285 75 R16 v 285 70 R17

Hello, first post. Been reading hours of threads on everything. Loving Tacomaworld!

Anyway, I've decided to go with the Coil/Bilstein 5100 Kit with AAL in the rear from headstrong off-road for my 2018 TRD offroad. My goal is to have the minimum lift to get to 33" tires. I'd obviously like to keep the factory 16" wheels and not spend $800 on 17" wheels.

So is there any performance difference between going with 285 75 R16 v 285 70 R17? Or is it purely aesthetics? And if it is aesthetics, would the smaller wheel on a bigger tire look strange?

I'm sure this has been discussed but can't find any threads on it.


Thanks

 

Welcome to TW! Hope you’re aware you’ll need a CMC as well.

 

No I did not. Even when adding new UCAs also?

 

Yeah, more than likely you’ll need it. But it’s well worth it. I have 285/75/16 and love it. Biggest difference is you’ll find more selection of lighter (C rated) tires in 17” than 16”

Mine are terra grapplers and they’re D range. Most of my favorite tires only come E rated in 285/75/16

 

Unfortunately yes. There’s a good number of threads about it. Or you could go the “skinny” tire 33 route. 255/85/16 https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-skinny-on-skinny-tires.529656/

 

My truck did not rub with the 285/75/16 tires with the SPC UCAs but I didn't hit any serious trails either. I swapped out from 16x8 with 4.5 bs 0 offset to 17x8.5 with -10 offset and 305/65/17 tires and I do get some slight rubbing on the mount at full lock with the front suspension stuffed. The 17" combo seems to have more tire options available especially in the C load. But I like the road handling better with the 17" tires since there is a little less sidewall but to me the 16" looks taller even though the overall height is the same. Here's a comparison.

 

Sweet truck!

 

If you are going to offroad at all I would get the 16" wheels. When airing down, the 16" wheel will give you more tire contact than the 17" wheel, giving you a traction bonus.

 

Nice truck!

That makes sense skid0g. I want the better option for off road performance than looks. and keep the 16" is obviously a lot cheaper.

And damn it Baretta, the 'skinny' tire threads are pretty convincing.

 

I like the look of 16's with the taller sidewall. Looks chunkier.

But like it was said earlier, more tire options in 17 in both the 285/70 size as well as 255/75, 275/70, 285/75, and 255/80

 

If you'd like to keep the factory wheels you will need wheel spacers with 285/75R16 tires. You can go 255/85R16 which is the same diameter, but narrower, and not need wheel spacers.

 

Skinny tires will wear out faster and do worse in sand, on the beach, or deep snow. They are lighter tho.
17" wheels are heavier, tire choices more expensive but you can fit the larger brakes from a 4Runner