How's Your Ride with Towing??? 33" +/- (285/295)-20's

Hey everyone, I know there has probably been bits and pieces of this discussed before in other threads but I think this is a really common size for a leveled Tundra. I am aiming this towards Tundra owners that are a little more conservative and just want to slightly improve the look of the truck without going overboard (like 34's+). Gearing this towards the assumption of towing a moderate sized travel trailer up to 6000LBS. Sizes in particular for discussion without going too wide or too narrow would be: LT285-55R20 (32.4), LT295-55R20 (32.8) and LT285-60R20 (33.5) (all in the 33" territory +/- 1/2"). I have a leveled 2012 Tundra Limited DC 4X4 and will be running some Toyota TSS 20X9 wheels with 50 offset, rest of the truck is all stock. Also have new Billstein 5100's all around with fronts on middle setting and would like to run Toyo OC AT3's and currently running Toyo OC AT2 P275 60 20 4 Ply (33") which ride very plush, but a little too plush with an extra 850LBS tongue weight and 6K LBS behind you, definitely a little squishy even at maximum pressure of 44. I also don't do any off-roading.
I would love to hear from anyone with first hand experience with these tire sizes and how they ride on-road as a low profile tire, recommended pressures and how they tow (handling/performance wise). I currently have to tow in 5th gear to prevent gear hunting, hence not wanting to go too tall of a tire even though I am considering a 10Ply this time around due to the lack of load options. Also if I have to go back to an 18" setup was considering the LT285-65R18 (32.6).

 

Interesting. I'm currently on BFG KO2's LT285/55R20 and do tow different size utility trailers. I was considering going with a taller tire. I didn't realize that a taller tire may present too plush of a ride and affect towing performance. I run 49 psi all the way around but feel the ill affect when I'm on dirt roads. I've since gone down to 46 psi and of course it helped. I installed Bilstein 6112's @ 1.9 and 5160's rear with a 1" block. Even at 46 psi on dirt roads suck, and that's why the thought of going taller. Like you mentioned also, maybe going to an 18" or even 17" wheel.
I know the BFG KO2's 285/60R20 is an E rated tire vs the 55 being D. Would that help when towing?
On pavement though, I have nothing to compare it to. Runs fine at 46 or 49 psi.

 

I'm running with a 3" suspension lift on 285/65r18's. I pull a 6000lb 28ft travel trailer. This size of tire is right at 33" in the tire I use. It is a 10 ply. I had 295/70r18 on the truck when I bought it and the extra rolling weight was STUPID. We load up the bed of our truck with at least 600-700 lbs of gear before we even hitch up. 285/65r18's are the sweet spot I've found and the 18's will run less harsh than those 20's.
-----ABOVE ALL ELSE!!! DO NOT RUN ANYTHING LESS THAN A 10 PLY TIRE TOWING THAT MUCH WEIGHT. If you do you put your family and everyone else on the roads life in jeopardy!!! Get an anti-sway hitch no matter what anyone else tells you and make sure that your truck and the trailer are perfectly level when you are pulling fully loaded.

 

I have king 2.5s installed in all corners and run falken wildpeaks a/t in 305/55/R20. Also have total chaos uppers. I dont remmeber the offest on the wheels but with the alignment i did not have to trim the fender liner or do a body mount chop. Only rubbing i do is at full lock and sometimes when in reverse. I let the tires chew the liner a little bit (very minimum) and never issues touching the body mount.

I love the way the falken A/Ts feel in this size combo. Truck is not super bumpy. When on the highway or in the city. Truck never really touches dirt. The couple of times it touched sand, the tires did great (in my opinion) once aired down.

 

I have heard that the lower profile tires in the 55 sidewall can ride a little stiff, the 275-60R20's that I run are 4 ply with a max PSI of 44, even though they are rated to haul the weight we do with the trailer attached, they can have a little sway with passing trucks and sidewinds just due to the nature of lighter sidewall design. If there is no wind, they do just great and are very comfortable for travel. With a 285-60R20, I have looked at those too but only come in E, which is quite a bit heavier than the 275 60 and may cut into your performance, ride stiffer and reduced MPG. But I have never ridden on those 33.5" tires so I dont know for sure. Before my 20's I was running LT275 70 18's in Toyo OC AT2, they were a good tire but didnt like the looks as much as the 20's and they rode quite a bit stiffer too. You kind of have to pick your poison here as our 1/2 tons dont need 3500lb tires but they may tow a little more stable though.

 

Thanks for the reply, I have read good things on the Falken's. Do you use that truck to tow with and if so how is that wide with highway groves.

 

Thanks for the tip, yes in the research that I have done and not going too big of a tire, that LT285-65R18 would be the sweet spot for a tow tire for the Tundra. I have a good equilizer brand hitch too which has been wonderful to help control sway, my old cheap hitch with the chains was junk (trailer was all over the road) with the 30MPH sidewinds in the Columbia Gorge).

 

I tow an enclosed 24ft trailer with about 10k lbs. It tows fine. The ride is smooth and have never had an issue. When i do tow, i inflate the rear tires to 65psi When not towing i keept them between 50-55psi. The tires are also Load Range E