Page 9 - Jeep Jamboree Ultimate Guide To Safe Common Sense Off-Roading

TIRE SIZING

The tires that come on a new vehicle may not be designed for the rigors of certain types of off-roading.
Your vehicle may come equipped with P-metric (passenger) tires as their original equipment. These are
designed for highway use only and should be replaced with an LT or flotation size if you plan on going
off-road. When selecting a new tire, always remember that a properly sized tire can help your vehicle
clear obstacles and even perform better in softer terrains. When selecting an upgraded tire, make sure
you know they’ll fit or what additional upgrades you’ll need to make them fit.

Increasing the tire size above the original factory specifications will likely require aftermarket
modifications, such as lift kit. When lifting your vehicle, you may need additional modifications such
as extended brake lines, modified steering, and other complicated items that may not be worth the
relatively small gain by going to the next larger tire size. If you choose to lift your vehicle, the additional
height can affect handling and make the vehicle more prone to rolling. Make sure you pick the tire best
suited for the style of your adventures. Most tires suitable for off-road will be classified into one of two
sizes: LT-metric or high-flotation.

LT-METRIC SIZES
LT-metric tires are designed specifically for light trucks. They have more reinforcement and a higher load
range than typical passenger tires, meaning they can handle more punishment and are better suited for
towing, which is why LT-metric tires are also used as the original equipment tires on heavy-duty trucks.

HIGH-FLOTATION SIZES
Flotation tires perform like LT-metric tires, but the sizing for flotation tires is much easier to understand
than the sizing for LT-metric tires. Even though LT-metric tires have some additional load-carrying
capacity, flotation tires are often the go-to upgrade for anyone who wants bigger tires on their vehicle.

SIZE IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT
If you opt for larger replacement tires, make sure your new size will fit. Here’s what the numbers mean:

LT-Metric Sizing High-Flotation Sizing

ASPECT RATIO RIM TIRE RIM
LT SIZING TIRE WIDTH mm) % of width DIAMETER in. DIAMETER in TIRE WIDTH in DIAMETER in
LT 275 / 70 R 17 E 37 x 12.50 R 17 D

RADIAL LOAD RADIAL LOAD
CONSTRUCTION RANGE CONSTRUCTION RANGE

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