Looking for opinions. I know it’s really about what I want and what I like, but personally I value folks opinions on this forum and maybe there’s something I’m not thinking about that would sway me one way or the other.
My new Backcountry should be at the dealer any day. About 3-4 months ago, I purchases a set of new Laramie night/ORG black 20” wheels. I put 33” Cooper tires on them…all in preparation for the Backcountry as I wanted 20” over the stock 18” wheels (pic attached). Now I’m rethinking and may just stick with the 18” and replace the 32” Falkens with a 33” tire (I know I want 33’s whichever wheel I go with). The issues with the 18” wheels is you’re pretty stuck with E rated LT tires in 33s. There is a Duratrac D rated tire for the 18” wheel, but unfortunately blackwall only in that version (I really was hoping for white letter).
So, it’s either the heavier / stiffer LT tire on the 18” wheel (which the 18 is lighter than the 20” wheel I suppose) or the 20” wheel and standard load AT tire. The lightest LT 33” I found for the 18” wheel were Duratrac, General Grabber ATX (which can also be found in a standard load 33” for 18” wheels) or Cooper AT3 XLT.
My off road use is typical. October and November I hunt and go back on logging roads. Head to either MT or CO each year and go on back roads. Ice fishing on lakes in WI and MN. Otherwise, highway use. Never had an issue with standard load tires with anything.
As of now, I’m still leaning slightly toward throwing the 20’s on it.
My new Backcountry should be at the dealer any day. About 3-4 months ago, I purchases a set of new Laramie night/ORG black 20” wheels. I put 33” Cooper tires on them…all in preparation for the Backcountry as I wanted 20” over the stock 18” wheels (pic attached). Now I’m rethinking and may just stick with the 18” and replace the 32” Falkens with a 33” tire (I know I want 33’s whichever wheel I go with). The issues with the 18” wheels is you’re pretty stuck with E rated LT tires in 33s. There is a Duratrac D rated tire for the 18” wheel, but unfortunately blackwall only in that version (I really was hoping for white letter).
So, it’s either the heavier / stiffer LT tire on the 18” wheel (which the 18 is lighter than the 20” wheel I suppose) or the 20” wheel and standard load AT tire. The lightest LT 33” I found for the 18” wheel were Duratrac, General Grabber ATX (which can also be found in a standard load 33” for 18” wheels) or Cooper AT3 XLT.
My off road use is typical. October and November I hunt and go back on logging roads. Head to either MT or CO each year and go on back roads. Ice fishing on lakes in WI and MN. Otherwise, highway use. Never had an issue with standard load tires with anything.
As of now, I’m still leaning slightly toward throwing the 20’s on it.
