Front end refresh and tire size question

I’m doing some front end work on my 06 DC and I’m trying to select a tire size. The truck has the TRD off-road package with the stock 265 70 R16 wheels and tires. I’m replacing the upper and lower ball joints, outer tie rods, shocks and sway bar links. I opted for the Bilstein 5100 which I’m thinking I’ll put on the first setting above the stock setting.

I thought I was going to go with the stock tire, but I'm now considering getting a slightly larger tire if it will work. Will 265 75 R16 tires work with this setup without rubbing or trimming? From what I’ve read I think it will, but I decided I should probably ask. If anyone has this setup on your 04-06 DC and it’s not too much trouble, could you upload a pic so I can see how they look?

 

Can I put 18" alloy wheels with Michelin 275/70-18 AT Tires on my truck, WITH NO LIFT or FENDER ROLLING ??????????????

 

You should be fine with 265/75/16, I don't have any pics, but it definitely looks better to me.

 

There is a link somewhere around here with everyones pics and tire lift sizes so you can see comparisons. @Darkness

 

@halfbid you might have very minor trimming to do, but definitely nothing that would be invasive or noticeable. You most likely will clear fine, it just depends how aggressive the tread is on the tires. For reference, I had Yokohama ATS 285/75 tires and did some cutting to clear them. Later I got Mickey Thompson ATZ 285/75 and what cleared before was suddenly rubbing.

@Jedgar Michelin are not an aggressive tread, some guys have got away with 285 and no lift using that tire. You might be okay but hard to say for sure. Fender rolling won't be needed, tires don't hit in that area. The areas where bigger tires tend to hit is the very bottom inside corner of the front bumper (where fender liner meets bumper) and the body of the truck where lower fender meets body (just inward from the doors meeting the fenders).

 

This thread is worth a gander.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/how-big-is-yours-measure-up.46186/

 

No.

 

Thanks for all your replies. I think the 265 75 R16 should be fine. The radius is just 1/2” larger than stock and the width is the same or similar.

Another question I have relates to the load/ply ratings. I’d heard modern tires aren’t really made with “10 plies” for example, even though it continues to be used as a rating. When a salesman says how manny plies a tire is I think it’s more of an equivalent rather than an actual number of plies.

Another question I have is whether I should get an E or P rated tire? I’d probably rather get the P rated since it’s lighter etc. I’m not planning on towing anything at the moment, possibly a small overland camping trailer in the future. Most likely it wouldn’t weigh much more than 3000#. The bed would have a load too, probably less than say 600#. But towing isn’t my main question, although I’d be interested to know what you all think about the above towing scenario. Is this enough of a reason alone to get an E rated tire or do you think P would suffice?

The reason I mentioned the ply rating is because I’m unsure which one I need for some of the roads I frequent. When I first bought my Taco in 96’ it had a “4 ply” tire. The tires that came with the Taco couldn’t handle these roads. After two flats the guy at the tire shop told me I needed “6 ply” tires. I upgraded and never had a flat off-road again. The tires I’m looking at don’t come in a “6 ply” version, it’s either P “4 ply” or E “10 ply” This is my biggest concern at the moment with my future potential towing needs being a close 2nd.

Anyhow, I hope you guys can provide some experienced opinions as to whether to get the E or P rated tire. After writing this I think I’m leaning towards the E rated tire. But, I if the P would work for my needs I’d probably go with them.

I finished up the front end and rear shocks today. What a project, the upper ball joints were a bear and not for the faint of heart! A few pics….

 

Go with the p rated tires. No need going to E load tires. What tires are you considering?

 

I have 10 ply E rateds. They do not make P in my size (285/75/r16) sweet performing quiet road hugging Michelins Defender. I’d consider P rated, but its not an option for me. They would be lighter. Probably better gas mileage and smoother bumps.

 

You answered your own question. 4 ply tires wouldn’t cut it on your Taco, why would you expect them to perform differently on the heavier Tundra?

P rated tires would be fine for your modest towing needs if you were staying on pavement... but they’re not up to the task for your off-road needs.

 

Yeah. In this case of the only option being a choice of 4 or 10 ply then 10 ply wins!

 

Not all p rated tires are created equal. Some are quite a bit tougher then others.

P rated hankook, Toyo, nitto and Cooper all terrains are pretty tough tires.

 

Very good advice here. You'll be fine with the 265/75-16 on the front, especially on the 1st notch. Just to clarify though, you are running a 16? That is not stock on the 06' DC - it was a 265/65-17

In any case, I bought my Tundra with 265/70-17's (E) at stock height and they were fine for all manner of offroading/forest driving and everything else. When it came time to select a new tire I ended up buying a P-rated cooper and am very pleased with the response in dampening and steering control I have. Given the 14lb weight difference (unsprung) that is not a huge surprise but even more so than I originally thought.

