255/85 R16 Owners Experience

I suppose mostly concern for support and rigidity at Texas highway speeds. I’m on 265/75’s right now and am planning on going to 255/85’s next. I can’t see myself “needing” to air down in the near future. Honestly, all my offroad stuff ends up being dirt roads and pastures. But I really like the utility of a 33 being able to perform well off-pavement. I’d just like to know if there are any on-pavement detractors.

Good to know, that matches many of the experiences mentioned on TW.

 

The only on-pavement detractor I have noticed is that with the thinner tire you have marginally less stability. Nothing crazy, but it is like 1% more squirrely on the road. I wouldn't even consider it a problem.

 

Hundreds of thousands of Jeep people have and still do run 35" tires with 15" wheels. I'm one and even load range Cs have zero issues at 80 mph.

 

Thanks guys. I think part of my subconscious was looking for an excuse/need to move up to 17’s. Expenditure avoided!

New tires are expensive enough (will need a full 5). Throwing in rims, even with Black Friday sales, almost doubles the cost.

 

I used the search button, I really did! I assume plenty of folks have mounted a 255/85r16 to their 3rd gen factory steel spare but could someone please confirm? just checking before I order my 5th tire please

 

This thread convinced me to run skinnies instead of 285s. Only about 50 miles on Wildpeak A/Ts. Here are my thoughts coming from 265/75: noticeably heavier and rougher but fine for me. The height increase is noticeable both visually and getting in and out of the cab. I regret not getting these sooner. I have 2/1 lift and it looks perfect. Not skinny looking, but not wide looking either. If people on here didn’t call them skinny’s, I would not call them that because visually they just look normal width. Slight rub at full lock. Discount Tire’s service was outstanding as always.

 

Just got mine on this weekend too! Haven't had time to drive it yet, I still need to figure out my lift numbers. From hub to fender in the front I'm sitting about 24" so I may need to bring it down some to save the CVs. Does anyone have experience with Eibach Pro Truck 2.0 and how much they may settle (If at all on at 2.7 RC)?

 

I have a set of the new Falken’s ready to mount this Friday. Interestingly, I was online looking to see what air pressure conversion might be required, and both tires (OEM Goodyear w/kevlar, and the 255/85/16 Falken AT4W have the same load rating. Max air pressure is within 1psi. So it seems no conversion is necessary. At least at first glance. Am I missing anything?

 

Damn regular cabs…. Parking wherever they want all sexy and knowing it.

 

It's a damn good feeling too! I'm still figuring out pressures too.

 

Part of the skinny club! No up close photos yet, but here’s a side shot. 255/85/16 in the new Falken AT4W. Rides really smooth so far. No highway speeds yet though. Down to about 1/2” clearance in normal stance (6112 lift) at the rear of the front well. Rears seem fine. Spare was a tight beotch. May get back under there and knock the tabs out a little. I relocated the tire hanger a little. A pox for 4 generations on the engineer who decided those 4 bolts would be better coming in from the top than the bottom. Probably easier to install before the bed is in.

I still need to pop my dash open and update my speedometer calibration, and get my tune updated to 33’s. I also have a set of new brake cables all the way around that I’ve been waiting to install. Probably time for that and a brake fluid refresh.

 

I'm looking to go skinny with my next tire change and I'm looking at Falken AT4's 255 85 r16. I live in Colorado and do quite a bit of dirt road driving in heavy snow and have heard they are the best in those conditions What is everyone running on their tacos? I'm not interested in MT tires due to highway road noise

 

I’m riding on the new AT4’s. Pretty happy so far, but 100% on-road

 

How is the mpg hit on the at4s? I have never been so indecisive in my life but when it comes to 255 85s vs 265 75s I’m full blown triggered. I’m still rolling factory 265 70s… Not concerned about get up and go, but I take long trips and my OR already sucks in comparison to my previous Pro. I average 17.8 once I hit flat ground I can get it in the 20-22 range without hardly trying. Just afraid of turning my 17.8 to 15s . I know it’s a beefy C but doesn’t make any sense that it weighs in at 58lbs a tire when 255 80 17s in an E are comparable in weight. Not to mention a 265 75 is low to mid 40lbs unless you are looking at Nittos which I’m not a fan so wouldn’t consider. Maybe I’m just getting too old

 

I am still getting 16.5ish mpg, the same as I did with the 265/75r16 KO2s that were on the truck when I got it. I haven't noticed much of a change. However, it does slog just a little bit going up steep grades at highway speeds, but if I stick to 65 mph, its fine.

 

Off road, the AT4w is fantastic. Rocks, gravel moderate sand, mud...work as well as anything I've driven. On pavement, they are pretty good, I think my Grabbers were a little better on wet roads.

Snow: There's another thread with a video that claims the Falkens take twice as far to stop on snow as the BFGs. I don't agree with their assessment. While the Falkens aren't great on snow, I don't think they are much worse than my Generals, and they never scared me. The width is only 10mm narrower than what I was running, so I can't believe the width is making that much of a difference. If I had to guess, I think the Falkens rubber is just a hair harder than the Generals, which could be the difference. Might also explain them being just a touch quieter.

 

Late to the pizza cutter party. I’ve been running Cooper Discoverer S/T 255/85/16. Live the performance in snow, mud, crud. A little noisy on the highway - turn up the tunes. Been running them for about 20k they are wearing pretty well, but do have some chopping - that is life with an OS tire. And yes - they look baaaadaaazzzz.

 

Just slapped on the Falken 255/85R16's. First to go was the front mud flaps. Rubbed on the drive home. I've had a couple of slight rubs on the few miles I've driven since. I don't have any lift on the 2021 TRD OR. Weekend after next will be an off road test. Three days in Superstition with https://sd4wheel.com/. This will tell me if I need to put a lift on. Trying to do as little as needed to get the job done!

 

Did you go with the mt's or at's?

 

Since we’re on the topic of AT4W’s…

I just got to try mine out in the Texas road slush after our snow. Meh, hard to tell with the limited driving. *Probably* not as good as my Duratracs on my old FJ. But *Probably* better than my worn Toyo AT3’s. Hard to tell how they’d compare to a new set of Toyo AT3’s.

When the snowfall was fresh and packed, they did okay onroad. But I know when to use the skinny pedal and when to use the big wheel in my hands to maintain control.

Final score: B or B+