Tires for California drivin

[Hippestguyever]

Nobody ever seems to suggest this:

1. Don't lift it.
2. Stick with stock sized tires (265/70/17)
3. Change to Toyo Open Country LT-265/65/17 (E) M/Ts.

You will be able to handle 99% of all the off-road situations the world will throw at you.

Your gas mileage will not suffer at all.

You will experience some increase in noise - so what.

The ones on my truck are about half worn after 48,000 miles (about 30% off-road/70% pavement)

Have run 3 sets of these now - 2 sets on a 2004 Land Rover discovery and the present set on my 2013 totally stock SR5.

Haha yeah I definitely get what you're saying. A lot of my reason for the lift is my 4runner (or most stock) has a really low front. I opted for the smaller leveling kit just to balance it out as opposed to the 3/2 or higher many others do.

Yeah I've been considering the Nitto terra grapplers in stock size and considering wheel spacers if needed as well. I definitely think the stock 4runner is a very capable vehicle as is which is why i'm leaning towards a mild build.

How's the ride quality on the Toyos? Do you get a lot of noise or is it a good road tire?

Again thanks for the feedback.

 

[Hippestguyever]

Any bigger, heavier or aggressive tread tires negates efficiency. Period. Also every AT or aggressive tread tire is not going to be as quiet or handle as well on the road.

Go with a Michelin AT if you want any hope of meeting your stated targets. You really go off road 1500 miles a year? That s 10% if you do 15k/yr. Or did you mean 1%.

Hey Greg I forgot to include I was also considering the stock size nitto terra grapplers 265 since its on the Pro it might be a good medium choice. Yeah also thanks for the point out haha, I meant 1% Also do you mean every MT or aggressive? I thought ATs were generally smoother for the road.

 

[Hippestguyever]

BFG KO2 in stock size. Better looking than stock tires... or most tires for that matter, very quiet for an AT, and no penalty to gas mileage (at least in my case) consistently averaging between 19.5 and 20.0. This is my second set of KO2s and and probably my 10th set of KOs on various vehicles. My 4R isn't lifted and they fill out the wheel wells nicely. I just completed a 7000 mile road trip to WA, WY, ID, MT, etc. and back. Smooth at speeds above 90mph, quiet, and great in the sand, gravel, etc.

This is great feedback! You're 4runner looks awesome! Yeah I'm thinking of deducing it down to the stock size Nittos vs the stock BFGs. That's great you're hitting 20 mph, I'm barely hitting 17 stock (I'm going to blame it on my heavy foot haha)

I'll definitely check into the BFGs now. Thanks so much!

 

[Hippestguyever]

This is 2" front and 1.25" rear on 265's. I'm on my second set of General Grabber AT2's. About the same tread pattern as the KO2 for ~60% the price, 60,000 mile tread life. Quiet except on concrete surfaces (everything is louder on concrete). But primarily I'm posting just to show you 265's do NOT look odd on a 2" or so lift. The fenders aren't really that large to begin with. And if MPG and mostly highway driving are a priority the 265 will keep you in the better mpg range. And for comfort you want to avoid load range E. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the sending this. You're 4runner looks awesome. The 265s definitely do not look odd on yours. Are you using wheel spacers? I'm definitely choosing the standard load tires right now.
:lock1:

 

[Hippestguyever]

Be honest with yourself about what you want. If you're that concerned about tires looking small get the 33's or you'll never be happy, just don't expect to get the same kind of mileage. I agree that 10% off road is a fair amount, but it also depends on what kind of off road you're talking about traveling. As stated a stock 4Runner with good tires is damn capable, but if you want to go bigger/increase capability you'll have to accept what it entails. Regardless, rolling resistance and changes in tire/gear ratios are going to impact your fuel economy.

Yeah the more I keep researching into this the more I get divided. I forgot to include but I'm also checking into the stock size BFG k02s and nittos at stock. I accepted any change over the stock tire is going to hurt a little but hopefully trying to find a medium ground if you know what I mean.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Hippestguyever]

I am in the exact same boat as you. Based on everything i have read, the 285s are going to mess up Mpgs big time. The best combo for DD/Offroad would be ko2's in 265 C range or an AT 275 in P range.

285s will look the best of course but you will pay.

Yeah it's a very confusing one the more I research into it haha. I see in your signature you're running the 275s? How are they? Any noticeable dips or regrets or are they a good medium choice?

Thanks!

 

[Hippestguyever]

Is California still part of the continental 48? I thought for sure those liberal socialists would have seceded by now. :flame: My recommendation would be to go with the Nitto Terra Grappler G2s. They're a decent ride on the pavement and pretty versatile for almost anything else.

First one for the nittos! I'm leaning towards stock size nittos now. the confusion continues haha

 

[derryck]

First one for the nittos! I'm leaning towards stock size nittos now. the confusion continues haha

I spend most of my time on the pavement but like to stumble off into the boonies from time to time and the G2s have been great on road and off. They're not too loud on the road and not too bad in the rain so I'll be buying them again unless I find something better in the mean time.

 

[Hippestguyever]

I spend most of my time on the pavement but like to stumble off into the boonies from time to time and the G2s have been great on road and off. They're not too loud on the road and not too bad in the rain so I'll be buying them again unless I find something better in the mean time.

