are oversize tires (3:15 or 3:05's on factory 16" rims ) a plus for towing heavy --lowering egt's and mileage? am pesently running 285's and it is nearing new tire time

 

All I see in oversize tires for towing is negatives. I get over 100,000 miles out of Michelen Rib 235-85 tires. Larger tires cause lower gearing.

 

the michlon 285's are what i use and am just at 80,000 and am contemplateing changing. the rear tires do not get the mileage i used to get since i swithed to the gooseneck trailers.

 

I would kill for 80k miles out of my tires. .The difference between a 305 and a 285 is negligible. The 305 is like .5" shorter and .5" wider than the 285. Now a 315 might be a little big for towing. It's gonna kill your rear end ratio. I have an auto with 3.54 gears and at 70 mph with a corrected speedometer, I'm seeing 1700-1800 rpm and it's a dog without the comp and 275's.

 

I just installed Toyo H/T tires, a new highway tire line from Toyo that was expressly designed for better mpgs on heavy diesel pickups. They are a 10 ply E rated.
I'm stoked, didn't realize how used you get to holding your throttle at the hiway speed limit. With the new tires unless I paid attention I found myself cruising at 95 mph using the familiar throttle position, that's how much easier they roll. Haven't had them long enough to figure out how much they will improve mpgs but expect to gain at least 3-4 mpgs from the Toyo M-55s I used to run.
Also had them siped and balanced with Dyna beads, both of which will extend their life.

 

The tires

possibly are rated for more weight than your 285s, but if you dont have the proper rim, and tire pressure and rim width, it isnt gonna do you any good. I tow with mine quite a bit, and i have 285s, liberators now that i have yet to tow with, but i had goodriches, and as long as i kept up with them i had no problems. 95 percent of the time, i tow bumper pulls however, a gooseneck simply distributes the weight across the truck frame more evenly, which i figure being closer to the top of your tires is harsher on them... Mileage off my tires? 285s goodriches came on the truck when i got it, so i have no basis of comparison at the top of my head... but with 235's offa the goodyear ats ive gotten 65K, and started a set of triangle 265's with 15 K and a rotation before i sold my old truck..

Tx

 

My 315's are a sinch to tow with. Smaller tires may make it easier to yank your load around but I have no problem pulling 6000+lbs with 3.54 gears and 315's.

MOOSEMAN

 

Looked on Toyo's web Page...nothing on the H/T's. Got any info?

RJ

 

Bill, what kind of A/T or snow capability do they have? Hoping to move to snow-country soon and will need new tires well before then.
Thanks!
Dave

 

They were just introduced last week and may not have made the web yet. They are strictly a highway tire though with siping should do well on ice and snow. They are almost like the Toyo M-54 pictured here http://truckworld.tenmagazines.com/i...oyo_tires__m54

 

Thanks Bill.

Found this article also...has a picture... but no specific sizes being offered. appears they are already siped?
http://www.off-road.com/ford/news/2004_12/toyo.html

RJ

 

Thanks for finding that RJ.
They benifit from additional siping.

 

i bought my truck with 35's and since then have had another set of 315's and a set of 305's. i like the look but am thinking of going to a 265 with a 10 ply rating since i just started to tow alot with the truck. not alot of weight for the ctd but from 2,000 to 5,000. i've yet to put brakes of the trailer but i can tell a difference in stopping time with or without the trailer from my truck to my neighbors stock 01 with 285's. with the wider tire i can tell a difference in turning and mantaining a straight line. more sidewall flex. i like 35's but a 265/75/16,approx. a 32x10.50, will be big enough for around the hunting club, give more better handling, have a 10 ply rating, and bring me more gearing back. also are alot more affordable. if i had 4:10's i would run 35's all day long. but for now i am looking into going back to a 265.

 

Bill...What size did you go to...and come from. Assuming harder ride..going to E's?
Do you know what sizes they come in....could find nothing on this?

RJ

 

Anyone seen this or have experience with one?

http://www.4x4Wire.com/toyota/tech/sipe/

Dave