285's or 265's (again)?!?!?

[TomHuskey]

My tires on my DMax are almost gone and it's time to buy new ones. I'm struggling, like everyone else on here after reading all the posts, to decide between 285/75/16s and 265/75/16s .

I pull a 12,000 lb 5th wheel RV from May thru October on really long trips somethimes, and I drive about 60 miles total to work and back every day. I want the 265's for the extra benefit's for my truck, but I like the look of the 285's Here are my pro's and con's for both:

265's - better gas mileage, better for towing (gear ratio, ally shifts, etc.), not quite as ballooned/stuffed on the PYO's as the 285's. But don't look quite as tough.

285's - look better and ride a little better, but gas mileage suffering. Worried about rolling/sway when towing camper.

I would still go with the BFG A/T's, but there doesn't seem to be that much size or weight difference in the two to justify switching:

265's - 31.7", 54 lbs
285's - 33.0", 57 lbs (only 12 lbs difference for a whole set?)

If I did switch would i need to go to something a little less agressive to get the full benefits (BFG Rugged Trail T/A E's @ 52lbs)?

Input (pics?) from all of you who have had 285's and went down to 265's or vice versa would be MUCH appreciated! I want to be talked out of switching to 265's, or into stayin with the 285's. Want to keep the look, but also want whats best for towing/fuel mileage.

THANKS!

 

[Pondsy]

Honestly, imo, you need to decide - mileage or looks. I've towed up to 15k with both sizes in E rating and no noticeable difference in sway, handling, etc. Only difference was the mileage.

I preferred the look - I only tow a couple dozen times a year but drive over a hundred miles a day at least. When daily driving, I did notice a little difference over exapansion joints etc with the 285s unloaded. Better ride unloaded with looks was enough to stay with 285s.

If mileage is the bigger issue - you have your answer imo.

That said, I now run 18in summer wheels with smaller sidewall during the towing months haha - still choose the 285s for winter though for ride and looks.

Good luck whichever way you go!

 

[MuscleTruck03]

I loved my 285's over my 265's thats just my :2cents:

 

[Jscherbs]

i went from 3 sets of 285s back down to 265s and wont look back.

i tow in the snow regularly so not having wider tires is a huge concern of mine. the wider they are the more the wheels wants to wander and catch the paths made by the other tires. slice through the snow rather than float on top of it.

my issue is i go to the sand dunes 3-4 times out of the year so i lose out a bit when it comes to flotation. i cant see sacrifice my MPG's handling and weight savings for a few weekends out of the year. not worth it IMO

 

[Relentlesscummins]

Here are my 285's I love the look:thumb: But going a different rounte if your looking I have these forsale and a leveling kit will do both for $800

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[TheBac]

285s, you'll have to put some turns on your Tbars to keep them from rubbing the front airdam. They do get worse mileage than 265s.

I went 285 on my last set, and wish I could go back to 265. I will when these wear out.

 

[jonathancasey19]

I just went from 35x12.50 r 20 to 285's stock pyos. Holy hell what a difference. 285's look perfectly fine. Load range D and still tows great. 21 mpg hand calculated last trip. Not bad at all.

 

[TomHuskey]

Difference

jonathancasey19, can you elaborate on the "what a difference" quote? I take it going down a size was good (fuel mileage/handling)?

 

[jonathancasey19]

jonathancasey19, can you elaborate on the "what a difference" quote? I take it going down a size was good (fuel mileage/handling)?

