Tire Recommendations

Hi all. I'm here with a tire question! I currently have 245/75/R16 on my 2015 at the moment, and I'm currently on the fence about getting some 265/75/R16. I'm trying to decide if they're right for me. I've gone through several threads, and I'm pretty sure I really like the look of the 265 vs 245. But I'm having some trouble selecting tire brand and tread pattern. I dig the offroad-looking pattern, but I think it would be silly for me to buy due to me never really going offroad (at least as of yet). I do a lot of driving, a mix of highway and local roads as well as country backroads.

I've been looking at the Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S, and those seem nice. I got some Cooper Evolutions right now, and they're not bad (Haven't had much to compare it to).

Also is there a significant loss of power when switching to 265? I'm trying to decide how practical it is. I think my truck would look nicer about another inch taller that the 265's would give me, and I'm willing to trade a little power and a bit of MPG depending on how severe it is.

I did some research on here before making this thread, so don't roast me too bad if this is an annoying question. It's possible I may have missed a thread that contained the answers to the questions I'm looking for, cheers guys. I appreciate you all.

 

IMO there are no downsides to upgrading to 265/75/16. That isn't enough larger for there to be any noticeable loss of fuel mileage or performance. Plus, it has been my experience that there are more options for tires in that size and they often cost less. 265/70/16's are the same width, but will be the same overall height as your 245/75/16's. That is a factory size that comes on many Tacoma's and might be a compromise for you. The extra width makes them LOOK bigger than they really are.

If you avoid tires with very aggressive mud tread fuel mileage won't take much of a hit. I had an older generation of the Cooper AT-3's on the Tacoma in the past with no negatives. I've had these for about a year now and am pleased with them. At the time, and in size 265/75/16 these were less expensive than Cooper. I don't know how they compare pricewise now.

Goodyear Wrangler UltraTerrain AT | Discount Tire

A note about E rated tires. If you drive a lot on rough dirt/gravel roads or offroad they are a tougher tire that will resist damage better than standard load tires. But they cost more. The ride is stiffer on pavement, and since they are heavier the truck will accelerate a little slower from a stop or when merging into traffic.

A lot of guys claim 2-3 mpg less. I've had both, have been driving for almost 50 years now, and have never noted any measurable loss of fuel mileage running E rated tires as long as they were in the same size and with a similar tread pattern. It is when you upsize to much taller, wider tires with aggressive tread that kills fuel mileage. Most of the bigger, more aggressive tires are only available in E rating. Guys look at the weight difference and blame it without considering the other differences might be the real cause.

 

Pretty much there is no definitive answer you're gonna get. I have a Manual 2014 Sport with 265/65/17 which has the original Dunlop AT20's. They weigh 36 lbs a piece and are 30.6 inches in overall diameter. A buddy once went on vacation and said I could take off his rims and tires and use them to demo while he was gone. He had an auto and I wanted to feel them on my manual 6 speed. His rubber were 255/75/17's. He had General Grabber X3's which were about 64 lbs a piece with an overall diameter of 32". When I dressed up my girl in them, she looked real sexy. But holy skunk tails, there was a marked difference in power and handling to be sure. Felt like the difference between dancing in sneakers or RedWing hunting boots. Okay if you're a hardcore off roader, but I mainly use my rig for hauling mountain bikes, kayaks and boats to distant State Parks and what not. I like the smooth, sporty feel. All has to do with that rolling mass equation some cat has posted on TW. It's legit. I ended up getting Michelin Defender LTX MS (245/75/16). Actually just ordered them.

Look at your Evolutions in 245/75/16. 34lbs and 30.4" in overall diameter. Then look at the AT3's in 265/75/16. They are 41lbs and 31.6" in overall diameter. All told that's 28 lbs more rolling mass (a moderate amount. Also, according to most on here, the increase in diameter will effectively change your gearing in the direction of less low end torque and worse fuel economy as well. How much.....? Based on everything I've read around here, 1.5-2.5 MPG fuel and slight but noticeable loss of power. On the other hand there are dudes who would say they've made the exact switch, but didn't notice anything except a more awesome look and no fuel/power loss. Comes down to whether you gravitate towards science or forum driven anecdotal evidence. The Discovery AT3's are revered for their good off road work and good highway work, so that's a good tire for you. If you don't mind sacrificing a noticeable but small bit of power and a few miles per gallon, then go for it.

 

All I have to offer is this. If you live somewhere with snow and ice the Discoverer AT3 4S is a good choice for 4-season tire. Had mine for 2 winters, and I’ve had much better traction over BFG ATs. I did a lot of research on durability, traction, wear, and the Coopers were the best by a little. The Falken Wildpeak came 2nd.

 

Kumho roadventure at51

 

I don’t know if this helps at all but I have BFG KTOs and I’m not impressed with wet traction at all, even with weight in the back. Good luck with your decision OP.

 

If you plan on using the truck more in an offroad environment, I would consider a true A/T tire in a C load for more sidewall protection and decent on road ride quality. That Cooper Discovery AT3 4S is a good all round tire that's geared more for street driving. It's a softer P-metric tire than a AT tire. Good choice for smoother riding all season tire but not a tire I would want in an offroad environment due to less of sidewall protection. Just my $0.02.

 

Agreed. But I don’t take my DCLB limo on the trail. I’m strictly a pavement princess.

 

265/70/17 Falken Wildpeak AT3s have been great for me. Awesome slightly aggressive tread with good grip in the rain. Little road noise is a plus as well. I'm in GA, so haven't drove through snow but I've read here it handles well.

Pics for reference.

No Lift


With 2" Lift

 

I'm pretty much in the same boat. Looking to upgrade my current 265/65r17 Michelin OEM wheel/tire setup to be more capable off road, but I don't want to sacrifice too much of the pavement comfort as I still do mostly street driving.

My research has me leaning towards the Toyo open country At3 in a 265/75r16, I feel it gives me the best of both worlds with a fair compromise. FWIW the Cooper Discoverer AT3s get a lot of love too. I just read this article yesterday which had the discoverer come out on top of some other notable AT tires... I believe these were all LT rated, which the AT3 4S is not.

https://expeditionportal.com/where-the-rubber-meets-the-road/

Granted they didn't test against the more modern BFG KO2s or the Toyo Open country AT3s

 

Yeah. I live in Ohio where the weather has been acting strange as hell lately. One day it’s 75, the next it’s 28 and snowing. Like what the hell. So all seasons are a must. Reading through everyone’s replies has helped me immensely on my decision. Thank you all.

 

For what it’s worth, I run the General Grabber ATX in 265/75/16 and I absolutely love the tires and the size.

 

General grabber APT would work for what you need.