Studded Winter Tires for 2003 4x4 V8

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Salla

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Looking for studded winter tire recommendations for my 2003 4Runner V8 4x4. It seems hard to find studded tires in the stock 265/65/17 size.. Does anyone have a recommendations?
I'd rather stay with the stock 65 due to spare tire & the full time 4x4 - but how about going narrower 255 or even 245/65/17? Generally a narrower tire goes better thru the snow and has more weight per square inch - but I wonder if 245 would be too narrow on dry pavement?
 
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Salla said:
Looking for studded winter tire recommendations for my 2003 4Runner V8 4x4. It seems hard to find studded tires in the stock 265/65/17 size.. Does anyone have a recommendations?
I'd rather stay with the stock 65 due to spare tire & the full time 4x4 - but how about going narrower 255 or even 245/65/17? Generally a narrower tire goes better thru the snow and has more weight per square inch - but I wonder if 245 would be too narrow on dry pavement?
Click to expand...

On one of the boards there's a guy running 245/75/17's, a fairly popular size. There's plenty of pickups that weigh more and are bigger than the T4R and fine on 245's. It wasn't that long ago that half-ton pickups used 235/75/15's as the standard tire.

I am pretty sure the overall diameter is about the same as a 265/65/17; that takes care of the spare tire situation.

Read this too: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40803

:cheers:
 
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I think the taller 75 profile could cause couple of problems if a had a flat: Would the flat 75 fit under the car? What would the computer think if I then had the spare 65 on?

So, preferrably same 65 profile - which is tough to find.. and don't want to buy 16" wheels..
 
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Salla said:
I think the taller 75 profile could cause couple of problems if a had a flat: Would the flat 75 fit under the car? What would the computer think if I then had the spare 65 on?

So, preferrably same 65 profile - which is tough to find.. and don't want to buy 16" wheels..
Click to expand...


Ok, I am going to make one correction, I meant to suggest 245/70/17. A 265/65/17 tire has an overall diameter of about 30.6 inches. A 245/70/17 in some brands and a '75' in others, has the same overall diameter.

Your 4wd and VSC/ABS computer have no idea what width, profile or rim diameter you have. All it wants is 4 tires with the same overall diameter so that the individual wheel rpm is equal at a given speed. A 245/70/17 is very compatable with your 265/65/17 spare.

:cheers:
 
OK, that's good to hear that the 70 would be an option! But I thought the ABS/VDC is pretty sensitive about one tire having different circumference? I guess people have tried it without xmas lights coming up in the dash?
 
Salla said:
OK, that's good to hear that the 70 would be an option! But I thought the ABS/VDC is pretty sensitive about one tire having different circumference? I guess people have tried it without xmas lights coming up in the dash?
Click to expand...

The 70 is a good option in a 245/70, not a 265/70, it's all about the O.D. There's room in the programming for minor differences, there has to be. If the VSC/ABS was locked down super-tight they would have to require the front tires ran with more air than the back due to weight. You'd have to replace 4 tires at a time instead of the one that blew and the list goes on... To have it programmed that 'tight' would create real problems. I don't know the specific number but I would guess that if the O.D. were within .6+/- inches you could drive sans the Christmas tree dash.

If you did accedentially fault the system due to tire size it can be reset and given that the T4R's limited slip system isn't a traditional, mechanical type it'd be ok. Now, I wouldn't drive thousands of miles like that but the 40-50 necessary shouldn't hurt anything.

:cheers:
 
Here is a list of 265/65/17 snow tires. I think you will be happiest with stock size. It will preserve your driving feel. If you go with narrower 70's or 75's given snow tires softer compounds and tall tread blocks, you may regret the purchase because the tires will feel unstable.

Remember that changing tire size does not change the surface area of the contact patch, rather it changes it from being wider (265) to longer (245-255) The overall size and therefore weight per sq. in. remains the same.

As far as performance goes Hakka 5 Suv's will outperform Hakka SUV and Hakka R's (unstudded only) will perform better on dry roads but not quite as good as either of the other two in the snow.
 
Thanks - this is great! Don't get me wrong - I grew up in Finland so I know the Nokians are great; just can't justify for the price for the limited use in Seattle area
 
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