Tires Limited Selection?

[ExpoMike]

Hi all,

So I have a curious question and really haven't found any reason why. Since I am one who likes the tall, skinny tires, I have been a fan of the 255/85-16. The downside is, there are very limited selections available in that size and many are MT type tires (I have a set of Toyo MT on my M1010 rig).

What is confusing is, if you look at 255/80-17 tires, there is a huge selection, from Highway type, AT and up through MT's styles. These tires are the EXACT same size (width and height), outside of the wheel diameter.

Why does the 17" version have so many selections yet the 16" version doesn't? I know a lot of vehicles are going to 17" wheels but there are still a ton of trucks/vans/SUV that run 16". Sure you can say go to a 17" wheel but some many are in the 8.5" or 9" width, which is really putting it at the max or over recommended size. It's not easy to find any good selection in the 6.5" to 7.5" which is ideal for a 255 section tire.

I really like the wheels on my GMC van, which I would love to go to the 255/85-16 in the Toyo RT Trail but they don't offer it unless you go 17" version.

I just don't get it....

 

[gnel]

Hi all,

So I have a curious question and really haven't found any reason why. Since I am one who likes the tall, skinny tires, I have been a fan of the 255/85-16. The downside is, there are very limited selections available in that size and many are MT type tires (I have a set of Toyo MT on my M1010 rig).

What is confusing is, if you look at 255/80-17 tires, there is a huge selection, from Highway type, AT and up through MT's styles. These tires are the EXACT same size (width and height), outside of the wheel diameter.

Why does the 17" version have so many selections yet the 16" version doesn't? I know a lot of vehicles are going to 17" wheels but there are still a ton of trucks/vans/SUV that run 16". Sure you can say go to a 17" wheel but some many are in the 8.5" or 9" width, which is really putting it at the max or over recommended size. It's not easy to find any good selection in the 6.5" to 7.5" which is ideal for a 255 section tire.

I really like the wheels on my GMC van, which I would love to go to the 255/85-16 in the Toyo RT Trail but they don't offer it unless you go 17" version.

I just don't get it....

I hear you! I finally gave up on my 16 in wheels and got 17s with the same toyo tires you mentioned. I kept my 16 in wheels incase someday tire manufacturers realize that there are a lot of people who want more tire and less wheel.

 

[gnel]

Hey Mike I'm sure you already know but you can get Cooper ST Maxx in 255/85r16.

 

[Michael Brown]

Short answer: Jeep Wranglers

They moved stock wheels to 17" on the JK and it remained on the JL.
So 17" on a very common offroad platform led to more options in sizes for their wheels.
I have the same issue on Monteros where mine has 17" wheels in an uncommon size (265/65R17).
I upsized to 265/70R17 which is slightly larger, but more plentiful with options.

I think almost all full size trucks have moved to 18" standard with 17" on some lowest trims.

 

[llamalander]

Bigger brakes have pushed up wheel sizes, so folks with slow-to-stop Nissans have fewer choices!
I still run OEM 16" on my frontier and put skinny tires on them, but there are not so many choices. Nokian makes great snow tires in 32" and the Cooper ST Maxx and some Mikey Thompsons are available in 255/85-16. I often wonder if I should go up to 17", but who will buy my 10 16" rims?

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Hi all,

So I have a curious question and really haven't found any reason why. Since I am one who likes the tall, skinny tires, I have been a fan of the 255/85-16. The downside is, there are very limited selections available in that size and many are MT type tires (I have a set of Toyo MT on my M1010 rig).

What is confusing is, if you look at 255/80-17 tires, there is a huge selection, from Highway type, AT and up through MT's styles. These tires are the EXACT same size (width and height), outside of the wheel diameter.

Why does the 17" version have so many selections yet the 16" version doesn't? I know a lot of vehicles are going to 17" wheels but there are still a ton of trucks/vans/SUV that run 16". Sure you can say go to a 17" wheel but some many are in the 8.5" or 9" width, which is really putting it at the max or over recommended size. It's not easy to find any good selection in the 6.5" to 7.5" which is ideal for a 255 section tire.

I really like the wheels on my GMC van, which I would love to go to the 255/85-16 in the Toyo RT Trail but they don't offer it unless you go 17" version.

I just don't get it....

"I know a lot of vehicles are going to 17" wheels..."

