17 inch skinny tires question

[xxaarraa]

Hey guys,

3/2 lift + 1.5" BL, running 265x70x17 duratracs now. Looking to go with taller tires to fill out the wheel wells - hoping to get at least 33" and price is not a concern.

What I LOVE about the duratracs:

• Load range C, so pretty light
• GREAT in the snow - I live in Boston and performance in snow is important
• GREAT offroad so far. I wheel in New Hampshire often and they have done very well.
• GREAT to look at.

What I don't like about the duratracs:

• Mileage took a big hit. 2 MPG at least, even accounting for the speedo being off. I ran General Grabber AT2s before and even their E rated tires did better.
• They don't come in a lot of skinny / tall sizes. I could get 255x75 but that is only a 32" tire.

So... are there any options for me that hit all the good things about the duratracs (namely top snow and ice performance) but in a 255x80?

• I know cooper discoverer MAXX comes in that size, but I am not sure how good they are in deep snow & ice?
• Never ran an MT tire, I am worried about the noise and MPG?
• I could just go up to 18" rims and get 265x70x18s, but I LOVE my 17" trail edition wheels.
• Any other options?

 

[80jay]

You could go 34x10.5x17 with the new BFG all terrain.

 

[xxaarraa]

You could go 34x10.5x17 with the new BFG all terrain.

wow, that's cool, thanks for pointing me to it. Just looked them up. 56 lbs a tire, compared to 40 lbs for a 255x75 duratrac. That's a lot of unsprung weight in each corner, but I suppose that's par for the course if you want a tall tire?

Anyone running this size and can comment on mpg loss? As well as snow performance?

 

[jdurunner]

I have the Cooper ST Maxx in 255/80r17 and they were way better this winter than the several sets of BFG ATs I have had over the years. Both the BFG and the Cooper have way stronger sidewalls than the Duratracs.

 

[t-man]

I get 12-14 mpg with 315/70/17 Mud terrains with a HEAVY right foot! I'm not complaining one bit! I have the V8 too. Very minimal power loss. arty:

 

[T101]

I have the Cooper ST Maxx in 255/80r17 and they were way better this winter than the several sets of BFG ATs I have had over the years. Both the BFG and the Cooper have way stronger sidewalls than the Duratracs.

Running the same and they were absolute animals in the snow this winter, Long Island got slammed the the coopers performed greater than I ever could've expected.
(Grain of salt** I used to have HT tires which were completely useless in the snow)

 

[V8Man]

Nitto crossteck for me. Great price great in snow and Ice.

 

[wadle5]

I have the Cooper ST Maxx in 255/80r17 and they were way better this winter than the several sets of BFG ATs I have had over the years. Both the BFG and the Cooper have way stronger sidewalls than the Duratracs.

Running the same and they were absolute animals in the snow this winter, Long Island got slammed the the coopers performed greater than I ever could've expected.
(Grain of salt** I used to have HT tires which were completely useless in the snow)

Haven't thought of the 255/80.........would one of these fit in a spare as well?

 

[NCrunner0]

I run the 255/75/17 copper maxx and its C load with a tougher side wall than duratracs, love them so far, only a couple thousand miles on them.

 

[T101]

Haven't thought of the 255/80.........would one of these fit in a spare as well?

I've stupidly been driving with my fingers crossed instead of forking over the money for a 5th tire.... still have the stock size as my spare so don't know if the 255/80 will fit. FWIW there's a guy in the 5th forum that has this exact tire in the spare location
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/engin...er-discoverer-st-maxx-255-80-17-skinnies.html

 

[xxaarraa]

I've stupidly been driving with my fingers crossed instead of forking over the money for a 5th tire.... still have the stock size as my spare so don't know if the 255/80 will fit. FWIW there's a guy in the 5th forum that has this exact tire in the spare location
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/engin...er-discoverer-st-maxx-255-80-17-skinnies.html

Same here - running the stock spare. However, with a lifted truck, to be able to change the spare by the side of the road, you need a hi-lift anyway. I carry my hi-lift on wheeling trips, but not for everyday use. Do you guys always carry the hi-lift everywhere? Or does the stock bottle jack still work on a 3 inch lifted truck?

Also, I do know that the Duratracs are known to have soft sidewalls. But in last 30k miles and many wheeling trips, I have never had an issue with them? I buy tires once every two years, AND drive through Boston shitstorms (people in the rest of the country need to trust me, New England winters are much worse, no matter where you live) for 6 months each year, so I am so nervous about making the wrong choice :0

 

[wadle5]

Same here - running the stock spare. However, with a lifted truck, to be able to change the spare by the side of the road, you need a hi-lift anyway. I carry my hi-lift on wheeling trips, but not for everyday use.

