Here's my tire research...
1. I started (3/2020) here: 17s with Michelin LTX 285/70/17. 8 years old. (32.8" diameter, 53 lbs)
2. Here's where I am (11/2020). Traded the 17s for 18s and they came with new (little) tires! 275/60/18 (30.9", 37 lbs). Fine for family fire roads. Not so fine when the snow got deep (no pics almost stuck).
3. Here's where I'm headed: TBD. Am targeting BFG KO2 265/70/18. Other nearby sizes remain in play (see spreadsheet) but I'm not totally sure what tangible different a half inch in diameter or 10mm in tread width will have. Also, haven't determined for sure if the full size spare would fit under.
Having put pizza cutters on a previous GX470, they were good in the snow. Sold that truck for its scary twisty highway performance. Bought an X5, but promptly gave that to my wife. Anyway, with that experience in mind, I don't want to go overboard with sidewall but do enjoy the narrow philosophy in ref a--within reason. "A tall, narrow tire is a superior choice for all off-highway surface conditions with the exception of deep, soft sand or mud".
My Research (Google Sheet)
Source data:
Tirerack Specs All KO2 Sizes (pdf, dropbox)
References (work in progress):
a. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/good-read-on-the-narrow-vs-wide-argument.242025/
b. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/305-65-18-bfg-ko2-pics.892448/page-1
c. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/275-70-18-or-285-75-16.622767/
d. Tall skinny research 255-85-16
e. What skinny tires look like
Other Folks' Photos:
- 285/65/18 KO2
- 275/70/18 KO2
- 275/70/18 KO2 (and supposed 265 thread)
- 265/70/18 KO2 (one, on steel rim)
- 265/70/18 Hankook
- Tall skinny research 255-85-16
- 275/70/18
- 275/70/18 (good spare photo & lots of good 275 KO2 photos)
- 275/65/18
- 275/65/18 (32", 55 lbs)
- 265/70/18
- 265/70/18
- 265/70/18 (32.6", 56 lbs)
- 275/65/18 (31.1", 52 lbs)
- 265/65/16(?)
- 255/85/16
- 285/65/18
- 275/65/18
- 275/65/18
- 275/70/18
- 275/65/18
- 275/70/18
Spare Underneath:
- Spare Tire Modifications
- 275/70R18 in spare tire location (33.2", 58 lbs)
- 275/70/18
- 285/75/17 --No (33.9")
- 285/65/18 --Yes (32.5")
Primary reason for bigger tires (besides clearance)?
Possible Negative affects due to larger tires?
1. I started (3/2020) here: 17s with Michelin LTX 285/70/17. 8 years old. (32.8" diameter, 53 lbs)
2. Here's where I am (11/2020). Traded the 17s for 18s and they came with new (little) tires! 275/60/18 (30.9", 37 lbs). Fine for family fire roads. Not so fine when the snow got deep (no pics almost stuck).
3. Here's where I'm headed: TBD. Am targeting BFG KO2 265/70/18. Other nearby sizes remain in play (see spreadsheet) but I'm not totally sure what tangible different a half inch in diameter or 10mm in tread width will have. Also, haven't determined for sure if the full size spare would fit under.
Having put pizza cutters on a previous GX470, they were good in the snow. Sold that truck for its scary twisty highway performance. Bought an X5, but promptly gave that to my wife. Anyway, with that experience in mind, I don't want to go overboard with sidewall but do enjoy the narrow philosophy in ref a--within reason. "A tall, narrow tire is a superior choice for all off-highway surface conditions with the exception of deep, soft sand or mud".
My Research (Google Sheet)
Source data:
Tirerack Specs All KO2 Sizes (pdf, dropbox)
References (work in progress):
a. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/good-read-on-the-narrow-vs-wide-argument.242025/
b. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/305-65-18-bfg-ko2-pics.892448/page-1
c. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/275-70-18-or-285-75-16.622767/
d. Tall skinny research 255-85-16
e. What skinny tires look like
Other Folks' Photos:
- 285/65/18 KO2
- 275/70/18 KO2
- 275/70/18 KO2 (and supposed 265 thread)
- 265/70/18 KO2 (one, on steel rim)
- 265/70/18 Hankook
- Tall skinny research 255-85-16
- 275/70/18
- 275/70/18 (good spare photo & lots of good 275 KO2 photos)
- 275/65/18
- 275/65/18 (32", 55 lbs)
- 265/70/18
- 265/70/18
- 265/70/18 (32.6", 56 lbs)
- 275/65/18 (31.1", 52 lbs)
- 265/65/16(?)
- 255/85/16
- 285/65/18
- 275/65/18
- 275/65/18
- 275/70/18
- 275/65/18
- 275/70/18
Spare Underneath:
- Spare Tire Modifications
- 275/70R18 in spare tire location (33.2", 58 lbs)
- 275/70/18
- 285/75/17 --No (33.9")
- 285/65/18 --Yes (32.5")
Primary reason for bigger tires (besides clearance)?
Possible Negative affects due to larger tires?
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