Too skinny?!!.....

Since I ran 235/85R16’s on my Tacoma with awesome results, I’d do it. I never once had anyone complain about the skinny tire look while I was pulling them out, and I lost count of how many times I rescued stuck vehicles that with that truck.

 

I think I will switch to skinny jeans ! Then I’ll look thinner !

 

Guys, OP lives in CA. He won’t be pulling people out of the snow. He’s more a high speed desert guy.

 

Good point, intended usage is a huge factor left out of this discussion so far.

And (IMHO) a well-written article that’s at least partly on-topic.

https://outbackjoe.com/macho-divertissement/macho-articles/why-wide-tyres-dont-help-in-sand/

 

I have nothing against a skinny tire. But seems like Thor is sacrificing a larger diameter to get the 255's. Nothing makes up for a larger diameter. Especially in the desert. If I were to go skinny, I would try to stay around 35" and get the skinniest I could get. Like a 285/75/18.

 

I'm running 275/65/20 and they are awesome tires for all around driving and conditions, also good MPG (unexpected bonus @17mpg). They are Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ P3. I originally thought they were going to be "skinny" but due to the diameter (34.3") they look perfectly proportioned.
If you go 255/x/x then it must be at least a 34" tall tire to balance out the narrower width. MT also makes the Deegan 38 series with a look that's mean as fuck for a stadium truck like appearance.

 

Sort of true unless you have a huge muffin top!

 

There’s nothing I like better than the looks of a big fat wide and tall tire. But I myself have been on the search for what tires I will be using when the time comes. To be honest I really don’t want to lose the power to the ground by jumping up in tire size. I like the way my truck feels. I really can’t afford to do a front and rear gear swap. I would love to do 35’s but skinny. I also prefer to keep my rims and not use spacers. Don’t feel like doing a lot of cutting. So my compromise will probably be 275/70 18. Even that I know I’m going to feel it, especially because they are heavier.

My truck is lifted 2 inches in the front and I plan to address the rear eventually. I have watched many videos of the Skinny tire test. There is an Australian guy who swears by it. And he’s right as long as you have that footprint, you’re good. Tall skinny tires will make a nice long footprint when aired down. Plus they are cheaper to replace and a little easier on gas mileage. Those guys in Australia have a lot of soft Sandy as well as dry and rocky terrain. And I think there is some merit to their claims. Even in the sand a big fat knobby tire won’t do as well as a smaller street tire because it’s not digging in. But that’s more about tread design.

I think I will eventually get some 5.29 gears and hope that’s not too much for 33 inch tires. But at least it will leave me room to jump to 35s if I want to and have it still feel at least stock or better than.

 

Consider 285/75/17’s, a bit taller and barely wider than stock.

 

the perpetual girth vs length debate...

 

Lol

 

I tell her short and skinny is how they all are.

 

255/80r17 is the exact size i plan on buying after my stock tires wear down. What name brand are you looking at? I can only find four options in my internet searches.

 

Which wheels are you running? The optimal wheel width for 255 is probably around 7". Besides looking strange you could be setting yourself up for a problem.

 

Didn’t he break a rim a while back.

 

Yes... and I see a few more in the near future with the pizza cutters.

 

I just remembered that base model tundra’s in 2010 at least, came with 255/70/18 tires. My old 4.6 had those. So pictures of almost the same tire in question probably exist.

 

I’m hoping 275 70s will be enough for me. Seeing as I don’t do high-speed. I think it’s not the fact that his tires are skinny that may be a problem, it’s more that his rims may be a little too wide for the narrow tires.

And I do think skinny tires can work well but they need to be relative to the size of your vehicle. Skinny tires work great on a Land Cruiser but our trucks are quite a bit bigger. So it would need to be proportionate to be just as functional.

 

Exactly. Our trucks are way too big and heavy. I got 2 flats and bent 1 wheel on my last trip out. If I had 33x10's, I probably would've had 5 flat tires and 3 bent wheels. LOL. They might be okay on some terrain on smaller trucks but not for our fat pigs on high speed desert runs. Which I know is what Thor really likes to do.

You should really consider going to atleast 295/70's. Doesn't seem like a big difference in size but that little size increase is usually the difference between getting over an obstacle and getting pulled up by another truck. I've seen it many times.

 

That’s about an inch larger side wall and .8 wider. I know that would look really nice. Just not looking forward to the truck gear hunting up grades and hoping it doesn’t feel like a dog until I can afford gears.

My plan was to run the 33‘s while continuing to outfit my truck with other things. Still need to invest in more recovery gear, would like to buy sliders and RCI skids. Then gears with a limited slip In the rear. And finally larger tires LMFAO!

 

If I didn't have sliders already, I'd be jumping on that P&P group buy right now. It's hard to find sliders at that price. Personally, I don't think the gearing is bad at all with the 297/70's. My truck never hunts for gears and I rarely feel like I need more power or acceleration. It felt a little sluggish when I first got them but you get used to it really quickly. I'll definitely re-gear when I go to 37's though.

 

5.29?

 

with 37's, most likely 5.29. @831Tun just installed 5.29's so I'll get to see how they are.

 

Yeah I’m interested in what rpm’s he will be spinning at 70-75 mph

 

295/70/18 is a sweet spot for the Tundra. Not too much cutting, still light and not too much stressed on steering/mpg. spare still fit under bed.

 

Stock offset? CMC?

 

Too skinny, my .02

 

+18 in my case and CMC done but it was fine before.

 

Thanks good to know. I’m sure it’s in one of thousand wheel and tire threads. If I do decide to jump up to a 295 70 18 hoping all I would have to do is mess with the front fender liner, mudflap and maybe the skid plate. Although I do have someone that would be able to do the CMC if I need to. Man I wish I was a welder. Too bad I can’t solder it.

 

Turning about 22k at 70mph with 35s. It's a little high but it's finally holding 6th on the highway. 37s are a little ways off, gotta get the LT installed first. Then I gotta find a deal.