Tires that fit.

14660 Views 20 Replies 15 Participants Last post by asdrew, Aug 14, 2017

Chad Maynard

Discussion Starter · Aug 12, 2016

I pulled this list off of an old thread. I thought it would be beneficial for everyone. Add to the list if other tires fit.

Stock Tire
235/65-16 approx 28"

BFG KO2
245/75-16 E Rated (3042lbs) 30.4" - some have reported rubbing on full lock
255/70-16 E Rated (3085lbs) 30.0"
225/75-16 D Rated (2535lbs) 29.2"

Goodyear DuraTrac
245/75-16 E Rated (3042lbs) 30.5" - probably will rub also
215/85-16 E Rated (2680lbs) 30.4"
225/75-16 E Rated (2680lbs) 29.3"

General Grabber AT2
245/75-16 E Rated (3042lbs) 30.7"

Reactions: 4

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

orton

· #2 · Aug 12, 2016

I have spent some time looking for a larger tire that will fit in the spare tire well. I rotate all 5 tires. After I wear out the 5 stock tires I want a larger tire.

One larger tire that looks like it will work is the LT 245/70/16 Cooper A/T3.

2910 load rating
E rated
for 6.5 - 8" rim width. (Transit is 6.5")
7.87 tread width (about the same as the stock tire)
29.53 diameter

Someone else on this forum has stated that it will fit in the spare wheel well. Has anyone used this tire and if so what are your comments.

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Reactions: 1

APDX

· #3 · Aug 12, 2016

orton said:
One larger tire that looks like it will work is the LT 245/70/16 Cooper A/T3.

2910 load rating
E rated
for 6.5 - 8" rim width. (Transit is 6.5")
7.87 tread width (about the same as the stock tire)
29.53 diameter

Someone else on this forum has stated that it will fit in the spare wheel well. Has anyone used this tire and if so what are your comments.

I run the Cooper Discoverer A/T3 in 275/75/17 on my 4Runner and love it. Great on road performance (good in rain, zero noise), and off-road traction is all that I need it to be. The tires even withstood being aired down to 25 PSI through some technical terrain in Death Valley. Highly recommended. The tire won best value and editors choice in this review http://expeditionportal.com/where-the-rubber-meets-the-road/

I chose the KO2 in 245/75/16 on the Transit to try something new and, to be honest, I wanted a slightly more aggressive look. No rubbing so far. I like it fine on road but have not tested off-road yet.

Reactions: 1

highaltitudelife

· #4 · Nov 15, 2016

Where is the spare?

APDX said:
I chose the KO2 in 245/75/16 on the Transit to try something new and, to be honest, I wanted a slightly more aggressive look. No rubbing so far. I like it fine on road but have not tested off-road yet.

Where do you keep your spare?

TransAm

· #5 · Nov 15, 2016

Hi,

The smaller OEM tires do yield good mileage. I like the light nimble good handling of my medium roof 2016 XLT 150 regular WB 10 passenger Transit.

Also, smaller tires make the van very nimble.

Remember the old days in the 1970s to 1980s when even Mercedes 450 SEL ran 195/75-14 tires . Or maybe 215/75-14. A good chassis and good suspension are more useful than overly large tires.

The VW Synchro and Vanagon did fine with 205/75-14 tires.

Big tires are a bit over rated.

TA

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Reactions: 1

highaltitudelife

· #6 · Nov 15, 2016

TransAm said:
Hi,

Big tires are a bit over rated.

Nothing improves ground clearance like bigger tires.

todd0327

· #7 · Nov 15, 2016

Excellent Tires

I have those Cooper Discoverer A/T 3's (LT245/70R16E) on my 2015 Transit passenger van and am very pleased. Traction (rain and snow) is better than OE tires. Noise is greater on them than on the OE's but not obnoxious. They come with very deep tread. I have had them on my van for 23K miles and they look like they'll last at least 50K miles. My speedometer is off a little bit (3-4 MPH at 70), but that's not a deal breaker, IMO.