Sure thing. First off know that I'm running a 4" lift kit with torsion bars raised a tad and 35's and 20's. Yanked the rear blocks, lowered t-bars all the way down and mounted a set of 285's on stock rims. What a difference was referring to an immediate change in driveability....it handled like a "Caddy" (probably due to load range D and 16" rims instead of 20's with larger sidewall), alignment felt dead on, minimal road vibration, mileage increased approx. 4 mpg. Biggest difference was how freakin fast the truck felt. Night and Day. It will break the tires loose 45mph at will. To most guys on this forum that's nothing but I sure did have a grin on my face . I highly doubt there will be a significant difference in 265's & 285's while on the same rim. Just comes down to personal appearance. Hope this helps

 

[Steve W]

Toyo Open Country HT LT265/75R16 123/120S E/10 :thumb::thumb:

http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/open-country-ht

No sway pulling the enclosed trailer on the interstates. I've made 2 trips to Up State NY empty and a trip to Orlando. The return trip from Orlando was in snow from Atlanta to KY mostly in the unplowed fast lane. Great tires.

 

[NemesisDP]

With the 6 speed my LBZ's like the rpm range @80with 265's seem to get about 4 mpg more on long trips. I like the looks of the 285's but didn't like how hard the trucks had to work to pull my backhoe. Total weight of 40' trailer, backhoe and truck camr in @ 33,500lbs But pulling my 15k camper it liked to pull 5th@70 with the 285's. about 14 mgp, Dunno have 285's on one and 265's on the other

 

[Colt]

New Kumho AT's 265/16s priced like $150 each right now in D rated or E that's a good price for a nice tire given the prices of the namers out there. Just saw it shopping for smaller set for a Jeep.

 

[duramaximizer]

285's deffinately have more traction and floatation. It just depends what you are doing.

That said, dad and I run 2 different sets of tires. He has a summer set (BFG Land Terrain 265's) of more road tires and a winter AT (Mastercraft Courser CT's 285's) set.

I have a stock set of 265's for winter. I rarely drive my truck in the winter. I have a big set of BFG's for truck pulling. :woott:

 

[TomHuskey]

285's deffinately have more traction and floatation. It just depends what you are doing.

That said, dad and I run 2 different sets of tires. He has a summer set (BFG Land Terrain 265's) of more road tires and a winter AT (Mastercraft Courser CT's 285's) set.

I have a stock set of 265's for winter. I rarely drive my truck in the winter. I have a big set of BFG's for truck pulling. :woott:

I've pretty much decided on the 265s because of towing, now Im just trying to decide between BFG A/T and Mastercraft Courser CTs. I think it was easier to pick my childs name when he was born!

 

[jonathancasey19]

I ran a set of bfg a/t's a few years ago. They were a good tire just too damn expensive for me. Went to discount tire and picked up a set of new 285's Falken Wildpeak A/T's. Mounted balance $600.00 out the door w/ 50k warranty. Hell of a deal for me.

 

[TomHuskey]

With the 6 speed my LBZ's like the rpm range @80with 265's seem to get about 4 mpg more on long trips. I like the looks of the 285's but didn't like how hard the trucks had to work to pull my backhoe. Total weight of 40' trailer, backhoe and truck camr in @ 33,500lbs But pulling my 15k camper it liked to pull 5th@70 with the 285's. about 14 mgp, Dunno have 285's on one and 265's on the other

Wow that's a big difference, what kind of tires are on your truck?

 

[NemesisDP]

I run the silent armors. Look them up there are alot of people on here that are running them on here.:thumb:

 

[TomHuskey]

265s

Decided on BFG A/T KO's 265/75/16. I'll take pics of the 285's on it now and the 265's after the fact to help someone who has to make this hard decision to decide later :rofl:. Thanks for all the input guys!

Tommy

 

[dmaxfireman]

just for info i am getting 22-23 mpg hand calc'd on the highway with my 235/85/16 (same height as 265 just narrower) on pyos (i live 30 sec off the highway and my firehouse is 30 sec off the highway and its 30-35 miles on the highway)

 

[McRat]

285's are not a big issue for fitment. Prefer them on 7" rim or even 8". 6.5 (stock) is a little pinched, IMO. You might have to trim your airdam/nose a little.

265's are the stock tires for the SRW 3500's.

No matter what, make sure you get E-rated tires. D-rated are not safe for heavy loads. If you don't tow or carry heavy, D is fine.