Anyone run 245/75R16????

[PNW yota]

Looking at new tires for this season. I know stock is 265/70R16 but has anyone tried 245/75? If I'm calculating it right there's only a 1.75mm difference in sidewall height, not sure if that does much to the speedo or not.

The $$$ difference between the two sizes at costco for the BFG A/Ts is $240!!

 

[Raven]

I am not sure you'll get much support for this idea on a forum where so many are going to 285's, no matter the cost in tires and suspension modifications to make it work.
"Minus sizing" will get you better traction in the snow, because the narrower tire will more easily cut through the snow to the road underneath. They will also have less tendency to hydro-plane, with the weight of the vehicle spread over a slightly smaller footprint. (more pounds of car per square inch of ground)

I am considering it myself for my dedicated winter tires, while staying with the 265's for summer use. If we can save some money and get better tire selection, while improving the handling qualities and safety - what's not to like?

Now, where is 1engineer?

 

[JayRolla]

I am not sure you'll get much support for this idea on a forum where so many are going to 285's, no matter the cost in tires and suspension modifications to make it work.
"Minus sizing" will get you better traction in the snow, because the narrower tire will more easily cut through the snow to the road underneath. They will also have less tendency to hydro-plane, with the weight of the vehicle spread over a slightly smaller footprint. (more pounds of car per square inch of ground)

I am considering it myself for my dedicated winter tires, while staying with the 265's for summer use. If we can save some money and get better tire selection, while improving the handling qualities and safety - what's not to like?

Now, where is 1engineer?

As most of what you say is true undersizing can be worse in ice situations since there is less surface area to contact the road.

 

[Raven]

As most of what you say is true undersizing can be worse in ice situations since there is less surface area to contact the road.

True, but I am guessing that this would be countered by the fact that the extra pressure per square inch pushing down on the ice would enable the sipes to do their thing more effectively.

 

[Raven]

For what it's worth, my local tire guy, with about 50 years of experience, says that Toyota is putting the wrong tires on these rims anyway!
He claims the 265 does not belong on a 7.5" rim - it needs an 8" wide rim.

His favourite size for the FJ and the Runner? ......... 245's

 

[JayRolla]

For what it's worth, my local tire guy, with about 50 years of experience, says that Toyota is putting the wrong tires on these rims anyway!
He claims the 265 does not belong on a 7.5" rim - it needs an 8" wide rim.

His favourite size for the FJ and the Runner? ......... 245's

Yea and Toyota doesnt have years of experience?

 

[ARC]

If that's what you want then go for it. I bet there is more of a difference than just size between the two though. Tire construction, load range etc. are important aspects to tire buying.

 

[NHRunner]

I ran a 245 LRE Pegasus for a couple weeks before opting for a 265/75 Grabber AT2 because I got a great deal on them and they have the mountain/snowflake rating. The 245/75 was a good tire; ran great, stopped fine, and I retained my fuel mileage with such a light tire. They were also dirt cheap at $125 a tire, installed.

You could also consider a 235/85 if youre okay with 10plys. They typically run in the same price range as a 245/75.

 

[Duckman97]

For what it's worth, my local tire guy, with about 50 years of experience, says that Toyota is putting the wrong tires on these rims anyway!
He claims the 265 does not belong on a 7.5" rim - it needs an 8" wide rim.

His favourite size for the FJ and the Runner? ......... 245's

Tire guy with 50 years experience knows what to say to make a sale

 

[hour]

Tire guy with 50 years experience knows what to say to make a sale

You'd assume he'd push the 265's then if he were trying to rake in the most cash. Or, maybe you meant he's trying to win customer loyalty by claiming to be a know it all.

In any event, he's wrong. Goodyear and Hankook both specify a rim width of 7-9" for their 265/70/16 line up. I'm too lazy to research further, but would expect the same from other manufacturers. I'd trust all of them collectively over Toyota, and Toyota over someone who may need to consider getting a computer and reading this, or retiring.

 

[Robb235]

I run 245/75 Cooper Discoverer AT3 tires, and do not regret the purchase at all. I picked up about ~1mpg switching from the stock 265/70 size. The tires look just fine on my rig even with Limited fender flares, they look like an OE fit. Never had any desire to lift my 4Runner, and it's my DD that I drive a lot, so the choice was a no brainer. Cheaper, lighter, does what I want, and looks good. Taken it through some mud too, haven't gotten stuck.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I run Cooper studied snow tires on my Cummins. They are the tall skinny 235/85-16's. Factory is the 245/75-16's

I'm in agreement the tall skinnys are better in the snow and ice or I would not have bought them 14 years ago and still use them every winter.

 

[Raven]

Yea and Toyota doesnt have years of experience?

Well, I threw that out there for you guys to chew on, and you did not disapoint me! Just to be clear, I agree that Toyota's engineers also have very credible experience, and I am not going to take just one salesmans' pitch as gospel. In this case, however, he does believe what he says, and is not just trying to sell me a particular tire (whether he is right or not is another matter).

I do stand by my assertion that the narrower tire will perform better in most snow conditions. All other factors being equal (tire air volume/pressure/ply rating/quality, etc.) there should be no problem running the 245's.