Reactions: 2

orton

· #8 · Nov 15, 2016

Todd0327:

Did you buy 5 tires? Does the tire fit in the spare tire space?

surly Bill

· #9 · Nov 15, 2016

Taller tires improve ground clearance, a 30" tire will give you an inch over stock. Also mess up your speedometer and odometer (use GPS for speed and miles instead). Clearance issues especially in the front make driving in mud or snow a little tricky, as does putting on chains in the rear. They also last longer, as there is more circumference to wear down. The ride may be smoother because of less rolling resistance (similar to a bike with 20" tires vs 29" tires).

Skinnier tires improve traction on slick but firm surfaces, and improve MPG via smaller contact patch.

Wider tires give better traction on soft surfaces (sand, thick mud, very loose gravel, etc) but reduce MPG.

All of the above are SLIGHT differences from stock size, you may not even notice a difference in a blindfold test (warning: do not attempt to drive blindfolded)

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Reactions: 1

todd0327

· #10 · Nov 16, 2016

I did not buy 5 tires -- only 4. The stock/OE spare is still in the underbody location.

Reactions: 1

grc

· #11 · Nov 16, 2016

Any experience on dually tires rubbing with the tire sizes Chad posted?

Also, thanks in advance to Chad for reposting these tire sizes... very helpful.

Cheers,
GRC

Airedrifter

· #12 · Nov 16, 2016

Cooper Discoverer LT225/75R 16 112R, A/T3 BW E (10 ply)

Works for me.

belloinsella

· #13 · Dec 5, 2016

I can get a lightly used set from a friend, Cooper AT3 245/70/16 but they're D rated. Think that'll be ok if I'm not towing?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

alarmist

· #14 · Dec 5, 2016

If you don't overload them.

lolwisper4321

· #15 · Jul 29, 2017

Don't forget the new GENERAL Grabber HD 235/65R16C 121/119R E10
This is a new tire for the Transit this year!!

The price is only $160 so worth looking in to.

http://www.tiresdirect.net/Product.a...ategoryId=1092

Travlin

· #16 · Aug 5, 2017 (Edited)

It was disappointing when using the tire finder on Discount Tire Company website that only two tires show up for the Transit. The OEM Conti and a Hankook. The Conti has some poor reviews. I've had Hankook in the past on other vehicles and was pleased with the traction, noise, and longevity.

My biggest gripe is that neither of these choices offer a mileage warranty. As a counter to that, at least both of these listed tires are rated for the max load of the van, maintain accurate odometer data and overall meet the design parameters when compared to the AT tires that fall short in those regards.

On a van that doesn't have limited slip an AT type tire off pavement might get you out of something the above tires wouldn't, and, it also might just dig a deeper hole to be towed from. Having owned and abused many 4x4 and all-wheel drive vehicles over the years I know a lot of both getting stuck and getting out. Tires are only one factor of many in a limited traction scenario and in the long run confidence in tires alone has gotten me into more trouble than it can get me out of.

In normal use the transit might see runs on gravel roads to trail heads, NFS or other public camping spots, and that sort of thing, but I don't expect to be pushing the envelope trying to "off-road" one the way I have with vehicles better designed for that purpose. If I were to want to do that my money would be better spent on a winch mounted to a Class III hitch, and adding a receiver to the front and wiring for the winch at both ends. Instead, I'll pay $2 a month for tow service added to my cell plan. That, and relying upon my years of coming up with creative ways to get unstuck.

There is no denying that the looks are better with the AT tire as in stock form the tires look too small for the vehicle, even though they are precisely designed for it. Choosing an AT may be more about vanity without much useful purpose gained over the life of the tire. The larger ATs may negatively affect MPG, load carrying, tire life, handling, and other factors simply because the tire design doesn't fit the van design from an engineering perspective.

At this point it would be good to throw in that Billy Crystal bit from SNL where his character says, "It is better to looook goood than it is to feel goood." Fact is that ego drives purchases more than does logic. I really couldn't fault anyone for putting them on the van, as long as load, Speedo/Odo differences and other limitations like wet traction are accounted for in daily operation.

