Oversized tires, the mod that keeps burning your $$$

After seeing another poor mileage thread with oversized tires mentioned as one of the possible causes it makes me wonder why anyone wants to throw money away at, what seems to me, an unnecessary mod when weighing disadvantages against advantages.

Burning your $$$ definite disadvantages:
-increased initial cost
-decreased gas mileage
-increased drive train wear
-throws mud and debris on truck sides (potential paint damage, spend more time cleaning)

Other disadvantages:
-increased noise
-incorrect speedometer reading
-change in gear ratio (may be desired)


Advantages:
-looks good (questionable)
-handles heavier loads (stock tires can handle the max. loads the truck was designed to carry)
-increased traction and handling in certain situations, snow, mud etc (how often do you find yourself in this situation)
-Helps overcome feelings of inadequacy (short person, small dick)

I must me missing something since it seems to be a popular mod. But then again I'm an older guy in my fifties, extra money to burn if I wanted but too much common sense to do so, oh well

 

Better for wheeling, that is really the only reason to put them on. If you have a street queen you shouldn't put them on if you don't want worse gas mileage.

 

Yeah there's 2 types of people that go for big tires.
1. People who are going to be in conditions that require extra traction or clearance.
2. Posers who have small dicks that need to feel like they have something big to brag about because they can't brag about being hung like a tick tack.

 

bigger tires = more clearance for off roading. Like posted above, if you don't wheel, don't put on large tires and then bitch about it


Re-gearing also gets your mpg back


:Edit:
as far as your question "how often do you find yourself in this situation" when it comes to mud and snow...there are A LOT of off road enthusiasts on this site, myself included and we put our selves in these situations quite often for fun because its our hobby. Just because you don't like it or agree with it doesn't make it wrong or bad. Maybe those people who complain about the $$$ should be a little more responsible with there loot and prioritize a little better...just sayin'

I know the pros and cons when it comes to MODing and i'm totally okay with it

 

If you are worried about mpg get a civic.

 

going from a 265/75/16 to a 285/75/16 is the most common, it's big enough tire to be hard on the mpg, drivetrain etc... but you only gain .5'' of clearance....


Now, I think big tires are sweet, but like the op, aren't necessary for me..
Sticking with my 265's.

 

right, but going from 265s to 305s or 315s is a little different...maybe the OP should be more specific as to HOW big of tires we're talking. Because 285s aren't big but they do effect the mpg a little.

 

agreed, but a 285 is big enough to impact mpg quite a bit, which obviously is a huge concern around here.

 

then they shouldn't put em on

 

Some people don't mind paying extra for fun.

Modifying your truck away from stock is going to require some extra work and expense. You're taking several years of hard work and testing by ToMoCo engineers and throwing it out the window to go it yourself. Be prepared for some challenges.

I have my Corolla for MPG. The truck is for playing.

 

Actually, I put 255/85/16s on.. which are narrower than the 285s and I believe taller (when they were new it was nearly a 34" tire).. they did affect my MPG, dropped it about 2-2.5 MPG, but I got a lot more clearance, plus the benefit of being able to have the traction and ability to air down for the tough stuff. I am going to regear sometime in the close-to-near future, which will give me back my original mileage. Plus I just like the look of the truck sitting up like that.. has a nice attitude about it.

 

yeah idk about you but i actually go lookin for the mud, that why i have a bit bigger tire. dont baby ur truck, use it.

 

i don't off road and i guess you can call me a poser for liking bigger tires on a truck for looks, but for those that go from a 265 to a 285 for more groud clearance is dumb. its not like your gaining inches of more clearance. maybe a 1/2 inch. and then when you lift the truck 3" your only lifting the body so the whole chassis is still the same as stock.

if you want more ground clearance you would have to go to a 35" tire to see a big difference.

 

Well my tires are MTs.. very good in the mud, but they are hella nice off-road period. Great traction, even in 2WD Lo..

 

the mud terrains i have on my truck are the kelly safari tsr's they are honestly pretty quiet on the highway and i put about 600 miles a week on my truck. they have lasted about 40,000 miles on them so far and they still have decent tread on them. they have worn evenly and i average about 22 mpg's highway. like stated above if you dont need grips, dont get them, and if you do then nobody wants to hear you bitch about it...

 

I like bigger tires but I'm smart about it.

I don't really wheel often enough to worry about putting on 33"+ tires, so I've stuck with 32" tires which gives me enough clearance, corrects my speedo, and looks good enough. I don't have to worry about regearing, UCA spacing, backspacing, and a whole slew of other things.

On the other hand, I can't drive through swamps or similar...

 

I get about the same mileage when I went from 33's to 35's.

 

UCA spacing more has to do with lift I would think... and putting a lift on is done for clearance as well as to fit bigger tires.

I don't drive through swamps.. maybe if I had a really old Chevy or Heep.. yeah, but swamps are death to a lot of parts.

 

Lets clear some things up:

- A 3" suspension lift raises EVERYTHING except the wheel hubs and rear axle.
- 285 tires are WIDER as well as taller, which helps traction offroad via having a larger tire contact patch with the ground.
- Stock tires are 31". Moving up to 285s will gain you a full inch of clearance.

 

x2

As for 35" tires... My Tacoma has a hair shy less the clearance than my buddy's Chevy 2500HD. He's running 35s.. I'm running... somewhere between 33 & 34s... due to the odd-ball size I choose to go with.

And my truck flexes more than his.. torsion bar setup up front for him, compared to the Taco's IFS coilovers and he's running 2 ton leaf springs in the rear, I'mjust running a Wheelers 5-pack..