255/85 R16 Owners Experience

I'm still trying to figure out if they will still be around much longer... Tirerack has them listed as a closeout (only available until current inventory is depleted) and Discounttiredirect says they are on backorder...

I've got about 20K miles on mine and they are rather low on tread, but I am really hard on tires.

 

hard to go wrong with the cooper st maxx in this size, unless you are looking for a full on trail tire, then go toyo mt. i put 42000km on my cooper st maxx's last yr on a cross canada overlanding tour in the 285/70/17 size. i just ordered some 255's for my new jk. at 42000km they still had half of the original tread left when i traded the truck in. i was shocked at how good they wore with all the gravel and back country driving. the km2's are not created equal to either of the above mentioned tires - no siping at all, toyo's have a bit and coopers have a bit more - bfg's are lighter, but guess why > thinner sidewalls. not sure about the talk of them km2's being discontinued but it is pretty easy to call up bfg and get an answer if you need it. the ko2's are apparently coming out in a sweet 34x10.5 size...!

 

Mine would probably get about 35K-40K before they needed to be replaced, but I will replace them before they get too bad.

95% on-road.

Matt

 

Anyone? Or is most just running km2 and coopers?

 

I didn't know toyo has that size.

No complaints on my km2's
May try the toyo of BFG stops that size in the km2

 

34x10.50 would be sweet! I have 4.56 gears and need a taller tire to keep the RPM's down on the highway. (presently on 32" tall 265/75R16 DuraTracs).

 

A couple guys around here run the Toyo M/T and are happy with them, only complainyt I hear is they are heavy. But tough sidewall and good wear seem to be the high points. They look nice and aggressive as well, making my Cooper S/T's look rather mild. My coopers do well on most terrain balance well and are pretty quiet.

 

I have a question about towing a travel trailer.
Let me just say Hi first, this is my first post.

I'm think about going with the 255/85/16 on stock TRD wheels.
I have a 3" OME lift 885's and OME shocks up front and 2" AAL in the rear.
My trailer is 18' long and about 3500lbs fully loaded with gear and water. I use a weight distribution hitch so it levels out pretty good.
I would like to know if there will be more stress on the trans and rear end with these tires, compared to the stock 265/60/16. I really like the look and want to fill up the wheel wells, now that I have the lift on.

Truck is a 2015 TRD PRO without 4X4, with a Snugtop shell.

Thanks all for the help in advance.

Ryan

 

Ryan, Welcome to Tacoma World!
When you swap to taller tires it effectively reduces your torque (pulling power), much like going to a numerically lower rear axle ratio. I assume you have the 4.0 liter V6 motor and probably the 5 speed automatic transmission?

What I am getting to here is if you go with a taller tire AND pull a trailer you could benefit from a gear swap. The V6 trucks have 3.73:1 ratio axles. You could swap to a 4.10:1 ring and pinion and increase your towing performance. I personally went to the next ratio which is 4.56:1 because I like the additional power and crawling capability on my heavily armored Tacoma, PLUS I am set for much taller tires down the road.

Of course you can keep the stock gearing and see how it works for you and if towing it only an occasional thing you might be fine as is.

 

Just read over on Ih8mud that they are indeed discontinued.

 

The 255/80-17 KM2 are still listed on their site. I was hoping to get the 16's for my steelies. Guess I have to get 17's

 

So it's confirmed km2's are no longer made in 255/85r16 anymore?

 

This is interesting news to me. I was just starting to do research into what sort of spacers I might need (my 255s rub the frame pretty heavy), but if the tires are being discontinued I might just have to rethink the 285 vs 255 issue since I haven't found an alternative option to KM2s.

 

No alternative option? I have Maxxis bighorns in 255/85.. That's an option?

 

I had those in 285s. Ran over a railroad spike and they wanted $800 per tire for replacement. Not happening.

 

Damn really? I got mine for 745 mounted and balanced. Someone was wanting to screw you lol

 

Son of a Bitch! I have 2 new ones on the rear and 2 almost bad ones on the front... Guess I better really step up my game and try to get some!

Got a link to that post? I am talking with the local dealership (my friend is the parts guy there) and he called BFG and they said that it is only temporary. BFG said they had to redesign the carcass to make it Euro Legal so they are just changing out the sku number.

 

Those bighorns are at pepboys for $186 ea plus they run buy 3 get 1 free (usually a rebate prepaid visa) 255/85/16 . in alabama anyway. I will have a set in a few months, plus they are d rated and weight like 6lbs less per tire than st maxx according to the internet.

 

I got the price wrong, they wanted $380/tire back in 2012 (apparently the memory isn't what it used to be )
Regardless, I skipped that option and went with 5 BFGs for $1200ish mounted and all that jazz from Costco.

 

I found it by doing a google for "255/85/16 km2 discountinued" or something similar.