r15 vs r16 tires

[gatier]

Hi, currently I am running 245/75 r16 on my LJ78 and I am thinking about installing 31x10.5 r15 as the rims and tires are both lighter then the r16.
What would you recommend to put on 2" lifted prado? I was thinking about 235/85 (255) r16 or 31 (33)x10.5 r15. Which one would much the engine/ lift the best?
With my calculations I will save 2.7kg per tire if i go from 245/75 r16 to 31x10.5 r15, plus the smaller rims.
Any Ideas?

 

[Radd Cruisers]

Nope, don't do it. 16" tires are superior in many ways, and the 31x10.50s are a pretty high rolling resistance tire that lack height, narrowness or width and just about any other favorable trait - they are a tire for the undecided and non-committed.

I'd pick 235 85 R16s way before 31s. Weight is not the big factor, side wall and carcass stiffness (lower rolling resistance) trumps a few Kgs of mass every time.

~John

 

[gatier]

Do you think 255/85 r16 would be an overkill for this little cute engine?
I am planing to put 1kz-te with manual transmission into it later this year, so I thought, it could be a great combination. But who knows if I come to that point of finding 1KZ in a good shape...
thanks

 

[Radd Cruisers]

The actual size difference between the 255 and the 235 is not that great, but the amount of extra power that it takes to move the taller 255s will be considerable for the 2LTE.

The 235s will fit easily, the 255s will require some lift I would expect.

~John

 

[Petzel]

Agreed...I love my Toyo M55 235/85R16's on my J77. My BJ42 runs a set of 255/85R16 and it is nice to have the height but the tires may be a little too big for the 3B, but it works. I am planning on going back to 15" on the BJ42 because I plan to run the stock steelies with hubcaps for the original look and it it is only a summer truck!
I sometimes throw the 255's on the J77(has OME lift) and i definately notice a difference in power from the 235's. Like John said, the 235 on your 2LTE equipped truck would be a way better tire for your truck/engine than a 31 or a 255.