Quote:
Originally Posted by jhein
Maybe it's the tire size and rim width combo? I have 7" wide rims. For the MT DR 255/60/15 they recommend a minimum 7.5" width. For the BFG 255/60/15 it's 7.0 minimum I don't know what that sidewall distortion does but the MT DRs feel pretty sloshy in cornering to me. It doesn't feel like breaking away, feels like a softer tire. Anyway, if I could have the road feel of the BFGs with the traction of the MT DRs that would be great.
As for tire pressure, that's also interesting. When I got the MT DRs I initially had them at 32 psi. At that psi my treadwear pattern was basically the center of the tire. I eventually worked my way down to 24 psi. There, the treadwear seemed more even. But after 2500 miles at 24 psi, they wore out in the center. They say it's not a growing tire but I'm not sure.
Edit: I run my BFGs at 24psi.
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In general, when you put a wider tire on a wheel it’s not suited for, the increased tire bulge has a softening effect on the sidewall. If you’re viewing the tire as a spring, what you’ve effectively done is to tilt the spring at an angle. You lose effective rate and thus the tire acts as a softer spring.
Stretching the tire into a wheel has similar effects in the opposite direction.
So yes if the MT was placed on too narrow of a wheel compared to the BFG, you may feel that as some lethargic handling comparatively.
However if you chose an MT tire that was better suited to your wheel with you probably gain that back.