What tire/rims would you choose? TRD Pro 18" (285/70R18?) or Method 704 17" (285/70R17)?

Hi All,

My second post here. For some reason my first post disappeared.

In sum: I'm looking to upgrade my stock Michelin LTX A/T 2 - SIZE: P275/65R18. I have a new 2020 Tundra TRD Pro which comes with a 2" lift and TRD PRO 18-in. BBS®84 forged-aluminum 5-spoke black alloy wheels which I hear are pretty strong and light.

Purpose: Pulling a 6500 pound travel trailer (sometimes). Highway driving (a lot). Hunting, camping, fishing and offroad travel (BLM, Forest Service, two-tracks) 20% of time or about 12 weeks+ out of the year. This can include Lava rocks in NM, snow and ice in Montana and slick mud in Wyoming and Colorado. The truck needs to act as an ATV once I park the travel trailer.

I've been told by a custom shop that I could go in one of two ways (maybe more):

1. Change out both wheels and tires. Buy Method 704 17" rims and 285/70/R17s Toyo AT IIIs. This would give more sidewall height (so I can deflate for greater traction etc.).
2. Keep existing 18" rims and swap out tires only to 285/70R18s (which brand?) or another recommendation was Cooper AT3 XLT in 275/70R18s?. This would give me similar to same sidewall height, but since it's a larger tire, it might require trimming, spacers or gearing changes.

What would you do?

This is new information to me since I used to drive a Ford Explorer and never had to make this type of choice before.

 

Sell your new wheels and tires here or FB marketplace or Craigslist and go with the 17 inch Icon Vehicle Dynamics wheels. They are made for the Tundra. Then the Cooper AT3 XLT or the Toyo AT III. Both tires are quiet on the road and have 50 or 60k tread warranties. The new Toyo is snowflake approved and I do not “think” the Cooper is. By going to a 17 you will save some weight in both the wheels and tires. The Toyo is available in more sizes compared to the Cooper also.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/anyone-running-17-rims-on-your-3rd-gen.23617/page-16#post-1871722

https://iconvehicledynamics.com/wheels/



I do not tow though, so double check both tires in 17 inch sizes can handle that weight as far as what ply they are and suggested PSI inflation suggestions as well.

I have had both tires and in 285/75R18 and they are almost identical.

 

I really like my Methods 701 w/ Ridge Grapplers in 285/75/17 10 ply

 

I would keep the forged wheels and upgrade tires.

 

Ditto. Your stock 18" Pro wheels are forged and weigh under 28 lbs. 17" Method 704s are cast wheels and weigh 32 lbs. Keep your existing wheels and go with 295/70R18 tires for a little more sidewall.

 

Quick ? on my 18” TRD Rims. Never noticed before self-adhesive flat weights
on inside portion of rims. Any thoughts?

 

That's how they balance the wheels. Or atleast that is what the dealerships here do.

 

Ty for your response Robert.It’s a 2021 Just wanted to make sure from factory is how it came. I had to leave my truck @Discount Tire for a Flat repair. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t something they had done.

 

Zero One Actual =
That’s actually the direction I took.
Really happy with result

 

Well anything larger than stock in 18 inch generally means E load. I would choose 17s with a C load tire as long as it was confirmed the rims clear the brakes with weights. Some 17s rims work, others do not.

17s in a C load would be perfect on a Tundra and ride so much better than E load on 18s, better suited load rating on a half ton truck and the extra sidewall. I run E load 33s on 18s and while I like them better than stock the load rating is too much for the Tundra requiring air pressure adjustments- lower for general driving (still firmer even at like 35lbs) and higher when hauling and towing (40+lbs air pressure).

Either way you will be playing with air pressure to get the right feel and handling in the sweet spot, the sticker on the door is invalid once you move away from stock size standard load tires.

Considering you have a PRO, Id keep the wheels, get the tires you want and be done with it.

 

and you will have no issues running 285/70 or 275/70 on a PRO, which is 2 inches higher up front. I run 275/70s on my stock truck, SR5, no issues at all. Ton of tires available in 275/70 size. Very few in 285/70- Ridge Grappler is probably the best available in 285/70.