255/85R16 on a Gen 2 Tacoma

[millerfish]

I am looking at the 255/85 16's for my DCSB TRD OR

I have an Auto and pull a small expo type trailer. Will the added 2 inches of tire diameter affect towing and mileage much?

 

[tyv12]

This has been discussed extensively in other threads, I would recommend trying the search function


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[p nut]

Reports from others indicate about 10-20% MPG loss. You will definitely feel the power loss, though. Probably not a huge deal on a 2nd Gen, but expect more downshifts.

 

[SIZZLE]

Yes

 

[millerfish]

Hey tyv12 maybe you are better at searching the I, but I have looked at a lot of threads and found a lot of talk about fit and lift but not much specifically about mileage and power while towing with an Auto. If you don't have anything to contribute it's ok to just go on to the next thread...

 

[MTaco]

Your mileage will suffer but you shouldn't have any problem pulling a small trailer. I towed a lot with mine before my gear swap and it did ok. I would always tow in 4th though.

 

[tgreening]

Hey tyv12 maybe you are better at searching the I, but I have looked at a lot of threads and found a lot of talk about fit and lift but not much specifically about mileage and power while towing with an Auto. If you don't have anything to contribute it's ok to just go on to the next thread...

No offense to anyone involved at the moment, but don't get too put off by the search nazis. They exist on every forum on every web site. The problem with the search function in general, no matter where you try to use it, is that most of the time it's dang near useless. And that's because most threads, just like this one, stray from the topic at hand on average after about the 6-7th response. This one started to stray ironically enough, with the "use the search" comment. Threads are about 15% info and 85% a bunch of non-related crap (just like this post) when it comes to the topic the OP is looking to research.

The best use of your time, by FAR and much to the annoyance of those in love with the search function, is to do just what you've done and that's ask. Either someone will step up with the info, or they will have a link directly to the thread the search nazi thinks you will find on your own, before going slightly bonkers from sifting through all the chaff. Some folks get down right agitated when they think a question has been "asked to death", yet can't help themselves from jumping in, reading the question AGAIN and chastising another poster AGAIN, instead of just scrolling right on by...


You'll be going up about 2.5" in overall diameter. Clearance is liable to be an issue unlifted, especially off-road, but you might get away with it on the street. I'm running 265/75R16s at the moment on a 2010 DCSB TRD Offroad and dont have any fender clearance issues, but I know if I bump up to the 255/85R16s I have in my garage it is going to be very very close at full lock, even on the street.

Mileage and power are only a couple of things you'll need to be concerned about, especially since it sounds like you'll be off road. Yes, they will suffer. How much depends on what type of driving you are doing and how much you are pulling. I'm going to mount the ones I have and see how it goes in the power/mileage dept, but I have no illusions about being able to do it without a lift. I expect to have to do it, period. Power I am less concerned about since at the moment it isn't expected to do any towing, but if/when I get to that point, I expect some new gears to be part of the picture.

 

[Yulli]

I'm currently researching tires for a future Tacoma build. I was gonna go with the new KO2 from BFG and they had the 285/75/16s. I know they're a little wider but I kept seeing people talk about these 255/85 tires but couldn't find anything. After reading the Expedition Overland guys are doing the 285/75 on their tires, I figured I might as well go that size route since that's what I'm finding.

Come to find out I saw the 255/85/16 thread discussing how BFG discontinued that size but will be relaunching in May most likely. Since I don't have the Tacoma yet it's not like I'm in a rush to get tires. So I can wait it out till Spring and see if they relaunch that size in the KO2 model.

I currently have a JKU and it has 35s. I regeared but still lost on MPG and that was expected. The gears really work great on shifting between gears though. Does anyone know how much of a change the 255/85 or maybe the 285/75 will have on up or down shifting? I'm assuming regearing the rear end will help fix that too like it did for my Jeep. I have a trailer too that I'll be towing. If the gears help it to shift and stuff better then I'll definitely regear too so it shifts more smoothly.

 

[RFDGUY]

I have that exact same setup. Im running a 4.0 tacoma on 255/85R16 with an expo trailer. Yes you will see a drop in gas mileage. I get about 14mpg when towing..

