How capable are 265s?

How capable are 265/75r16s? I am currently running 265/75R16 Duratracs E Load and they’ve been great for the trails I’ve been on so far. But they’re heavy for daily driving and I’m planning to go down to 245/75 or 265/70 for DD and towing. I just picked up a spare set of rims that I want to run off-road specific tires on. I want to avoid a CMC and any major trimming, so 285s and up are out of the question, so I was looking at 255/85s. However, some have said that turning will be more difficult because it’s taller and skinnier.

Basically, is it worth it to drop $1,000+ get 255/85s or just get another set of 265/75s? Will there be a significant advantage with 255/85s and will they take/ get me places the 265/75s can’t? Based on my limited experience, I’m guessing that 265/75s can get the job done, just at a slower pace and on different lines, but perhaps I’m wrong/ missing something?

LMK what your thoughts are/ if you’re in camp 265 or 255.

thanks!

 

I am running 265's for now just because I could not get 255's because of tire shortages. I will be going to 255's when the tires i want are available even though an A/T 265 sure does ride nice for the 90% of pavement driving I do. Depending on what you do, 265's will be just as capable with a good driver, 1" of ground clearance will not make a huge difference. But then again "the bigger the tire, the smaller the hole".

 

That's what I keep going back and forth on: it's 1" extra ground clearance but is it really worth it? haha

I've always wanted to run 255s just because I think it would look nicer but I don't know if it's practical...I almost think that it would make more sense/ be more beneficial to make a jump to 35's and do cutting/ trimming vs. going up one size, but I really don't want to do that since the truck is my daily driver as well.

Thank you for your input!

 

265 are capable. They are great. Just depends on the tire. A street tire won’t preform as great as a mud terrain or all terrain.

285 is nice and gives you extra lift….which gives you more off road ability….but do you need it?

Sounds like you can run the stock tire size and it will be fine for you. Just make sure to get a good tire to handle it. And don’t get e load. That’s a little too much for our trucks.

I have 265 70 17 wildpeaks at3 in a SL load range and I took it on fire trail roads, mud, gravel, sand, little bit of rock crawling. And it’s fine. E load tires are heavier and stiffer

 

Yea, I'm leaning towards just getting a second set of 265/75s...we've only done Moderate rated trails up in the CA Sierras and so far the Duratracs have been fine...I think any of the more difficult trails you'd probably need more than 33's and would also need some high clearance bumpers anyways, so those are out of the question haha.

I have been on the fence about 255s for the past 3 years but always talk myself back into the 265 camp...it's basically a want vs. need issue haha

Thanks for the feedback

 

If a tire manufacturer would make a 255 in a load range C or D and in a true A/T it would be no brainer. Come on Toyo or BFG, make this happen!

 

I've done all kinds of off roading on SL 265s ATs. I broke one unrepairably on a rock but it was a stock tire from a 3rd gen TRDOR that came with my wheels. It was pretty worn, plus I hadn't aired down and was going too fast. Otherwise no issues.

Air them down a bit, don't hit anything too hard or too fast, and be willing to throw your spare on and you'll be fine most of the time.

I since went to C-load 265s but more for peace of mind than really thinking rationally that they're absolutely necessary. YMMV depending on what you do but mine have survived high and low speeds in Death Valley, the Sierra, and all over NV and southern Utah.

 

I loved my 265/70/16s on my xterra. Did a number of passes in colorado on those things, beat out my in-laws rented jeep.
I've since sold it and gonna for smaller vehicles. 235/75/15 is what I run now.

 

I run 265/70R17 in the summer and 255/70R17 is the winter.
Really notice no difference between the two sizes.
Blizzaks vs Toyo RT so they drive completely different anyways.

 

Thanks for all the feedback guys...it sounds like other than visual appeal/ looks of a bigger tire filling out the wheel well, 255/85s offer no significant advantage over 265/75s. It sounds like both tires will have pretty much the same capabilities although the 255/85s will have an extra 1" of clearance, but it doesn't seem like it would be a noticeable difference on the trails. Is that pretty much how everyone feels?

