Help me decide: 255/75/17 or 285/70/17?

[Seatown]

On my last '04 4runner I had the BFG Rubicon take offs 255/75/17, they were a MT with less aggressive pattern then the regular BFG MT;looked great and had good road manners.

Now fast forward to the future....

Yesterday I bought 4 more 255/75/17 BFG MT off CL for $425...all about 90% tread. This was an impulse buy b/c they were such a good deal; I do feel that I can resell them for $550 or more if it came down to it...but I digress. I'm also considering going up to the 285/70/17 Firestone Destinations since they seem to be a great tire and a little larger.

Stat comparisson:

BFG 255/75/17 - 32.1 inches and 48 lbs a piece
Firestone 285/70/17 - 32.8 inches and 44 lbs a piece

My question is...which one would give me better MPG? Bigger, but lighter or shorter and heavier?

If the difference is negligable will there be any problems fitting the Firestones with my 3/2 cornfed lift? Most likely going with a 17x8 wheel with 0 offset.

Thanks

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

While the 285's are heavier, it will take more effort to get them going due to the contact area. The taller tire also affects gearing more, that'll hurt you as well I believe. However, in the favor of the 285's, the less aggressive tread pattern will help your mileage. These are all guesses, only way to say for sure would be someone who's tried both (very unlikely to find that). Judging by what I know and the numbers, I doubt you'd notice too much either way (maybe 1 mpg). MPG is hard to calculate anyway. I know I keep records every time I fill up and I vary 2-3 mpg regularly.

 

[Seatown]

While the 285's are heavier, it will take more effort to get them going due to the contact area. The taller tire also affects gearing more, that'll hurt you as well I believe. However, in the favor of the 285's, the less aggressive tread pattern will help your mileage. These are all guesses, only way to say for sure would be someone who's tried both (very unlikely to find that). Judging by what I know and the numbers, I doubt you'd notice too much either way (maybe 1 mpg). MPG is hard to calculate anyway. I know I keep records every time I fill up and I vary 2-3 mpg regularly.

Thanks Ark; I was thinking that these two options would be pretty similar for MPGs. Since I want to be up as high as possible I'm leaning towards the 285 set up.

 

[chaz]

imo, go with the firestone, wet & icey road handling will be better with them also since they are an AT instead of an MT.

 

[renep74]

seatown,

I'm also on the same boat as you are and finally my hankook tires are ready for replacement.

Ark,

What do I need to do if I will replace my existing tires (265/65/17) with 255/75/17 (32's) or 285/70/17 (33's).

current lift setup
2.5" lift, stock coil - Front
OME 895 coil - Rear


Questions:

1) replace the UCA
2) need spacers
3) How much trimming after moving the front tire guard

Thanks,

 

[oljedi11950]

275/70/17

Just curious not to many running 275/70/17 ? Seems like a happy med. tire but not to many brands ?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

seatown,

I'm also on the same boat as you are and finally my hankook tires are ready for replacement.

Ark,

What do I need to do if I will replace my existing tires (265/65/17) with 255/75/17 (32's) or 285/70/17 (33's).

current lift setup
2.5" lift, stock coil - Front
OME 895 coil - Rear


Questions:

1) replace the UCA
2) need spacers
3) How much trimming after moving the front tire guard

Thanks,

With the 255s, you would most likely fit them with no rubbing. If you add wheel spacers (not required), they will rub the mud flaps and fender liner on the front.

With 285s, you would need wheel spacers (or different wheels). You'll rub the mud flap, fender liner, front bumper, and possibly parts at the rear of the front fender well such as the body mount. Most of this is easily done, but body mount may be an issue if you can't do that yourself. You may rub the rear mud flap when flexed.

Tire size won't really affect the need for ucas. If you go over 3" lift, you'd need to start looking at those.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Just curious not to many running 275/70/17 ? Seems like a happy med. tire but not to many brands ?

This is an excellent size, but as you mentioned there aren't many options. I wanted this instead of the 255s but didn't get then because none of the tires I wanted were available in this size.