when I was in college in maine, yes college; weird huh? Anyway old timers and locals would run crazy tall and narrow mud tires in the winter. Yes, winter has yet to show up in these parts of liberal &^s vermont but just in case y'all know of some crazy tall and narrow tires that would fit my steed?

When asked about these tires, they would get all hinky and say well, you know they are military tires and give you the impression it was some cold war secret butI also heard them referred to as "tall boys". Now the olnly tall boys I know of are the 16oz PBR's in the ice box but can someone fetch me an answer on all this?

Yes, I know there are thousand and maybe millions of previous posts about this and that but I'd rather hear the same old info with a new twist. I'd consider getting smaller 16 inch wheels if these secretive tall boys only come in 16 inch diameter.

Much obliged podna

 

I qualify for an old geezer. Old enough to know what you are refering to.

We used to run the tall and skinny's, because they had a small "contact patch" that put more pressure on the ground. Seemed to work quite well in the winter. Look at the present day WRC rally cars winter tires. Thay are very narrow as well.

In mud they would dig their way to some traction below. That said, if you were in area that required flotation, you were hooped.

There wasn't much selection of tire's in the 60's and 70's so we made do with what was available. We used to run a 7.00x16 tire. It had a tread that consisted of many little "v blocks". It kinda reminded me of a semi-truck Michelin tread pattern back in the day. I think they were 33" tall.

Cheers

 

Your 2011 has 17 inch rims, your brakes will interfere with 16 inch rims. Go to 245 75 17s or some other narrower tire.

 

When only comparing width, thin tires will always be better in snow or rain, because they cut through to the pavement.

 

It's all about the siping.