Do you guys always carry the hi-lift everywhere? Or does the stock bottle jack still work on a 3 inch lifted truck?

Stock bottle will not work on a 3 inch lift. I don't have my hi lift usually during the week and driving, but for trips I have it bolted under the rear seat

 

[xxaarraa]

Stock bottle will not work on a 3 inch lift. I don't have my hi lift usually during the week and driving, but for trips I have it bolted under the rear seat

hmm... I currently carry it on my front light bar on the outside and hence I don't carry it year round and only on trips. I also do not have rear seat bottoms since I need the space for storage and for my fold out sleeping platform.

But do you mind please sharing a photo? If it's possible to carry a hi-lift indoors all year, I'd prefer to, to have the security.

 

[wadle5]

hmm... I currently carry it on my front light bar on the outside and hence I don't carry it year round and only on trips. I also do not have rear seat bottoms since I need the space for storage and for my fold out sleeping platform.

But do you mind please sharing a photo? If it's possible to carry a hi-lift indoors all year, I'd prefer to, to have the security.

Sure.....post 22 on my build thread

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/148756-wadle5s-buildthread-2.html#post1504428

 

[xxaarraa]

Sure.....post 22 on my build thread

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/148756-wadle5s-buildthread-2.html#post1504428

Gotcha! Thanks. I think I have seen your post before and even bookmarked it once in the past. I run without the rear seat bottoms, and need the back seats to flip down for my sleeping platform, so this might not work. But good idea!

 

[jdurunner]

Haven't thought of the 255/80.........would one of these fit in a spare as well?

I tried, it was a no go with the stock hitch in place. Mine is annoyingly in the back hatch until I have a custom tire carrier built. Not interested in adding the weight of a cbi bumper.

 

[Burnzy]

Same here - running the stock spare. However, with a lifted truck, to be able to change the spare by the side of the road, you need a hi-lift anyway. I carry my hi-lift on wheeling trips, but not for everyday use. Do you guys always carry the hi-lift everywhere? Or does the stock bottle jack still work on a 3 inch lifted truck?

Also, I do know that the Duratracs are known to have soft sidewalls. But in last 30k miles and many wheeling trips, I have never had an issue with them? I buy tires once every two years, AND drive through Boston shitstorms (people in the rest of the country need to trust me, New England winters are much worse, no matter where you live) for 6 months each year, so I am so nervous about making the wrong choice :0

The stock jack works just fine. Put a couple of scrap pieces of a 4x4 and 2x4 in your truck and you're all set. Wood scraps are much cheaper that a HI Lift.

 

[Trabs00]

255/80/17 Coopers

I have 255/80/17s and absolutely love them. I previously ran 265/70/17 in Cooper S/T maxx for 2 years and can vouch for them in the snow (and sand, rock and mild mud). These are my favorite tires I have had. I previously ran BFG A/T and BFG M/T on my cherokee prior to running the Coopers on my 4R. I love the look, love that they are E load with super strong sidewalls and they handle great.

Keep in mind these run much smaller than some other 255/80/17. According to Cooper's website they are 32.8 (vs. 33.3 for BFG KM2s in this size).

I have V8 with tow package, no way the 255/80/17 Coopers will fit. I run an aired down 255/75/17 BFG M/T (32.1) I got unused for $50 off Craigslist (Jeep spare). The slightly smaller spare is within 3% of the others so safe for running if needed.

I carry a couple pieces of cut 2x4 to be able to use the stock jack... will get around to installing a hi-lift eventually.

 

[Trabs00]

I've stupidly been driving with my fingers crossed instead of forking over the money for a 5th tire.... still have the stock size as my spare so don't know if the 255/80 will fit. FWIW there's a guy in the 5th forum that has this exact tire in the spare location
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/engin...er-discoverer-st-maxx-255-80-17-skinnies.html

Yeah, but that is a 5th gen... does anyone know if there is more room for larger spare with a 5th gen? I have a 4th gen V8 with the large trailer hitch and was just able to squeeze a 255/75/17 BFG MT but it is very, tight fit. I really don't think a 255/80/17 new ST Maxx would fit in a 4th gen with stock hitch.

 

[scottblink23]

Gotcha! Thanks. I think I have seen your post before and even bookmarked it once in the past. I run without the rear seat bottoms, and need the back seats to flip down for my sleeping platform, so this might not work. But good idea!

I have the 3 inch OME lift and I recently switched from 255 / 75 / 17 to 285 / 75 / 16 and I am extremely pleased. The skinny tires, in my opinion, don't fill out the 4R when you look at it from the front or back. I went with General Grabber AT2's and even though they are heavier than my 43 lb Firestone AT's, I haven't noticed a big drop in MPG. A slight drop is expected but definitely worth it. Go with a 285 tire - 285 / 70 / 17 or 285 / 75 / 16