Any Downsides to Running slightly bigger tires???

[Anthonyi143]

Hello all! This is my first post on the forums here. I have a deposit down on a incoming TRD Offroad Premium with the 6 speed that I am beyond excited for that should be at my dealership within (cross my fingers) a months time, give or take a week. While I wait, ALL I've been doing is researching mods. The first thing I am looking into is tires. I think that I've settled on BFG K03's in a 285/70/r17 in a C-Load, BUT my biggest fear is losing power or torque due to the bigger tire size especially with the 6-speed. I plan on running the tires on the stock 17-inch wheel. Do I need spacers? Will I need a front lvling kit?? If so, what is the best quality kit that retails the stock suspension?

So has anyone out there with the 6 speed have any issues with power loss do to the bigger tires? Also I'd just love to hear how your truck has been since switching to a bigger tire AND I would also like to know your MPG and ifs gone down a lot.

Thanks for the taking the time to read my post and reply. Pics of your setup would be appreciated too! Thanks.

~ Anthony

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[Roadstarblue]

I have BFG’s 285/70/17 on 26 TRD OR they fit with no issues at all no spacers no lift the GEN four stock will fit that tire perfectly. I did lose about 2 miles a gallon, but I can live with that.

j

 

[TacoBirdinNW]

I ran 275/70R18 on stock suspension. Now have a small 1.5"/1" lift. Lost a bunch of mpgs compared to stock SR5. Got 26mpg on the highway across the state on my way home. Get around 19 now.

Also a ton of information here on the forum if you search for it. The wheel/tire thread is great as well.

 

[Anthonyi143]

I have BFG’s 285/70/17 on 26 TRD OR they fit with no issues at all no spacers no lift the GEN four stock will fit that tire perfectly. I did lose about 2 miles a gallon, but I can live with that.

j

I have BFG’s 285/70/17 on 26 TRD OR they fit with no issues at all no spacers no lift the GEN four stock will fit that tire perfectly. I did lose about 2 miles a gallon, but I can live with that.

j

Thank you for the reply! Love the color btw. tires looks great!

 

[AmbyBomb]

I didn't notice any change with my 6-speed going up to 285/70/17. I went with SL tires though; Falken Wildpeaks. The BFGs are slightly heavier, like 3 lbs a tire.

 

[fredygump]

I have BFG’s 285/70/17 on 26 TRD OR they fit with no issues at all no spacers no lift the GEN four stock will fit that tire perfectly. I did lose about 2 miles a gallon, but I can live with that.j

Did you compensate for the larger diameter tires in your MPG calculation?

If you started with 265/70r17 tires, and changed to 285/70r17, you changed diameter from 31.6 to 32.8". This is about a 4% increase in tire diameter.

You need to adjust speed and mpg by 4% to make an accurate comparison. So if the trip computer says you got 22mpg, you multiply 22*1.04=22.9. So you just re-gained 1 mpg.

MPG is affected by aerodynamics. Tires do change aero "some", but not a huge amount. Honestly, the bumper, and possibly also the running boards, account for most of the other 1 mpg you are missing!

(If you tested effect on MPG with each upgrade, that would be interesting information. But generally speaking, offroaders do a bunch of upgrades at once, see a drop in MPG, and blame it on the tires. But the change has a lot more to do with all the accessories they added than the tires!)

 

[Roadstarblue]

No, sir, I did not and you are correct. Thanks for the input.

 

[gmalkmus]

The first gear on my 6 speed feels better with 285/70 vs the stock 265/70s - the larger tire lowers the ratio a bit which is helpful in daily driving. I wish I would have done 285/75 or 35x11.5 though. Both should fit.

 

[bitflogger]

Hello all! This is my first post on the forums here. I have a deposit down on a incoming TRD Offroad Premium with the 6 speed that I am beyond excited for that should be at my dealership within (cross my fingers) a months time, give or take a week. While I wait, ALL I've been doing is researching mods. The first thing I am looking into is tires. I think that I've settled on BFG K03's in a 285/70/r17 in a C-Load, BUT my biggest fear is losing power or torque due to the bigger tire size especially with the 6-speed. I plan on running the tires on the stock 17-inch wheel. Do I need spacers? Will I need a front lvling kit?? If so, what is the best quality kit that retails the stock suspension?

So has anyone out there with the 6 speed have any issues with power loss do to the bigger tires? Also I'd just love to hear how your truck has been since switching to a bigger tire AND I would also like to know your MPG and ifs gone down a lot.

Thanks for the taking the time to read my post and reply. Pics of your setup would be appreciated too! Thanks.

~ Anthony

I would make judgements based on your use, but this site also shows a lot of fashion accessorizing is popular. I don't know what you value most.

