255/85 R16 Owners Experience

Apparently you're not seeing the tires I am! I think I saw 395/70/20 the other day on the MRAP. Humvees are also pretty thick - want me to go pull tire sizes?

 

for a tire over 40 inches tall is 15 inches wide really a wide tire or would that count as a tall and skinny?

 

^^^true story

 

255/75/16 you will have a width of 10.03 inches.
285/75/16 you will have a width of 11.22 inches.

Now for SCIENCE

Tacoma curb weight for the tacoma double cab short bed 4x4 is approx 5500 lbs with ~2755lbs at the front and ~3110 at the rear. With the same size radius they will be exerting the same about of torque on the pavement. But when you figure in the mass of the tires you find 255 will give you more power. Useing specs from the BFG KM2s, you find 255s have a weight of 55lbs for class E and the 285s have a weight of 59lbs.

If you choose 285s you will have about 1 and 1/4 more inches and 4 more lbs for rolling weight per tire. Scientifically speaking the 255 will get you just as far as the 285s with more mpg on your way there.

In my experience I am running the 285s but will be switching to the 255s. The only problem I have had is with ruts being too deep here in Louisiana and I bottom out. Like the others say 285s are better for sand and mud cause they can "float" better.

 

Great topic!

I've been seeking which way to go with tire sizes. I've been leaning towards tall and skinny too.

Thanks.

 

I think the facts are there to support 255's. The question for me seems to be soft sand. Since driving in the desert I will see soft sand. All that seperates the two tires in width is an inch and a quarter. I think in the grand scheme of things nobdy would notice a difference either way. One inch in width is never going to be the difference between stuck and not stuck.

 

I took it out in some soft sand today with 25 psi in the rears, did just fine. I tried to make sure I always stopped on hard packed sand with rocks in it so I can get started but if you know how to drive in sand period the tires should do just fine!

 

It really just boils down to looks IMO, 285s are look better in my opinion cause they are wider. I worked on a wildlife and fish preserve and it consisted of making rounds of the property in the wet winter time and my 285s never let me down. I have trimmed body mounts too but i will be going to the 255s to save a little green.

 

And there you have it folks. The reason wide tires are chosen haha. This coupled with a mistaken belief that friction has ANYthing to do with contact area on the road (when every friction force equation doesn't even mention it). Friction you get from your tire equals coefficient of friction times weight coming down. You have more weight coming down per square inch if the contact patch is smaller. So if your rubber can handle it, a thinner tire has more friction in every single situation.

 

agree

 

This tire and mud...

I have run this tire before in mud on another vehicle(BFG M/T). I like to cut to the bottom and push through, which makes a wonderful mess,--because i am sexually attracted to mud when i am in a truck... which this tire did perfectly.
Mind you, I chose my lines pretty well and actually knew what I was about to bog before i just flung my truck into it like a retard.

so if it was too thick and i was going to bottom, i wouldn't go for it because it wouldn't float. I liked filling my ride up with mud so i had no problem sinking.

Has anyone run the TOYO M/T in this size? I am ready to buy a set for my rig and am wondering about the sidewall. I couldn't give a crap about how it looks cuz im not a bro, i just want to know how those nobby sidewalls sling deep mud.

 

Just to make sure I get this right , 255/85/16 or 255/80/17 DO NOT require the trimming / rubbing associated with say , a 285/70/17 ?

 

no, the 255's will rub still and do require trimming as they are about an inch taller than 285's.

 

Rub where though , inner fender or cab mount ?

 

2.5inch lift and 0 rub on this tire size in BFG KM2.

No trimming. (Icon coilovers set at 2.5 Rear added leafs and rearched to level with front.)

EDIT: If you meant with no lift, I'm sure trimming would be needed. It is 33" tall after all.

 

Sorry , I should have specified that I have a 2 3/4" lift front and rear

885's , no spacer front

Dakars rear

 

I would say that they may not rub with your lift on the street....if you're going offroad then I would bet that you'll be doing significant trimming. At least I had to but I have slightly less front lift than you.

 

Considering my setup I would say no rub with KM2s in that diam/size.

I dont rub offroad or on.

I just took my truck at 100km/hr down a very potholed, fuckedup road. Suspension was doing its job, no rubbing!

 

Has to be my lift then. I was running about 2" front lift and 1.5" rear with this size. I had to trim quite a bit and it still rubbed offroad, but not too bad.

Of course, no cab mount rubbing, just fender plastic.

 

What's your wheel offset tim? I'm buyin 255s regardless when I get my OME setup. Some guys don't rub, some do