Towing 4100lb trailer with 285’s. Quick question.

[RustyAb]

Hey guys, so I’m looking at pulling the trigger on some 285/65/18 stt pro’s here this week. I do tow a small travel trailer at 4100lbs fully loaded roughly 6-8 times a year here in the prairies to the mountains. Just wondering if anyone here has experience towing something like that with 285’s on it. I’m just worried that the tires might just be too big for comfort on towing. I’ve read quite a few posts on towing, and on going with that size. Haven’t seen anything specific to what I’m asking. I do have a weight distributing hitch, and airlift bags in the rear. I have extensive experience towing trailers in the oilfield, but that’s always with stock tires on my work super duty.

Any experience would be great to read. I bought 275’s last year and have regretted not going to 285 every time I look at my runner...

Thanks all!

 

[CavPro]

The larger tire destroys your power through the gearing, especially the torque, which is where the towing power comes from.

 

[Bayou_Pro]

You are going to lose effective gear ratio with the larger tires. Effects will be it'll lose some torque feeling, and the trans will be downshifting and hunting for gears more, especially in the hills. The tires themselves will be fine for towing it's the loss of gear ratio and the added weight of the tires that you will notice.

 

[RustyAb]

i always thought I’d be losing my torque, and as you both have said that’s basically what powers you while towing a load. I was more looking for for experience wth the larger tire pulling through ruts in the road and control issues.

But now, I think I really should stick to my 275’s. I mean they towed it as nice as a 4runner could...I already decided when I sold my gmc half ton that we wouldn’t be breaking records getting to our destinations, but would be enjoying the destination more, once we dropped off the trailer and went to the trails. I’ve just got 8ply multi mile xtx A/T’s on it, and I for sure have to upgrade to an LT with the roads that I plan on travelling down... doing the dempster next year as well. So I’ll be gaining about 15lbs per wheel, instead of 18 if I went with 285’s. Every bit helps I suppose.


Thanks guys.

 

[Antman]

i always thought I’d be losing my torque, and as you both have said that’s basically what powers you while towing a load. I was more looking for for experience wth the larger tire pulling through ruts in the road and control issues.

But now, I think I really should stick to my 275’s. I mean they towed it as nice as a 4runner could...I already decided when I sold my gmc half ton that we wouldn’t be breaking records getting to our destinations, but would be enjoying the destination more, once we dropped off the trailer and went to the trails. I’ve just got 8ply multi mile xtx A/T’s on it, and I for sure have to upgrade to an LT with the roads that I plan on travelling down... doing the dempster next year as well. So I’ll be gaining about 15lbs per wheel, instead of 18 if I went with 285’s. Every bit helps I suppose.


Thanks guys.

I tow a LOT. I have towed with the 265’s and now the 285’s. I don’t know about you, but I always tow in 4th gear anyway- 5th is useless while towing any kind of weight with our powertrain. That said, I didn’t notice any appreciable difference in my towing experience. It’s still basically the same.

 

[Jetboy]

I tow a LOT. I have towed with the 265’s and now the 285’s. I don’t know about you, but I always tow in 4th gear anyway- 5th is useless while towing any kind of weight with our powertrain. That said, I didn’t notice any appreciable difference in my towing experience. It’s still basically the same.

I was going to say the same thing. I'm always in 4th. I notice the brakes more with big tires than the pulling power. Especially towing my utility trailer. It doesn't have brakes and it's only 3500lb but you can feel the difference in brakes sometimes.

 

[ridefast]

I tow a LOT. I have towed with the 265’s and now the 285’s. I don’t know about you, but I always tow in 4th gear anyway- 5th is useless while towing any kind of weight with our powertrain. That said, I didn’t notice any appreciable difference in my towing experience. It’s still basically the same.

This,

OP- go for the 285s if that's what u want. My bet is you wont notice a game changing difference.
[MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] is right, Our 4Runners are slugs towing on the highway. Make the tranny work for you.

 

[83Mule]

Get the 285 C's to save weight and tow in 4th with Sport mode so you don't kill the torque converter.

 

[Glandnut]

So youre saying lower rpm while towing may damage the torque converter?

 

[Tejas]

Like most I wanted to go to 285's and I still might in the future, but for now I have been running the 275's and I haven't noticed it resulting in a negative way when it comes to towing at highway speeds.

OP, if you're dead set on going to 285's my suggestion would be to pick up a set of the C-rated KO2's and tow in 4th like others here have suggested.

 

[salong53]

So youre saying lower rpm while towing may damage the torque converter?

By design, a torque converter has more slip (meaning more heat buildup) at low RPMs. At higher RPM, the torque converter locks, essentially making a direct link between the trans and engine at higher RPMs meaning less heat buildup.

YouTube

 

[RustyAb]

Thanks to everyone for the great input. I looked into the option of non LT rated tires, but in Canada it seemed the only thing I could find were Duratracs like that. And, like I said I feel I want to go the full E load rating with the type of driving I will be doing in the next few years. (dempster highway...)

So I think for now I'm going to just stick with 275's, a friend of mine actually put me onto the Firestone Destination M/T2's, they come in at 55lbs, and he has about the same driving habits/needs as me with his Tacoma and loves them.

again, thanks everyone! :canada:

 

[UtahRnr]

RustyAb I found this article incredibly helpful in understanding gears. It covers all the science and also gives some helpful tables to understand if you go with bigger tires how you would need to change your gears to effectively maintain that "stock" power and torque feel.

4.10, 4.56, 4.88, 5.29 - What gears should you get for your Toyota?



- Roundforge