16" or 17" TRD wheels - which to buy?

Hey, looking for some input...

I have a stock SR5 Taco that needs a new set of wheels. While I could go after market, I haven't found a set of wheels that I like more than the stock TRD wheels. So, I've been looking for a while for some take-offs, but havn't had luck finding any local until recently.

My question is, which is better - the 16 TRD or 17 TRD? And, if I found a set of 17s with the stock Duelers w/5k miles, would $400 be a good price?

Help!

 

You will fine (IMHO) the 17s are better looking. Sounds like you are getting a deal with these at $400 with good tires. Go for it. Dont think twice, just DO IT!

 

17's with only 5K on them for $400 is a sweet deal.

 

i have both the 16 and 17...(off road vs sport) my truck came with the 17, but I bought a set of the 16 becaues imo, i though they looked my rugged.. thats what i like.. but now im deciding to go back to the 17 next week..

 

Why are you going back to the 17s?

 

I just swapped out the original set of Bridgestone 265 65r17 Dueler HT with 245 75r17 Dueler Revo 2. Here is a link to a picture comparison, both taken today at the Firestone dealer.

We are 110 miles from the closest dealer in Vancouver Washington (we are on the Oregon Coast). The drive there and back was pouring rain. We HATED the ride in the HTs in wet weather. It is almost criminal that Toyota ships these tires on rigs bound for the Pacific Northwest IMO.

The ride home, on the Revo 2s was wonderful. We hit several patches of water on the road and the difference was like cutting with a butter knife (old tires), or steak knife (new). Same pot holes and bumps we've driven for two years on the HTs were noticably mellower with the Revos.

The 245s fit into the wells nicely with no mod to the truck.

happy trails,
thom

 

Interesting choice in tire size. Can I ask why/how you decided?

They look good.

Current Tire New Tire Difference

Diameter inches (mm) 30.56 (776.3) 31.47 (799.3) 0.91 (23) 3%
Width inches (mm) 10.43 (265) 9.65 (245) -0.78 (-20) -7.5%
Circum. inches (mm) 96.02 (2438.82) 98.86 (2511.08) 2.84 (72.26) 3%
Sidewall Height inches (mm) 6.78 (172.25) 7.23 (183.75) 0.45 (11.5) 6.6%
Revolutions per mile (km) 659.89 (409.79) 640.9 (398) -18.99 (-11.79) -2.9%

 

My wife and i are imports from Nevada. We were used to tall narrow tires and been comfortable with their characteristics. The TACO is my wife's DD and she was complaining of hydroplaning on the 265s in our wet weather on the Oregon coast. I did some research and found that others were using the 245 85 r16 tires with success so i found the equivilant size for our stock sport r17 rims.

I downsized the image so it's a bit easier on the page layout:


OH and a bonus; according to our GPS the Speedo is now spot on : )

 

Nice. Looks like you gained 1/2" of lift in the front end from a simple tire change?

 

Curious, do you think these will do better than wider tire in snow? I was not aware narrower tire would do better in rain. Makes sense.

 

Width has nothing to with traction in snow. I had a 1976 Datsun B210 with Dunlop B60-13's mounted and snow traction was terrible unless I put it in reverse and backed up.

For some reason, I never got up the nerve to haul on the E brake handle for a bootleg turn into a puddle on the highway to see if it would hydroplane in reverse.

http://monarchrifle.com/dougs_tacoma.html

 

I don't have any info on the snow issue as i've not ridden in it out here. BUT in Reno (lived there for several years in the 1980s), we all ran narrow/tall tires on our Toys and FJs. When it would snow (never over 6 to 12 inches and would not stay for long) our skinny tires would just dig down to asphalt and find good traction.

As for rain? our little coastal town averages nearly 70 inches a year, so you could say i'm sort of an expert on what works in the wet stuff!

What suprised me is how much easier these 245s cut through the road-water than the 265s (i do realize they are different tread patterns). The joke on the coast is we have two seasons; 1) rain, and 2) waiting for rain. Last season i hit a patch of standing water doing 70 on i5 north of Vancouver, the TACO hydroplaned for maybe 1 to 2 seconds and it felt like an eternity. It was at that moment i decided that was the last winter the TACO would have those tires.

As an interesting note. My wife took the TACO (as mentioned it's her DD) to our local L.S. tire center and said she wanted new tires that would handle better in our wet weather. Their recomendation was a 3" lift kit and 285/70r17

This was one of those situations that i'm glad i'm curious enough to do the needed research and question the 'experts' at the local tire center. IMO, 285s on a light truck in the wet stuff would be hydroplane hell.

 

I think in general skinny tires do better in DEEP snow since they cut through rather than pack full of snow and ride on top. I went to school where we really got a lot of snow (200-300" a year) and my little ranger with 235/75/14s on it did great. Even better, with the lack of power out of my Pinto motor it actually handled better than newer trucks since it'd couldn't spin it's wheels!!! For rain, I would think it's more dependent on how efficient your tires move water. Probably the thinner tires would be a little better, but you're probably experiencing more the difference between a worse and better tire design... Speaking of which, I do plan to replace the tires at some point but probably not until they wear out. I hope to get a year or two out of these - helps justify the cost to the sig other!

BTW, thanks all for your answers.... I pick up the 17s today!

 

Whats the biggest tire you can put on an 08 tacoma without rubbing?

 

smart, smart smart.
Great choice.
How could someone NOT know narrower tires are better in rain/snow?
Good job.

 

From what i researched the 265/70r17 OR 265/75r16 seemed to be the safe limit on a totally stock 05+ TACO. Both have a hight of about 31.5 and section width of about 10.5. These findings were the result of talking with 3 (different) tire center crews who had installed on 2 gen taco's AND research in the forums.

Thom