Cooper S/T Maxx now comes in 255/85, thats about the closest thing to A/T you'll find from a big name company.

But yes, there needs to be more A/T options... I was going to go this size on my truck but have decided to go 285 as even the Maxx is a bit aggressive for an 80%-20% rig. Going with 285 AT3 as my next tire...

 

Thanks for the reply... the Cooper Discoverer S/T was the only one I was finding. The S/T Maxx looks similar but slightly more aggressive. The S/T are a load range D so not as heavy as the S/T Maxx. The N speed rating on the S/T is a little worrying though!

 

Toyo M-55 also comes is 255/85

 

Thanks, those look really nice, except for the price!

 

It's a shame for sure, but there are only two choices, Mud-Terrains and Commercial Traction tires (M-55 and Cooper S/T). Nobody stocks them either, so you have to have them shipped regardless. That being said, I really want to move to 255/85R16 tires when I replace my current ones. I like that they belong on a 7" wide wheel versus the 285's and are often a little taller as well.

 

I had found this thread earlier which lists some of the options. It's a little out of date but some of it still applies.

You won't like the Maxxis MT-762 Bighorn then, either.

I wasn't seeing the Toyo's for less than $300 per tire, but that Maxxis is available for <$200, so it's not that bad. But I'm not really wanting an MT tire, more like an AT.

I really wanted to run 255/85's but decided not to due to the lack of availability and choices. I don't ever want to be in a situation where I have to wait weeks for a replacement

After having 285's, I don't regret it at all and wouldn't even consider 255's except for a dedicated snow/winter tire. Can't beat tall and skinny for that.

It sounds like there is demand for this size, but lack of availability has pushed almost everyone to the 285 size. I'm still curious why there are so few option in the 255.

One thing I was thinking about was vehicle weight. In the old Expeditions West article I posted originally, he's using these tires on a 2004 Tacoma. That weighs around 15% less than an Xterra. On the other hand there are full size trucks that weigh much more than ours that use the 255/85's, so there goes that theory.

Maybe it's just everyone buying into bigger = better? Usually the simplest explanation is the right one.

 

I really wanted to run 255/85's but decided not to due to the lack of availability and choices. I don't ever want to be in a situation where I have to wait weeks for a replacement

After having 285's, I don't regret it at all and wouldn't even consider 255's except for a dedicated snow/winter tire. Can't beat tall and skinny for that.


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Back in the late '80's- early 90's, Chevy came out with the S-10 pick up with a Baja trim. I'm remembering that having tall skinny tires. I wonder if those were 255's?

 

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2665/dealerrpo1pt9.jpg

Looks like they were 235/75R-15.

 

Maybe it's just everyone buying into bigger = better? Usually the simplest explanation is the right one.

I think that is the answer... Demand. Most people like the big/wide look even if they never roll off the pavement. (fashionista's)

I like tall/skinny tires; slightly less weight, less problems with rubbing, I don't do serious crawling, I don't mud, I'm not in beach sand, I do more mountain trail driving, ...

Wide does help certain areas.

 

^^^ nice find!

 

Not ATs but I run KM2 255/80r17 on the trails and they do just fine. They drive ok the street for an mt.... but yeah, not too many options for 255s. Sad because they work fine, are taller, and weigh less then 285s.

 

Those are very high contenders for my next set of tires. How are they wearing?

 

Great article, thanks for posting.

I would guess the reason skinnier tires are not that popular is right in the article under the Benefits of a wide tire:

The smoother and wider a tire is, the better it will perform in sand, as the width creates flotation and the smoother tread displaces less sand under (horizontal) acceleration (shearing force). The same influences apply with snow and mud. If the snow and mud are deeper than 110% of the vehicles minimum ground clearance, than it is better to run a wide tire, aired down and have the vehicle “float” on the surface.

So, wide tires are better in sand, deep snow and deep mud, which is where the vast majority of people who actually care about tires drive.

So while it may not be what you need, tires are produced in volume for the masses. The number of people that can benefit from skinny tires, and are knowledgeable to know that, are probably a fairly small number. So unfortunately our skinny options are limited.

 

I think the lengthening of the contact patch from lowering PSI makes more of a difference than going to a slightly wider tire, but yeah at a given PSI the wider tire will have a bit more surface area. Also, "safety and handling" (read lower liability) as also described in the article benefits is a compelling reason for tire companies to promote the wider tires.

And yes companies make what people will buy, which leads us to:

I would say wide popularity is mostly for looks. And the wider ones do look good. I get a little jealous when someone else shows up with a 285 km2s or god forbid km2s in any 35 size. I want them!

I do think on sand I would rather have wide tire but everywhere else I have driven (mud, rocks, snow, dirt) it really doesn't make a difference. You could quote all this "scientific" evidence one way or the other but the reality is my truck plods along no mater which set it has on. The only thing that really affects performance is how well it cleans out mud. Once those ATs fill up with mud, they are like racing slicks. Otherwise, drive what you like.

The wider tires do look good. I still think that's most of the answer to the original question.

Good point on the AT's and mud. The mud here in Utah is pretty bad stuff, I try to avoid it when I can!

 

I would say wide popularity is mostly for looks. And the wider ones do look good. I get a little jealous when someone else shows up with a 285 km2s or god forbid km2s in any 35 size. I want them!

I do think on sand I would rather have wide tire but everywhere else I have driven (mud, rocks, snow, dirt) it really doesn't make a difference. You could quote all this "scientific" evidence one way or the other but the reality is my truck plods along no mater which set it has on. The only thing that really affects performance is how well it cleans out mud. Once those ATs fill up with mud, they are like racing slicks. Otherwise, drive what you like.

 

That's funny. What's old is new again.

I've run a narrower tire on my 4x4 work trucks for years, as I always felt they got better traction, especially under a load going into some pretty inaccessible areas. Sometimes dragging a 20 ft. pipe trailer behind me.

My Dad always lamented that he couldn't get 8.00 width bias ply tires with split rims anymore. I wonder when those are going to make a come back?

I do like those 255 tires. I run commercial grade 235/85/16 BF Goodrich Rugged Trails on my 3/4 ton Chevy work truck, which I get from my (commercial) tire supplier. They have been very good tires for the abuse I put them through, which in any typical day could be sandy river bottom or rocky, mountainous cell tower "roads", combined with a 60 mile/per day commute. (Funny story there, involving my pickup and a Jeep climbing a hill to get on a job site. Jeep kept spinning out and gave up after several tries, and I cruised on up the hill without spinning my tires.)

I don't think I'd want to run that narrow of a tire on my X, though. The wider 255-265 tires would be better for stability on pavement at the speeds the X can travel. It's not like we are driving vehicles with top speeds of 45 mph.

 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...+A/T4W&width=255/&ratio=85&diameter=16&cameFrom=selectSize&partnum=585SR6WPAT4W Might be my next set of tires.

 

Those weigh 58 lbs. My current tires are Cooper ST Maxx in 255/85/16, which also weigh 58lbs. I love the size but IMHO that's just too much tire for our xterras. I'll likely go back to 265/75/16 on my next set.

 

has anything broken or just worried about gas mileage?