Why no love for 275/xx/xx ?

Seems like everyone wants to run 285/xx/xx, and it a lot of people run into rubbing issues. I'm doing a 2.5-3" lift and want the biggest tire as well, BUT I don't want to chop my cab. I can deal with a little bit of chop on the plastic wheel well stuff, but the CMC is a little much IMO.
So my understand is the 285 or 275 number is the width, so I assume 275's would rub less? Is it just lack of availability of such 275 sizes is the reason or ?
Thanks

 

yes

 

I see the KO2 is available in 275/70/17, the KO2 seems to be a popular tire here on TW. Wonder how the rubbing is with that size?

 

I'm with you. I see all the issues with 285s and I wonder why that seems like the logical next step up. There are admittedly fewer tires our there in 275 but there are options. In my case, the search for something in a 275 lead me to look at tires I wouldn't have considered also. Rather than just putting KO2s on without thinking about it, I looked at prices and performance reviews for lots of different brands and styles. I also considered load ratings and decided I didn't need an e load rated tire for a truck that spends 95% of its life on the road with an empty bed.

In the end, I wound up with Cooper Discoverer AT3s in 275/70r17 in a load C. They're bigger, tougher, and better off road than the factory tires but lighter, quieter, and cheaper than KO2s in any size including 265/75r16 let alone 285s.

I developed a fairly extensive Excel calculator to figure out the rotational inertia of various tire and wheel combinations and even with the heavy FJ 17" wheels, it's still just as easy for my truck to spin the 275s as it would be to spin the 265/75r16 KO2s on the stock 16 inch wheels and once again, heads and shoulders easier than (almost) any 285. The exception being the very Cooper Discoverer AT3s in 285 but in the lighter load B. Those would perform very similarly to my current set up but they would present rubbing issues.

As it is, I removed the stock mud flaps and I don't rub anywhere on anything with a 2ish inch lift and light racing ucas.

 

275s are a sucky size.

They are usually load E and exceptionally heavy and reduce power and mpgs just like 285s. They are wider and usually still rub like 285s. 275s provide 0.25" clearance gain over 265s/75/R16s. So you get all the negatives of 285s without the ground clearance gain. Whereas 265/75R16 provide no rubbing or excessive weight gain (with C-load), no excessive power loss, and only 0.25" less clearance.

Instead I would look at 255/75/R17, they will be similar in height to 275s, they are narrower so they avoid the rubbing issues of the wider 275/285, they are available in C-load so they are lighter, and they provide the ground clearance of 275s.

 

BFG 275 are only in E rated, then you will run into a rough ride from what people are saying cuz they are stiffer

 

Yea, it appears like LT255 /75 R17 has a lot more choices, including the tires I'd really like (the Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx). Anyone have a picture of this setup? (2-3" lift with LT255 /75 R17)

Thanks

 

285 no rubbing or cutting of anything. 3" kit

 

Here's my setup: 255/80r17 Cooper STMAXX w/ OME 3" lift. I get a slight rub on driver side cab mount at full left lock in reverse while compressing the suspension (like backing out of a driveway)

 

thanks kmoto, nice ride. Think if you had a 75 side wall that you wouldn't rub?

 

Yeah it probably wouldn't rub with 75s. With the 80s it barely rubs..I hate rubbing with a passion but it's so light and only does it in very specific circumstances that it doesn't bother me.

 

No rubbing yet you removed mudflaps. A lot of us cant remove flaps because the rock chips and salt blasting would destroy our rocker panels in no time.

 

34/10.5/17s are the best solution.
Keep mudflaps.
Taller than 285.
Narrower than 275.
Not a 10 ply tire.

 

2 semafives here..

275/70/17 ko2 e1, yes they are heavy, ride doesnt seem any different to me as far is roughness

No rubs 4.75 bs, 3 inch lift