opinions on choosing next tire size

jdm-v35 · Nov 8, 2023

I will need to buy tires once the weather warms up again and have been researching and debating between different tires sizes. I currently have 285/70r17 KO2's and am preferring to go with Falken AT3W for my next tire as it seems to get better reviews for wet traction. I am still open to the possibility of satying KO2's as they were good but at 6/32's their wet and winter traction seems significantly worse than when I got them.

In Winter I run hakkapelitta LT3 studded tires but there is a little overlap between seasons with an unplanned winter storm etc.

Here are where my thoughts are at on tire sizes:

Current: 285/70r17 KO2 E load

top choices that would not require further modding:
255/80r17 at3w E load (leading choice)
285/70r17 at3w e load
285/75r17 at3w e load

Alternative choice:
295/70r17 at3w
34x10.5 KO2

Alternative choices that require significant modding and may not be worth it:
35x12.5 at3w

I am curious if anyone has switched from wide to skinny tires and pros/cons from real experience? On paper skinny seems to have the advantage in road handling, offroad handling(except deep mud/snow) and less wear on steering components, increased mpg. I rarely ever encounter snow or mud deep enough that "float" would be a game changer or needed.

Also curious on anyone's experience between KO2's and AT3W's specifically wet and winter weather handling comparison. Reviews I have seen so far on other sites say the at3w has the advantage in those categories by a large margin.

I spend a lot of time on road getting to camping spots etc and my offroading is mainly desert or winter fire roads, and climbing rocky desert mountain trails. Never sandy terrain. In hunting season it is usually many miles of ungroomed muddy and snowy trails.

TRD PANTHER · Nov 8, 2023

I think the 285/70-17 is the ideal size. Speedometer is right on, spare fits in spare tire well, availability and choices are better than most all other sizes, no expensive gear change required, and little to no mods required with the right wheel size/offset.
I ran a 275/70-17 KO2 E load and didn’t like the slightly harsher ride. Although, I did not see much water use here in SoCal, I do remember that my current 285/70-17 Falken Wildpeaks AT3W’s in a SL rating were very good in the heavy rains earlier this year. Also, the SL tire rides better and has been great off road through the desert and climbing hills, etc.
They are about 8 pounds per tire lighter than my 275 KO2’s and my average gas mileage was around 1/2 mpg better with the SL 285.
The only drawback I have with the SL Wildpeaks is that they wear quicker than KO2’s.
Maybe you want to check out some C load 285’s.
I will probably go back to the SL Wildpeaks as they ride nice and have been good off road and in the rain.

Grug556 · Nov 8, 2023

Ive got several sets of tires. I like my KO2s but like you run snows in winter. I have 265/70C rated K02s, I thought the E rated was to heavy. I also have Cooper ST Pro Maxx E rated in 265-70-17. THey are great offroad horrible on road. Biggest negative is dry pavement traction and also poor braking due to tread and weight.

Its alot of unsprung weight when you add larger than 265 E rated tires. I am skeptical the weight is worth the off road performance as theres no way the weight makes it better on road either.

I would get a tire that best reflects wherever it is you drive the most. Keep the Es for fun days.

jdm-v35 · Nov 8, 2023

TRD PANTHER said:
I think the 285/70-17 is the ideal size. Speedometer is right on, spare fits in spare tire well, availability and choices are better than most all other sizes, no expensive gear change required, and little to no mods required with the right wheel size/offset.
I ran a 275/70-17 KO2 E load and didn’t like the slightly harsher ride. Although, I did not see much water use here in SoCal, I do remember that my current 285/70-17 Falken Wildpeaks AT3W’s in a SL rating were very good in the heavy rains earlier this year. Also, the SL tire rides better and has been great off road through the desert and climbing hills, etc.
They are about 8 pounds per tire lighter than my 275 KO2’s and my average gas mileage was around 1/2 mpg better with the SL 285.
The only drawback I have with the SL Wildpeaks is that they wear quicker than KO2’s.
Maybe you want to check out some C load 285’s.
I will probably go back to the SL Wildpeaks as they ride nice and have been good off road and in the rain.

Yea I currently have 285/70 KO2's(with matching spare) so it would be no change really. it also seems like E load wildpeaks are listed as lighter weight than the C loads. I would like to stay with E rated tires anyway for hunting season as I am usually 70-90 miles away from civilization and it gets pretty rough.

I also have the Hypertech speedometer correction unit sitting in the closet as I was planning to possibly move up in size one day and use it.

Grug556 said:
Ive got several sets of tires. I like my KO2s but like you run snows in winter. I have 265/70C rated K02s, I thought the E rated was to heavy. I also have Cooper ST Pro Maxx E rated in 265-70-17. THey are great offroad horrible on road. Biggest negative is dry pavement traction and also poor braking due to tread and weight.

