The SKINNY on skinny tires
Let’s start with that I love skinnies! I wish there were more options available for those of us who enjoy this under-appreciated tire. Not only are they great for overlanding and off-roading but they can also provide better MPGs than their wider cousins with better performance – IMO. I run 255/85/16 Toyo Open Country M/Ts and they have been a great tire – 35,000 miles later and plenty of tread on them.
On TW, there are a number of threads out there that discuss/mention skinny tires but there isn’t a one-stop-shop for all the information. This is just a start and I will continue to add to this as I find more options for this type of tire – so this list DOES NOT represent all skinny tires out there on the market today.
Please feel free to post pics of your truck sporting skinnies and add information that may be useful or missing!
(https://web.archive.org/web/2018021…esearch/white_papers/tire_selection_rev1.html)
Benefits of a narrower tire:
1. Less rolling resistance – better fuel economy
2. Can cut easier through mud, sand, and snow
3. Typically lighter which can improve acceleration and stopping performance
4. Will almost always fit better in the wheel well and require less trimming than a wider tire
5. For airing down, a taller and skinnier tire allows for longer contact patch which can increase traction while off-roading
6. Taller tires have more sidewall and when aired down can result in a softer ride
Negatives of a narrower tire:
1. Provides less stability on and off the road
2. Vehicle is more prone to trail damage because a tall narrow tire wants to cut through a medium as opposed to floating on top bringing your underbelly in closer proximity to obstacles on the trail
16″ Wheel:
235/85/16
255/85/16
17″ Wheel:
255/75/17
255/80/17
34×10.5 R17
235/85/16
General specifications:
Diameter: 31.7”
Width: 9.3”
Sidewall: 7.9”
Revs/Mile: 636
BFGOODRICH
· All-Terrain T/A KO2
Load: E
Weight: 49 lbs
COOPER
· Discoverer ST
Load: E
Weight: 44 lbs
· Discoverer ST Maxx
Load: E
Weight: 49 lbs
· Discoverer STT Pro
Load: E
Weight: 49 lbs
DICK CEPEK
· Extreme Country
Load: E
Weight: 42 lbs
FALKEN
· Wildpeak A/T3W
Load: E
Weight: 48 lbs
· Wildpeak M/T
Load: E
Weight: 53 lbs
GOODYEAR
· Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar
Load: E
Weight: 52 lbs
· Wrangler Duratrac
Load: E
Weight: 47 lbs
TOYO
· Open Country M/T
Load: E
Weight: 54 lbs
YOKOHAMA
· Geolandar M/T G003
Load: E
Weight: 51 lbs
· Geolandar A/T G015
Load: E
Weight: 47 lbs
255/85/16
General specifications:
Diameter: 33.1”
Width: 10”
Sidewall: 8.5”
Revs/Mile: 610
BFGOODRICH
· Mud-Terrain T/A KM2
Load: E
Weight: 55 lbs
· Mud-Terrain T/A KM3
Load: E
Weight: 59 lbs
COOPER
· Discoverer ST
Load: D
Weight: 48 lbs
· Discoverer ST Maxx
Load: E
Weight: 59 lbs
DICK CEPEK
· Extreme Country
Load: E
Weight: 50 lbs
FALKEN
· Wildpeak M/T
Load: E
Weight: 59 lbs
MAXXIS
· Bighorn
Load: E
Weight: 57 lbs
· Bravo
Load: 3-ply
Weight: 58 lbs
TOYO
· Open Country M/T
Load: E
Weight: 61 lbs
YOKOHAMA
· Geolandar M/T G003
Load: E
Weight: 55 lbs
255/75/17
General specifications:
Diameter: 32.1”
Width: 10”
Sidewall: 7.5”
Revs/Mile: 629
BFGOODRICH
· Mud-Terrain T/A KM3
Load: C
Weight: 55 lbs
COOPER (there’s a bunch, but here are the popular ones)
· Discoverer ST Maxx
Load: C
Weight: 55 lbs
· Discoverer STT Pro
Load: C
Weight: 51 lbs
FALKEN
· Wildpeak M/T
Load: C
Weight: 53 lbs
GOODYEAR
· Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar
Load: C
Weight: 52 lbs
· Wrangler Duratrac
Load: SL
Weight: 40 lbs
NITTO
· Trail Grappler M/T
Load: C
Weight: 58 lbs
TOYO
· Open Country M/T
Load: C
Weight: 57 lbs
YOKOHAMA
· Geolandar M/T G003
Load: C
Weight: 49 lbs
255/80/17
General specifications:
Diameter: 33.1”
Width: 10”
Sidewall: 8”
Revs/Mile: 610
BFGOODRICH
· Mud-Terrain T/A KM2
Load: E
Weight: 57 lbs
COOPER
· Discoverer ST Maxx
Load: E
Weight: 58 lbs
FALKEN
· Wildpeak A/T3W
Load: E
Weight: 52.5 lbs
NITTO
· Ridge Grappler
Load: E
Weight: 55 lbs
TOYO
· Open Country A/T II
Load: E
Weight: 50 lbs
· Open Country R/T
Load: E
Weight: 56 lbs
YOKOHAMA
· Geolandar M/T G003
Load: E
Weight: 53 lbs
34×10.5 R17
General specifications:
Diameter: 34”
Width: 10.5”
Sidewall: 8.5”
Revs/Mile: 593
BFGOODRICH
· All-Terrain T/A KO2
Load: D
Weight: 55 lbs
Some other threads talking about skinnies:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/put-255-85-16s-on-stock-or-wheels-and-suspension.491079/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/235-85-16-the-skinny.490070/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/235-85r16.416184/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/255-80-17-owners-experience.340682/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/255-80-r17s-pizza-cutter-thread.525039/
I’ll also just leave this here :
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wheel-backspacing-and-offset-info.102992/
This is my truck sporting 255/85/16 Toyo Open Country M/T. BTW – I was able to fit this under the truck on the spare wheel.
