:00
Nitto Recon Grappler 0:45
Tread Pattern 1:38
Load Range and Load Rating Explained 4:33
Light Truck (LT) versus Passenger (P Metric) Tires 6:17
Metric Tire Sizing 7:33
Choosing the Right Wheels 9:43
Backspacing and Offset 11:20
What Tire Pressure to Run 13:17
What do you think? Drop a comment below and let us know.
Subscribe: kzbin.info...
Follow us on Facebook: / drivingline
Follow us on Instagram: / drivingline
More Articles: www.drivingline.com/
Check out all of the sizes of the Nitto Recon Grappler A/T
www.nittotire.com/light-truck...
More backcountry content from All-Terrain Family:
/ @allterrainfamily
Follow Harry on Instagram: / harrysituations
Follow Mike on Instagram: / allterrainfamily

[@kyridgejumper]

This info needs to be taught in High School. It definitely needs to be talked about more in the off road scene especially back spacing and tire scrub. Great video

[@HarrySituations]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@BenjaminSandness]

Compromise is everything. Very informative, I learned a few things.

[@jeffreybetts8014]

Already a nitto fan , also an AEV customer, I like their wheels because they are designed to keep the tire within the fender flare on my jeep JL, I really like the ridge and trail grapplers, I live in Maine, they perform well no matter what terrain or weather you throw at them, thanks for the video, very good information

[@Fparrish]

Another solid and informative vid by Harry 🤘🏼👍🏼😊

[@rickwhitmire7933]

Nice job explaining that Harry 👍

[@chriswasnesky1494]

Great info. Its hard to go in depth on tires & wheels without people's eyes glazing over! Well done. Load range & tire construction is hugely important, as is intended usage. I've seen more and more E & F load ranges on (street) Jeeps and 1/2 ton trucks as people run goofy wheel sizes. I've also educated my Parts Dept to ask what vehicle the tires are going on, as tire shops & distibutors don't always ask, and may supply an E range where a C is a better "fit". Fun stuff.

[@HarrySituations]

Agreed Chris! I wish we saw more options in the same size but different load ratings to match to a vehicle’s weight and use.

[@ZephyrRandD]

Nitto, please offer more 37X11.5R 17! 🙏 I want a Trail Grappler in that size & C load.

[@HarrySituations]

They have the Trail Grappler in a C in a 35x11.5R17 but a 37 wouldn’t hurt my feelings. I love pizza cutters (and pizza for that matter).

[@AllTerrainFamily]

@@HarrySituations And the 33 x 10.5 or 255 80 r17. That's turning out to be a great size for my Tacoma.

[@JustinCaseWages]

Spot on my friend!

[@markhavelka4924]

The visuals during the metric tire size explanation were hilariously accurate. 😅

[@AnthonyLovato]

It's a game of inches.🤙

[@betweenthepines4000]

Wish I could my hands on those 37x11.5 here in Canada! They don't exist!!!

[@JeepnJeff]

I've been going though all of this right now. Swapping axles and moving from 15's to 17's. One thing I've noticed is that there are very few new companies that make wheels with 5 on 5.5" bolt pattern. I was able to find some Method 701's on clearance but it looks like they're trying to get rid of old stock. I would have liked to have tried some Icon Rebound Pro's but they don't come in 5 on 5.5". As for tires, those of us who drive smaller/lighter vehicles, it's tough to find a tire with a C Load rating in 17's. In 15's, they're easy to find but in 17's they are basically nonexistant in some sizes. I also found most 35x12.50R17's are going to be E Load. If you're lucky you can find some with a D Load. The only way to get a C Load in that size is to get an OE 315. BFG has two, one for the JL Rubicon XR and one for the Raptor. GY has a Wrangler for the Bronco Sasquatch but I think that's it for C's without going narrower. Lots of hybrid AT's popping up which is nice since you don't have to give up as much when choosing an AT over an MT. Also it's good know that not all tires have the newer 3PMSF rating. Some mfg's have them for tires up to a certain size. I ended up going with the new Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT's. It's all about compromises and doing your homework for sure.

[@HarrySituations]

Yeah 5x5.5 used to be the norm for Jeeps/Broncos/Samurais years ago but I don’t know of any vehicle that comes with them now so options are more limited. For tires, Nitto actually makes a Trail Grapplers in a 35x11.5R17 in a Load Range C. I think this will be the hot choice for vehicles like new Broncos and Toyotas where the narrower tire will help with fitment with the independent front suspension.

[@shawnwalker2599]

For more agressive snow-wheeling, do you find it advantageous to add sipes to a mud tire, in my case a Trail Grappler? Great video, tons of good info!

[@HarrySituations]

Yeah I think sipes help in the snow in my experience. Let me know how they worked at Burning Snowman!

[@AustinH7]

My preference Wheels: lightweight,aluminum and 17 inches or smaller Tires 33s or larger at least an all terrain

[@HarrySituations]

What wheels are you running Austin? I want some SCS for my Tundra but they never seem to be in stock.

[@AustinH7]

@@HarrySituations I’m running Mammoth 8s. I believe the Mammoth brand only makes Wrangler wheels unfortunately…

[@dirtlifemagazine]

I'd love to know what you did to your Ram to fit 37s. I have the same truck.

[@HarrySituations]

It is a 2014 3500, so it fit 35s stock. To fit the 37s I put Thuren 1.5" lift coils on the front with Synergy radius arm brackets that add caster and move the axle forward slightly for firewall clearance. Rear has stock leaf springs with Air Lift air bags and Daystar cradles. I also have Fox 2.5-inch diameter Factory Race Series shocks, it is a bit of a hodge-podge but it rides great!

[@Capricorn2500]

Do you haul a trailer with your Ram? If so I know it recommends 80psi for the rear do you pump them up or just run at 50psi?

[@HarrySituations]

I do tow fairly regularly and still run 50 pounds and haven’t had any issues. The tongue weight isn’t that significant when towing my Jeep, most of the 6000 pounds of the Jeep and trailer is carried by the four tires on the trailer. Great comment, as I’m writing the reply I’m realizing I should make a video about trailers and towing. Thanks!

[@Capricorn2500]

@@HarrySituations Thank you for your response 👍🏻🤠

[@curtboroff]

Step one, buy BF Goodrich. 😎

[@HarrySituations]

I liked the BFGs on my Tundra but I have not had good luck with them on a heavy vehicle like my Ram.

[@ThePyleDriver]

Having run a variety of makes and models on my JKU in winter conditions (Living in CO, MT, Tahoe) and for general 4 season trail use everywhere, I’ve settled on Duratracs. Lighter than BFG, far better in the snow and with a better ride. Maybe not as tough but it hasn’t been an issue for me. Love that they have stud pin holes although I haven’t had to run a studded set yet.

[@HarrySituations]

I haven’t had very good luck with Goodyear sidewalls but the Duratracs do seem to be super popular up in Canada where they get even more snow then we get in Tahoe. How many miles do you generally get out of a set on your Wrangler?

[@rpreddysr]

Just a mm to inch conversion correction to be more exact. 1 inch is approximately 25.4 mm, not 25.6.

[@HarrySituations]

Thanks for the correction Rob! I should have double checked instead of going off the cuff.

[@tinagoolsby336]

😊

[@kradz_sb]

Wtf I didn’t press anything