Its alot of unsprung weight when you add larger than 265 E rated tires. I am skeptical the weight is worth the off road performance as theres no way the weight makes it better on road either.

I would get a tire that best reflects wherever it is you drive the most. Keep the Es for fun days.

Yea I am sort of debating if there is any real difference between 255 and 285, and on the extreme end if it would be worth fitting 35x12.5's or something similar like maybe even Maxxis AT's in 35x11.5

I rarely drive the 4runner these days and pretty much only use it for hauling things, bad snow, camping,fishing and hunting. It still sees 5k miles per year but that is all adventuring miles.

comtn4x4 · Nov 8, 2023

jdm-v35 said:
I will need to buy tires once the weather warms up again and have been researching and debating between different tires sizes. I currently have 285/70r17 KO2's and am preferring to go with Falken AT3W for my next tire as it seems to get better reviews for wet traction. I am still open to the possibility of satying KO2's as they were good but at 6/32's their wet and winter traction seems significantly worse than when I got them.

In Winter I run hakkapelitta LT3 studded tires but there is a little overlap between seasons with an unplanned winter storm etc.

Here are where my thoughts are at on tire sizes:

Current: 285/70r17 KO2 E load

top choices that would not require further modding:
255/80r17 at3w E load (leading choice)
285/70r17 at3w e load
285/75r17 at3w e load

Alternative choice:
295/70r17 at3w
34x10.5 KO2

Alternative choices that require significant modding and may not be worth it:
35x12.5 at3w

I am curious if anyone has switched from wide to skinny tires and pros/cons from real experience? On paper skinny seems to have the advantage in road handling, offroad handling(except deep mud/snow) and less wear on steering components, increased mpg. I rarely ever encounter snow or mud deep enough that "float" would be a game changer or needed.

Also curious on anyone's experience between KO2's and AT3W's specifically wet and winter weather handling comparison. Reviews I have seen so far on other sites say the at3w has the advantage in those categories by a large margin.

I spend a lot of time on road getting to camping spots etc and my offroading is mainly desert or winter fire roads, and climbing rocky desert mountain trails. Never sandy terrain. In hunting season it is usually many miles of ungroomed muddy and snowy trails.

285/75 requires quite a bit of modding to fit without rubbing vs a 285/70. I love this tire size but it will have a big impact on fitment without rubbing and a noticeable loss of power/MPG. This is fairly well documented if you look for it. I think the 255/80 is a better choice if you want to cut less.

El Dusty · Nov 8, 2023

jdm-v35 said:
Yea I am sort of debating if there is any real difference between 255 and 285, and on the extreme end if it would be worth fitting 35x12.5's or something similar like maybe even Maxxis AT's in 35x11.5

I switched over to 255/80/17 Wildpeaks last season and I will never look back. I ran two sets of 285/70/17s wildpeaks AT3ws and toyo ATIIs before switching, got 40-50k out of each set. I would say I prefer the 255 offroad for a little extra clearance, no real noticeable difference but it wheels as good if not better in most conditions. On-road the vehicle feels lighter and accelerates better but is still overall pretty stiff with the E-load.

One of my biggest complaints about 285s on a lighter truck like the 4runner is the way the front end would float and skid through slush & unplowed heavy snow. No such issue with the 255. I think its overall better in winter with a smaller contact patch / more pressure.

I know the stanced out IG builds look good on 315s w/ -38 but the 255 is super practical and taller than all the 285s. It has just a slight stickout from the wheel well on 17x8" wheels with 0 offset. Still kicks up a bit of mud onto the doors but not too bad.

Grug556 · Nov 8, 2023

jdm-v35 said:
Yea I currently have 285/70 KO2's(with matching spare) so it would be no change really. it also seems like E load wildpeaks are listed as lighter weight than the C loads. I would like to stay with E rated tires anyway for hunting season as I am usually 70-90 miles away from civilization and it gets pretty rough.

I also have the Hypertech speedometer correction unit sitting in the closet as I was planning to possibly move up in size one day and use it.

Yea I am sort of debating if there is any real difference between 255 and 285, and on the extreme end if it would be worth fitting 35x12.5's or something similar like maybe even Maxxis AT's in 35x11.5

I rarely drive the 4runner these days and pretty much only use it for hauling things, bad snow, camping,fishing and hunting. It still sees 5k miles per year but that is all adventuring miles.

