'Off Road' tires for a ZX3?

[NCZX3]

Hi, all. I drive my '03 ZX3 everyday over unpaved dirt/gravel roads to get on and off our mountainside here. Definitely Jeep stuff but I have no choice other than to drive my F-350 crew cab to the store and post office. It's chewed up about 3 sets of good performance tires so I'm wondering if anyone knows of a nice rugged tire in 16 inch size that will fit the car and not rub anywhere? I'd like to use my stock alloys but I'd change wheels for the right tire. I'm talking about a tread something like a real snow tire of the old days, not an all season. I've been all over the web but can't find an aggresive tire around 26" tall. Thanks in advance....Ed.

[Bogey]

Call tirerack. Theyd know better.

[xxMichaelAnthony]

This is the smallest all terrain tire Tire Rack has listed that I could find by just messing with numbers. Diameter comes out to 26.16. If you're on stock suspension and your shock are good you probably wont have a problem. At stock height there is plenty of room in our wheel wells.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
Other then that you could go to a gravel rally tire but that wouldn't be cheap and you would have to go down to 15 inch wheels. Hopefully someone else will chime in with other suggestions.

[NCZX3]

Thanks, guys. I did check TR and they don't have a lot in stock. They get wiped out going into the winter. As for the Yokahama they don't expect them until spring. I may consider going the 15 route if the right tire comes up. I'll continue the search. Can't overemphasize how bad our roads are. We have a homeowners association that hasn't spent on roads in 7 years but has rebuilt our beaches twice. Plan B is to take the ZX3 off the road for the future and put my wifes' old '90 Wrangler back on the road after a little work. Much better for the mountain but can't touch the Focus at the pump!

[thenorm]

Originally Posted by NCZX3

Hi, all. I drive my '03 ZX3 everyday over unpaved dirt/gravel roads to get on and off our mountainside here. Definitely Jeep stuff but I have no choice other than to drive my F-350 crew cab to the store and post office. It's chewed up about 3 sets of good performance tires so I'm wondering if anyone knows of a nice rugged tire in 16 inch size that will fit the car and not rub anywhere? I'd like to use my stock alloys but I'd change wheels for the right tire. I'm talking about a tread something like a real snow tire of the old days, not an all season. I've been all over the web but can't find an aggresive tire around 26" tall. Thanks in advance....Ed.

firestone winterforce is the snow tire i would reccomend that is most like the old style snow tires. A lot of rally-x guys will use it on gravel, when their class wont allow rally tires.

[drewts86]

Look for the Hankook R201 or Silverstone 525M tires. Both great off-tarmac performance

[gondorian]

You could try any number of different rally tires in 15" size. Stock sized wheels shouldn't be too hard to find for cheap on craigslist or at a junkyard. Here are some not too far

[NCZX3]

Some interesting ideas, guys. Thanks. I'm checking out those wheels in NC. Happy New Year, everybody. Ed.