RoTo

Hi all,
I want to replace my worn off tires and the OEM 20" aluminum rims. Nothing wrong with the rims, it just not my size. I want to go down to 17". The reason is for that, I drove on dirt-road to and from my house. The dirt-road sometimes so bad, in my opinion qualifies for off-road. So, I need wheels with more rubber on it to take the holes and bumps and worry less about damaging the rims. My burb is not lifted so the 32" O.D. tire is the max. I want to put on. Anyone has a P265/70-R17 tire what uses off road, summer highway and heavy rain, and really happy with it? Noise is not my concern, so it has to do really good off-road and water covered highway. But hydroplaning is unacceptable.
One model I am thinking about is the:
Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor P265/70-R17 121/118R E Pro-Grade.
The other I am considering is the:
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO P265/70-R17 121/118R E Pro-Grade.
The reason I want 121/118R E Pro-Grade, because I do tow trailer on a really bad dirt-road.
If, any of you guys have these tires, I'd like to know, how it does for you.
The model of the rims I am at a complete loss yet.
What I am looking for is, somting heavy duty 17" to fit on the burb. If it would "stick out" further a bit, no problem. Fancyness and look is not important. But it has to be really heavy duty.
Thanks,

JimJ

i believe a 275/55/20 has a bigger footprint than a 265/60 or 70/17.

RoTo

Well, the 275 is 10 mm (about 3/8") wider than the 265, so yes, it has "a bigger footprint". But, it is pretty much around the same O.D.. Just below 32". The 20" has a lower profile tire on it, there for it has better handling on highway and city driving. The 17" is better for rough road, because it gives me more rim-road distance, so, in my situation it better suits me.
As I said, there is nothing wrong with my 20" OEM rims. Try to drive up and down the curb stones, and you will see my point. I just need more rubber between the road and the rim, than the 20" rim can have on an un-lifted burb.
Although, the LTZ is a full blown 4x4 Hi/Low stuff, even the owners manual is not recommending off-roading with the 20" rims.
Thanks for the reply anyways,

08 burb fan

I did exactly what you want to do. Had 20's and went to 17's and put Michelin LTX 265 70 17's for tires. Have a Rough Country leveling kit on too.
I switched because I am on the beach and the 17's are a better for off road use.
Good luck.

PS: Sold the 20's on Craigslist and made my money back too.

73shark

Might look at the stock Z71 tire/wheel package.

RoTo

I went with the:
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO LT265/70-R17 121/118R E Pro-Grade.

So far so good.

SWHouston

RoTo,

If you really wanted to go Heavy Duty on the rims, I know that they
make "Latching" Rims which fit our Burbs. You'd of course have to
install Tubes, since that type is not Tubeless.
I know I've seen them online somewhere, but I just don't remember
where.

RoTo

The tires I wanted to be really good, not to blow up on me when I tow, or hit a bump, or on the summer highway. The rims, I did not really care. Originally I just wanted black steel, like my spare. On the second thought, I've changed my mind, I did not want my wife call me cheap (again) . So, I just went with the alloy rims my local tire store recommended.
My co-worker has the same thread tire on his Hummer for over a year. He says nothing but good things about them. He does a lot of logging roads and rides a bicycle from there.
The budget is also limited. If it wouldn't be, I would go with a 6" suspension lift kit, bigger tires, front and rear bumper replacement push-bar grille guard, front and rear winch, bigger generator to power the inverter for my angle grinder and welding machine. Ya, a turret mount machine gun would be nice too. And a mobile HAM radio, and beer fridge of course. What did I forget? Oops, I just woke up.

blueinterceptor

I have the silent armor in the 20 inch size oem rim. They were fantastic in the ny snow storm after Christmas. I bought them because I do a little off roaring when I go hunting. Nothing earth shattering mind you.

Overall I like the tire, quiet and very sturdy, never got stuck or had a flat.