255 85R16 Action Pics??

[Regulatori]

I was going to make a separate thread but figure I would post here since it's on topic. I've done a lot of searches/reading but just want to see if I'm on the right track.

I'm definitely going with 255/85/16 next but having difficulty choosing the right tire. Right now my LX is a daily driver with occasional camping on the weekends (nothing too extreme). I've tried to find a good AT tire in that size but no one seems to make one. I'm mainly looking for a tire that's....
-not crazy loud on the freeway
-wears well
-good in all season (I live in Seattle)
-trail use but nothing hardcore as of now

I was thinking about the Cooper Discoverer ST 255/85/16s being the best compromise.

 

[subspd]

Could I run a 255 as a spare for 285's?

There is 0.2" difference in diameter and that comes out to a 0.7% difference?

 

[grizzlygibbs]

I would not think that much of a difference would amount to much, especially since your "driving" tires will be wearing down and making some of that difference up and possibly reversing it.

 

[subspd]

Hmm. Good point problem is the spare is the 255 and it's the taller one.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

They are studable

 

[etarasoff]

7

I was going to make a separate thread but figure I would post here since it's on topic. I've done a lot of searches/reading but just want to see if I'm on the right track.

I'm definitely going with 255/85/16 next but having difficulty choosing the right tire. Right now my LX is a daily driver with occasional camping on the weekends (nothing too extreme). I've tried to find a good AT tire in that size but no one seems to make one. I'm mainly looking for a tire that's....
-not crazy loud on the freeway
-wears well
-good in all season (I live in Seattle)
-trail use but nothing hardcore as of now

I was thinking about the Cooper Discoverer ST 255/85/16s being the best compromise.

I've got the Coopers. Recommended. Not the quietest things but not mud tires either.

 

[Flank]

My outing earlier this year on my 255s. Good times. These are about to be replace, as they now have 48K miles on them and have worn straight and good. They have been used in everything from desert rock to snow and ice and have did quite well in the this last winter - the coldest on record with ice and snow in Dallas in over 20 years. I would replace them with Duratrac 285s as I'm no longer in the desert, but I really love the 255 size and look. So by the fall, another set of the KM2 255 will get mounted.

 

[crispy21]

I have the Maxxis Big Horns in 255. They run a bit loud on the highway. Many say tough to balance but I solved my issues with Dynabeads.

These are pre-drilled for studs if your area allows them. Big help on ice when needed.

I will put them to the off road test next weekend and I do not expect any issues.

 

[zona]

Mean, tough, ugly and nasty.

I run the BFG KM2's (255/85r16).

Safe
The BFG KM2 is an E rated tire, for those of you who need the security in knowing it can handle the weight of the 80, family and gear.

Engineered
Same noise as a 285 on freeway, maybe less at 80mph

Turn
Easy weezy due to narrower contact patch, night and day from my 285's.

Ugly
This tire makes the vehicle look a little like a top heavy soap box car, which I like, I had wheels powder coated black recently...kinda looks like a goat now.

Mean
Everyone wants a fat tire to fill out the wheel well, but they all want mean performance too, can't have it both ways hombre--No one would put such an ugly tire on unless they knew it was business.

Nasty
Don't worry about performance with this tire, it just pulls you up and over...through the poo...past the goo. Nasty, period.

Lessons learned...I will tell you this, with a narrow contact patch you're going to have to pick your lines and really learn how to drive. Wider tires gives you the sense you're lines are great all the time. Pizza cutters are like opting out of training wheels and deciding for a manual transmission in a sports car, you have to learn how drive again, and when you do it makes all the difference.

Spacers...you could put spacers on but I'm not the type to check and tighten every month, definitely gives it a wider, prettier stance.

 

[half k cruiser]

Mean, tough, ugly and nasty.

I run the BFG KM2's (255/85r16).

Safe
The BFG KM2 is an E rated tire, for those of you who need the security in knowing it can handle the weight of the 80, family and gear.

Engineered
Same noise as a 285 on freeway, maybe less at 80mph

Turn
Easy weezy due to narrower contact patch, night and day from my 285's.

Ugly
This tire makes the vehicle look a little like a top heavy soap box car, which I like, I had wheels powder coated black recently...kinda looks like a goat now.

