Desperately need your help with tire selection!

Alright, here goes nothing. I have been scouring TW and the internet for about a month now trying to decide on what tires/size to buy. I have narrowed down my options to Cooper ST Maxx or Wrangler Duratracs because I want the aggressive look. However, I am open to suggestions because I am sure you all have insight on other tire brands/models.

My current set up is a 2007 Double Cab Long Bed Sport with an SOS Concepts aluminum plate front bumper, OME Sport Coil overs with 885's, and Dakar rear leafs. I still have the mud flaps on and am using the stock sport rims and stock tires. I have never lifted a truck or installed AT style tires before. I purchased a set of 17 inch FJ rims with 4.5 backspacing, mainly for looks but also because I read you really need the 4.5 backspacing. I also still have the stock UCA's.

My main dilemma is with tire size. Initially I wanted 285/70r17 because I thought they would definitely look great on the truck. After some research I considered 265/70r17 because of power loss and gas usage. I have gone back and forth between the two and really cannot determine a solution.

My driving habits: I have a sedan I drive regularly to and from work, so my tacoma is driven on my days off and when I need it in the winter (2007 truck: 54,500 miles on the odometer). I do the majority of driving on the highway, but recently started adding mods to occasionally wheel the truck (mainly mud/dirt trails and the Illinois snow in the winter). The most I ever haul is a smaller pontoon boat a few times during the summer. Therefore I am not overly concerned with my mpg taking a slight hit. I am concerned with being extremely sluggish because of my tire selection.

Here are my questions and concerns:
1) If I go with 285's, how significant will my power loss and fuel usage be? Is it insanely drastic or just a small change?

2) I am human and worried about my truck looking dumb. I want to know if 265's will look too small underneath the plate bumper. If I did not have the plate bumper I probably would not be too concerned with it but I do not want to look like I have baby tires underneath that bumper.

3) Is the added cost per tire of the 285's worth the extra rubber, or is it a waste of my money? If the extra $75 or so per tire is worth it then I am not really concerned about. I do not have a ton of money to waste but $300 in the long run is easily justifiable.

4) I have found a lot of info about rubbing issues with 285's. What I really have not found is the rubbing issues people experience with a plate bumper. Am I going to have to take off or trim the mud flaps? If I do not wheel the truck hard will I still have to do a cab mount chop? With the 4.5 backspacing will I clear the UCA's? I plan on getting Light Racing UCA's in the future if I need them but desperately need tires before I buy anything else, seeing as my stock tires are not safe to tote my family around on any longer.

5) Has anyone bought 265's and wished they would have spent the extra money to buy 285's? And also, is there anyone who bought 285's and really regretted not staying with 265's? and why do you feel that way? These tires will be on the truck for quite some time and I really do not want to look at my truck and regret the tire selection.



I greatly appreciate any and all help/knowledge you veterans of the tacoma can offer me. I have done a lot of research but eventually decided to create this thread because I can not find all the answers I need. I apologize for the lengthy post and thank you for taking the time to read it. Here are some pictures:











These are the FJ rims:

 

Cooper Discoverer XT4

 

It'll be a small change compared to a 265.

Don't worry about your truck looking dumb if you have 265s with a plate bumper. It's your money, your mods, your choice. If that's the tire size that works for you, then it works for you. Haters be damned.

It's your call on that. You only gain about .5" clearance going from 265 to 285.

Have you considered going 255? All the joys of a 33, but without having to do any/much cutting.

I bought 265s, and wished I bought 255s. But I like that look. If I went bigger than 255s, I'm sure I'd just go 35s, cut and massage the hell out of everything.

Tires are not that major of a mod. It's not a forever thing you will do to the truck. The cutting of the cab mount and what not is. So look at that if you're particular about that kind of thing right now. If you like the look of 33s on other trucks and think that style works for you, then go with that.

 

IMO between the 2 you already research... Duratracs... bad ass looking , great reviews .... I had those on my wish list when I used to own a Tundra 02.... now I got a Taco, don't know the brand of mine , great looking but whenever those end up I will look for Duratracs if they fit fine.

 

I thought about it but my main concern with looks is the 265 looking skinny so the 255 wouldn't fit what I'm looking for.

I'm curious to know with normal roadway driving how much cutting is actually necessary. Everyone talks about the cab mount chop but if I recall correctly that is mostly for wheeling.

Can anyone else chime in?

 

Bump for more knowledge.

 

265's don't look skinny on trucks with that amount of lift. They look skinny on trucks that are lifted 6".

However I think 255/75r17 cooper st maxx would look great on your truck.

 

265/75/16 Duratrac's W/3" lift. I think the smaller 16" rims help make the aggressive Duratrac's look a bit larger too.

 

I have 17's

I think 265 looks great on the truck with the stock bumper. Looks great on your rig. My concern is with the plate bumper. The bumper makes tires look tiny.

 

I originally had 265's on my truck and regretted not buying 285's from the beginning. I personally think 265's look a little small with a plate bumper but that might just be me. I got lucky and have no rubbing with 285's. Front mudflaps are off and I didn't trim anything. Full lock and full stuff with no rubbing.



A lot of people here will say that it's not possible or it's not getting wheeled hard enough yada yada. Whatever. I have zero rubbing with 285's.

 

I have 265/75/16 ST Maxx, great tire, but heavy. Much tougher than Duratracs though. I wish I would have went with 255's. My next tires will be 255's or 285's. I'll post a pic but you can check out my build thread for more info on the ST Maxx and how they look with OME 3" lift and a plate bumper.