> <insert big cheesy happy-as-a-pig-in-you-know-what grin here>
>
> Well, I'm happy to report that 31x9.50 R15 Super Swamper TSL Radials do
> definitely fit on my '95 Dak mounted on stock wheels. Many thanks to
> Jon Steiger for the use of his barn and lift, and to he and his friend
> Ed McCarrick for all the assistance yesterday with getting the skid
> plates installed and tires tested out. (More on skid plates later.)
>
> The tires are more narrow than I had expected. They're skinnier than
> the 235/75 R15 daily driver tires (no, I'm not silly enough to drive to
> work every day on Swampers). Might have something to do with the 6" rim
> width. They stamped "rim size 15x7.5" on the side of the tire. They
> look to me like they fit perfectly on the 6" rims, though.
>
> Personally, I think they look awesome. I know many of you out there
> prefer 4x4 tires to be wider. There are functional arguments both
> ways. Wider tires float more and have more biting tread edges to look
> for traction. Skinnier tires have a better chance of sinking down to
> the solid stuff under the muck and getting traction that way. And there
> are definitely different opinions on the look. Me, I love the tires on
> my grandpa's 1948 Willy's (think the Jeeps on M*A*S*H), so I couldn't be
> happier with a narrower 31" size. Plus, being narrower helps them tuck
> under my truck :-).
>
> I haven't had a chance to check them out at full suspension compression
> yet. A couple of us sat on one of the front corners, and it looks like
> there's still lots of clearance at the lowest point we were able to hit.
>
> Anyway, I'll be posting some pictures once we get some that show off the
> new tires.
Just to let you know Jason, my stock rims are indeed 15"x6". I do think, but
could be wrong, that this was the only size available. I have seen tires
upto 12.50" wide on 15x7 rims, so you will be ok here for the rim width. The
31's should fit just fine under full suspension compression. I have looked
and measured on my Dak and the suspension would definately lock at full
compression due to the bumpstops on both the front/rear axle before the tire
would touch any sheetmetal on your body. The 'widest' width at the bottom of
the wheel well openings, measure with the factory fender flares, is right
about 32 1/4", so really a 32" tire should tuck in just fine, if you could
stuff 32's without a lift....hmmmmmm, nah. The 9.50" width was a good choice
when using the stock rims, cause the turning radius shouldnt really be
affected and there shouldnt be any rubbing while turning, since 9.50" width
is really close the the specs for the stock sized LT235 tire. I think you
are sacrificing some tread, cause most LT235s have a tread width of 7.6",
+/- .3"; the TSL you have have a tread width of 7.2, but the superior tread
is where the TSL will make up for the loss in tread width. From going from
the LT235 tire, which is about 28-29.5(depending on what tire you have and
who it is made by) to a 31" Interco TSL Radial tire, which is 30.7" tall,
you are raising your truck anywhere from .6 of an inch all the way to 1.35",
once again depending on what size your stock LT235s were. This is some
decent gains for ground clearance under the diffs, just by adding a few tire
sizes. Just remember, due to the soft rubber compound of these tires(which
do make them have awesome traction), check the tire pressure weekly and
rotate the tires frequently also, every 4-6,000 miles. Congrads!! Let us
know down the road how you like them and how they perform for you; also how
going to the 31's affected performance and mileage also. I am going to go
upto either 30x9.50s, 30x10.50s, 31x9.50s, or the typical 31x10.50 next time
I have to buy tires....which should be around the fall. I am leaning towards
to 10.50 width either way though. Good Luck!!!
Kyle
93 Dakota 4x4 V6
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