Wide vs Narrow Tires Test

[60wag]

I periodically measure the tread depth on all 5. The two with the most tread go in front. The one with the least tread is the spare. If there isn't a significant difference, I leave them where there are. It results in a rotation similar to the picture above.

 

[Rzeppa]

Good point. Definitely thought I'd make the spare should become the same as all the other four wheels since they'd be different enough at that point. Toyota recommends just doing front/back rotation. But rotating the spare in the mix that complicates things. How are you rotating yours tires?

I do mine similar to what John posted, but slightly different. I don't think it matters a lot as long as you pick a pattern and stick with it. Here's how I do mine:

SP->LF, LF->RF, RF->LR, LR->RR, RR->SP

I've been doing that pattern on all my rigs for going on 50 years now, it works for me.

 

[LARGEONE]

I think Im done trying to rotate in the spare. I always buy 5 new tires and every time with these big tires it seems like one tire just wears bad and can’t be balanced correctly . It starts causing a vibration and I finally give up and throw it on the back as the spare. Or one tire gets a huge chunk from wheeling and earns spare duty. Or one drives over a 6” lag bolt, or, or, or…

They just never last equally so the 5 rotation lasts about 10k miles at most.

So, I knew about pizza cutters and love them but what is the 16” pizza cutter version of a 35” tire?

Also, carcass design is so important for getting sidewall flex. I bet a thin sidewall has great contact and flex. But do you really want that on the trail with all the sharp CO rocks? (Think GY DuraTrak or whatever that super popular thin walled tire is?)

 

[AimCOTaco]

I agree the 5 way can be tough as 'something' always happens and it goes back to 4 and a good spare. I like to have 5 of a kind to start with at least, then once the spare has been selected by the wheeling gods like Paul describes I can just by a 4 pack the next time around and still have 5 of a kind.

 

[Crash]

I think Im done trying to rotate in the spare. I always buy 5 new tires and every time with these big tires it seems like one tire just wears bad and can’t be balanced correctly . It starts causing a vibration and I finally give up and throw it on the back as the spare. Or one tire gets a huge chunk from wheeling and earns spare duty. Or one drives over a 6” lag bolt, or, or, or…

They just never last equally so the 5 rotation lasts about 10k miles at most.

So, I knew about pizza cutters and love them but what is the 16” pizza cutter version of a 35” tire?

Also, carcass design is so important for getting sidewall flex. I bet a thin sidewall has great contact and flex. But do you really want that on the trail with all the sharp CO rocks? (Think GY DuraTrak or whatever that super popular thin walled tire is?)

I ran a set of 35x10.50x15 Super Swamper radials for about eight years and went back to 33x10.50x15s. The mighty 3FE was happy with that move.

 

[Inukshuk]

what is the 16” pizza cutter version of a 35” tire?

Kenda makes the R/T in a 35 x 10.5. LongCruiser has them. You are welcome to test fit them. LC won't be rolling on them for a while

 

[Inukshuk]

A couple years ago I was prerunning the Kokopelli and got a 2-3" sidewall gash. I was set to start leading it the next day. No chance for repair and needed a replacement. Swapped to spare and ran into GJ. The Sam's club had eight 265/75r16s and under warranty replaced my gashed tire. Worked out amazing. If not I would have been leading & gunning that Cruise Moab without a spare. Definitely lucky and experience taught me to think ahead if I can.

That was a day!
I do 4 tire rotation and run a 255 KM2 spare under my 80. Fits better than the wider 33

 

[LARGEONE]

Kenda makes the R/T in a 35 x 10.5. LongCruiser has them. You are welcome to test fit them. LC won't be rolling on them for a while

I assume you have 17” rims? Or do they make the 10.50 for 16” rims?

 

[Inukshuk]

I assume you have 17” rims? Or do they make the 10.50 for 16” rims?

Offhand I don't know either answer.

 

[allen.wrench]

Appreciate all the inputs everyone!

Based on your inputs, I'll take the plunge for 5 255/85r16s! There's pluses/minuses and I feel decent now about knowing them.

I'll work on getting 5 rims, then the skinny meats. The stock package came with 4 16" alloy rims, while the spare is a 16" steelie. Maybe the stock alloys/steelie setup can become street wheels.

And yea @Inukshuk that time with the sidewall gash, Sam's club treated me well. Crazy how that day worked out only counting that giant Dodge+RV we rescued. Anyway, so I called up Sam's now for a starting quote. For 5 255/85r16s they have "Falken Wildpeak M/T01 - LT255/85R16/E 123Q" for $255 each. $1445 after warranty charge, fees, mounting, and taxes. They'd need 3 days to get the tires. Seems like a decent price for what I expect are good tires.

Moreover if I'm paranoid, I guess I could also call ahead to a local store (like in GJ) to "order" a second spare tire. If I don't pick it up, they just return it. I don't really like using them like that, but it's an option if they don't stock a tire locally.

The next step of the journey is coming together. Thanks again guys for your inputs.

Allen

 

[Jenny Cruiser]

Always been a fan of pizza cutters!

 

[Jenny Cruiser]

These are Yokohama Geolander MT G003 in 255/85/16.

 

[allen.wrench]

Just got new skinny meats last night! I love how they sound on the HWY!! So much better than the $5 fart cans highschoolers roll around here. Damn kids know nothing.

To be exact these are "33s" or Falken MT1 255/85r16s load E. They have clearance all around without cab mount chopping, but with Accutune UCAs to push the wheel forward a tad bit. We'll have to see how they perform in Moab and other areas.

But right now ow gotta sell the old k02s to recoup some

Allen

 

[Heckraiser]

I'm a fan of narrow tires on pickups, 4runners and older cruisers, but IMO the 100 and 200 look silly with skinny tires. I also had 35x11 on my LX570 and the handling was pretty bad. Changed them for 35x12.5 and the on-road ride and handling both improved a lot. According to tinker's video, maybe I'm not getting as much tire compliance (they are the same Mickey Thompsons he tested), but I'm comfortable airing down the 12.5" tires a lot lower than the 11" tires, so maybe a moot point.

I've seen a few of his videos and they're always insightful