Wider tires?

[Freightshaker]

Currently my 09 EL has 255/70/18's & considering going to 275/65/18. They're almost the same diameter. Has anyone changed sizes as well?...

 

[Trainmaster]

Why? These things drive like whales already, and I've never gotten stuck on the beach with stock tires?

 

[1955moose]

Like any tire size change, one must be mounted, and checked for clearance. A 265/65r18 is the exact replacement size. When I sold tires years back, that was a no brainier. The dimensions are the same as the smaller 255. 2 sizes up like your trying to do will change things ever so slightly, gearing, speedo reading, etc. Hope that helps a little.

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[Freightshaker]

These just look like they're borrowed from an Escape. Also figured on a little more flotation on sand as well.

 

[Flexpedition]

No issues with 295's then 305's on mine.






A 255 is 10" wide. My 305 is 12.5" wide.
How a 10" would make it across sand but a 12.5" would sink is beyond me.
Maybe if my head was in the sand or if I drove on it, I'd understand.

The ride is fantastic.

 

[Adieu]

Currently my 09 EL has 255/70/18's & considering going to 275/65/18. They're almost the same diameter. Has anyone changed sizes as well?...

Hmmm I *was* gonna say that 255/70 and 265/65 were the most similar, but calculator proves me WRONG....

255/70r18 and 275/65r18 are both 32".

275 width works just fine on expeditions, 20" and 17" wheels often end up with those.

So yeah, all good, go for it


PS food for thought, though... if you shop around, 255/70r18 *is* pretty much THE cheapest tire size known to man. You can usually find a set of 4 Michelin or Bridgestone for just over 400 shipped, and a pretty wide choice if you go to 500

 

[JerEazy]

All things being equal: Wider tires should make it more stable in corners and when towing along with better wet traction right?

 

[1955moose]

Ever wonder why with the big wheel wells, most 4 wheel drive vehicles use skinny, tall off road tires? Its simple, the thinner tire will plow through sand, and soft snow better than a lower wider one. Has to with physics I guess. Maybe one of our resident geniuses can embellish why this is so. That's what I've been told over the years, hope I wasn't lied to!

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[Freightshaker]

For snow yes, but for soft sand though you want more of a footprint to keep from sinking in.
Now I've come to realize that the difference in width is minimal. Just about .7 inches wider. In millimeters it sounded so much wider.

 

[Black]

All things being equal: Wider tires should make it more stable in corners and when towing along with better wet traction right?

I always thought the same but this guy makes a decent argument for skinnier tires.


I took from it you can be too skinny but you can also be too wide.

 

[1955moose]

Like everything in life, it's a balance. Good Info. When I used to ride my Yamaha enduro's 175-360. I wanted the biggest meanest knobby tire to get me over that unbelievable hill. We used to have an old saying, don't climb a hill your afraid to go back down! We never listened, and remember my bikes tumbling backwards 60 feet or more. Loved those 2 strokes though, cause they always fired back up.4 strokes dont do that. When your legs and feet are jacked up, you want to get home.


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[GaryH2]

My 07 came with 255 series Bridgestone APTs 18s and I upgraded to wider tires. I went with the same width as the 20s (275 I think) Firestone Destination ATs. I found it to track better down the highway. Mileage is a little worse. Otherwise I don't think it made a whole lot of difference that I can attribute to the width rather than the different tire brands.

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[Freightshaker]

I always thought the same but this guy makes a decent argument for skinnier tires.


I took from it you can be too skinny but you can also be too wide.

So he was a bit long winded but he had some very good points.

 

[Freightshaker]

Thanks for all the good advice as usual. I have a set of Falken Wildpeak A/T3W 255/70 R18's ordered through my local Mavis. Price is better than the online companies.
I need tires that can handle high speeds, here on the Island we typically run 75mph. Being a long time road driver I don't slow much because of the rain. We also get weird weather sometimes because of being an Island, winds, storms or whatever blows in from the Atlantic. But also need to be able to drive on sand, gravel, mud & snow because of my animal rescue work.
Being somewhat disabled (out on disability) I need to get in closer with my vehicle rather than walk. Dog traps, trail cameras & other equipment is a lot for me to setup so I need to get close as possible. I truly appreciate all the great advice from everyone.

 

[TobyU]

I learned years ago that the plow guys always used a tall narrower tire over fat ones.

I wait till they do what they do so I can drive a smart car, Yugo, or Huffy on the roads.

I'm good till April. I got the forums to keep me busy.

 

[Mubarakma]

Since the topic is for the tire size any one tried to fix 285/50/20 or wider instead of 275/55/20 for stock 20"wheels that come for limited trim

 

[Freightshaker]

Since the topic is for the tire size any one tried to fix 285/50/20 or wider instead of 275/55/20 for stock 20"wheels that come for limited trim

Stock 275/55/20 is 810.5 mm tall & 2546mm in diameter
The 285/50/20 is 793mm tall & 2491 in diameter, would lower your ride height 8.8mm and at 100Kph your speedometer would read 97.8Kph.
A 305/50/20 would be much closer at 813 mm tall & 2554mm in diameter. and at 100Kph your speedometer would read 100.3Kph.

 

[Mubarakma]

Stock 275/55/20 is 810.5 mm tall & 2546mm in diameter
The 285/50/20 is 793mm tall & 2491 in diameter, would lower your ride height 8.8mm and at 100Kph your speedometer would read 97.8Kph.
A 305/50/20 would be much closer at 813 mm tall & 2554mm in diameter. and at 100Kph your speedometer would read 100.3Kph.

Thanks brother but would 305 fit in stock 20" wheels without rubbing
Regards

 

[Freightshaker]

Thanks brother but would 305 fit in stock 20" wheels without rubbing
Regards

Flexpedition posted earlier he has 305's no problems.

 

[Freightshaker]

Thanks brother but would 305 fit in stock 20" wheels without rubbing
Regards

BTW I used an app called Tire Expert to do the size calculation. There's also this site as well: https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?