I met in the middle and ended up with a 255/70-17. I live in the woods and put these tires through hell on gravel and everything else and they're great for year 1; snow performance good to. If I put more miles on my truck or always drove it fully loaded I think I might consider an E rated again but the load ratings on these coopers far surpass the Tundras ratings anyhow and as said above there are lot of choice that do as well.

BLUF - you do not need a 10 ply tire to avoid a flat when driving you truck like a truck

 

Good info, although the E Rated will reject punctures from nails etc on the tread better and when it does happen its usually a slow type leak. Offroad? Nothing stops a sidewall slash.

 

I'm leaning towards Falken wildpeak a/t3w. They seem to be pretty well liked and are said to preform well on snow, which would be nice since I'm currently run two sets.

 

FWIW....I'm pretty sure they are stock. I'm no expert on the different options on the 06 Tundra, but they're on Toyota rims and my owners manual shows 3 tire sizes for the year 06 including the size I have on there now. The owners manual indicates this option comes with the off-road package. Also, I've yet to find anything on this truck that isn't stock.

These aren't what I'd call your standard gravel roads I'm driving on. The rock is large and can have sharp edges. As an example, occasionally I go to a place called Glass Buttes, which are made of volcanic glass, otherwise known as obsidian. But, more often I'm in SE Oregon a couple of hundred miles from anything that could be considered a tire store and 30 to 75 miles from pavement.

For reference....

 

Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it. The other day I called a couple of tire shops in town and got recommendations for both which is why I asked here too. This morning I called a locally owned and operated outfit and they recommended the E rated version after I described the roads I’d be on. Although I’d rather go with the P for all the reasons you guys listed, I’ve decided to go with the E rated tire for all the reasons I mentioned.

 

You’ll be happy knowing these are much stronger tires. Heavier, but better for your driving conditions.

 

Yep, I agree PHM.

Alignment this afternoon and new tires on Monday.

 

Did you settle on the Falken's? I went back with the P rated Hankook ATM's (had a set that lasted 55k before a tread bubble appeared). My brother in law went with Falken's on his Silverado. Man those Falken's look good. Quiet on his truck and a little more aggressive Tread. I drive 95% pavement and don't need more aggressive. But I sure want it. I would never go back to mud tires unless this becomes a dedicated hunting vehicle. Let's see those pics when you get it back from the tire shop!

 

I did end up going with the E rated Falkens. They weren't in stock at the small local shop I decided to purchase them from, but will be here tomorrow if all goes according to plan. I'll post up a pic for you once they are installed.

 

No experience with the Wildpeak AT3 on my Tundra, but I went from worn KO2s on my F150 to new Falken Wildpeak AT3 in P275/65r18. Man are they loud on pavement, even brand new out of the box. And it's not like I was going from Michelin Defenders to these, I was replacing worn out BFG KO2s. They LOOK really good, but the noise is already bothering me.

I have had good luck with Hankook ATm's on other trucks, they grip well and seem quieter on road.

Keep in mind I'm an old fart, and I don't like loud exhausts either. Same reason I ride a BMW and not a Harley (well, to be fair, there are additional reasons...).

Wishing I had sprung for the extra $$ and just went with KO2s again.

 

Thanks for providing your perspective @Dog.

I sure hope they aren’t as noisy on the Tundra as what you experienced on the Ford. I hadn’t really worried too much about noise because I’d seen a number of comments on how impressed people had been with their highway performance, many specifically mentioning low road noise as one of their features. I recall seeing some remarks indicating they weren’t the best tire in mud. Getting a tire with a 6 ply equivalent and good traction are my two biggest concerns with respect to my off-roading needs.

I’m often out in the desert where mud isn’t usually too big of an issue, although it can be a challenge at times and in certain places. I don’t go 4 wheeling just for the sake of it as I know many do. Some of the places I love to go require it and are quite remote. I usually don’t run into others in these places. I like to go for 4-7 days, often never seeing another person for the entire time. When I do see another vehicle they are usually miles away and you wouldn’t have any opportunity to flag them down for help. Prudence is wise in places like this because getting stuck is a really big deal. All my trips out to these places were in my 96’ Taco, which is a very capable rig off-road. I’ve had some white knuckle experiences in the mud and sand for miles on end, it hasn’t failed me once. I hope the Tundra isn’t a disappointment in this respect. I had a hard time pulling the trigger on one because I’ve never owned a truck with an automatic transmission or ADD. I swore I’d never get one, but here I am, trying to adapt to the new reality where manual transmissions and locking hubs are nearly obsolete.

It currently has Michelin LTX M/S2 that seem to ride nice on the highway. They still have tread, but were manufactured in 2012. They’re showing their age with some cracking on the inside near the tire/rim interface so I opted to replace them sooner rather than later. Ideally, I’d have taken more time to decide what tire to go with. I sure hope I like them.

I’m not exactly sure where middle age stops and old fart begins. If I’m not there already I’m definitely feeling closer to old fart!