255/85/16 vs 285/75/16 gearing

My 2010 AC currently has 285/75/16 BFG AT's on it with stock 4.30 gears. It's a 4 cylinder with the 5 speed manual. It drives fine and I have no complaints.....gets me down the highway with no issues and plenty of low end grunt (came with the 285's so not sure how it feels on 265's).

I thought of going to 265's next but I feel like I'll not like the loss of a little height and the look. I'm now looking at the 255/85/16's as I like a skinnier tire and the extra tad bit of height with less weight.

Will the 255's actually be better over the 285's due to less weight and less width creating less rotational mass? feel a little more pep with the 255's? or be the exact same as it is now?

 

For all intensive purposes they are the same diameter, meaning same load on the truck. BUT rotational weight is HUUUUGE in acceleration and braking. Problem with a 255/85R16 is your tire options themselves are limited.

 

intents and purposes, not intensive purposes.

 

So less brake power? & more acceleration? Sorry didn’t understand, I’m currently looking at putting 255/85/16 in my stock 3rg gen, with trimming and such. Just following this thread mainly, but would like the details.

 

never did well in english class....

The more rotating mass the harder it is to get rotating (accelerate) and the harder it is to stop rolling (braking). Especially if the mass is further out in the diameter of the object (think extra weight at the extreme edge of the tire due to more tread width)

I know i noticed a big difference with my Cooper AT3's in an LT C 265/75R16 vs my hankooks in the same size but a P265/75R16. 7lbs per tire but it was ALLL at the very edge in the tread.

 

so in theory its going to drive the same if not a tad better cause of less rotational mass?

 

Just guessing, not knowing load rating, weight, wear or type (at vs mt). i don't think that you'll be in any trouble but there will be differences in handling. If you go 255 there arent many load c options. Handling changes from p - c - e load even in same family of tires and going all terrain to mud is even more noticable usually. So i guess just be careful until you get used to how these new ones react to your driving.

 

I didnt either. I took engineering instead lmao

 

I am running 255 85 16 trail cutter RT's on my 2010 4 cylinder regular cab with 2+" lift. I cant tell you much about 285/75/16 vs 255/85/16 because I went from smaller tires to these.

I did not lose low end power but 5th gear is now used like overdrive. I dont even get into it until around 65 mph on a flat road.

 

I just put some 255/85r16 Cooper Discoverer STMaxx tires on my 04, they've been great tires so far.

 

the 285 BFG AT's I have now are load range E. I will be staying with an AT.....more than likely the Cooper ST maxx's

 

Sounds just like how I am now with the 285's. Low end power is fine and gets up and going. I use 5th around 60-65mph. 255's it is then