I just installed mine and they do not feel squirly on interstate with a cross wind. I can tell a little difference between my old 31's however thats to be expected with a larger side wall. Your truck looks great!
Great looking color on your truck. Any other pics? Literally yesterday I was driving along pondering what color I'd eventually paint one of mine and I came up with that mid 70s green Triumph/Jag/MG once used in a joint ad (I painted my Spitfire this color) or Slee's yellow bus color. Now I notice your pic. What color is it and show me another picture.
I'm also very interested in the performance report on these tires after PSI experimentation. They are exactly what I was thinking of putting on my new/used 80. I've been running BFG Radial MTs since they hit the market, first on my FJ55, then on a Trooper, and most recently 31x10.50s on a Rodeo. Of course, all these were sized in profiles that weren't so tall and skinny as the 255/85 version.
Tire pressure makes an enormous difference in comfort and MPG, based on several decades of experience with the BFG MTs. I tend to run them fairly soft around town, air 'em up for road trips, then air them down when going offroad. Never had any handling issues with them, even in high crosswinds.
I suspect that finding the right PSI is the key to happiness with these. Since max PSI is around 50 lb, the vehicles I've run them on have always had lots more load capacity in the tires than really needed. The heavier 80 uses much more of that capacity, so may allow less flexibility in PSI adjustment than I've had in the past.
Another thing that might be an issue could be rim width. Is it 8" or something else?
So count me among those who'd like to know more, particularly about the PSI these have been running at.
I'm also interested to hear how the PSI experiments went. I am about to pull the trigger on 255/85s for the winter, so knowing a little more about how this worked out would be sweet.
When I used to run 235/85s on my GMC 8' bed truck, I ran pressure at 38 PSI, 2 PSI higher than recommended for the stock tire size and the tires were super stable in all conditions. I am therefore thinking 255/85s on a 80 will require 40-42 PSI to offset the height of the tire. Probably 34-36 for solid off road performance other than rock crawling, but I'm a very infrequent off road driver.
I'll start my 255/85s at 40 PSI and go from there.
Bumping this thread to see if anyone else has any experience with the BFG MT KM2s in 255/85/16?
Inquiring minds want to know more about how inflation pressure changes the on-road driving experience. I have little doubt that they will satisfy my off-road needs.
Are there any updates on anyones PSI experiments with the 255/85/16 tires.
I am looking into the Toyo OC M/T for my winter/offroad tire set. The previous owner was running 265/75/16 (UNDERSIZED FROM STOCK!!) which I will keep as my summer street tire until they wear out.
And does anyone else have input on the 255/85/16 Toyo M/T for an unlifted 100. I'm pretty sure I won't have any issues w/ fitment, even during full flex with a stock suspension. Thanks.
Do you run castor correction with your lift? If not- this is probably contributing to your "squirreliness".
Also- you have raised the COG significantly and added a bunch of weight without widening the stance. Even with removed fender flares- i would seriously consider adding some hub spacers to compensate for your added COG.
I used 1.25" Marlin alum spacers and this brought 255s exactly out the edge of the fender flare. I then proceeded to tear off my flares on the trail---and while the tires stick out ever so slightly-=--the stance looks great with 255s flareless.
Going up with 3" of lift should really be compensate with skinnies by going slightly wider if you are using stock backspaced rims.
Most people running that lift typically go to 315width.......so they are effectively widening the stance of their rigs significantly from stock. Hub spacers should be mandatory imho with 255s and stock rim backspacing.
Had i chosen spacers prior to ripping off my flares........i probably would have gone with 1.00 inch vs the 1.25.
The other thing people dont really factor in when doing lift is that 2.5" lift typically is 3.5" of actual lift over their soggy stock springs which have sunk the rig into a nice and low COG over the years------we all probably got used to the nice race car feel of a soggy spring 3.5-4" lower COG prior to getting the lift.
I too would like to know if you have caster correction. I just installed a 2.5" lift with Yellow CC bushings and I'm about to ditch the old stock Michelins. I like the look of the tall skinny BFG MT's but don't want squirley freeway handling.
Does eveyone think these tires will work best with CC and spacers?
I'll cite bugsnbikes on why you may prefer the skinnies over the 285 version of the KM2. They really pepped the handling up on road, compared to the very well-worn Michelins that were on the truck when purchased.
As for the PSI question, I've been running them at 42-43 psi. So far, all road miles and not enough of that to get any evaluation of if that will have them wear evenly. But I don't see anything to be gained on the road by going with the AT.
EDIT: After giving some more thought to it, shahram's truck is on 2.5" lift coils and ours is running stock height OMEs. That may be where some of the squirreliness that he was experiencing came from.
However, I've had no scary handling with them. In fact, I love how they handle. On the other hand, I drive like my grandmother -- until I get to the open road.
I've run the radial AT and MT BFGs since they first came out. These have the best road manners of any so far. Still too soon to tell, but they've proven plenty adequate with the truck set-up as below -- it's kinda heavy.
I have had my Toyo MTs on for a few months now. They are 255/85/16 (tall/skinny). When I had them mounted, the tire shop put in 35psi. They have run very well so far. When I haul my pop up trailer or a utility trailer full of wood, I'll bump up the pressure accordingly.
I am really impressed with how well they handle onroad. There is no wondering on the highway, and road noise is noticable, but not annoying (and as everyone else says, it is an MT... It's going to make noise... )
I just got a call from Christo, and my 2.5" OME springs/bars/shocks are shipping today. Once I get that installed, I'll report back to see if any squirreliness shows up.
I was on the fence, 285 KM2 or 285 Michelin. I went with Michelin 285/75/16 LTX M/S2 $950. mounted. I drive hard on the road and I'm not dumping my truck in a mud hole anyway. I will get a winch just in case.
I have had my Toyo MTs on for a few months now. They are 255/85/16 (tall/skinny). When I had them mounted, the tire shop put in 35psi. They have run very well so far. When I haul my pop up trailer or a utility trailer full of wood, I'll bump up the pressure accordingly.
I am really impressed with how well they handle onroad. There is no wondering on the highway, and road noise is noticable, but not annoying (and as everyone else says, it is an MT... It's going to make noise... )
I just got a call from Christo, and my 2.5" OME springs/bars/shocks are shipping today. Once I get that installed, I'll report back to see if any squirreliness shows up.
I installed my OME kit last week. After driving it around for a few days, I am completely satisfied with the ride quality. The handling is much stiffer (thanks to the higher spring rates front and rear and the sport shocks), and the tires feel like hey are really gripping the road.
I highly recommend the Toyo MTs. Tire wear is yet to be seen.
Also- you have raised the COG significantly and added a bunch of weight without widening the stance. Even with removed fender flares- i would seriously consider adding some hub spacers to compensate for your added COG.
Yep. Without flairs, the tires come just to the ends of the body. Significantly thinner stance.
The other thing people dont really factor in when doing lift is that 2.5" lift typically is 3.5" of actual lift over their soggy stock springs which have sunk the rig into a nice and low COG over the years------we all probably got used to the nice race car feel of a soggy spring 3.5-4" lower COG prior to getting the lift.
