285 75/r16 vs 285/70r17

Hi guys,

First post here! Picked up a tundra a couple months ago and super excited to get working on it.

Comparing 16" and 17" packages: going with the SCS Ray 10s in Matte Gunmetal, and I would love to keep 16"s. Brake upgrade isn't in my future so not a concern.

I spend 95% of my time on east coast, potholed roads. These are light trucks, and I don't ever tow anything that would require a E range tire, but (as I've read on these forums) there aren't any ~33", C/SL range tires for 16" wheels. Rotating mass is another concern.

Bigger tires mean a softer ride, but SL/C tires also mean a softer ride. My question is, will a E rated 16" ride significantly worse than an SL rated 17"?

Follow up q, is there a particular A/T (maybe I'd be open to an R/T that doesn't scream on the highway) tire 265/75r16 that's softer and lighter than most?

Weight wise, 17" set up is 73lbs and 16" is 79lbs. Another point for the 17"s, but I like the look of 16"s better.

thanks all

 

285/70/17 tire options are much more plentiful and often cheaper to find. You will find better load range options in 17" and also more wheel options. If I didn't already have my 16" wheels (got them 19 years ago) I would be running 17s.

 

Before you dig in too deep... https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

If you haven't already caught that thread, hit the Suspension Wheel & Tires section of the 1st reply. That's the gist of everything our community can share with you to avoid headaches.

It doesn't answer this question - I feel like you're asking "more meat, or less meat" - if that's the case, for a better ride, I'd want more rubber at a slightly lower tire pressure myself, but wheel options are lesser. At the end of the day, I think your suspension choices are going to have the biggest impact.

 

E rated 16” are very different on road than more realistic tires. They kill off road, but very heavy on the road

 

Welcome from TN!! All I can comment on is the tires I have. 305/55R20 Nitto Grapplers. Love'em!!