Tall n' Narrow 275/65 - handling implications?

[m3fan]

Just completed a 2000mi round trip in our fairly-newly-acquired 2014. The PO put 275/65s (Revo2's) all round and have to wonder if it negatively affects the highway handling on this ride. I've had a long history of Toyota SUVs but none have felt so disconnected from the road. It feels like I'm riding on gum erasers all around.

On I26 through the mountains in SC I was getting passed by semis on curves where I had just zero faith or trust in the 200. Didn't instill any confidence whatsoever. Then today across Ohio and Indiana with a gusting crosswind (enough to blow my Thule from one side of the rack to the other at highway speed) I just fought with the car the whole time. If the car actually handles like this, brutal. I know my 100 and 4R never felt so squishy. Please tell me switching to the stock 285/60 would make this thing not feel like it's on noodle stilts?

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

Just completed a 2000mi round trip in our fairly-newly-acquired 2014. The PO put 275/65s (Revo2's) all round and have to wonder if it negatively affects the highway handling on this ride. I've had a long history of Toyota SUVs but none have felt so disconnected from the road. It feels like I'm riding on gum erasers all around.

On I26 through the mountains in SC I was getting passed by semis on curves where I had just zero faith or trust in the 200. Didn't instill any confidence whatsoever. Then today across Ohio and Indiana with a gusting crosswind (enough to blow my Thule from one side of the rack to the other at highway speed) I just fought with the car the whole time. If the car actually handles like this, brutal. I know my 100 and 4R never felt so squishy. Please tell me switching to the stock 285/60 would make this thing not feel like it's on noodle stilts?

My first question would be what tire pressure are you running. If these are LT rated tires, I’m guessing you’ll need something in the 39-42psi range. There’s a great thread on here about tire pressure, check it out!
Tire Pressure recommendation

 

[Tommy Dwyer]

Post a question for @gaijin, he is the master

 

[mcgaskins]

18s or 20s? LC or LX? C, D, E or LTs? How much tread left? What psi? Are you on stock suspension? How many miles on current suspension? Tons of variables so we’d need more info to help. I have 275/65/20 E rated KO2s at 39psi on an LX Andrea it handles incredibly well even at extra legal speeds on curvy mountain roads.

 

[gaijin]

Just completed a 2000mi round trip in our fairly-newly-acquired 2014. The PO put 275/65s (Revo2's) all round and have to wonder if it negatively affects the highway handling on this ride. I've had a long history of Toyota SUVs but none have felt so disconnected from the road. It feels like I'm riding on gum erasers all around.

On I26 through the mountains in SC I was getting passed by semis on curves where I had just zero faith or trust in the 200. Didn't instill any confidence whatsoever. Then today across Ohio and Indiana with a gusting crosswind (enough to blow my Thule from one side of the rack to the other at highway speed) I just fought with the car the whole time. If the car actually handles like this, brutal. I know my 100 and 4R never felt so squishy. Please tell me switching to the stock 285/60 would make this thing not feel like it's on noodle stilts?

Bridgestone make the Revo 2's in BOTH P275/65R18 AND LT275/65R18. I'd need to know which you have, what tire pressure you are currently running, whether you have an LC200 or a LX570 and what year.

Let me know.

HTH

 

[m3fan]

Wow, rapid response. I'm in the right place. Answers:

- 18"
- 63K miles
- The tire says "P275" not LT, I don't know where the load range is but it says 1180KG
- 35PSI cold
- LC
- 2014
- Stock suspension

 

[gaijin]

Wow, rapid response. I'm in the right place. Answers:

- 18"
- 63K miles
- The tire says "P275" not LT, I don't know where the load range is but it says 1180KG
- 35PSI cold
- LC
- 2014
- Stock suspension

The Recommended Cold Tire Inflation Pressure for the P275/65R18 Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo 2 (ECO) tires on your 2014 LC200 is 33psi Front/Rear.

This leads me to suspect you have a suspension issue not caused by your tires.

I can only guess, but due to the severity of the handling you describe, I'm wondering if your KDSS valves are open and not shut. This would cause severe wallowing, very poor cornering and not a secure feeling at all.

Since this is potentially a dangerous condition, I'd strongly suggest having your suspension looked at by a professional.

HTH

 

[m3fan]

It's a CPO vehicle and perhaps I was exaggerating a bit. It's not like the car was all over the place. I was cruising at 75mph just fine. It just is a terrible handling vehicle I suppose. I will check the KDSS valves for sure.

