Tire weight/size technical ? 3rd gen. Please help

First world dilemma here…Looking for some technical advice and personal experience.

I currently have 265 70r17 trd 4Runner sema wheels wrapped in c load range BFG KO2. The combo weighs 70.72 (as far as I can tell) per corner.

I am debating getting new wheels (which are lighter at 18.13 lbs) and running a heavier and more durable 265 70 r16 e load range KO2 instead, for a total weight of 68.42 lbs per corner.

My question is: will I see an increase in mpg or acceleration going back down to stock tire size and slightly dropping the weight per corner? Or will it ride like a dump truck and be accelerate just the same?

And for anyone with Load range e BFG KO2 in stock size(265 70 r16), how is the ride?


Thanks in advance!

*pic for attention.

 

Did your truck come with 16” rims originally?

 

Yes. It came with 265 70 r16. I jumped up to 265 70 r17.

 

You're reducing the overall mass and the diameter a little - but you're concentrating the mass farther out from the center. I suspect it'll drive a little worse, but without doing the math thats a WAG.

 

Imo. The difference will be negligible.

 

You may see a mileage increase based on the fact that wheel speed sensor will not be off by the 3% +\- it’s off by currently from the factory tire wheel combo, but may be negated because the E rated is definitely heavier than the factory 265/70/16.

 

I’m leaning toward Michelin Defender LTX for my next tire set. They seem quite a bit lighter weight and strong as shit.

 

Heard good things. Keep us posted on how they run.

 

The load range E tire will ride like a dump truck. Acceleration shouldn't be noticeably different because the weights are close.

 

Thank you. That was my suspicion. But wanted to see what the forum thought. I like the ride of my current tires, but would change back this stock size and run an E if it would give me any other advantage other than durability.

 

I’ve also read that the increase in tire size affects the torque negatively and makes the truck work harder to maintain speeds. Just wondering if it’s enough to matter going to a 265 70 r17 since it’s close to stock. On the highway it definitely wants to hunt gears, but that’s probably just a 3rd gen trait. I just lock out 6th and go. I did notice my mileage really tanked this winter..but it’s been a cold one so…

 

How many miles on the truck?

 

I wouldn't call it dump truck, but you will feel the added sidewall stiffness of the E rated tires. They will have a little more rolling resistance.

 

5k. Last truck had same tires and got better mileage in winter. Same truck. Long story. Lol

 

The c load range ride great so a little more stiffness wouldn’t be bad at all.

 

^^^ this

If you need E for terrain you drive, that's one thing.

If you don't, don't use them unless you want the penalty

 

Seems to be the consensus. I blew out a stock passenger tire on a decently maintained gravel forest service road, but those tires were junk. No rock crawling or anything. Just regular forest roads out west chasing trout. So far c tires haven’t popped on me. Most people run e tires out here but most have full size trucks. I thought a c was a good compromise for such a light truck. Well see if I made the right call this spring /summer.

 

The ride will be much rougher going from C to E. If you don’t need the sidewall strength off road I would stick to C load.

 

Thank you. I think I will stick with what I have.