Wheel and tire illiterate

Can anyone break down wheel/tire measurement and how they work together for me Barney style? I would like to educate myself on what would be best for a daily driver/off roading Tacoma that currently sits on some 265/70/r16s and lifted with Bilstein 5100s at the top notch and a block in the rear. Eventually (when I have funds and the wife doesn't murder me for it) I will be going up to a 3" lift with new coils and AAL also bigger tires if possible. Also will be doing CMC later on as well. Thanks!

 

With tire size, the first number is sectional width (in millimeters), second number is sidewall height, in percentage of the tread width, third number is the wheel diameter.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=46

This one should help you with figuring out where a different wheel will end up, compared to to what you have have now:

 

Thank you, greatly appreciate the helpful info!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php

This is also a neat thing to play around with once you start looking at tire sizes.

 

Yeah I found this before but was more confused when I used it but it really made me want 285/75s

 

No problem brah.

 

Be aware that the tire calc is just an algorithm, it can generate tire sizes that don't exist.

But once you have a general idea of tire sizes the tacoma tire calc @DustStorm4x4 linked is a great resource been using it for years for all sorts of vehicles, long before I got into the truck let alone tacoma world.

Also be aware bigger tires may require you to regear to keep comparable MPGs torque and acceleration.

A 255/80/17 is a great all around tire, it's a 32" vs the stock 30" does well off road and keeps road manners fairly well. That's what I'm running currently on a 17x7 wheel.

Soon though comes 285/70/17 on SCS 8.5's!

 

I appreciate the advice and that sounds like it will be a pretty sweet setup! What would you recommend on wheels? Right now I've got the MB TKO's and I feel like they are good for driving around, I just don't think they would last on an serious trails.

 

When it comes to wheels there really isn't one thing I can recommend as visuals preference is just as varried there as it is with women. Now as for make up, you want something light and strong so you're looking for low pressure cast (like scs wheels) as a minimum. Forged is even better but then you're talking $$$!

Ultimately just get a wheel you like that is VIA and JWL-T rated, with a hub bore of 106mm for strength and fitment at the hub.

Size, something 16-17" and 7-9" wide with a backspaceing or "E.T." near 0 seems to be the best setup for looks and function with our trucks.

I've run MB wheels on a car before and was plenty happy with them, I don't know much about the TKO's but if you called Discount Tire (MB's brand owner) I'm sure they could talk your ear off about them.

As for lasting on trails, that all depends on your driving and a little luck but trail rash is a fact of life, wear it like a badge of honour!

 

Will do, thanks again for the help!

 

I don't have them, but heavily covet SCS wheels. My favorites have always been the SR8's (17" matte Gunmetal), and I never thought much of the newest ones (the Ray10's), until I saw this video.

I'll leave you with this:
https://youtu.be/Y5QZBi4wvtM
They are currently my new favorites.

 

Have to disagree - first number is tire or section width NOT tread width and is always wider than the tread. It is the widest part of the tire. You can compare different tires, and let's say all are labeled 245/75-16. They all may have different tread width, and it may vary .1 to .4 inches or more between different brands or models of tires even though all are 245's. One reason why Tire Rack lists tread width in addition to section width in their specs. For example a Dunlop P245/75-16 has a tread width of 7.2" while a Michelin Defender LTX (also P245/75-16) has a tread width of 7.4". Both are 245's which is a section width of 9.8".

 

Exactly. The 1st number is the width of the tire at the bulge when the tire is mounted on the recommended rim width. 25mm = 1". You always want the width at the bulge to be greater than the rim width. The bigger the difference, the less the chance of debeading when aired down. Of coarse, you have to be realistic and not try to mount a 285 on a 6" wide wheel. The closer the rim width to tire width, the more it flattens out the tread, wears better, and looks beefier. It's a trade off where you use the manufacturers recommended rim width range and decide what you want.

 

I stand corrected. Sectional width, and not tread width.

Original post edited to reflect this.