BFG Tire Size 275-285's

[Dan150 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dan150]

Hi Everyone,

Have been reading the forum for a while but this is my first post, my question is on tire sizes.

I have recently sold a fully equipped Nissan Patrol GU that was running 285/70/17’s BFG Mud Terrains and purchased a 12/2010 GXL Prado. I have the Prado booked in at ARB later this month to have OME Suspension, IPF Lights, Deluxe Winch Bar (color coded), GME UHF, Duel Battery System and Snorkel fitted.

(I will add photo’s in the build up section in due time.)

My question is on what tires to fit, I can get 275/65/17’s fairly quickly but don’t know if these will look too small with the OME Suspension (2” lift), but am hesitant to get 285/70/17’s.

Although I was doing a reasonable amount of off road work in my Patrol I am unsure how much I will be doing in the Prado, although I have decided on BFG All Terrains for the Prado I still want the clearance and the off road ability if needed.

I guess my question is 275 or 285’s?

Will 275’s look too small, will 285’s be too big, are there any forum members running 285’s on a 150 series that could provide some advice?

Thanks

Dan

[Dan150 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dan150]

Hi Roo,

Have a mate with a tire shop, I initially ordered the 275's from him and was told that they arrived in Australia last week (confirmed) and will be in store within the next week or so.

Just unsure if the 275’s will be large enough for my purposes or if they will suit the Prado.

[LargeInAPrado Member Find all posts View Profile Close LargeInAPrado]

ive got 275.65.17 on mine with the OME 2' lift... I think they look great, my 6 year old says i need bigger tyres , what would he know ;o)

anyway the 285.70's would be massive

http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

[8608 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close 8608]

have you looked at a 265/70/17? i have a friend who has the OME 2" in his 150, and the 265/70's still look ok. 285's will need a different off set wheel to fit on your 150.

[adamr7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close adamr7]

275/70/17s available by a hand full of manufacturers. I am facing the same problem, but reckon this is the way to go. I had 285/70/17s on the 120 series.

[Dan150 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dan150]

Hi Adamr7,

Thanks for your reply; I will look into the 275/70/17's.

Just out of interest, how did you find the 285's on the 120 series? were they too big? How did they affect fuel economy etc?

Thanks

Dan150

[andoland Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close andoland]

I have 265/70/17 BFG's on mine with OME suspention and I reckon it looks great. These are 31.8" diameter which is just over an inch bigger than the standard 265/65/17's. The 275/65's are 31.2" which are bigger than standard but not by much. The 275/70's are bigger again at 32.2" diameter so would look good. This size is definitely not too small - we get a lot of comments about how big our Prado looks because of the lift and tyres.

So I would recommend either the 265/70's or 275/70's as a good size from a looks perspective. If you go for the 275's you will need to put a spacer on the spare tyre bracket because it will touch the door. My 265/70's touch the door in one spot.

[mudguts_ Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mudguts_]

Has anyone seen the new Cooper ST Maxx!!!!! what a sexy looking tyre and from the reports in the STATES this is going to be the tyre to beat on and off road

They have just been realesed so there is plenty of stock.

My advice is go for the 265/70r17 perfect size with a 2" lift.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Hi

I have an OME 2" lift and fitted Mickey Thompson ATZ's 265/70/17 and they look good, their a great compromise as their wet on road performance is the best I have had from semi aggresive tyres, off road can't fault them.

Regards, Richo.

PS: Mudguts I'll keep an eye out for you we are at Thornlands white 150, white ARB bar.

[JenRich Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JenRich]

Fitting 265/70R17 to a 2010 Prado 150 GXl etc

Hi

Been reading with interest and as far as I am aware it is illegal to fit 265/70R17 to a vehicle with 265/65R17 as standard as the tyre diameter increases by over 26mm (from 776mm to 802mm) which is beyond the legal limit of 15mm. I hope I am wrong as fitting 265/70R17 would make my life a whole lot easier as getting good tyres for a 265/70R17 is almost impossible. Nobody makes them.

I have just had the 2" lift completed and now looking for tyres (well been trying to maske up my mind regarding tyres for some time now. Have now (almost) settled for Mickey Thompson STZs and I am fitting thejm all round - car and trailer.

Regards

Richard

[mudguts_ Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mudguts_]

JenRich,

Your right in what you say..............but the new law is just around the corner, which means you will be able to increase your overall diameter by 50mm.
Queensland has already signed off on the new law but were just waiting for NSW to do such (1st june) i am in the industry which is why i know.

There has been heaps of testing with the dept. of transport at QLD raceway with lifted 4X4's and larger tyres and all of them out performed vehicles of a standard nature.

So just hang in there.

[alternative Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close alternative]

Has anyone seen the new Cooper ST Maxx!!!!! what a sexy looking tyre and from the reports in the STATES this is going to be the tyre to beat on and off road

Looks the part anyway.

[JenRich Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JenRich]

JenRich,

Your right in what you say..............but the new law is just around the corner, which means you will be able to increase your overall diameter by 50mm.
Queensland has already signed off on the new law but were just waiting for NSW to do such (1st june) i am in the industry which is why i know.

There has been heaps of testing with the dept. of transport at QLD raceway with lifted 4X4's and larger tyres and all of them out performed vehicles of a standard nature.

So just hang in there.

Hey Mudguts. Thanks a heap, so after the 1st June should all be ready to go to 265/70R17 YEAH.

Thanks

[stewy Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close stewy]

G'day Folks,

Would have to agree with Mudguts_, keep an eye on the laws cause they are changing soon.
As Richo suggests, a 2 inch lift and 265/70/17 is a perfect combo and I can't complain either with this setup.
At least my speedo reads accurately now with the 265/70's too.

On tyre sizes in general though. Yesterday, I spotted a 120series which looked a little on the high side when the lady passe me in traffic. Down the road I had a better look and noticed that the tyre aspect looked a bit on the tall side compared to my MickeyThompsons.
Taking a closer look from my cockpit, the Brand and Size she was running with was a Cooper ATR in 275/70/17 on stock rims.
The clearance under the diffs was greatly impoved. I had to check Coopers website when I got home to check if this Tyre Size was correct and I wasn't just seeing things as it appeared like an odd size for a 17 to which I had never seen before. Others though in this thread have mentioned this new size aswell.

But sure enough, it is a listed size on Coopers website. This diameter works out to be 818mm.
And a 41mm gain over the standard Grandtreks of 265/65/17. In the end it's just over a 5% gain.

I must say that this size did fill the guards a bit more. Makes me wonder what 285's would look like?

cheers

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Hi Folks

Another thing to think about is with the Mickey Thompsons and the lift on my 150 (which is actually more than 50mm on the front), on full lock the tyres miss the back of the front inner guards by just a few millimetres, so wide and larger than 265/70/17's may start causing clearance issues and rubbing.

Regards, Richo.