Are you running the 285s or 265s? Thanks

 

[derryck]

Are you running the 285s or 265s? Thanks

I'm running 265s but I'd be running 285s if I wasn't running an LE with 7" TRD wheels.

 

[3wbdriver]

Thanks for the sending this. You're 4runner looks awesome. The 265s definitely do not look odd on yours. Are you using wheel spacers? I'm definitely choosing the standard load tires right now.
:lock1:

Yes. I'm running Spydertrax 1.25" spacers. But in hindsight I think I would have looked harder for a 9" wide wheel with 4.5" backspacing. About the same affect without stressing over the bearings. I'm currently running 8" wheels with the same 4.5" BS.

 

[e60ral]

Forgive me for sounding stupid but are all BFG K02s E rated? or do they make a standard load for it?

it depends on the size

i have the 265's in C rating and they are great, i'm happy i didn't get E

 

[EddieV4runnin]

This is 2" front and 1.25" rear on 265's. I'm on my second set of General Grabber AT2's. About the same tread pattern as the KO2 for ~60% the price, 60,000 mile tread life. Quiet except on concrete surfaces (everything is louder on concrete). But primarily I'm posting just to show you 265's do NOT look odd on a 2" or so lift. The fenders aren't really that large to begin with. And if MPG and mostly highway driving are a priority the 265 will keep you in the better mpg range. And for comfort you want to avoid load range E. Just my 2 cents.

Might give those General tires a try when I need some new rubber

 

[tacoyota]

Yeah it's a very confusing one the more I research into it haha. I see in your signature you're running the 275s? How are they? Any noticeable dips or regrets or are they a good medium choice?

Thanks!

You just gotta pick looks or mpg. I think the 4runner is super capable even with less aggressive AT tires like coopers. I took a .5 mpg hit with these tires. E range is stiffer on the road even with stock suspension but not terrible. I would stick with something in either P or C range if you daily drive it.

 

[sn_85]

Nobody ever seems to suggest this:

1. Don't lift it.
2. Stick with stock sized tires (265/70/17)
3. Change to Toyo Open Country LT-265/65/17 (E) M/Ts.

You will be able to handle 99% of all the off-road situations the world will throw at you.

Your gas mileage will not suffer at all.

You will experience some increase in noise - so what.

The ones on my truck are about half worn after 48,000 miles (about 30% off-road/70% pavement)

Have run 3 sets of these now - 2 sets on a 2004 Land Rover discovery and the present set on my 2013 totally stock SR5.

I do. It all about the looks Ron. All about cool factor.

Well you're not gonna get many Instagram followers with that type of attitude!!!

 

[1engineer]

Well you're not gonna get many Instagram followers with that type of attitude!!!

Yeah. I'm on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. I follow very few accounts (local mtn bike club, etc) and post not much. I truly just don't care about it lol. There's a few I follow from here like Jake Blick and Forge Overland and Intruder but I only do it for the cool pics. I would much rather be out in the woods in the truck or on the bike than looking at social media. Wait... you have nights right? Well, I went on two night rides last week, so no, nights are spent outside too.

The youngsters nowadays really need to go outside. I mean really go outside and stay outside. Learn some stuff. Have fun. Mess up. Fix it and learn from it. Don't spend all your time #swipingright

 

[Ron4RNevada]

it depends on the size

i have the 265's in C rating and they are great, i'm happy i didn't get E

I run E rated tires since I spend so much time on sharp andesite, rhyolite, basalt and obsidian = The stuff eats C rated tires.

 

[engineeer]

I had the 265 C rated KO2s and now have the 275 E rated KO2s.

- Quietness: both are surprisingly quiet for A/T tires.
- MPG: -1mpg for the 265 C, -2mpg for the 275 E
- Comfort: both were comfortable at 40psi, but the 275 E caused a huge hit in acceleration due to the high weight
- Longevity: both should last 40-50k miles

I off-road about 50mi/month compared to about 2,000mi/month of regular driving. Despite that, I'm considering going back to 265 C. If you don't off-road much, I highly recommend sticking with 265 C because the impact of 275/285 E to your mpg and acceleration will be noticeable and unnecessary.

 

[Georgiey22]

I also live in Southern California, with the exact same criteria (90% street and 10% trails/Big Bear).

I own a 2016 SR5 Premium 4X4. Installed a King coilover in the front at 1.5" lift. Installed King shocks in the rear with NO rear lift. I am running the TRD 17X7 rims and 265/70/17 Nitto Terra Grappler G2's. My opinion is that I achieved a nice rugged look and the tires do not look too small. No loss of MPG, the tires are as quiet as one could ask for and they wear well, currently have 14,000 miles on them and they haven't lost any tread. If I had to do this again, I'd do it exactly the same way.

 

[Hippestguyever]

I also live in Southern California, with the exact same criteria (90% street and 10% trails/Big Bear).

I own a 2016 SR5 Premium 4X4. Installed a King coilover in the front at 1.5" lift. Installed King shocks in the rear with NO rear lift. I am running the TRD 17X7 rims and 265/70/17 Nitto Terra Grappler G2's. My opinion is that I achieved a nice rugged look and the tires do not look too small. No loss of MPG, the tires are as quiet as one could ask for and they wear well, currently have 14,000 miles on them and they haven't lost any tread. If I had to do this again, I'd do it exactly the same way.

Thanks man! I live in Southern California so you definitely know the situation! Finding a good balance is tough. Do you have any pictures of your 4runner btw?