Tires (help needed)

[les & des]

After following the thread on the 9.50's vs the 8.75 (16.5 steel
rims), we started doing some thinking and research. The 9.50's
are definitely taller than the 8.75's (we compared them in a tire
store). Right now on our GMC all 6 tires are 9.50 Wranglers. We
can only afford to replace 2 at this time (the front ones). We found
a deal on 2 Michelin XPS Ribs (8.75x16.5 - load E) for $119.00
each. They normally sell for about $165.00 each. They were
special-ordered and the person never picked them up.

Our question is this: Would it be harmful to run the 8.75's on the
front and the 4 9.50's on the back? (We did follow the thread about
the damage the 9.50's can do to the wheel well and will be
replacing them with 8.75's in the future).

Thanks for your input...

Les and Des
73 Painted Desert
Rocky Mount, NC

mailto:lesndes
vist us at: http://www.livingpraise.org

 

[bdub]

>After following the thread on the 9.50's vs the 8.75 (16.5 steel
>rims), we started doing some thinking and research. The 9.50's
>are definitely taller than the 8.75's (we compared them in a tire
>store). Right now on our GMC all 6 tires are 9.50 Wranglers. We
>can only afford to replace 2 at this time (the front ones). We found
>a deal on 2 Michelin XPS Ribs (8.75x16.5 - load E) for $119.00
>each. They normally sell for about $165.00 each. They were
>special-ordered and the person never picked them up.
>
>Our question is this: Would it be harmful to run the 8.75's on the
>front and the 4 9.50's on the back? (We did follow the thread about
>the damage the 9.50's can do to the wheel well and will be
>replacing them with 8.75's in the future).

I ain't no expert but I'd run the Mickey's up front & never look back.

bdub
'76 Palm Beach
In The Heart o Texas
www.web-access.net/~bmassey/
icq # 202333

 

[thomas g. warner]

>From everything that I have read about tires and matching it does not
present a problem. In afact many hot rodders do it routinely. Just don't mix
the rear tires, keep all rear wheels the same.

>After following the thread on the 9.50's vs the 8.75 (16.5 steel
>rims), we started doing some thinking and research. The 9.50's
>are definitely taller than the 8.75's (we compared them in a tire
>store). Right now on our GMC all 6 tires are 9.50 Wranglers. We
>can only afford to replace 2 at this time (the front ones). We found
>a deal on 2 Michelin XPS Ribs (8.75x16.5 - load E) for $119.00
>each. They normally sell for about $165.00 each. They were
>special-ordered and the person never picked them up.
>
>Our question is this: Would it be harmful to run the 8.75's on the
>front and the 4 9.50's on the back? (We did follow the thread about
>the damage the 9.50's can do to the wheel well and will be
>replacing them with 8.75's in the future).
>
>Thanks for your input...
>
>
>Les and Des
>73 Painted Desert
>Rocky Mount, NC
>
>mailto:lesndes
>vist us at: http://www.livingpraise.org
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach

 

[richard guthart]

>Would it be harmful to run the 8.75's...

I sure don't see any problem with it.

It'll lower the front relative to the rear, of course, but that may benefit
aerodynamics and in any case you can compensate by lowering the rear, too.

And the tires are so similar that I doubt that you would notice any changes,
other than perhaps a little more responsive steering due to less sidewall
flex with the shorter sidewalls, and less road noise with the narrower
tread.

Richard Guthart