I have two Limiteds. My fun one is like yours and I just drive it on offroad or adventure stuff, camping, hunting. Biggest issue i have is that say I want to go camping up north where its all mud and logging roads, great place for the ST Pro. But the problem is you still have to get to the offroad area, which for me means sometimes 6-8 hours of highway to get up north. I hate the STs with their weight and tread in the rain or even on dry pavement above say 40mph. They feel worse than driving on ice on the highway at say 60mph or alittle less. Where as if I run my K02s they are fine on the highway, good on gravel and ok on light dirt. Yeah ill get stuck in mud and stuff.. but really whats the other option, take a second set of tires and change them when you get to the trail? Some may do it, but I dont like having that much unsecured stuff in the back as well as when I travel the back is full of packs and gear anyways.

For you guys running the heavy E rated MT tires do you guys actually like them on the road?

jdm-v35 · Nov 8, 2023

El Dusty said:
I switched over to 255/80/17 Wildpeaks last season and I will never look back. I ran two sets of 285/70/17s wildpeaks AT3ws and toyo ATIIs before switching, got 40-50k out of each set. I would say I prefer the 255 offroad for a little extra clearance, no real noticeable difference but it wheels as good if not better in most conditions. On-road the vehicle feels lighter and accelerates better but is still overall pretty stiff with the E-load.

One of my biggest complaints about 285s on a lighter truck like the 4runner is the way the front end would float and skid through slush & unplowed heavy snow. No such issue with the 255. I think its overall better in winter with a smaller contact patch / more pressure.

I know the stanced out IG builds look good on 315s w/ -38 but the 255 is super practical and taller than all the 285s. It has just a slight stickout from the wheel well on 17x8" wheels with 0 offset. Still kicks up a bit of mud onto the doors but not too bad.

Thanks!! this is the exact type of real world comparison I was looking for between 285 and 255. I figured the 255 would float a bit less in slush and hail(I have been caught in a few deep hailstorms). Good to know if staying 33 that 255 is the way to go! Some 35's would look nice, but there would be a lot of cutting to do and I think the 255's would probably be more functional in the climates and terrain I am in.

jdm-v35 · Nov 8, 2023

Grug556 said:
I have two Limiteds. My fun one is like yours and I just drive it on offroad or adventure stuff, camping, hunting. Biggest issue i have is that say I want to go camping up north where its all mud and logging roads, great place for the ST Pro. But the problem is you still have to get to the offroad area, which for me means sometimes 6-8 hours of highway to get up north. I hate the STs with their weight and tread in the rain or even on dry pavement above say 40mph. They feel worse than driving on ice on the highway at say 60mph or alittle less. Where as if I run my K02s they are fine on the highway, good on gravel and ok on light dirt. Yeah ill get stuck in mud and stuff.. but really whats the other option, take a second set of tires and change them when you get to the trail? Some may do it, but I dont like having that much unsecured stuff in the back as well as when I travel the back is full of packs and gear anyways.

For you guys running the heavy E rated MT tires do you guys actually like them on the road?

I Don't have MT's but I run E rated KO2's now. my fix was to supercharge it.

jdm-v35 · Nov 8, 2023

comtn4x4 said:
285/75 requires quite a bit of modding to fit without rubbing vs a 285/70. I love this tire size but it will have a big impact on fitment without rubbing and a noticeable loss of power/MPG. This is fairly well documented if you look for it. I think the 255/80 is a better choice if you want to cut less.

yea I figured it would take some cutting but not as much as a 35x12.5

I think 255/80 is probably a better choice given my use case and I would welcome the better MPG since I go very far off the beaten path with a limited amount of gas. Every year I take a couple trips for camping and hunting and usually am a minimum of 70 miles from the nearest gas or house. Because of this I actually got a garmin messenger just in case I need to text for help.

TRD PANTHER · Nov 9, 2023

Have you considered a RT tire as a compromise between an AT and a MT?

chrisridebike8 · Nov 9, 2023

Another option to consider if snow performance is a priority is the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT. I've heard the Wildpeak AT3Ws are great in snow and the Baja Boss AT is supposed to be marginally better. I have AT3Ws (but I live in Hawaii, moving back to the east coast next year) and love them especially in the wet, but plan to get the Baja Boss AT. I've ridden in some rigs with the Baja Bosses and they are quiet and comfy (they were 35s, D load). Yokohama just also came out with a hybrid AT tire that is 3PMS rated and has a 3-ply sidewall, but I'm not sure you want to be a guinea pig for those, especially since Yokos are always expensive. I think any of those options will be solid.

jdm-v35 · Nov 9, 2023

TRD PANTHER said:
Have you considered a RT tire as a compromise between an AT and a MT?