Mean
Everyone wants a fat tire to fill out the wheel well, but they all want mean performance too, can't have it both ways hombre--No one would put such an ugly tire on unless they knew it was business.

Nasty
Don't worry about performance with this tire, it just pulls you up and over...through the poo...past the goo. Nasty, period.

Lessons learned...I will tell you this, with a narrow contact patch you're going to have to pick your lines and really learn how to drive. Wider tires gives you the sense you're lines are great all the time. Pizza cutters are like opting out of training wheels and deciding for a manual transmission in a sports car, you have to learn how drive again, and when you do it makes all the difference.

Spacers...you could put spacers on but I'm not the type to check and tighten every month, definitely gives it a wider, prettier stance.

Bringing this one back from the dead. @zona are you still running the 255's ? What lift were you using in those photos ?

 

[zona]

Bringing this one back from the dead. @zona are you still running the 255's ? What lift were you using in those photos ?

Yes! Still running 255’s and I run a 2 1/2” OME heavies. I did decide to put 1 1/2” spacers on which made all the difference in terms of looks and helped to keep the rig from swaying on turns and keeping it more level off-road!

Zona

 

[zona]

Bringing this one back from the dead. @zona are you still running the 255's ? What lift were you using in those photos ?

Yes! Still running 255’s and I run a 2 1/2” OME heavies. I did decide to put 1 1/2” spacers on which made all the difference in terms of looks and helped to keep the rig from swaying on turns and keeping it more level off-road!

 

[zona]

Bringing this one back from the dead. @zona are you still running the 255's ? What lift were you using in those photos ?

also...some tires are rounded on the surface area (BFG's) and some are flat-ter (Toyo's). I prefer the rounded--but, the BFG is difficult to balance and I've noticed that if you don't rotate regularly they tend to wobble at certain speeds or braking, thus, I rotate a bit more often (approx. every 4k miles).

Full disclosure, I have big tire envy and will be going up to 315's or 35's later this year. Most likely it will be with KM2's again, I dig that tire.

Zona

 

[amgraham]

As much as I want to run 255s (I run 33x1050x15 BFG muds on my 4Runner) I can't justify the added cost and rarity/limited selection of the 255s compared to the 285s. I will say I've run 10.50s and 12.50s on my 4Runner and the offroad performance of the 10.50 KM2s are tons better (for me). I use that truck on mostly rocks and trails. For the 80 I'm going to mostly use it for road, beach, longer trips, and an occasional mild trail while camping. Looks like a 285 AT will be the ticket for that (currently waffling between Falken and Toyo. I used to be a BFG fanboy but the newest gen of ATs are super loud on the road).

 

[half k cruiser]

Yes! Still running 255’s and I run a 2 1/2” OME heavies. I did decide to put 1 1/2” spacers on which made all the difference in terms of looks and helped to keep the rig from swaying on turns and keeping it more level off-road!

Nice, what spacers are you running ?

 

[80 Sack]

255/85/16 ST Maxx

 

[80 Sack]

 

[half k cruiser]

@80 Sack care to share your thoughts on them ?

 

[80 Sack]

@80 Sack care to share your thoughts on them ?

Happy to.

Durability is bomber. I've been quite impressed with how well they wear and stand up to the abuse of wheeling them at 18 psi. We have several guys running them in the club, and most reports are the same. The only damage I've seen them sustain was on a Taco running the Morrison Jeep trail. He was having a tough time getting up a couple of the steep and loose switchbacks and had to rely on a hefty amount of wheel spin to make it happen. He ripped out an ear sized flap, but it still didn't puncture the tire and he was able to finish the trail with the damage. Obliviously, the 80 finessed it's way up quite gracefully.

We don't deal with a lot of mud in SW Montana, and the mud we do get is typically a fine bentonite clay and it sucks. I hate mud...there may be a website with that same name...

The first two winters they were glued to the snow and ice. This winter they are noticeably less grippy. But after 50+ days of wheeling them and 30K miles, there was plenty of tread left to have them siped.

Road noise is not bad at all. A slight hum, but nothing like the KM2's that were on it before.

 

[CascadeCruisen]

What can you guys that have run both 255 and 285 say about any noticeable mpg differences?