Upgraded tires pro/con

VT4runnin

VT4runnin

New member
I live in Northern Virginia where there really is no off-roading. I think a 2-3+ hr drive is the minimum for me to reach any place I can go off-roading. On top of that, I've never done it and don't necessarily think I'd go that often. With that said, what are the pro's & con's for someone in my situation to buy new, "upgraded" tires for the Limited?

I like the way some of them look but not sure I'd really need to spend money on them. I think it affects gas mileage too. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
 
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Big off-road tires: worst fuel economy, worst handling (more sidewall), worst braking (due to more weight), worst steering feel, worst ride comfort, expensive.

Pros? None, if you do not off-road or go camping. Otherwise, Pros include higher ground clearance, tougher tire to resist damage, more aggressive look.
 
VT4runnin said:
I live in Northern Virginia where there really is no off-roading. I think a 2-3+ hr drive is the minimum for me to reach any place I can go off-roading. On top of that, I've never done it and don't necessarily think I'd go that often. With that said, what are the pro's & con's for someone in my situation to buy new, "upgraded" tires for the Limited?

I like the way some of them look but not sure I'd really need to spend money on them. I think it affects gas mileage too. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
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I'm in the exact situation as you...I even opted for the trail, but those car tires they put on it just don't look rugged enough for me. I drive about 40 mi/day on 66...more miles than I'd be putting on it off-road so it is hard for me to decide...

...the picture for your avatar looks really familiar BTW...I think I live in your development hahaha
 
Thai said:
Big off-road tires: worst fuel economy, worst handling (more sidewall), worst braking (due to more weight), worst steering feel, worst ride comfort, expensive.

Pros? None, if you do not off-road or go camping.
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One other con: heavier tires and wheels have greater rotational inertia, so they will reduce acceleration as well.

If you take your truck off-road, then bigger off-road tires make sense. If not, stick with your existing tires.
 
This could be argued either way. The only reason the stock tires are the way they are is for marketed fuel economy. You can find good AT tires that are much better than full bore off road tires. Now, they are not as efficient as the street tires that are installed but you can find tolerable alternatives. With good AT tires you get better durability and have the ability for mild to average off road adventures also, depending on your hobby.

If you're worried about mileage or a Lexus like ride, you wouldn't own a 4Runner to begin with right? I sold my Rubicon with Goodyear MTR's and this 4Runner by comparison, even with the AT tires, is in another league. I lost maybe a mile or two in efficiency and might notice a slight difference in ride quality if I concentrated on it and had the opportunity to do a side by side comparison, but this is my do it all vehicle.

If you want to change the look but not worry about really offloading, look for some more mild alternatives. I saw some Michelins the other day on a nice Ford F150 that looked awesome but were just slightly aggressive.
 
BrianLSU said:
If you're worried about mileage or a Lexus like ride, you wouldn't own a 4Runner to begin with right? I sold my Rubicon with Goodyear MTR's and this 4Runner by comparison, even with the AT tires, is in another league. I lost maybe a mile or two in efficiency and might notice a slight difference in ride quality if I concentrated on it and had the opportunity to do a side by side comparison, but this is my do it all vehicle.
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My '03 Limited is my daily driver. My commute ranges from 45 to 75 minutes each way. Comfort is important to me. I also take my 4Runner on the beach. My Michelin CrossTerrains certainly don't have a "tough" appearance. But even after about 50k miles, they are quiet and comfy, and also work just fine on the beach.

I do run dedicated snow tires in the winter, and I rejoice every spring when I take them off and put the CrossTerrains back on.

What is important to me may not be as important to others.
 
What kind of tires can fit on the 20" wheels of a Limited? I have seen threads here talking about if the 275/55R20 Nitto tires would work due to the rim being 7" wide. Are there any other tires available? How about in the factory 245/60R20 size? From what I've seen, the selection is almost nothing for the 20s.
 
i understand wanting to upgrade your tires, but off-roading on the reduced sidewall of 20"s seems like a sketchy proposition no matter what tire you run. did your Limited come with the Yokohama Geolanders? seems like those get pretty decent reviews, actually...
 
sandcrawler said:
i understand wanting to upgrade your tires, but off-roading on the reduced sidewall of 20"s seems like a sketchy proposition no matter what tire you run. did your Limited come with the Yokohama Geolanders? seems like those get pretty decent reviews, actually...
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One alternative would be to find someone with an SR5 who wants the 20"s and swap for their 18"s. That would increase the choice of tires and, as you say, give the benefit of a much taller sidewall.
 
sandcrawler said:
i understand wanting to upgrade your tires, but off-roading on the reduced sidewall of 20"s seems like a sketchy proposition no matter what tire you run. did your Limited come with the Yokohama Geolanders? seems like those get pretty decent reviews, actually...
Click to expand...

Very true. The 20's are not good for real off roading but seem to be gaining in popularity. The Zeon's seem to have been designed for 20" wheels and give greater sidewall protection. We'll see...
 
Can the speedo be reset for the new size tires? There are 265/50s available, but the speedo will be off if you go from a 245/60 to a 265/50 about 2 mph. I believe the 275/55 is close, but maybe too wide for the rim stock 20" wheel.
 
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