Going? Been and gone. Someone posted that trucks have moved to 18's. That was years ago. 10 years ago 18's were an upgrade, now they seem the norm with 20 and 22 inches being the upgrade

Someone mentioned brake size and that's true. Bigger brakes need bigger rims.

When I got my '14 GMC it was on nice 18" alloys. As for myself, I've opted for the 17" 7 spoke, wagon wheel type, steel "downgrade" with BFG AT KO2's for a decidedly retro 1970's kickass look

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Bigger diameter rims are a downgrade, not an upgrade.
65 is the lowest profile that should ever be considered for off bitumen use, in my view.

Why does the 17" version have so many selections yet the 16" version doesn't?

Modern vehicles are getting bigger diameter brakes because they can be smaller components, lighter and cheaper. Smaller rims don't fit over them.

The 4WD Iveco comes out of the factory on 255/100R16 Michelins. They are a stunning tyre in the bush, but expensive and hard to find. There is a copy from India.
Cheers,
Peter

 

[Inyo_man]

As mentioned above, 255/85/16 Cooper S/T Maxx are tough tires. I've been running them for years in 265/75/16 on a Montero...just fitted 255/85/16's on my Tacoma and couldn't be happier.

Cheers

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Bigger diameter rims are a downgrade, not an upgrade.
65 is the lowest profile that should ever be considered for off bitumen use, in my view.

Modern vehicles are getting bigger diameter brakes because they can be smaller components, lighter and cheaper. Smaller rims don't fit over them.

The 4WD Iveco comes out of the factory on 255/100R16 Michelins. They are a stunning tyre in the bush, but expensive and hard to find. There is a copy from India.
Cheers,
Peter

While I agree with you, when I say " 22 inch rims are an upgrade", I mean according to manufacturers, dealerships, and societal norms. To none of which do we conform

 

[ExpoMike]

Hey Mike I'm sure you already know but you can get Cooper ST Maxx in 255/85r16.

Yeah, but I'm a Toyo guy. 🙂

 

[gnel]

Yeah, but I'm a Toyo guy. 🙂

I am to now. I had Mastercraft CXT in 255/85r16 and loved em but when I went to replace them they had stopped making that size. Now I am digging these Toyo RT Trails!

 

[Smileyshaun]

What manufacturers need to do is start making more 33 and 35 10.50r17s . In my opinion it’s the perfect tire size for most rigs , just wide enough to give good flotation but skinny enough to still fit on a stock rim . My only issue with most 255/85r16 is the weight , most end up weighing as much as a 35x12.50

 

[gnel]

I agree about the 33 10.50 17. I found these and they may be my next set?

KR601 Klever R/T

llanta Kenda KR601 Klever R/T La Kenda Klever R / T fue diseñada para conquistar terrenos difíciles sin sacrificar la conducción y la comodidad de una llanta A / T.

llantasypartes.com

 

[Smileyshaun]

I agree about the 33 10.50 17. I found these and they may be my next set?

KR601 Klever R/T

llanta Kenda KR601 Klever R/T La Kenda Klever R / T fue diseñada para conquistar terrenos difíciles sin sacrificar la conducción y la comodidad de una llanta A / T.

llantasypartes.com

Ran them in a 35x10.50 on two rigs , very impressed with them

 

[1stDeuce]

I'm a fan of 255/85R16's as well as the 17" version. I have a set of 16" Mastercraft CXT's on my Jeep, and when they're used up I'm not sure what I'll do. I previously had 285 Cooper STT's on it, but that was two sets of 255/85's ago, and I much prefer the narrower tires. There are a few choices available, but not a lot.

The why is that nobody is buying them in significant enough numbers to make it worthwhile to produce them. Everything new comes with 17" wheels at the least, and nobody wants skinny tires these days.

I got behind on rotations, and am presently considering buying another used but good tread CXT to replace the most worn one on the Jeep, buying a bit more time before I have to re-shoe it... Funny thing is that the used tire is selling for more than I paid for the new CXT's when I bought them!

I did just get decent deal on a set of 255/80R17 ST Maxx's for my GMC. I'm calling them summer tires, and using the 285's I had for winter, as they were 3PMS rated and worked well last winter. They won't be good winter tires if I burn much more tread off them...

Toyo and Yokohama both still make a 255/85R16. I doubt the pickin's will get better in the future...