255/85R16 on stock Frontier/Navara

[mauricio_28]

Anyone running 255/85R16s on stock Frontier/Navara? I'm looking at getting a set of Maxxis Bighorns in that size. Will they fit?

 

[CoastalDefender]

Sounds like it would. But don't hold me to that.:arabia:

 

[madizell]

Maybe. The one you are looking at is rated at 33.3 inches diameter, whereas the stock tires is more like 31.5 or so. That will give you something in the order of an extra inch of tire radius, and clearance on the front tires on the Frontier is limited at best. I would look for some sheet metal contact at full stuff, and possibly a need to limit turn radius just a bit if fitted on the stock wheels.

 

[mcm4090]

On my wife's Frontier we are have 285/70R17 BFG.s KO with no lift.

They do rub the inner fender liner where the mud flap mounts (mud flaps removed) when turning.
I could modify the liner by melting the plastic but I am just going to hold off till I lift it.

 

[CoastalDefender]

Went out and looked, and remembered a bit from when I had mine done.

Here's teh deal- You're going to have to remove that crappy plastic skirt we have on the bottom of our bumpers. They look ghey anyways.

Then the fact taht you're 255 width instead of 265 or 285 like some others will help out a LOT. Our biggest problem in this vehicle is that people with larger tires end up rubbing while at a REAL tight turn. that comes from teh extra width on the tire, not the diameter.

So considering 255 is a dang lot skinnier, you *should* not run into that problem.



With that said, the only way to know for sure is to find someone else who has the same size, or to just try it out on your own.

these dudes know a LOT about our trucks- www.clubfrontier.org.

 

[madizell]

Our biggest problem in this vehicle is that people with larger tires end up rubbing while at a REAL tight turn. that comes from teh extra width on the tire, not the diameter.

So considering 255 is a dang lot skinnier, you *should* not run into that problem.

Changing width of tire by 10mm will not create a lot of extra room for a turning tire. A centered 10mm carcass change results in 5mm less on each side, or a little less than a quarter inch of sidewall clearance. That's not going to make or break tire clearances, and is certainly not a "dang lot" of difference. If you change from 265 to 235, then I might agree that the tire is a lot skinnier, but I don't believe most folks could tell you whether a mounted tire was a 265 or a 255 without walking up and looking at the sidewall.

The tire-rub culprit is, in fact, the extra diameter, all other aspects of tire and wheel combination being the same. The larger diameter tire is longer from turn axis (i.e., king pin or ball joint) to outer edge, so the tread or outermost part of the tire tracks a longer arc during a turn going from center to full deflection. That extra arc brings the tire into contact (if there is going to be contact) with suspension parts, frame, or whatever.

You also have to consider clearances at both full turn and full stuff, which is not easy to simulate in your driveway. What clears when standing still may not clear once the suspension is cycled on the trail.

You can mitigate tire rub due to larger tires by offsetting the wheels to the outside with spacers or new wheels. I don't like doing that and don't recommend it as it also changes suspension geometry and steering, and can cause extra load on wheel bearings if taken to extremes. Better IMHO to limit turn radius than offset wheels if you are trying to eliminate tire scuffing when changing to larger tires.