Any input on 255/85s and stock gears?

[slomatt]

Recently I purchased a 2000 4runner Sport with a 5speed, 4.10 gears, and 265/70 tires. This truck will be replacing a moderately built 96 ZJ and used mainly on trails in the Sierras.

I plan to install a 2-3" in (SS 1.2) lift in the next month or two and am now stuck deciding on what size tire I'd like to run. The top contenders are the 265/75/16 and 255/85/16 sizes, I'd really prefer to run the 255s for the extra 1/2" of clearance under the differentials (and because I've ran 33s on the ZJ for the last 6 years) but am concerned that this large of a tire will cause major driving problems with the stock 4.10 gears.

I'm sure someone has run 255s with 4.10s on a 5speed, care to comment on the effects of the drivability and fuel economy of the vehicle? The 4runner is currently very nice to drive and well balanced and I'd really like to keep it in that realm if possible. The more rational side of me thinks that going with a 265/75 is the best option if I stay with the stock gears.

Thanks.

- Matt

 

[Redline]

LT255/85R16 is A LOT of tire and your tolerance for the taller overall gearing is unknown. I think you will certainly feel it, the difference between 255/85 and 265/75 can be very noticeable. On the plus side the lift between these two sizes can be almost 3/4" (I have measured 10-11/16" before.

I think having a 5-speed will make the high gearing more noticeable. If you are truly in the city (S.F.) then clutch slippage on the hills may be an additional concern.

Recently I purchased a 2000 4runner Sport with a 5speed, 4.10 gears, and 265/70 tires. This truck will be replacing a moderately built 96 ZJ and used mainly on trails in the Sierras.

I plan to install a 2-3" in (SS 1.2) lift in the next month or two and am now stuck deciding on what size tire I'd like to run. The top contenders are the 265/75/16 and 255/85/16 sizes, I'd really prefer to run the 255s for the extra 1/2" of clearance under the differentials (and because I've ran 33s on the ZJ for the last 6 years) but am concerned that this large of a tire will cause major driving problems with the stock 4.10 gears.

I'm sure someone has run 255s with 4.10s on a 5speed, care to comment on the effects of the drivability and fuel economy of the vehicle? The 4runner is currently very nice to drive and well balanced and I'd really like to keep it in that realm if possible. The more rational side of me thinks that going with a 265/75 is the best option if I stay with the stock gears.

Thanks.

- Matt

 

[slomatt]

Redline,

Thank you for the reply. I am in SF, but usually use my daily driver around town so the gearing of the truck is not a major issue there.

In terms of tolerance for overall gearing, I've driven my ZJ with stock 3.73 gears for 5-6 years with true 33" tires on it, stock tires were about 28.5". There was definitely a power loss due to the gearing, but with the v8 it is still very drivable. I also have a lot of seat time on the highways and trails in a friend's Xterra which has stock gears and BFG MT 285/75s (33.1") which definitely suffers major power loss and is at the bottom range of what I consider acceptable.

The tires I'm considering are the following (with real sizes and weights if available):

265/75/16
- Cooper STT. 32x10.1" on 7.5" rim.
- Maxxis Bighorn. 31.8x10.8" on 7.5" rim.
- BFG MT KM2. 31.9x10.75" on 7.5" rim. 53lbs.

255/85/16
- Cooper STT. (can't find dimensions on cooper's site)
- Maxxis Bighorn. 33.3x10.3" on 7" rim.
- Interco TrXus MT. 32.7x10.1" on 7" rim. 53lbs.
- BFG MT KM2. 33.5x10.2" on 7" rim. 54lbs.

Obviously the dimensions start to change as you air down the tire for trail use, but I'm using them to compare the "real" size of the tire. The 265 Cooper STT and 255 TrXus are currently my top contenders.

In the next week or so I'm going to bolt on a set of 285s and a set of 32x11.5s" to get a feel for the gearing issues. I'll report back here with the results.

- Matt

 

[Redline]

Unless it's a new size I don't know about, the Cooper STT is not available in 255/85... the "ST" is available in 255/85, and so are Toyo MT (a similar looking tread to the Cooper STT)

I ran 255s with a V8 and 3.73s and also found it acceptable, not ideal, but acceptable until I changed gears this past year. Sounds like you may be okay with the gearing compromise.

snip...

