Tire comparison question

Question for you all, I want to bump up from my 265/75/16, I am contemplating 2 different size tires, the question is which will be the least impactful on power & milage? Since 1 is heavier but skinnier, does the smaller contact patch override the extra weight?


255/85/16 Wild peak AT 4 , C rated

· 58lbs

· 33.1 tall

· 10.3 wide


285/75/16 Destination XT, E rated

· 51 lbs

· 32.8 tall

· 11.3 wide

 

Personally, I'd stay with 265/75/16's. The tires you're looking at will give you about 1/2" more ground clearance, but both have more negatives than that 1/2" is worth to me. If nothing else the cost.

Something to think about. I don't recall the sizes they tested but they were larger than the ones you are looking at, but I saw a video recently where they tested wide tires vs a narrower tire in a controlled setting. The narrow tire actually put more pavement on the ground. The wide tire had a wider contact patch side to side, but the narrow tire had more contact front to back and more tread in contact with the ground overall.

When aired down the narrow tire did a better job of conforming to the shape of rocks and logs as it was driven over them. And narrow tires have always proven better in mud or snow. Wide tires have traditionally been better only in sand.

 

The 255’s will be better than the 285’s for MPGs and power. Although I run 285’s and I still average 20-22mpg per tank. It really depends on the tire itself.

I went from 265/75/16 to 285/75/16 last year and it was an excellent choice. I’m probably going to go bigger again next time. But between the two specific choices you listed, the 255 would be better for mileage and power.

 

If you are buying tires for fuel mileage, you should consider a Prius.

 

Hey RW,

You'd go bigger than 285s?

Hmmmm

The 275s I saw on Connor's @Dream Weaver Sport looked good & plenty for street driving...that, plus negative offset for some pokey!

I can deal with the MPGs since I don't expect Prius numbers! lol

OP, get the 255s for better MPGs.

 

Both are going to impact power and mileage. What does your stock tire weigh? I'm going to wager you're looking at a 25% increase in weight while only gaining an inch roughly on your overall diameter. What is your reason for wanting to up the size? If power and mileage are your concerns, getting a beefier stock size is your best bet. There's several tires in stock size that will be taller and wider when you look at the individual specs vs a size calculator.

 

Well I’m not telling the OP to go bigger, but my next set of tires will likely be bigger.

 

Really? Tank average?
I haven't seen these numbers since stock Firestones 245/75/16

 

Tinkers Adventures

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6wAJAOxh8LE

 

Yep. My Yokohamas only weigh 54 pounds each and it’s a pretty mild tread pattern for an all terrain. My truck is also very light compared to most modded tacos. No armor.

im easy on the pedal and I do a lot of highway miles.

 

I agree with your comments, i am trying to justify going bigger, the only reason i want to go bigger is because i like the stance better, i have watched Tinkerers video on skinny vs wide, very interesting.

 

Stock tires were 245/75/16 31lbs, i now have 265/75/16 Toyo AT3, which i believe are 43lbs, currently i get about 20-21 mpg on the highway. I am trying to justify going larger, which is just personal preference on looks, unfortunately 16s have very few lightweight options.

 

Are you regeared? or have an OTT tune?

 

I’m on stock gears, I do have an old KDmax tune but it hasn’t been updated in a while.

I’m running the Yokohama Geolandar A/T4’s. Absolutely fantastic tire. I’ve been all over North America, on and off-road with them.

 

The big question is, do you absolutely, positively NEED an LT tire? Those are some heavy tires and they will nickel and dime you on fuel. I chose the Toyos because they were amongst the lightest of the 255 size. However, still being an LT tire, they do nickel and dime me on fuel. I would care if it were my only car. With the truck as my weekend car however, fuel doesn't matter as much to me.


Also consider this. I can see the difference between my 255 pizza cutter and my previous +1 265 size. Absolutely nobody else can tell. Either the world is weird or we are, but the world doesn't look at tires. If you are going to do this, realize that only you can see how cool it is.

 

Gotta be the tread and rubber. My truck is stoke weight.
I was on 245/75/16 wp at3 which were below 40 lbs, now on 265/75/16 we rubitrek ~44 lb. Nothing , but a downward trend.

 

285s here Toyo at3s, calibrated and tuned. No loss of power and I didn't notice any drop in mpg. Its such a small difference in 265 and 285s. I ran 265s for a short time and best move I did was 285s in a light SL rating. The skinnies look just that too damn skinny or me. Get a nice SL rated Toyo and be done!

 

Look at the tread width not just the section width- you could have upwards of 1/2" difference in the actual contact with the road between different tires in the '285' width

 

I may be wrong, but arent the 255's E rated? At least my 255/80/17's Widpeak AT3s are.

Anywho, I went from a 265/75/16 (C Load) Duratrac, to my pizza cutters. Now I have gobs of ground clearance going from a 32" to a 33".

 

I think the AT4 may be the only C rated tire in that size