Even with my working off road often - trail building, guiding, ski area crew, property dev/rehab - the stock Trail-Terrain T/A for OR tires I got exceeded my expectations for the off-road but also on highway use. I've had several pickups, 4x4s, done modifications etc, and know having and using larger AT type tires. I have to be honest that bigger and larger block AT type tires are compromises for the road and often wet pavement or snow use.

Now getting near my first replacements, I'm pretty sure I'm sticking with the original size for how well it's been, and leaning towards the new also 3PMSF + version of that BF Goodrich. Even being off pavement a lot more than many, I can't let logic escape and compromise how most driving by time and mileage is not off road for all the off road I do.

 

[AmbyBomb]

I think tire selection is a big part of it. Some people buy heavy, E load tires for daily driving, which is completely unnecessary.

 

[fredygump]

Why do you want bigger tires? Because peer pressure? Or because there is something wrong with the stock tire size?

The moment I looked for Tacoma content online (youtube), I was inundated with a culture obsessed with bigger tires and lifts. It is contageious. The dream is focused on equipping a vehicle to go offroading in Moab, whether or not you will ever actually go offroading. I bet a lot of people wouldn't actually enjoy rock crawling!

What is wrong with stock tire size? I am asking myself that question. They are not small tires.

There is a legitimate reason to buy heavier tires--just today I was towing a car (3,000#), and with a strong cross wind, steering felt pretty nervous. I think it has a lot to do with the stock tires. A heavier LT tire would be more stable.


However, to the OP--if you just need to have the biggest tires, the best wheels are the stock wheels. They are +60mm offset.

Forget spacers. Anything that pushes the tire out from the hubs, whether spacers or wheels with les offset, will reduce the maximum tire size you can run.

The biggest tire I know of that will fit with no rubbing is Mickey Thompson 255/85r17 on stock wheels. I thought it would be cool to have the biggest tire on stock 17" wheels, with no lift. Maybe even lowered a bit? I'd be going for more of a stadium truck vibe, not rock crawling. But I am also thinking I should be smart and keep the stock tire size...

 

[gmalkmus]

Why do you want bigger tires? Because peer pressure? Or because there is something wrong with the stock tire size?

The moment I looked for Tacoma content online (youtube), I was inundated with a culture obsessed with bigger tires and lifts. It is contageious. The dream is focused on equipping a vehicle to go offroading in Moab, whether or not you will ever actually go offroading. I bet a lot of people wouldn't actually enjoy rock crawling!

What is wrong with stock tire size? I am asking myself that question. They are not small tires.

There is a legitimate reason to buy heavier tires--just today I was towing a car (3,000#), and with a strong cross wind, steering felt pretty nervous. I think it has a lot to do with the stock tires. A heavier LT tire would be more stable.


However, to the OP--if you just need to have the biggest tires, the best wheels are the stock wheels. They are +60mm offset.

Forget spacers. Anything that pushes the tire out from the hubs, whether spacers or wheels with les offset, will reduce the maximum tire size you can run.

The biggest tire I know of that will fit with no rubbing is Mickey Thompson 255/85r17 on stock wheels. I thought it would be cool to have the biggest tire on stock 17" wheels, with no lift. Maybe even lowered a bit? I'd be going for more of a stadium truck vibe, not rock crawling. But I am also thinking I should be smart and keep the stock tire size...

The stock SR5 tires are little baby 245 tires. Honestly, if you have to ask this question, then you are just not the right audience for OPs question. Someone will always say “stock is best, blah blah” - but for some of us, stock SUCKS. I put more aggressive, better looking tires and wheels on my truck almost immediately. Tacomas are probably the most popular truck in the aftermarket/tuning scene. That’s the main reason I bought mine.

 

[fredygump]

The stock SR5 tires are little baby 245 tires. Honestly, if you have to ask this question, then you are just not the right audience for OPs question. Someone will always say “stock is best, blah blah” - but for some of us, stock SUCKS. I put more aggressive, better looking tires and wheels on my truck almost immediately. Tacomas are probably the most popular truck in the aftermarket/tuning scene. That’s the main reason I bought mine.

Post says, "Are there any downsides to running slightly bigger tires." Lol! That totally sounds like a guy desperate to run 37" tires! (Sarcastic, obviously)

You should read what I wrote before you decide you know what I'm saying. It is best practice.

 

[MT-Taco]

1-2 lower mpg, slight power loss (8 speed auto), more expensive $$.

Little to no change to drivability, unlike previous gen tacomas.

But you gain ground clearance, far better off road capability, looks.

Worth it for some, not for others.

EDIT: upside with 285’s the Speedo is dead on.

 

[gmalkmus]

Post says, "Are there any downsides to running slightly bigger tires." Lol! That totally sounds like a guy desperate to run 37" tires! (Sarcastic, obviously)

You should read what I wrote before you decide you know what I'm saying. It is best practice.

Uh huh. Love that passive aggressive vibe you’ve got going on there, sport.

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