The SKINNY on skinny tires

Fitting the spare in the stock location has been a real pain. It is touching my exhaust hangar, leaf spring mount, the hitch mount on my Brute Force bumper and is still super close (might touch?) the differential under full squish. My bumper has an integrated hitch mount and may be part of my issue.

I put the trailer back on and bounced up and down on the tongue like a maniac and couldn't get it to hit - but it was super super close.

I've wedged that beast up there half a dozen times this morning and am over it at this point, guess I'll roll with it and see how it goes.

 

Chop your exhaust downwards past the axle, and chop the exhaust hanger. The spare should fit much more centered between the shackle hangers. Presuming you haven't already, you'll also need to cut off or hammer the downward-facing spare tire centering bits on the X-shaped crossmember. As for interference from the bumper, I'm not sure how bad it is with that bumper, but deflating the spare somewhat might help. FWIW, mine rubbed when both tires were compressed over bumps, but it was just superficial scuffing as far as I could tell..

 

Might still cut the exhaust, was trying not to but oh well.

It’s more a front-aft space issue. My setup has less space between the diff and the backside of my bumper.

 

Look what came in the mail today

I went with Yokohama Geolandars in 255/85R16. Ordered through tirebuyer.com
5 tires for $1295 before taxes and free shipping.

 

A little more hassle than an exhaust chop but you can switch your exhaust hanger from the 05-11 style to the 12+ style. The hanger is essentially rotated 90 deg and allows for more clearance.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fitting-a-33-spare-aka-2012-exhaust-swap.736738/

 

That’s a great tire. I got them in 285 and regretted not going skinny. Good choice

 

Joined the club, Nitto Ridge Grappler in 255/80/17. Definitely different from anything I've run in the past, but coming from the stock tire the increased traction in our most recent snow was an eye opening surprise. I normally drive my other rig in snow but the new tires really made a difference on the Tacoma.

 

Getting some 235/85/16 Firestone Destination XTs on today.
Replacing the Falken Wildpeak 265/75/16s that I had on.
Looking forward to seeing how they compare.

 

I bet your mailman loves you. LOL

 

https://youtu.be/wlx3KwhltyE

Toyota Hilux on pizza cutters in the Mauritanian (Sahara) desert.

 

love the aggressive look of these!

 

Duratracs are on their last leg. Going skinnies for sure. Between Wildpeak AT3W’s and Toyo AT3 in 255/80/17. Tell me which one you like better. Wildpeaks are a bit cheaper but not by a lot. Had them before in 285/70/17 and loved them so leaning that way for the more aggressive side wall.

 

I was surprised to find my toyos were more aggressive looking(for an AT) in person than in pics. Very happy with them

 

Spent some time chalk testing my new 255/75r17’s in Load C. Every wear pattern looked the same to me from 30 to 45 psi. Is it way more difficult to tell with a stiffer sidewall tire?

My last set were SL Wildpeaks and they were very easy to chalk test with noticeable differences for every 2-3psi.

Discount Tire set mine at 37, but I don’t know how to evaluate that without some tread wear data.

 

You would be amazed at what chains could do for you in that situation.
https://www.nosted.com/en/trygg-standard-double-duty

 

thanks for the reference. Pulled the trigger on Toyo ATIII in 255/80/17 for $1371 for 5. Going on the 4Runner, first set of pizza cutters.

 

A 235/85/16 (or 235/80/17, or pretty much any 32" OD) fits in the existing space. Having a slightly smaller spare isn't really a major issue to get you out of the woods and back to where new tires are sold. There is another discussion thread on here that considers the effect of using a smaller tire on one corner (sorry, can't find it right now) and basically came to the conclusion that for a "drive back to town" scenario, it's really not a problem.
Do you want to have two different tires on the rear axle and go 80/130 for 5 hours on the Interstate?....mebbe no. But I think a slow drive home once a decade or so is preferable to cutting and welding under a perfectly good truck.

 

I have a 35x10.5R17 Kenda under my truck and it took minimal modification to make it work. You can’t go any bigger but anything smaller is no big deal.

 

Running Yoko geolander MT's 34's LT285/75R17 on my LT taco and have no issues and still get decent MPG . been the best of all world thus far from crawling to desert and mud and surprisingly did well in snow.

 

No need to do a chalk test, it’s best to just use a calculator to calculate what pressure is needed with the new tire to support the proper load that the stock tire supported at the stock recommend pressure.

For you with LT255/75R17 C, that means 37 psi, based on the factory 265/70R16 SL off-road tires at 30 psi.

for the record, LT metric tires are not recommended to be run below 35 psi. Not that they can’t go that low, but they aren’t designed to and it’s best to stay above that at least. But it shouldn’t matter anyways because proper pressure in this case is above that.

also, very cool that you got the 255/75 Toyos. First person I’ve seen to get them. I want them, but I’m not sure how well they will fit and look on stock suspension and I really don’t feel like lifting. So I may not go with that size despite really wanting it.