The SKINNY on skinny tires

You're not skinny if you're not going 235s.....

 

Just put on 255/75-17s SL load Duratracs with FN wheels. Whole set up weighs less than my stock off road wheels and tires and is 1.5” taller. So far, I love them! Speedo reads dead on according to google maps.

 

I have 6112s (3rd notch, I think ) in front and JBA UCAs. A modified Dakar leaf pack in the rear with 5125s.
Ray10s with Falken Wildpeak AT3 - 265/75/16

 

Here ya go, as requested.

 

That's my favorite site when shopping for tires! By far the most information in one place, with an easy to use platform!

 

Yea, it's pretty sophisticated when you get into the backspacing and offset areas of the site but still simple to use.

I've been using it or others like it since 2006 LOL. Before then I was too poor for truck mods.

 

I was under the impression that a fat tire is more likely to float on top of snow, and a skinny tire is better able to cut through snowpack and find a base where there is more grip. Do you have any references for your "wider is better" theory?

 

The weirdest thing I read recently said that snow packed tires provide more traction than non-packed tires, in the snow, because snow grips snow.

But I also have read, and believe, that skinnies sink and fatties float. I would think this would be especially true on lighter trucks like the Tacoma.

 

I live in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and it's common knowledge that skinny tires are better in snow that fat tires. This is not new information in snow country.

 

More surface area on top of the snow always wins. At least in my experience. If you also take a look at purpose built snow equipment, or vehicles; its always the wider and fatter the better. The denser the snow, the more you float.

Only because its a Yota, sorry to derail.

 

It really depends on if your trying to get threw it or over it.

getting threw it = skinny

Getting over it = more meat

 

Yea, I definitely agree that up there where the hard-pack is ehhh maybe 5' the surface they are going to use the fattest tires they can fit, then, as this guy is doing, air them suckers down until the beads are ready to roll out! I have seen some expedition vids and yes, every one of those trucks had tires like this on them, and some still struggled to stay afloat. It's that same with sand, on dunes.

However, if I ever find myself in an area with 5' of fresh snow I better be in the hot tub at the ski lodge.

Yea, for the most part, I only need to get through 4 or 5 inches max to the pavement on main roads where I live. My driveway has had more but if it's more than a foot I generally stay home and do snow removal all day.

 

When the snow is deeper than your ground clearance you want to float on top. Cutting through is bad because you'll sink and get stuck on the chassis/axles. This is why you never want to stray from the packed track when snow wheeling unless you have huge wide tires and can stay on top of the snow. After you "cut down" and break through and have to winch yourself out a dozen times the "theory" starts to make sense.

For shallow snow and on-road snow skinnies are great. Not in this stuff though.


In these conditions if we strayed even a little off the packed track we'd break through and have to winch. I believe we winched well over 15 times that day/night. I grew to hate that sinking feeling. lol

 

hmmmm.....
classic tall and super skinny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq2jY1trxqg

 

I find it a little ironic your location is Grass Valley

I love the snow, love the outdoors, would love to wheel in this type of environment, but, if I never get to experience all that winching I won't be unhappy.

 

I know right?

These are the guys who blazed the path we are on. We ran into them in the evening and they kindly tamped down a camp spot for us just off the trail. Old school 4Runners on 40s FTW!

 

Now that's funny as hell. Of course the whole truck only consists of like 17 parts, including the engine and tranny. Towards the end I thought if this SOB goes under water I am trading in my Taco for one of these.

Thanks for the chuckles

 

Skinny tires are better for snow that is on the roads usually under a foot and wide tires are better for deeper snow. So both are best for different snow conditions.

 

Agree.