Skinny or Wide ?
Far be it from me to start any controversy or debate on the board...
But Thor's post brought up another lively topic for international debate: which is the better choice for off-road? Skinny tires? Or wide tires?
The traditional argument is that skinny tires put more pressure on ground, letting you tear thru the loose dirt & muck and find harder ground upon which to get traction. Further, this argument goes, most of what you get contact-patch wide when airing down is north-south, not lateral.
The traditional counterpoint is that a wider tire lets gives increased "flotation" in mud & sand. I know nothing about sand so would buy this argument, but I haven't seen too many rigs "float" over mud... Further, the counterpoint is that wider tires provide better lateral traction on rocks.
Again, some "cultural" difference here. Clearly those in the UK prefer skinnier tires. In the states, it's rare to see a skinny tire on anything but a Rover or a Zuk. Though this was not always the case... check out vintage and ex-military jeeps... The Stateside mud boggers go with fat Swampers (13.50+), while their UK counterparts go with skinnies,,, what we over here would call "pizza cutters". Not sure what goes on down in Oz.
I myself have mixed feelings on the issue. Or does it depend on terrain? Or does terrain not matter and you are better off digging... or "floating"... or whatever it is your preference does better than the other guy's.
Discuss, debate, and otherwise pontificate.
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