Winter Tire/Wheel sizing with 3" lift

I have searched and could not find an exact answer for this so figured I would post here.

Truck: 08 Double Cab 4.0 TRD Sport with 3" Toytec Ultimate lift
Driving conditions: Canadian prairies. Cold (usually at least -30 to 5 f for a couple months), with combinations of clear pavement, packed snow, ice. Snow storms but also clear highway driving.

I am currently running BFG Rugged Terrain 285/70/R17's (32.7") on aluminum wheels with 4.5" backspace. Needless to say, these are garbage on our winter roads and I think I have settled on a studless winter tire (Nokians or Blizzaks). I plan to buy/use a set of steel wheels for a dedicated winter setup.

My question is on tire and wheel sizing. From research, it seems like narrower is better for winter conditions. I was thinking about moving to something narrower but there is not much selection to keep the tire at around 33". I have found 265/75/R16's (31.6").

Questions
1. Will running tires in the factory or 30-32" range look fine with the 3" lift?
2. Can I run 16" wheels (factory wheels were the 17's)?
3. Will there be a considerable difference between widths of 285 and 265 in terms of winter driving?
4. If I go with a smaller (height) tire, does the increased backspace make sense? I like the extra stability provided with the 4.5" given the higher center of gravity with the 3" lift...but I also have a set of factory 16" wheels I could use for the winter setup.

Any input would be appreciated. Let me know what tire/wheel size you would recommend for this situation.
Thanks!

 

Go 245 70 17

 

255/85R16 are 33" tall and have a narrower tread width and I've read they fit just fine on a steel wheel with no rubbing as long as you don't go wheeling/stuffing the tire. I would guess you should be able to run a 16" wheel unless the TRD package comes with a different caliper making them too big for a 16" wheel (SR5 come with 16"). I would also imagine 285s would float noticably more vs 285s.
FWIW, I run General Artimax 265/75R16 studded on my rig. I find they are very sensitive to air pressure in terms of how much float and grip I get. The shop that installed them had them at 34psi and they wouldn't bite when entering a turn to save my life. I'm at 28psi and they seem better. Next set will have more of an aggressive tread pattern. On my last truck I ran Cooper MTS 255s. Granted it was a 3/4 ton diesel but those tires worked really well.

 

1.) Yes, 31s or 32s should look fine. I'd vote 265/70r17 (for your current wheels) or 265/75r16. You could also do a 235/80r17 or 235/85r16 for skinny 32s-->might be a good option for winter.

2.) Yes. Lots of tacos have 16s.

3.) Doubt it. If there is, it is likely based on tread pattern or compound, not the width.

4.) You might be over thinking it...