255/85/16 on the FZJ80
After an unsatisfying run on Sam's Club BFG AT's in 285/75/16 I made the switch to the Cooper ST's in 255/85/16. I paid almost $300 (in Alaska where everything is stupid expensive) for one brand new tire and got a set of 4 'take offs' for $400. I'll measure the tread difference tomorrow, but the 'old' ones look pretty darn new.
Reasons are many, not the least of which are:
1) better economy- having had the 255's on an 05 Taco, I know first hand how easy they roll down the road. Narrow and light weight have advantages: Easy to turn in tight, slow speed situations, and yet track straight and true at anything over 30 MPH. Surly lower mass eases the strain on brakes, bearings, power steering components and on long drives, driver fatigue.
2) does not throw much gravel at all. The AT's were a menace and sounded as if I was trying to shot peen the undercarriage. The ST's wide voids allow for nice evacuation of terra firma of most common varieties = mud, snow, and loose small rock.
3) easily managed - tall for ground clearance, but I can easily access the back of the tire to add chains if needed, or work in / around the wheel wells. *The spare does not require much space nor, as a result of the lighter weight, NASA grade tire carriers.*
I called Cooper about tire pressures. The shop installed them with four different pressures ranging from 30 psi to 65. I was not at all surprised. Regardless, the folks at Cooper took a lot of time with me and, based on the tire and the vehicle and estimated additional load, recommended 42 PSI front and 40 rear. A short run of ~2 miles and a quick use of the pyrometer, showed even temps on the tread edges and center.
I am very pleased with the tires. The ride is nice and the proven capability is inspiring. I might consider using 1" spacers (from SLEE, of course) to expand the track a wee bit. Time will tell and nothing much more is going to happen until I move back to America.
Crappy third world cell phone pics: :sombrero:
A couple weeks ago I again installed my mounted Maxxis Bighorn MTs onto the 4Runner just to enjoy them on the car in the garage (been riding M/C more than driving). They look great and complete the vehicle. I only drove about 200-miles on the weekends before taking them off and putting the mounted Cooper ST 255/85R16s back on. The Bighorns are well balanced and ride well but they are still an aggressive mud tire. The Bighorns are fairly loud/audible and don't get quieter at speed. The noise continues to grow with speed making them a less highway friendly tire.
(Somewhat related to all of this tire talk) I gave the car a much needed hand wash/wax, the first in months, and noted all the little rock/paint chips on the lower body. I'm not blaming all these chips on the Bighorns as the Bighorns have not been on for many miles over the winter, but the Bighorns do catch and throw more rocks than the much less aggressive Maxxis Bravo AT or Cooper STs.
Though there have been many comments about the noise/volume of the Cooper ST tread design, my own included, all things are relative. After a few miles on the Bighorns going back to the STs was nice. The tires are audible, but not loud compared to a typical mud tire. Loud compared to a quiet AT, sure. To repeat myself/earlier posts, though the Cooper ST is clearly audible at all speeds in my quiet 4Runner, they become noticeably quieter at freeway speeds where a tire like the Maxxis Bighorn just get louder and drones on.
There is lots to be said for a tire like the ST. Lots more void than an all-terrain but less than a ‘mud’ tire. Yes the STs are narrow, much narrower than the Bighorns, and don’t look as ‘tough’ on my Mall Crawler, but they also feel and work great on the car.
This time I put 30-psi in the STs and they ride and steer perfectly.