The Transit is what it is, a large van, not an SUV. Tire purchases should be made with this firmly in mind, even when the better looking tire is chosen.

I do wish there were more that two choices for applicable tires at Discount Tire Co. I'll probably be getting the Hankooks when the time comes.

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Reactions: 1

asdrew

· #17 · Aug 5, 2017

Travlin said:
It was disappointing when using the tire finder on Discount Tire Company website that only two tires show up for the Transit. The OEM Conti and a Hankook. ...I do wish there were more that two choices for applicable tires at Discount Tire Co. I'll probably be getting the Hankooks when the time comes.

That is because you are using their tire finder, which only will find tires of the exact size and load range as stock.

Decide what size, load range, and type you want and search that way. There are plenty of tires many of us have put on our Transits which we are quite happy with. I have 245/75 (load range E) Cooper adventurers.

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surly Bill

· #18 · Aug 5, 2017

Travlin said:
It was disappointing when using the tire finder on Discount Tire Company website that only two tires show up for the Transit. The OEM Conti and a Hankook. The Conti has some poor reviews. I've had Hankook in the past on other vehicles and was pleased with the traction, noise, and longevity.

My biggest gripe is that neither of these choices offer a mileage warranty. As a counter to that, at least both of these listed tires are rated for the max load of the van, maintain accurate odometer data and overall meet the design parameters when compared to the AT tires that fall short in those regards.

On a van that doesn't have limited slip an AT type tire off pavement might get you out of something the above tires wouldn't, and, it also might just dig a deeper hole to be towed from. Having owned and abused many 4x4 and all-wheel drive vehicles over the years I know a lot of both getting stuck and getting out. Tires are only one factor of many in a limited traction scenario and in the long run confidence in tires alone has gotten me into more trouble than it can get me out of.

In normal use the transit might see runs on gravel roads to trail heads, NFS or other public camping spots, and that sort of thing, but I don't expect to be pushing the envelope trying to "off-road" one the way I have with vehicles better designed for that purpose. If I were to want to do that my money would be better spent on a winch mounted to a Class III hitch, and adding a receiver to the front and wiring for the winch at both ends. Instead, I'll pay $2 a month for tow service added to my cell plan. That, and relying upon my years of coming up with creative ways to get unstuck.

There is no denying that the looks are better with the AT tire as in stock form the tires look too small for the vehicle, even though they are precisely designed for it. Choosing an AT may be more about vanity without much useful purpose gained over the life of the tire. The larger ATs may negatively affect MPG, load carrying, tire life, handling, and other factors simply because the tire design doesn't fit the van design from an engineering perspective.

At this point it would be good to throw in that Billy Crystal bit from SNL where his character says, "It is better to looook goood than it is to feel goood." Fact is that ego drives purchases more than does logic. I really couldn't fault anyone for putting them on the van, as long as load, Speedo/Odo differences and other limitations like wet traction are accounted for in daily operation.

The Transit is what it is, a large van, not an SUV. Tire purchases should be made with this firmly in mind, even when the better looking tire is chosen.

I do wish there were more that two choices for applicable tires at Discount Tire Co. I'll probably be getting the Hankooks when the time comes.

You're flogging MY dead horse, go find your own!

Reactions: 2

Travlin

· #19 · Aug 6, 2017

asdrew said:
That is because you are using their tire finder, which only will find tires of the exact size and load range as stock.

Decide what size, load range, and type you want and search that way. There are plenty of tires many of us have put on our Transits which we are quite happy with. I have 245/75 (load range E) Cooper adventurers.

That is exactly my point. I want an AT that also meets the OEM load range spec. There aren't any.
(yes, I do know how to find other tires that fit the rim, just saying that only two on their site meet the spec)

Those are nice looking tires. BTW

Apologies to any further harm done to Surly Bill's deceased equine.

Reactions: 2

firehawk

· #20 · Aug 13, 2017

Any larger tires fit that are raised white letter?

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