255/85 vs. 285/75

IceCap4runnerORP

Adventurer
I have a 07 Xterra Off Road which comes with stock 265/75 BFG's. I am looking to move up to a 33" vicinity tire and see that both of the sizes listed in the subject bar are possible.

My question concerns advantages/disadvantages of these two sizes (I realize that the 255/85 is skinnier than the 285/75) given my type of driving which is my X as a DD in the Northeast with me hitting back trails (not rockcrawling) such as powerlines, etc., with pretty much just me and my weekend gear in the back and no trailer (yet).

If there are any insights you wish to pass on I would appreciate it. Thanks

-Jeff-
 

Scott Brady

Founder
Unless you are going to be driving in a lot of deep mud or deep sand, the narrower tire will serve you better, giving the same ground clearance and better efficiency.
 

Hunter

Adventurer
I admit, I still a bit dreary from just wakeing up :coffee: but here is some insight.

If you came facotry with 265's, you wont notice much differnece with 285's. Which is the size I run. You might be 3-4 miles off at 60 which isnt much in the grand scheme of things.

ExPo West has a point about the width. Most people will tell you bigger, the wider the better. If deal with deep mud, soft sand or deep snow, then go wide. The extra traction will be needed and the floation effect will help.

But, if you dont, and you deal with snow, but not deep snow pack condtions, and have regular off road needs, a narrow tire can have benifits. In snow, it can dig down deeper to the ground for traction. Also, while I am not one to put a whole lot of stock into the wind resistance thing, since most of rides are bix boxes with stuff hanging off, were wind drags anyways.

But you can shave a lot weight off a tire which, could be noticable. A good example, I think there is botu 18 pound difference between a 33x9.50 BFG MT or 33x12.50 MT. Good luck!
 

viatierra

Explorer
I really dig my 255's but had one negative experience to think about... REPLACEMENT

I ran over a construction staple on the road TWO DAYS before this years Expedition Trophy. The tire was not fixable and no Discount Tire stocks 255. They ordered a replacement, but it took 3 days to get in. It was a real drag contemplating several days in the dirt with no spare. Murphy's Law: if it can go wrong, it will. What if I loose another tire this summer on my 3 week road trip? Do I just put my trip on hold while we wait for a new tire to ship or continue on with no backup? I've never considered carrying 2 spares until now...
 

bigreen505

Expedition Leader
It may be somewhat condition and vehicle specific, but I just took off a set of 285s on my Trooper and just don't think it weighs enough for adequate contact pressure with that width.
 

Redline

Likes to Drive and Ride
I really prefer the 255/85 size, but as stated above, tire choice and availability can be an issue.

In the near future I will likely be testing some 285s just because the tires are not available in 255/85.
 

kcowyo

ExPo Original
bigreen505 said:
It may be somewhat condition and vehicle specific, but I just took off a set of 285s on my Trooper and just don't think it weighs enough for adequate contact pressure with that width.

You don't think the tire or the Trooper weighs enough?
 

DaveInDenver

Middle Income Semi-Redneck
viatierra said:
I really dig my 255's but had one negative experience to think about... REPLACEMENT
Important observation. This is not unique to your tire size. I run 33x9.50 ATs and that has been an issue (and will be only getting worse now that it's apparently a discontinued size). Even the 33x10.50 is hit or miss. I run with one spare since I don't have anywhere to put a second and keep a tire plugging kit and can of that tire sealing goop with me. I've had two flats on the same trip (heading to Toroweap in fact) and had to plug a tire to keep moving. I think the real danger is if you cut two sidewalls that are not repairable. I picked up a nail and a plug worked fine. My second tire developed a bubble in the carcass, that was a bad deal. I got two new replacements at the Discount along I-40 in Flagstaff in fact.
 

RobinP

Observer
Also remember that a narrow tire tracks better - any slop you have in your steering system will be augmented with the wider tire as it tries to pull into areas of more resistance - hit some snow or slush, a mud section, even a shallow puddle with one tire, and the wider one will drag the vehicle into it more than the narrower one.
 

Scott Brady

Founder
RobinP said:
Also remember that a narrow tire tracks better - any slop you have in your steering system will be augmented with the wider tire as it tries to pull into areas of more resistance - hit some snow or slush, a mud section, even a shallow puddle with one tire, and the wider one will drag the vehicle into it more than the narrower one.

ROBIN!

Great to see you here... It has been a long time since Baja. I will check out your new website.
 

dieselcruiserhead

16 Years on ExPo. Whoa!!
I lived and wheeled back east for years. I would take a narrow tire almost any day of the week back there particularly for the mud. It goes right to the bottom of the narrow mud tracks and seems to get the best traction. In bog situations mider is sometimes better not always... My Swamper 34 x 9.5 were the best east coast tire I ever owned, for what its worth... Even out here in the west where we have a lot of sand, I personally would rather have maybe an 11" wide tire than the common 12.5"...
 

kcowyo

ExPo Original
bigreen505 said:
Yeah, that made a lot of sense. The Trooper is too light for a fat tire. :cow:

Well ok.... but what are you trying to say here? -

bill with the fat tires said:
It may be somewhat condition and vehicle specific, but I just took off a set of 285s on my Trooper and just don't think it weighs enough for adequate contact pressure with that width.

The tire doesn't weigh enough for adequate contact pressure?

Because of the 12.5" width, there is not enough tire weight to make adequate contact pressure?

The Trooper doesn't weigh enough to smoosh out a 12.5" wide tire for good contact?


I'm confused....:( Could you elaborate, because ya kinda lost me. I like a Fat Tire, but not the strong aftertaste.
 

Westy

Adventurer
255/85 r17?

Does any manufacturers make a 255/85 r17??

I may be in the market soon as well, for the FJ
 

Redline

Likes to Drive and Ride
I believe he means the Trooper is not heavy enough to provide enough ‘contact pressure’ with the wider 285s.

Need a heavier rig for a wider tire to have the same contact pressure (a component of traction) as a narrower tire and a lighter rig.

kcowyo said:
Well ok.... but what are you trying to say here? -



The tire doesn't weigh enough for adequate contact pressure?

Because of the 12.5" width, there is not enough tire weight to make adequate contact pressure?

The Trooper doesn't weigh enough to smoosh out a 12.5" wide tire for good contact?


I'm confused....:( Could you elaborate, because ya kinda lost me. I like a Fat Tire, but not the strong aftertaste.
 

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