I actually have looked at the wildpeak RT but none of the RT tires are 3pmsf rated, and though i run dedicated winters during winter I have ran into the stray early or late season blizzard and had to drive through it. Seems to happen at least a couple times every year since I drive through the mountains where it can get a lot colder a lot faster.

jdm-v35 · Nov 9, 2023

chrisridebike8 said:
Another option to consider if snow performance is a priority is the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT. I've heard the Wildpeak AT3Ws are great in snow and the Baja Boss AT is supposed to be marginally better. I have AT3Ws (but I live in Hawaii, moving back to the east coast next year) and love them especially in the wet, but plan to get the Baja Boss AT. I've ridden in some rigs with the Baja Bosses and they are quiet and comfy (they were 35s, D load). Yokohama just also came out with a hybrid AT tire that is 3PMS rated and has a 3-ply sidewall, but I'm not sure you want to be a guinea pig for those, especially since Yokos are always expensive. I think any of those options will be solid.

Thanks! I am actually from Hawaii and moved to Colorado 9 years ago. I did look at the baja boss AT as they have a 255/85 that I wanted but wildpeaks seemed to get much better reviews and ratings, especially on snow, ice and in the wet. The baja boss ATs also look to come in limited sized and are very heavy for their sizes. I will take a look at the yokohama but I have not had good experiences with yokohama car tires in the past. They seem to not do well in the rain.

honda250xtitan · Nov 9, 2023

i know youve asked me about my 34x10.5-17's before.....but theyre a rad size. IF you can get over the aesthetics.

ko3's are coming out soon. might be an option.

anything over a 33 youre going to have rubbing issues that are more involved then jsut the basic BMC. IE fenders etc. heck my 33's/34's rub the inner fenders at full bump. I do not get how guys run taller tires then that and still actually abuse and use the full range of suspension lol.

mrblah · Nov 9, 2023

honda250xtitan said:
i know youve asked me about my 34x10.5-17's before.....but theyre a rad size. IF you can get over the aesthetics.

ko3's are coming out soon. might be an option.

anything over a 33 youre going to have rubbing issues that are more involved then jsut the basic BMC. IE fenders etc. heck my 33's/34's rub the inner fenders at full bump. I do not get how guys run taller tires then that and still actually abuse and use the full range of suspension lol.

self clearance inner fenders is a think ya know. lol.

jdm-v35 · Nov 9, 2023

honda250xtitan said:
i know youve asked me about my 34x10.5-17's before.....but theyre a rad size. IF you can get over the aesthetics.

ko3's are coming out soon. might be an option.

anything over a 33 youre going to have rubbing issues that are more involved then jsut the basic BMC. IE fenders etc. heck my 33's/34's rub the inner fenders at full bump. I do not get how guys run taller tires then that and still actually abuse and use the full range of suspension lol.

Thanks for the insight on it. Yea I am considering those as well and the size seems ideal, but I am really leaning towards the wildpeaks since it seems like they may be a better tire overall especially in rain and snow etc. I wish the wildpeaks came in that size but it is a very one-off size. I liked my KO2's that are on now, but I do feel that at their current state 6/32nd tread, 45k miles and 5 years old they feel like their handling is quite degraded compared to new especially in the rain. So I am hesitant to buy KO2's again due to that.

TRD PANTHER · Nov 9, 2023

jdm-v35 said:
I actually have looked at the wildpeak RT but none of the RT tires are 3pmsf rated, and though i run dedicated winters during winter I have ran into the stray early or late season blizzard and had to drive through it. Seems to happen at least a couple times every year since I drive through the mountains where it can get a lot colder a lot faster.

I found this one. Never heard of this brand. They advertise: EVERY DAY, EVERY MONTH-ALL YEAR
3 Peak Mountain Snowflake Certified (3PMS) for severe snow performance. LT sizes are also pinned for studs.
TerraMax RT
Access Denied Disregard the access denied. It is a Motor Trend review of the Sailun Terra Max RT.

Duratrac RT’s are also 3peak rated.

jdm-v35 · Nov 9, 2023

TRD PANTHER said:
I found this one. Never heard of this brand. They advertise: EVERY DAY, EVERY MONTH-ALL YEAR
3 Peak Mountain Snowflake Certified (3PMS) for severe snow performance. LT sizes are also pinned for studs.
TerraMax RT
Access Denied Disregard the access denied. It is a Motor Trend review of the Sailun Terra Max RT.

Duratrac RT’s are also 3peak rated.

The Sailun looks interesting but its only available in a few sizes anyway which would already be a limitation.

TRD PANTHER · Nov 9, 2023

Simplicity and 33’s for the win. I wonder if a slightly modified 5th gen could complete this trail. Showdown: Bronco vs Jeeps - Who Will Be Crowned the Ultimate Wheeler? - YouTube

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