The SKINNY on skinny tires

The issue isn't the width, in fact I'm planning in my next set being 235s, but 235/85/16. Like I said those tires are four entire inches shorter than stock. You will lose 2" of ground clearance, and for your speed to actually be 75mph your speedometer will say 85mph.

The 5 lugs are geared differently so the engine will turn at the proper RPM for highway speed. If now say you turn at 2,500 rpm cruising at 75, with those tires you might be 3,000 or 3,200, I don't know exactly but it will be noticibly higher.

 

While waiting for LCA parts to come I was getting bored. So, I was decided to weigh my stock rim and tire and compare to new tire and rim. Now this was not scientific. I took bathroom scale out to garage, stepped on scale, picked up tire.

Stock TRD Sport rim with 265/65/17 Kumho AT51, half worn, 63 pounds

SCS Ray10 rim with 255/75/17 Hankook Dynapro, new, 64 pounds

Just some useless information,

 

I got 5 cooper stt maxx for 900 mounted and balanced due to your heads up..

 

Good deal
Im still waiting for 2 of mine to show up.
I used the savings and a little extra OT to justify a new set of rims for my tires to ride on.

 

If guys wants some pictures for reference The Cooper ST MAXX 255/85r16

 

255-80-17 stmaxx (17x9 scs f5 for backspace reference)

 

Looking Good. So a 9 inch wheel is not too wide for a 255/80/17 tire?

 

I don't think most are recommended to be over 8.

 

I think I would prefer it on a 8.5 or even 8. But these wheels were local and cheap and I wanted to give it a shot.

Cooper recommends 6.5-8.5

 

Anyone went from: 285/70/17 or 285/75/16 to 255/80/17 or 255/85/16? And what was their reasons for this change?

 

I just did, hoping for a little gas mileage back. Also I think they dig a little better than the wider tire in the mud at my farm. River bottom ground seems to get sticky with wider tires. I don’t play in the mud, but if I need to get through it I want the best chance I can get. We will see if my choice works out.

 

Which ones did you end up going with?

 

Dude go get your ass in some mud and report back

 

255-80-17 stmaxx

I didn't say I haven't played in the mud, I just don't like to

I did go to the farm, found some muddy areas, tires did well, but they are not as good in the mud as my trail grapplers were as far as bite feeling, yet they dug well and got me through with less throttle. They do not clean out as well as I hoped though... Overall, they met my expectations with grip.

 

What are the cons? The tire is more likely to slip off the rim?

 

Do you know the cons or reason why they would say don't mount them on 9 wide?

 

You don't usually go wider than recommended rims because:
1 it affects the footprint of the tire
2 you can blow a bead, especially when aired down
3 you expose your rims to damage from rocks and curbs
I'm sure there are other reasons but these are enough for me

 

Haha yeah that sounds like enough for me. I'm not in the position to buy new rims and then wait to sell (if they ever do) my old rims. So i'm kind of stuck with my 17x9 for now. I wanted to put 255's because i'd get the bigger tire but less rubbing issues. Sounds like I may have to go 285 anyways. Thank you.

 

All that being said, I use mine more like a work/hunting rig, it spends entirely too much time up and down the highway unfortunately. I'm not a rock guy any more. I just go where I need to go in the woods/dirt roads, air down is not terribly common for me any more. If I was going to spend more time playing in the mud/rocks/crawling etc... I'd put my steelies back on with the trail grappler 285's.

 

Got my skinnies today! Was supposed to get MC Courser CXT’s but due to a shop error I got ST Maxx’s for the same price. Win! Close to doing the Toyo’s but couldn’t pull the trigger.