Which wheel and tire set: Vote!

[deadbeat son]

Just installed 255/85/16 Discoverer S/T on my 08 Taco. Really like them. Alot like a BFG All Terrain but seem to be a bit louder.

I had a set of Discoverer STs on my factory alloys, 265/75-16. They only lasted about 25k miles and were noisier than my BFG MTs. The last set of BFG ATs I had were solid for 80k. That's what I replaced the STs with, and they ride much better, are significantly quieter, and do better in inclement weather conditions.

OP - I would suggest option #2 or reconsidering choices altogether.

 

[upcountry]

Do you live where they salt the roads?

If yes, I would opt out of the steelies. Rust will catch up to you no matter if you can run up a hill and hide, it will catch up to you!

In that case AR Mojave Teflons. The no rust sollution.

 

[Stone_Blue]

Maybe there are more technical aspects I dont know about, but salt can eat up alloy rims pretty badly as well, and they seem to develop slow leaks that get worse, quicker than steel rims do...
I guess I just never got using salt as a reason to go with alloys over steel. Wash them regularly, (which a lot of people DONT seem to do in the winter), and one shouldnt really be any worse than the other.

 

[upcountry]

Maybe there are more technical aspects I dont know about, but salt can eat up alloy rims pretty badly as well, and they seem to develop slow leaks that get worse, quicker than steel rims do...
I guess I just never got using salt as a reason to go with alloys over steel. Wash them regularly, (which a lot of people DONT seem to do in the winter), and one shouldnt really be any worse than the other.

Intersting. I have not experienced bad corrosion on an aluminum alloy wheel. I have experienced signicant rust on steel powder coated wheels. Both on the same roads, differen vehilces.

Just saying, but if you live in a climate where they actually salt the roads, chances are you are not washing your vehicle regularly in the winter, unless you frequent the pay-for-service car wash????

Keep in mind the wheels the OP offered up as alternatives were:

1)Factory steel powder coated wheels; or
2) Aluminum teflon coated American Racing Mojave wheels (http://www.americanracingwheelsinfo.com/American_Racing_Teflon_Mojave.htm)

Now, having these exact wheels myself, I can attest that:

1) They do not rust and are resistant to corrosion; and
2) I have a 16" steel wheel from Wheelers ( http://www.wheelersoffroad.com/tacomawheels.htm ) used as a spare hung off the back of my swing gate bumper. This wheel is steel and is powder coated.

Both wheels have been subject to the same environment, and same frequency of washing (not much during winter).

The AR aluminum wheels have held up very well, the steel wheel is developing small areas of rust where there have been chips in the paint and at the weld seams. This is the same experience I have had with stock poweder coated steel wheels on our Camry.

Also, what are you talking about the alloy wheels have developed leaks? What exactly do you mean? Did your wheel crack? Or was this due to poor mounting, a bad valve stem, or an old tire with a bad bead? I have never seen a wheel be the cause for a leak unless the wheel was damaged. Please explain?????

 

[upcountry]

I really like how these steel wheels were painted:

See Post #65

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/81029-The-Utilitarian-Camper-2nd-Gen-Tacoma/page7

Looks like they would be fairly well protected.

 

[Stone_Blue]

Yes, I realize my post didnt really apply to the OP's choices...
It was towards whoever said steel will rust, and alloys wont have issues. Here in NY they SALT the roads...heavily...I have had, and see MANY alloy wheels around here that CORRODE badly...Once the clearcoat gets scratched or dented, the salt gets underneath it to the bare alloy, and eats the wheels from underneath the clearcoat, which then peels off...
This happens alot around the beads...Alloys tend to corrode worst around the beads, where the clear coat peels worst...Then, you get road grit into the bead, and they leak...WORSE than steel rims...
Even washing alloys regularly, wont do much once the clearcoat is compromised. I think a good part of it is due to the wheel weights...either the clearcoat gets dinged/scuffed when they get put on, or they flex or something....Or else the clearcoat gets messed up when they mount the tires?
I dont think the clearcoat on alloys is nearly as strong or as tough as painted steel wheels. It also seems to me steel wheels rust slower than alloy wheels corrode...

 

[upcountry]

Yes, I realize my post didnt really apply to the OP's choices...
It was towards whoever said steel will rust, and alloys wont have issues. Here in NY they SALT the roads...heavily...I have had, and see MANY alloy wheels around here that CORRODE badly...Once the clearcoat gets scratched or dented, the salt gets underneath it to the bare alloy, and eats the wheels from underneath the clearcoat, which then peels off...
This happens alot around the beads...Alloys tend to corrode worst around the beads, where the clear coat peels worst...Then, you get road grit into the bead, and they leak...WORSE than steel rims...
Even washing alloys regularly, wont do much once the clearcoat is compromised. I think a good part of it is due to the wheel weights...either the clearcoat gets dinged/scuffed when they get put on, or they flex or something....Or else the clearcoat gets messed up when they mount the tires?
I dont think the clearcoat on alloys is nearly as strong or as tough as painted steel wheels. It also seems to me steel wheels rust slower than alloy wheels corrode...

Now that I can understand....pitting at the bead due to corrosion and causing a poor bead seal. Thanks for clarifying. I can see how that could be a problem, even if washing regularly, salt buildup in the seam of the bead could cause advance corrosion that you cant really even see...........

 

[Revco]

For the same money spent on the new aftermarket wheels, you could pick up another set of stock Toyota wheels (steel or alum) from a salvage yard and another set of tires and have two sets of wheels & tires... One for business, one for pleasure.

 

[Stone_Blue]

^^ There ya go!..I like THAT option...lol
And really, you dont even need to get salvaged wheels... I got a set of four '05-'11 Tacoma 5-star steelies off ebay, for $244 shipped to my door...They were dealer takeoffs, so they have LOOooowww miles, (basically brand new ) and are VERY clean..Balanced pretty good too....Thats FOUR wheels, for just the cost of ONE of my tires...

 

[deadbeat son]

For the same money spent on the new aftermarket wheels, you could pick up another set of stock Toyota wheels (steel or alum) from a salvage yard and another set of tires and have two sets of wheels & tires... One for business, one for pleasure.

If you read the OP's subsequent posts, you'll see he is keeping his stock wheels with winter tires. He already plans to run two sets.

 

[McFly2003]

I went option 2, but to add to it, I say go with 285's

 

[Clutch]

Voted for the 17" Mojaves.

Would pick 285's Cooper ST or ST Maxx over the Toyos.

 

[MCObray]

Voted for Toyo Open Country AT2. I have a set in LT265/75/16s and hands down have been my favorite tires that I have had (had 2 sets of BFG All Terrains before). Quiet on the HWY, aggressive tread pattern for an All Terrain, and excellent handling in rain/snow.