285's and performance

Looking for people with 285's and feedback on how they perform on interstate speeds and uphill climbs. I love the look filling the wheel well but have not been able to convince myself there is any benefit for me other than looks. Yes I know everyone has a different setup and circumstances. I have hundreds of pounds added mods and load the truck down with hundreds of pounds gear when traveling.

Already I feel like it's a dog uphill climbs in the mountains or maintaing 80+ fully loaded in the plains. Maybe I will go 285 next set of tires I can do it easy with some minor trimming if anything. Regearing is an option but this would help lower end not interstate speeds. The struggle of having the rig a good balance off road and road trip interstate.

 

I just put Toyo AT3s on mine about 7k miles ago. I then headed from Illinois to Texas (highway) and then did 3 days of off roading at the Toyota Jamboree - We then headed to Colorado and head home tomorrow. Super quiet on highway 90 mph plus off roading in texas the performed so well. We also encountered about 18 inches of snow in colorado and they plowed right through it

 

How much weight have you added from stock?

 

My 4Runners are 5000lbs and 5060lbs. I don't feel any problems with light weight 285s. Recently when I was shopping for tires I looked closely on the weight of the tire. Hence I picked Toyo Open Country for been light weight and still have the features I want like 3 peak mountain snow flake symbol. But with light weight standard load tires I'm taking some risk offroad and I'm yet to put mine to test.

If you have additional weight I bet re-gearing would be a safer bet so you have room for heavy stronger 285s. If not many be 33in 255/80R17 might be an option. With relatively smaller contact patch than 285/70R17 it probably have less friction resulting not too hard as 285s I would guess.

 

Maybe re gear is needed to turn the bigger tires and weight. I have not been happy with the ride of heavier E rated tires when put them on my 2003 Tacoma. Thicker sidewall was better off road. The constant trade offs always looking for ideal balance.

 

Don’t know exactly but I added the roof rack and we load that up with easy 200 pounds. Then we have the rear hitch mount platform another 200 plus. I have the Eibach pro series 2 lift kit.

 

It’s great. When it needs a little more power I just press on the skinny pedal more.

 

If you are concerned about performance, or maintaining 80 mph plus speeds without constant downshifting, I do not recommend going up to 285s without a regear.

I have a set of LT/C 285/70/17 Toyo Open country AT3's and a set of LT/E 295/70/17 Yokohama Geolandar MT's. They're fine for the most part. But, the times I do wish I was re-geared most are off-road, and faster highway driving.

 

I learnt my lesson with 275/70R17 Load Es. I might had the worse case scenario because BFG KO2 are real 3 ply sidewall. Sold them at half the price. Never a Load E tire for me again.

 

I ran E load 285’s for a few years and now I’m running E load 265’s. I haven’t noticed a big difference between the two sizes other than my mileage improved 1-2 mpg with the 265’s.
With the 285’s, the speedometer reads correctly vs the 265’s which causes the speedometer to read 1 mph faster than actual speed.

My off-road capability has been exactly the same between the two tire sizes.

 

Is the only real downside of re gearing higher rpm at highway speeds- even worse mpg and faster engine wear. Other than the biggest problem convincing my wife I need to spend a couple grand to recoup power with gear ratio from mods I have "needed".

 

I wouldn't even be concerned about engine wear. If anything, I would think jumping back and forth between gears constantly will be harder on it than running at a slightly higher RPM. And, FWIW, I pretty much don't even use overdrive when I have the mud tires on. So, mine has been run at over 3,000 RPMs sometimes for hours on end.

 

Yes I agree the motor is bullet proof. I have always been taught the tranny does not like constant down shifts. Like when towing drop it out of overdrive.

 

Look into getting your 4runner tuned if your considering 285. It Really helped mine, Especially with gear hunting, 70-80mph highway cruising, and up hill low rpm torque.

Just a suggestion

 

I only have 10k on the truck and have tried to be careful weighing mods and chance of a warranty problem. Or I guess more dealer being able to blame a mod and deny warranty.

With a tune doesn't that really open up a lot more mechanical and transmission they could say tune caused whatever problem?

 

They probably could, but id think same with regearing it. Its a 5th gen 4runner, you really don't need a warranty lol.

 

285 x what? 70 r 17, 75 r 17? 18?...

 

Probably 70 r 17 keeping stock wheels.

 

I had the same questions as the OP and ended out with 255/75 17 KO2. Lighter weight, a shade over 32” and MPG performance close to stock. Off road, the narrower treadwidth has been perfect. No mods needed at that size. Only downside is the “Stance” does not look as Cool. I will probably replace with the same tire again when it is time. One other factor is my “petite” wife. With this size, she is at her max tolerance level for getting in the truck. (No lift).

 

285/70/17 should of came from factory. Pluses are many including the ride quality, minuses are few one of them been at stock height slight inner fender well rub while reversing and turning to full lock. Totally worth it.

 

I have had 285/70/17s for 30k miles. I get about 15.5mpg overall. Climbing at speed was mediocre and cruise control was awful with lots of hunting. I tried a few full tanks of 91 octane (highest at a majority of gas stations in washington) and it stops the cruise control hunting all most entirely and climbing at speed is now fine.