 

[Sandroad]

It’s not the tire size. I’m running that size in the Michelin Defender and have none of the problems you describe. If the suspension and tire pressure are ok, get a different tire. It sounds like the Revo 2 P metric may not be a good choice for you. The LC is not terrible handling.

 

[RS6tofj80]

I picked my truck up with 52k on it and with Blowtensa tires in 275's R rated and it really didn't inspire confidence ... to the proint that I had the dealer repalce all 4 shocks under CPO warranty ( the Icon's I had ordered but they were 2 months out) and that didn't fix it.... I went to a E rated wider tire the next week and it was a whole new rig.... I also added Slee 1.25" spacers so that also contributed as it widened the stance...

I'd start with the tires ....

 

[TeCKis300]

The Revo's are generally regarded as a good tarmac oriented AT tire. I would not think that to be the cause of your problems, but strangers things have happened.

There's also the subjective nature of what someone would qualify as good handling. Going off your screen name, @m3fan, perhaps your expectations for handling are different.

I would bet that there's a lot of lifted rigs here that would disappoint me as well. It would be no surprise that lifting via larger tires, going to a narrower tread, along with AT tires and compounds, would only serve to reduce traction and handling from stock.

That said, the tire diameter you're running isn't huge. I would give it a once over, checking out alignment, rotate tires, and check the suspension. Once that's established to be good, then attack the other things.

When I went to AT tires, maintaining on road handling was paramount. I didn't want to trade off-road performance with compromised on-road performance. Which is what led me to wider tires to maintain cornering traction (305s), along with wheel spacers to maintain lateral stability with a raised center of gravity. I have a sports car which I track. My LX570 performs with aplomb on the road.

 

[m3fan]

I ran the Revos at a stock size on my 120 series 4R for a long time and never had a problem with them. Great all around tire. Just trying to figure out how to improve the connected feel of this particular 200. Yes, my other car is an E39 M5 but I've had a long line of Toyota SUVs (3rd gen 4R, 4th gen 4R, 100 LC, 200 LC). This is the marshmallow-est of the group so far. Great suggestions from all so far, thanks.

 

[zgstar]

I experienced the same "noodle stilts" handling at high speeds immediately after I bought my CPO'd '13. Another dealer 2500 miles east of my original dealer discovered that my KDSS system was throwing error codes, so they received Toyota authorization to replace my KDSS control unit ($3K++ on the work order) under CPO warranty. Handles like it should now, even at minimum PSI (33) in my OEM stock replacement Bridgestones at 85mph up mountainous interstate sweepers. Check your KDSS and compare the left and right side ride heights - my driver's side ride height was almost 2" lower than the passenger's side right before the repair.

 

[LXstatic]

18s or 20s? LC or LX? C, D, E or LTs? How much tread left? What psi? Are you on stock suspension? How many miles on current suspension? Tons of variables so we’d need more info to help. I have 275/65/20 E rated KO2s at 39psi on an LX Andrea it handles incredibly well even at extra legal speeds on curvy mountain roads.

Do you have any rubbing issues on that 275/65/20 setup? Can you provide any pics?

 

[stock]

30x8.5x18? That's not tall & narrow. Please

 

[mcgaskins]

Do you have any rubbing issues on that 275/65/20 setup? Can you provide any pics?

Works great - no issues. I have a few pics in the LX picture thread but here's one from today:

 

[ethernectar]

Running BFG 275/70/18, AT KO2s. No complaints @ 39PSI.

 

[Sam P]

Running BFG 275/70/18, AT KO2s. No complaints @ 39PSI.

Can you fit that tire size under the truck as a spare?

 

[M1911]

I experienced the same "noodle stilts" handling at high speeds immediately after I bought my CPO'd '13. Another dealer 2500 miles east of my original dealer discovered that my KDSS system was throwing error codes, so they received Toyota authorization to replace my KDSS control unit ($3K++ on the work order) under CPO warranty. Handles like it should now, even at minimum PSI (33) in my OEM stock replacement Bridgestones at 85mph up mountainous interstate sweepers. Check your KDSS and compare the left and right side ride heights - my driver's side ride height was almost 2" lower than the passenger's side right before the repair.

I thought that the KDSS system didn’t have any electronic components.

 

[TimCFJ40]

Can you fit that tire size under the truck as a spare?

Absolutely. I’ve got a 275/70 R18 duratrac under mine and room to spare