Thanks again!

 

Do you NEED an E load rating tire? The C load Duratracs are 6lbs ea. That would make a pretty big difference reducing 6lbs per corner.

Something to keep in mind when going more narrow. Some manufactures base their tread design off a certain width of tire and as they go more narrow the gap between treads may get smaller. Another local Tacoma guy to me was not impressed with his 255 Duratracs in the snow when compared to other tires, he travels a lot and has gone through a lot of AT tires. Yet I think my 265 Duratracs do fantastic in the snow compared to other AT tires I've driven on in the snow. Oh and I HATE Goodyear tires, this is the only one I'll ever run

I'm due for a new set of tires soon as well. I've been looking into the Kenda Klever RT 33x10.50. They are heavier than the C load Duratracs I currently have. But I expect that since I'm going up in size anyways.

 

Yea, I don't think E Loads are necessary. I'm definitely looking at going down to the C Load Duratracs for my city tires since I tow a 4,000lbs boat pretty regularly and would like C's for that. Offroad I'm leaning towards getting a set of 265/75 Yokohama Geolandar MTs based on everyone's comments on here. I first was thinking of getting them in 255/85 but now it seems that 265/75s are the more practical option.

Thanks!

 

Personally, the only difference that really matters here is with diameter and the width is basically irrelevant. 265 vs 255 in and of itself isn't a big difference either way. You'll have bigger differences you'll noticed from the brand and model of tire and since the size noted is width at the sidewall you could end up with varying tread widths based on the specific tire. It's possible some 265's tread are just as narrow as some 255 and vice versa. This is magnified by the fact that often times you can't compare the same tire in both sizes since they're not available. This leaves you comparing apples to oranges.

Is there a specific tire model that you want? If so, I'd choose based on that and get it in the size they have available. If the added height is what you want, then go with the 255's. But be sure to check the specs, there can be over 1/2" difference in actual diameter from brand to brand. You may have more or less than a 1" change in ground clearance depending on the two tires you're using. And although it may not seem like a lot, 1" is nothing to balk at. And, for some things, like differential clearance, bigger tires is the only way to gain any height at all since you can lift with suspension all you want and it won't affect diff height.

I'm running 265/75-16 SL Wildpeak AT3/W's. They've been great so far but I regret being conservative and not going bigger. But you live and you learn. I would very much like a little extra ground clearance so I'll be going up in size at some point, likely to a 255/85-16 or something similar. Small chance I'd go up to a 285 in roughly 33" but so far I'm just not seeing where there's any benefit to doing that over a 255 33".

 

Also you will probably need more than a cmc and plastic trimming for 35s. Such as regearing. Might even need wider wheels with more offset (depending on what you have currently).

 

I'll stir the pot a bit. I went from 265/75R16 to 235/85R16. Same diameter, narrower tire. I have zero complaints and would do it again. They are heavier tires, load range E, which is a turnoff for some. I haven't noticed any issue with cornering up to freeway speeds, though I'm not autocrossing my truck. Low speed maneuvering feels like the truck is easier to turn. They're also narrow enough that you may have room to run chains up front (I know I can with my particular chain/tire combo).

 

Yea, I was really looking at going up for ground clearance...I was considering the Yoko Geolandar MTs in 255/85 which are 33.2" according to America's Tire and my Duratracs are currently 31.7", so it would be a 1.5" increase...but I wasn't sure if an extra 1-1.5" increase would be noticeable enough to justify the extra $400+ compared to just buying another set of 265/75s.

 

Yea, that is also why I decided not to pursue 285s...it seems to open up a bunch of other issues you need to address

 

Went to a 245 E Toyo AT3 load due to camper from a 265 SL Wildpeak and saved about 5-6lbs I think. Really happy with what I do with them and confident in various road conditions here in CO.

 

I recently came across this tire size and became interested haha...how has the 235/85 held up for you off road? Are there any situations that you found yourself wanting a bigger/ wider tire?

 

Yea, that's my thought now that I have a second set of rims: city and towing, I'll go down in size and offroad just run the larger tires