 

[StingRay98-00]

I run them on my winter wheels. As stated they are better for winter conditions. The price is also much better than a 265 tire. I actually downsized my K1500 from 265/75 to 265/70 tires( and 245/75 winter tires) so that I had one size across all 3 of my 4 wheel drive vehicles. 2 4Runners and the truck.

 

[JayRolla]

Well, I threw that out there for you guys to chew on, and you did not disapoint me! Just to be clear, I agree that Toyota's engineers also have very credible experience, and I am not going to take just one salesmans' pitch as gospel. In this case, however, he does believe what he says, and is not just trying to sell me a particular tire (whether he is right or not is another matter).

I do stand by my assertion that the narrower tire will perform better in most snow conditions. All other factors being equal (tire air volume/pressure/ply rating/quality, etc.) there should be no problem running the 245's.

Did he give you a reason why the rim was too small? Usually too small of rim will cause the tire not to wear correctly. This usually is not a problem till a 35" tire is mounted too a 7" wide wheel which tire manufactures state when buying tires. But lots of people do it, the poor mans bead lock because they are almost impossible to break a bead on and if you research they still get good tire wear.

 

[PNW yota]

True, but I am guessing that this would be countered by the fact that the extra pressure per square inch pushing down on the ice would enable the sipes to do their thing more effectively.

Yeah I'd be interested in knowing what makes the greatest difference between traction on ice, greater surface area making contact or greater pressure applied to the ground... Snow/ice is where I do most of my low-traction driving anyway.

If that's what you want then go for it. I bet there is more of a difference than just size between the two though. Tire construction, load range etc. are important aspects to tire buying.

Looking at BFG's specs the 245/75's are 10 ply vs the 265/70's 8 ply and they have a higher load rating (120 vs 117). All while somehow managing to be 3 pounds lighter. Not to mention the price.

 

[Raven]

Did he give you a reason why the rim was too small? Usually too small of rim will cause the tire not to wear correctly.

He claims that putting a 265 on a 7.5" rim will cause center tread wear because the tire will have too much crown, due to the narrow rim forcing the sidewalls in more than they should. An 8" rim (his recommendation for the 265) will allow the tread to spread out, or flatten more, resulting in more even tread wear.

Even if that sounds somewhat logical, doesn't mean he's right. I have never seen uneven center tread wear on a 265 mounted on a 7.5" rim.
And generally, I trust the engineers/designers at Toyota. (Even 'though they have made some rather obvious errors in the past! For example, IMO, the great looking but next to useless roof rack on the FJ Cruiser! Stock, you can't even safely carry a canoe on it!) .... Rant over

I shall continue to run 265's on my 4Runner, but I am considering 245's just for the heavy snow months.

 

[poleclimber63]

Thinking of replacing my Winters as well. I'm seriously looking at 245/75/16 as I agree the narrower tire provides better traction generally than the standard 265/70/16 in snowy conditions. As far as sizing is concerned, the 245's are less than 3/4" narrower and less than an 1/8" in diameter.... and of course, less expensive. As I live and work in a mountain environment, all our work trucks are 4x4's and most of my workmates and friends drive 4x4's. When we convert to winters in the Fall, our tire shop recommends slightly narrower tires-- depending on vehicle and tire grade. Many of my friends subscribe to this idea for their own trucks. Good luck!

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Thinking of replacing my Winters as well. I'm seriously looking at 245/75/16 as I agree the narrower tire provides better traction generally than the standard 265/70/16 in snowy conditions. As far as sizing is concerned, the 245's are less than 3/4" narrower and less than an 1/8" in diameter.... and of course, less expensive. As I live and work in a mountain environment, all our work trucks are 4x4's and most of my workmates and friends drive 4x4's. When we convert to winters in the Fall, our tire shop recommends slightly narrower tires-- depending on vehicle and tire grade. Many of my friends subscribe to this idea for their own trucks. Good luck!

You either have a wide tire with a lot of siping to float on top of snow and the siping grips it or you have a tall skinny tire that packed snow between it and the road.

We had a ice storm a few years ago and I drove home with my 4 studded 235/85-16's and my coworker took a two hour nap half way home from work cause he couldn't go anywhere and ended up in a yard with 3 other drivers.

 

[JayRolla]

He claims that putting a 265 on a 7.5" rim will cause center tread wear because the tire will have too much crown, due to the narrow rim forcing the sidewalls in more than they should. An 8" rim (his recommendation for the 265) will allow the tread to spread out, or flatten more, resulting in more even tread wear.

Even if that sounds somewhat logical, doesn't mean he's right. I have never seen uneven center tread wear on a 265 mounted on a 7.5" rim.
And generally, I trust the engineers/designers at Toyota. (Even 'though they have made some rather obvious errors in the past! For example, IMO, the great looking but next to useless roof rack on the FJ Cruiser! Stock, you can't even safely carry a canoe on it!) .... Rant over

I shall continue to run 265's on my 4Runner, but I am considering 245's just for the heavy snow months.

His logic is 100% right but usually not seen till a 12.5"+ tire is on a small rim. Hundreds of people on here running 285's on stock rims and they always wear correctly.