Stock 265 vs 285 tires, is it really worth all the trouble?

They do look a bit skinny, but I think this tread pattern looks great in a skinny size. They also look better in the full pictures. I'm assuming these are the 255/80s?

I'm strongly considering these for my next set of tires. I read a few people complain about wet performance on them, but how have they been in the wet for you?

 

I still like the skinnies. I’m leaning 80% that way when I run these out. They’re very practical. I feel like they give off safari truck vibes.

 

Indeed. I'm super pleased with them.

 

Correct. Toyo Open Country RT in 255/80 17, 33.1".

I drove home with them 50 miles from my buddies shop in the rain; that profile pic was in my driveway when I got home and you can see it was wet. I think other than that day though, I haven't had them in the rain. I just got them 3-ish weeks ago and haven't been driving it much since I have a take home cruiser now. Anyway, they handled fine at 40 psi. Cornering grip was strong. Braking performance felt fine. It really felt no different than on my previous 265/70 17s.

Tinkerer's Adventures has a video where he compares sizes using a fairly scientific test of tread contact areas and the actual contact patch on the tall skinnies is as big as the wider tires, which contributes to the similar handling characteristics. I don't have the link as I straight up binged all his videos recently and I'm not sure which one it was, LOL.

EDIT - there is one category that feels different actually: steering feels lighter now, which seems counter intuitive since these are heavier, and technically the contact patch should be the same as a wider tire, but the truck has noticeably quicker steering especially at parking lot speeds or at a stop. I consider that a bonus, personally.

 

Thanks for the info! I've watched the Tinkerers videos, they are fantastic with lots of good info. I did see the one you're talking about with the skinnies.

So these are now on my short list, once I get around to installing my new suspension I'll be needing tires.

If you don't mind, could you update this thread once you get some miles on them?

 

I'll sure try

 

I have over 15,000 miles on Falken Wildpeak AT4Ws in 265R17SL. They perform well offroad and on the street but man they have gotten loud on pavement. They were not this loud initially but certainly more so than my previous Michelin LTX AT2s.

What’s your highway noise impression of your Toyo Open Country RTs?

 

They are louder than a pure AT, but not significantly so. It's hard to quantify nose but if stock tires are a 3 on a ten scale, I guess Wildpeaks (new) would be a 4, and these are a 5.

 

What is stock? Ridge Grapplers, all season tires, or something else?
I’m in the market for some new tires very soon and am deciding between Ridge Grapplers, AT4Ws, and Mickey Thompson’s.

 

Dunlop Grandtreks I think? I don't know. Stock. The tires that come stock. From the dealer. Stock.

Pros excepted.

 

Stock on my ORP were Ridge Grapplers, which basically sucked in the rain. And it rains a lot here in Raleigh, so away they went.

 

What did you replace them with?

 

Wildpeak AT3’s, though to be honest I also should have checked out the Toyo Open Country’s. The Wildpeaks are vastly superior in wet weather compared to the Ridge Grapplers.

 

similar story to you. Mine had terra grapplers on it and I felt super sketched out in the rain here in FL. I swapped to the AT3ws and have been really happy.