255/85/16
- Cooper STT. (can't find dimensions on cooper's site)
..........
- Matt

 

[CYi5]

I ran 255/85 bighorns on 4.10's for awhile in my '01 tacoma 4x4 3.4L 5spd. Around town its fine, highway sucks and hills suck. 4.56's fixed the problem.

I wouldn't recommend running on stock gears unless you don't mind keeping your pedal to the floor when you hit a slight incline.

 

[Drew01taco]

CYi5, is it that bad? I have the same setup as you (engine and gear and manual) and I just bought a lift and i'm getting ready to order tires and really want the 255's but curious on exactly how it is. But sounds like it wasn't too good? Do you think i would be alright since i drive like an old man?

 

[JJackson]

I ran 255/85 bighorns on 4.10's for awhile in my '01 tacoma 4x4 3.4L 5spd. Around town its fine, highway sucks and hills suck. 4.56's fixed the problem.

I wouldn't recommend running on stock gears unless you don't mind keeping your pedal to the floor when you hit a slight incline.

Have the same tire on the same truck except it's an 04 with an auto. Hills suck but I like the extra clearance and don't mind the rubbing. Will need to regear to a higher numerical/lower gear at some point. Looking at 4.88's with the auto.

 

[BajaTaco]

Congrats on your new 4Runner All 2WD and 4-HI driving aside, I think it will be the most annoying in 4-LO on the trail, when you are trying to drive slow and maintain some finesse in technical terrain. Especially with a manual. I would definitely incorporate that element into your test run with the 285's if you can.

 

[CYi5]

CYi5, is it that bad? I have the same setup as you (engine and gear and manual) and I just bought a lift and i'm getting ready to order tires and really want the 255's but curious on exactly how it is. But sounds like it wasn't too good? Do you think i would be alright since i drive like an old man?

I'd say it's more a matter of power than speed. Dropping down to 50 or 45 on a long incline can just be demoralizing. And Bajataco is right, my clutch wasn't too happy trying to get over boulders with that tall of a tire and stock gears.

 

[Drew01taco]

Thanks guys,
slomatt, I hope this helps you as much as it helps me. To be honest i didn't even think about the 4-lo crawling, that would be kind of bad. I plan on regearing, but not right away. So, I'm still leaning towards the 255, that is a great size tire.

 

[ScottyDog]

My brother just picked up a set of BFG KM2s in the 255 flavor for his 04 Taco today at 4WheelParts. They said this size has become one of the most popular sizes recently. They only had 2 sets of 4 left. He wanted to pick up a 5th tire for a spare but 4WP didn't want to break up the last set!!

I ordered mine from onlinetires.com last month, and when my brother tried to order some from them they ran out. They said they won't have anymore until Feb 09.... However their prices are really good.... I highly recomend them!

ScottyDog

 

[Redline]

That's simply amazing... Maybe cost of fuel a few months ago got people thinking about the efficiency of narrower tires? ☺

My brother just picked up a set of BFG KM2s in the 255 flavor for his 04 Taco today at 4WheelParts. They said this size has become one of the most popular sizes recently. They only had 2 sets of 4 left. He wanted to pick up a 5th tire for a spare but 4WP didn't want to break up the last set!! snip

ScottyDog

 

[Crookthumb]

My brother just picked up a set of BFG KM2s in the 255 flavor for his 04 Taco today at 4WheelParts. They said this size has become one of the most popular sizes recently. They only had 2 sets of 4 left. He wanted to pick up a 5th tire for a spare but 4WP didn't want to break up the last set!!

I ordered mine from onlinetires.com last month, and when my brother tried to order some from them they ran out. They said they won't have anymore until Feb 09.... However their prices are really good.... I highly recomend them!

ScottyDog

That is ridiculous that they wouldn't sell him a tire because it would break up a set. What do they expect us all to be mall cruisers with donut spares? How long would it have taken them to order in a new set of tires? Honestly.

 

[Cackalak Han]

I hope that means the tire companies will start making A/T tires in that size.

 

[Redline]

It would be nice. Off the top of my head I can only think of one conservative AT 255/85R16 tread: the Maxxis Bravo 761. The TireRack was selling a Firestone AT until a few weeks ago but it’s no longer on their site and I can’t find a listing on bridgestone-firestone’s site either, it may be discontinued.

The Cooper ST and Dean SXT M/T (same casing, different tread) are two cross-over tread designs that one might consider an aggressive AT, but they are not as quiet as a 'real' AT or all season.

I hope that means the tire companies will start making A/T tires in that size.