 

[Elk]

Millerfish,

As a baseline, when stock on the 245/60r16 factory tires, I averaged 305 miles to the tank. I am currently running 265/70r16 BFG AT's (D rated) and average 260 miles per tank on 87 octane. I have the 6 speed manual, but the same cab configuration. Acceleration is tolerable. I was previously running 285/70r17 BFG AT's (D rated as well). Tank mileage was 250, acceleration noticeably slower, but the most discernible factor is braking. You will take longer to stop and will adjust your driving style accordingly. I think you'll do fine with the 255 configuration, but bear in mind that the ride will be slightly rougher on an E rated tire as well.

 

[millerfish]

Thanks for the info gentlemen.

 

[Schattenjager]

Remember that peak MPG occurs at peak torque RPMs. Now, our Torque for the V6 is near 4000 RPM, which can get to be buzzy to cruise at, but knowing the target and nearing the cruising RPM will help. Most folks I talk to regarding the mileage issue fail to account for the lower numbers traveled reflected by the larger tires - if it indicates you have gone 260 miles and you did not change the speedo input, then you should add about 10% more miles for a bit more accuracy.

And yes - the 'go search' crowd have little else to offer. If I owned a board like this, I would appreciate people stoking the search feature with more pertinent threads. Search for a roof top tent and you are likely to get 100 results on builds that have one reference to a tent on 11 pages.

 

[DVexile]

Remember that peak MPG occurs at peak torque RPMs. Now, our Torque for the V6 is near 4000 RPM, which can get to be buzzy to cruise at, but knowing the target and nearing the cruising RPM will help.

No, that is completely wrong. You are confusing the theoretical point of maximum efficiency of power/fuel at *open throttle* with what is the most efficient cruise RPM (so typically throttle quite a bit closed). The issue is that for any given cruising situation you need a particular output power from the engine, and this is almost always just a fraction of the total output power available. The question then becomes for that needed output power what is the most efficient operating point for the engine. In general lower RPMs result in better fuel efficiency for any given cruising speed - within reason of course, eventually you exit the power band of the engine.

So no, racing the engine at 4000 rpm is not the way to save fuel.

Apologies in advance if I misunderstood what you were trying to say.

 

[brianjwilson]

I'm currently researching tires for a future Tacoma build. I was gonna go with the new KO2 from BFG and they had the 285/75/16s. I know they're a little wider but I kept seeing people talk about these 255/85 tires but couldn't find anything. After reading the Expedition Overland guys are doing the 285/75 on their tires, I figured I might as well go that size route since that's what I'm finding.

Come to find out I saw the 255/85/16 thread discussing how BFG discontinued that size but will be relaunching in May most likely. Since I don't have the Tacoma yet it's not like I'm in a rush to get tires. So I can wait it out till Spring and see if they relaunch that size in the KO2 model.

I currently have a JKU and it has 35s. I regeared but still lost on MPG and that was expected. The gears really work great on shifting between gears though. Does anyone know how much of a change the 255/85 or maybe the 285/75 will have on up or down shifting? I'm assuming regearing the rear end will help fix that too like it did for my Jeep. I have a trailer too that I'll be towing. If the gears help it to shift and stuff better then I'll definitely regear too so it shifts more smoothly.

You could ponder tire sizes and argue them to death. For what it's worth, clay told me he would rather run 255/85/16s but general didn't have that size.

Since I'm in the same boat as you (even came from a re-geared jkru on 35s, I'm going with 255/85/16s most likely. The skinny tires should cut through standing water and snow covered roads, fit much easier on the Tacoma, and normally run about 4-6lbs lighter per tire than a 285/75/16. 20lb less rotating mass cannot be a bad thing for acceleration or braking. Plus you can use several different factory hub centric Toyota wheels, and keep the tires under or flush with the fenders. It doesn't look as cool to some, I know....

 

[cam-shaft]

I am looking at the 255/85 16's for my DCSB TRD OR

I have an Auto and pull a small expo type trailer. Will the added 2 inches of tire diameter affect towing and mileage much?

Yes they will effect both. The tacoma v6 will always go with more skinny pedal and burn more fuel, you will not use overdrive much unless on flat ground and running 55-60. At least your transmission will thank you if you don't try to use overdrive all the time. I researched this quite a few years back and the biggest thing that you want to keep track of is rotating weight. This will affect mileage and power the most, but you don't necessarily want the lightest tire because that would mean more likely trail issues. In a perfect world I would go with a re-gear 4.30 and 255's but....my world is not perfect
Edit: One thing for sure electric trailer brakes, these should be on all off-road trailers. Not surge, but that is another topic.
Cameron.