255/85/16 vs 285/75/16

[Rover De Land]

Yes I understand the basics. The 255 a little taller, the 285 is 30mm wider. I understand rubbing and such, that can be fixed with spacers. And yes I know 285 will create more drag /rolling resistance/ and it will create more unsprung mass and yes a wider tire seems to float and a skinner tire digs down a bits. Yes a skinny tire can be deflated giving you a LONGER contact patch.. Yes I read just about every thread here about skinny tires.

But what I dont know is.. How will skinny tires preform on highway as a DD.

Im getting a set of km2s. I had the 285 set on my lifted 4runner but now im getting something for the disco. The only thing Im worried about is I have heard a person or two say the 255 have the WORST road manners of any size they have driven. Anyone with 255s care to chime in.

 

[Roverx]

For what it's worth, I have run 255-85-16's on my rovers for 20 years as a daily driver and for off road. I probably have well over 250K miles between all the rovers. I have two sets for my current rover. One is for off road BFG MT's The other is a street set Dunlop radial rovers. Personally, I think it's a great size. I just finished a two week 3600mile trip to Moab and zero issues. I think it depends a lot where you live. If I lived in a place with all mud or sand only I don't think I would use this tire. I wheel from Maine to Utah so for what I do it perfect. Best of luck with your choice

 

[Rovertrader]

I have the 255s -KM2 on my TReK, and KM1s on my 110. I think it to be the best fit, and even have had them on F-250s and my Suburban('83). Kinda the best of all worlds to me, and the KM2s are much quieter.

 

[ArmyRover]

I ran 255/85 AT's for a couple years on my 91 RRC and they did just fine no more wonder on the road than the little tires.

 

[oonimog]

I've got 255's on my 110 and think that they're the perfect size for this vehicle. They've been great on the highway. In my experience, another benefit of the skinnier tire to consider is that it provides better bite in snow or wet, when you don't want so much float.

 

[Thor]

never tried 255/85 but it's smaller cousin 235/85 was quite useful. they were E load range so they didn't lean over like I'd expect a skinny tire to. Those 215/85's just look freaky to me....

on my current RRmk1 I went from 285/75 to 315/75 and had great traction everywhere off road I've gone. But the on road snow/slush manners aren't superb. I may get them siped if this snow thing sticks around!

 

[Storz]

My D1 had 285/75s when I first got it and it felt really underpowered on the highway, and daily driving. Made the switch to 235/85s and it was a completely different truck. I know MajorPayne on here has 255/85s on his D1 and is planning to downsize to 235/85s, might want to get in touch with him to see what he thinks of the 255s.

 

[Paladin]

It's way too complicated of a question to put down to just width, 255 or 285. If other people complained about 255's having poor manners... which tires? A/T? M/T? Which tread? Bias ply or radial? Load range? Inflation pressure?

FWIW, I have 245/75/16's, and I love them onroad. They handle great, they're responsive, they're just great. They are Load Range E LT's.

I had a set of... IIRC, 255/65/16 or something like that on for a very short period of time, and they were absolutely terrifying. They were P-tires, not LT. The sidewalls are mushy, they were just horrible.

It's not about the 255. It's about everything else.

 

[007]

I've had both the BFG 285/75/16 and the 255/85/75

My experience was better with the 255's. They track like I was in a car going down the highway, yet feel unstoppable off-road.

The 285's wandered a little more on road and seemed less agile on the trail,
making them my 2nd choice.

 

[Series1Rangie]

I have KM/KM2 255/85 16s on my RRC previously were 235/85 ATs and 34x9x16 TSLs. The 255s handle just fine. I can even let go of the wheel and it tracks straight down the road.

You don't mention vehicle, engine, or gearing. I think my RRC was happier with the 235/85 but it does ok with the 255/85s. I do have a 4.6 which i think helps.

HTH

Mike and Myles

 

[rover4x4]

255's = cutting on the RRC DI not sure about the DIIs, they fit a Defender perfect. IMO I wouldnt put 235's on a Classic w-o gears or a 4.6 or 4.2 in a SWB, must have gears on the lwb.. Maybe my engine is super tired but it was pretty miserable with 235's

 

[azarmadillo]

255's lots of cutting on a classic a little on a DI and I am not sure on the DII, they fit a Defender perfect. I wouldnt put 235's on a Classic w-o gears or a 4.6 or 4.2 in a SWB, must have gears on the lwb..

I run 235/85R16 Goodyear MTRs on my RRC with the 3.9 and I didn't do gears. There is a noticible difference jumping from stock tires to them but not so much that it makes gears mandatory.

 

[craig]

I run 235/85R16 Goodyear MTRs on my RRC with the 3.9 and I didn't do gears. There is a noticible difference jumping from stock tires to them but not so much that it makes gears mandatory.

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