Help me make a tire decision team! Falken Wilpeaks - 285 or 275, SL or C?

[delek]

This topic is getting worn out, I’m sorry. But I can’t find a thread that discusses what I’m looking for help with.

Bought some RRW 17x8 -18 RR5-H rims. Just being honest, I’ll be doing very light off roading in FL. I care more about retaining gas mileage than I do about sidewall strength, just being honest! I’m all bark, no bite.

Was planning to getting Wildpeaks in 275/70/17 C to save some weight. After looking in to it more, the 285/70/17 SL is even lighter. Sounds crazy but I think the bigger tire will be better overall for the truck’s performance.

Curious what yall think? Thanks!

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[Pappy]

Going from the stock 265/70's to 285/70 (C) cost me 35 horsepower at the rear wheels (dyno'd). That means lower mpg. If you don't wheel, or haul loads (camper), I would stick with SL rated tires. The 275/70's would be a good compromise.

 

[jsuber]

255/80/R17 Nitto Terra Grappler G3

 

[tacorancher]

285/70/17 SL - truck handles them like they aren’t even there

 

[Mtnbikes]

255/80/R17 Nitto Terra Grappler G3

 

[Mtnbikes]

How do you like that tire size? I’m looking at same size (255/80/17) in a Falken Wildpeak ATw4.

 

[Yotota]

Tire diameter has a larger impact to performance than tire weight.

Diameter directly affects overall gearing, while tire weight increases rotational weight which is less of an impact than most people realize...

https://hpwizard.com/rotational-inertia.html

That site provides all the math, along with calculators, to support the conclusions made. The short answer is that tire rotational weight has an equivalent mass of no more than 2lb/1lb tire mass. In the case of the tire sizes you are considering, both have equivalent mass factors of 1.87lb/1lb tire mass.

Base SR5 4X4 curb weight = 4375lb (Double Cab 4x4 Long Bed)
245/70r17 Firestone HLT weight = 29.95lb


Changing from a 29.95lb 245/70r17 to a 53.4lb 285/70r17:

Performance reduction from weight increase
(4375lb + ((53.4lb−29.95lb) x (4 tires) x (1.87)))/4375lb = 1.040 = 4.0% performance reduction

Performance reduction from diameter increase
32.8÷30.6 = 1.072 = 7.2% performance reduction

Total performance reduction
4.0% + 7.2% = 11.2% total performance reduction


Changing from a 29.95lb 245/70r17 to a 58.1lb 275/70r17:

Performance reduction from weight increase
(4375lb + ((58.1lb−29.95lb) x (4 tires) x (1.87)))/4375lb = 1.048 = 4.8% performance reduction

Performance reduction from diameter increase
32.2÷30.6 = 1.052 = 5.2% performance reduction

Total performance reduction
4.8% + 5.2% = 10% total performance reduction


Long story short, either tire will decrease performance and increase fuel consumption. The heavier 275/70r17 will have slightly less of an impact than the lighter 285/70r17. Will you be able to tell the difference between the two tire options (1.2% difference)? Likely not.

Get whichever tire makes you happy.

 

[Yotota]

Oh, and for some tire input:

I have the LT275/70R17 C-rated AT4Ws on my Taco. They are amazing tires so far, with ~9k miles on them. I wanted an LT for occasional towing support, and sharp rock protection on unmaintained forest/logging roads.

But if I didn't have those needs, an SL tire would have been just fine. I ran SL AT3Ws on my old GX470 and they were great daily driver tires.

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