You don’t have to run a 3-inch body lift and 12-inch springs to run really big tires. In fact, not running a really tall lift with big tires makes for a more stable, better-wheeling vehicle. And if we can squeeze a set of 42s under a Dodge with only 6-inch springs and sagged body bushings, then you Ford and Chevy guys with bigger wheel openings have no excuse.
Sure, there are tradeoffs to massive rubber. Bigger tires are more expensive, they usually ride rougher, they’re heavier, and you’ve got to be willing to cut more sheetmetal than if you were running smaller tires. But if you’re a fullsize guy who takes his rig off road (for real) and you’ve already invested in 1-ton axles, then you’re missing out on a whole new realm of off-road enjoyment by sticking to smaller meats.
That’s where we were with our Dodge. After the installation of the Dynatrac Dana 60 front axle that appeared on 4wheeloffroad.com, we were letting much of its new off-road potential go unrealized. The 37-inch Boggers worked well, but they offered only 11 inches of clearance under the axles and, at 13 inches wide, didn’t do much to help stability at angles. We hooked up with the big tire experts, National Tire and Wheel, who sent us a set of 42-inch Swamper TSLs and Eaton heavy-duty 16 ½ x 9 ¾ chrome rims. The rims have extra-heavy-duty centers and are actually one of the few rated for use with up to 44-inch tires. National got our tires and wheels to us a week after we hung up the phone with them. No small feat considering the wheels alone are 41 pounds each.
We mounted the tires at home, hacked from the body what we thought we needed for clearance, then headed out to Johnson Valley with the saber saw and a hammer for an on-trail tire test.