SK - 225/65R17 or 245/65R17

[garfield84]

Hi Guys,

I'm trying to decide on a tyre or wheel and tyre combo for the SK.

Option 1 - 225/65R17 all terrain, allows me to use factory wheels and won't have a massive impact on final gearing
or
Option 2 - 245/65R17 al terrain, will require new wheels and I have heard reports of a larger effect to overall gearing and performance.

I am torn between these options as I don't want to sacrifice anything too much in terms of performance and I was looking for opinions for those who have gone with either size.

Thanks

 

[Kevin]

Option 1 Wider is not necessarily better off-road and bearings don't like it either

 

[garfield84]

Option 1 Wider is not necessarily better off-road and bearings don't like it either

Thanks Kevin. I am all to familiar with Subaru wheel bearing issues . Is there any reason you are saying wider is not necessarily better.

I am concerned if I was to go with the 245, the gearing change will take away from a motor that is already not particularly full of torque

 

[NachaLuva]

235/65/17 is a popular size. 245 will fit, possibly with slight rubbing depending on the wheels

 

[Kevin]

Is there any reason you are saying wider is not necessarily better

On-road wider is better for handling which I guess is obvious but off-road you want good track length and on the rough stuff you have more weight on a smaller contact area with a narrower tyre. Also a narrower tyre can get bite in smaller gaps in the terrain. But - with that said, if you are going to be doing a lot of mud, sand or snow driving then you'll want a tyre that floats over the surface so wider would be good. But But if driving on our icy roads in winter a narrower tyre will bite through the ice much better than a wider tyre. In short - it depends on the terrain
I've always stayed with 215 wide tyres but I may have to go 225 or even 205 to find new tyres in stock atm.