Upgrading to narrower tires on TRD

This is why Tracks are better on loose terrain. In snow they float because the weight is dispersed so much where tires would just sink.

 

If you put studs on your tires you would do better in the ice. Not that you would ever be on ice.

 

Yes your right ... as you widen the tire the amount of rubber that contacts the road increases while the PSI decreases and they "cancel" each other out. However, skinnier tires cut through the snow better and don't pack down the snow as much so you get better traction in the winter.

Cheers.

 

Too...Much...Math...

 

"Tell ya what... Go get a bike going 60mph and get your truck going 60mph and apply the same brake pressure to both and see which one stops the fastest. IMO, the truck would stop because there's more friction on the pavement from the truck tires is creating drag, reducing the speed. "

Tell you what - the equation is the one I use when I taught College Dynamics - it is basic physics look it up -> might change the way you are approaching this. Your comparision is wrong on so many levels - bike tires are much softer higher friction coef., braking systems different, air drag different, loading on tires different...

Chris - Thanks, been lurking for a while - I always loved this discussion with my engineering students -

 

a motorcycle would stop a lot shorter then a truck due to weight.

 

I use weight over the rear axle, 4wd when necessary, a proper winter tire and most importantly SLOWING down in adverse driving conditions.

I have zero desire to see just how well my airbags, another car's airbags, insurance policies and medical coverage are.

The brain is the most important safety device to increase in ability.

 

That couldnt be more wrong, you can get a bike to stop much much faster, It much lighter, has a much more aggressive braking system ( look at the two massive rotors on the front end of a sport bike being clamped by 2 6-piston calipers).......and motorcycle tires provide tone of traction....as you can run that front tire on a razors edge and as long as you don't lock it up that bike wil be at a hault way before your truck is.

 

Because the Super high end car has an equivlent braking system to the motorcycle, very efficent very strong and with things being comparable between the two, now you have 4 contact patches working to slow it down, vs just the two.

 

If you locked both of them up, the bike would go farther due to less friction to slow it down. I know the momentum of the truck would carry it, but the friction is much greater from the bigger tires.

 

We SR-5 people have stock 245/75/16s. Mine are Dunlop, GrandTrek? They are not a very aggressive tread and I think they would be considered all-weather rather than all-terrain, but they are surprisingly "grippy" on snow.

I live in a snowy area where it has snowed and accumulated every day for the last 6 days. I have a plow on my truck and I am on the roads quite often before they have been plowed by the town. The skinny stock tires amaze me every time I am in the snow. Often, I plow in 2WD to see how much traction I have, and I have not been disappointed.

I don't know if narrower tires of the brand and design you are currently running will perform better for you in snow and slush, but I do know from experience that 245/75/16s perform very well for me in snow and sluch. So well that I'll leave new wheels and 265/75/16 all-terrains in the garage until spring, as I doubt they will perform as well.

 

First of all, the OP is generally correct in wanting narrower tires. It's widely known (outside of this forum) that narrow tires are better for typical snow traction. You want the tires to penetrate the looser top layers and get down to the hardpack below where you can actually get some traction. Wide tires floating on top of loose snow does not create traction. I think some people are confused by images of trucks with super huge snow tires that are meant for spreading out the load so the trucks don't fall through hidden crevasses or ice. Look at any off road racing car/truck and check out how narrow their snow tires are.

But as long as you're going to go to such measures to get dedicated winter performance, you're best off looking at the proper tire construction and tread pattern first. Getting a good dedicated winter tire in any size will be better than just getting a typical tire in a narrower size.

Once you've found the right tire, then just look at what sizes are offered. I'd bet that most pure winter tires come in narrower sizes to begin with.

I've always ended up with narrower winter tires and wider summer tires. The only way you'd get in trouble is if you don't watch out for the load ratings and get something too small.

 

Ok thanks for the armchair advice, but does anyone have experience running narrower tires on their taco?