Everything becomes a trade off at some point. The trick is finding the compromise that works for you. Here is some of the timeline, needs, and experience that lead me to my present choice:
As for myself, compared to OEM Bridgestones the rolling resistance of the larger 285/75/17 Toyo was just too much of a dog for daily driving. Also my wheel bearings had to be swapped after 25k on them... Coincidence, I dunno. (FYI I’ll be adding a set of spidertrax soon, sooo...?)
Off road tho, the 285 ride was especially sublime when aired down and grip was generally fine too, but climbing and navigating certain steeps at altitude was again altogether doggy and under powered. Maybe regearing is the better answer, but going to tall skinnies has been a pleasing compromise.
With 285s, Mpg was in the 15’s as a daily driver, now it’s in the 18’s and a good bit higher on highways. On road, the skinny 235 42lb Cooper LTs roll VERY easily. Off road and aired down, those same rocky steeps are no more of a challenge than they were before. Traction is very similar but turning and steering the skinnies feels favorable. I’ve not flatted out once either.
As for “snow driving” this was one of my main motivators going skinny AT tire. In zero cases have I ever found myself “floating” on deep snow. Somewhere there is a bottom, and when you find that you’ll find traction if you don’t get too much snow underneath first. Conditions matter. But on snow packed roads, sure, siping-studs-contact patch are whats needed, and they did fine. The Cooper AT tread likewise works great on snowy roads (btw I’ll air down a bit here too) and are quiet and well mannered when the road is normal too. *BUUUUUUT*.... the bigger difference for my needs is that I now easily fit tire chains for when the going gets grim. Which it has and which the Cooper AT would certainly be outdone by a more aggressive tread in any width. But for no more often than that comes about, that’s how I’ve chosen to address the one shortcoming. (Although if they weren’t so heavy, I think I’d like the 235/80/17 ST Maxx.)
All that said, a 255/75 might have worked out just as well for 99% of what I do but a smaller 32” tire gave me a precious inch of clearance (think chains) and also a step back towards the factory gearing/tire ratio.
So there you have a bit of the calculus that lead me to my choice of compromise for what I do. But you do you for your own good reasons and it’ll probably work out great. Good luck OP.
