OK so being a noob to PNW terrain, I need some input

Putting new trail tires on the 4Runner - these will be for overlanding so will see quite a bit of highway miles also. Size will be under 32.0" (my max for chain clearance)

SO- Considering the elements, is a wide tire mandatory, especially for snow? My experience in the SW was tall skinny but the lesson here appears to be get on top of the snow not cut through it so much.

The debate I have is a tall skinny can be aired down for an elongated foot print, but do you need the larger foot print of an equal diameter tire in a wider tread?

Debate is between 265/75/16 (stock size) and 235/85/16,(narrower- which would clear chains better and possibly provide better mileage with less ground contact- these are load range E)

I am assuming mud grips are the only way to go? BFG TA KM

your input and observations are greatly appreciated

Oh, yea- where do you recommend buying in 98201 area, other than shopping price. I don't mind paying a little nore for a guy that has a magical intuition with wheel weights

Here's some reading for you.

I like skinny tires. My mud tires are 235/85/16's and I am about to swap to my "ski-season" tires; 215/85/16 Dunlop R/T's. I wish I could find a 32" mud tire in that narrow 215 width. What would that be? Like a 215/100/16

My last few sets of tires came from tirerack.com, but I always call in the order to a live person to figure out the best shipping option, then I have Les Schwab mount em cheap. I've had good luck with Discount Tire too, but they are a little too far North to be convenient for me (Hwy 99 in Edmonds).

First off...forget the wheel weights, they fall off on the trail especially when you have aired down. Use balancing beads (from www.innovativebalancing.com) they are ceramic and do not clump when wet. It is not always easy to keep water out of your tyres when filling from station pumps as many of them don't use a filter on the compressors. So the powder type balancing media is not the best for our type of tyres. I got rid of the weights years ago when I returned from a trail trip and noticed several were gone, I could  see the marks where some had gotten removed by rocks.

I have BFG MudTerrains 255/85/16 on the pinz, but  mine are 33's so that may be an issue for your application. I have a lot more clearance than you have on yours and there is no issue with room for the chains. The lugs are deep and work well on mud, snow and rocks, not real good on sand though. I have been told that they qualify for traction devices in the snow because of the deep lugs.

I also put tubes in my tubeless tyres as it is much easier to patch a tube. I had a deep dent in one rim that I bent back into position with a BFH and a pipe wrench but it would not hold air for long as it had a slow rim leak. Have not had a leak on that rim since I put in tubes. That is why I like steel rims and not the fancy Mag kind that many newer vehicles have, you can beat the steel kind back into shape after a serious rock dent.

Good luck with your choice of tyres, you will get  lots of information from everyone. I have never thought that thin tyres were good for anything but street use, but they are also probably less expensive.

Cheers

Good info, thanks guys! Gonna get out and get them today.

mmmm.... I love the smell of new tires. It's a shame you aren't mail ordering them so you could store them in your living room for a while. My wife always loves that part....

http://www.treadepot.com/index.html - one place to consider. I bought two sets of tires from them they shipped them promptly and prices were right. Currently they have free shipping, not a small thing to consider.

Alex, what leads you to the conclusion that the ceramic beads are a scam?  There are a lot of testimonials for these and the similar Equal tire balancer.

Thank you all for the input.

This tire size converter www.redrock4x4.com/tech/tire_calc.php also helped a lot- having actual dimensions gave me exactly the perspective I needed

decided on 265/75 as a good balance. The 235/85 was just too skinny for my rims and purposes, and were not in stock anywhere locally.
Went with 4w parts basically because they had them. Generally I avoid supporting the big companies... I was reminded why; discussed price over the phone before I went down, then was charged 200.00 above that. Counter guys finally sorted it out (and not sure still I got the right price in the end), but had I not caught it they would have happily let me walk out the door paying that extra money. Companies soon will need to really work to keep a customer, as it was in the 80's when I worked counters. Customer service attitudes like this, which seem so prevalent now, will prevent many struggling companies from surviving. I'll take my $ where its appreciated long term next time.
If someone on here has a relationship to 4w parts - I'll probably spend another 3 or 4 grand on this truck over the next year, and that company will not see any of it due to today's experience.

Grrrr ok that little hissy fit over,  here's the end result- with the BFG's I am happy. They fit both trucks nicely (I have two sets of 16" rims I share between the trucks, one with street tires now one with mud terrains). Next step is an OME for the Runner...

Kevan- yep, nothing like the smell of new rubber. Made me remember when I got my first set of monster mudders on my 61 Willys a very long time ago- brought the same smile to my face- its been a long road getting these vehicles in my life again.

Haven't tried them have you Alex?

Craig,

Yes, with the tyres mounted on, or off the vehicle with the tyre lying on the ground (easiest) of the methods for me.

There are several (two) ways to install the beads. Through the valve stem if you have tubes or while the tyre is still on the vehicle. Or by removing the tyres and breaking one bead of the tire and pouring the beads in and then rebeading the one side of the tyre. This would be preferred when changing out tyres on the existing rims as it is the quickest and easiest.

I did mine off the vehicle while they were on the ground at the same time I was adjusting the brakes, two birds with one stone.... The website for the beads gives several methods of installation and a offers a complete kit to install them with the proper valve cores to keep the beads from cloging the valves. They (beads) are very small and could in some instance possibly get in the standard valve to cause it to stay open.

I have had them in my tyres for years and like and prefer them to weights. The weights are too far in from the outer edge of big lug tyres and really only balance the rim. I have lug centric rims and I would have to purchase a special device to have them continually balanced at a tyre company and most places don't even understand lug centric vs the hub centric type of rim, which is the standard American rim configuration.

The beads ride against the inside of the outer portion of the tyre. Simple physics: as the tyre rotates the beads seak the off balance part and equalize the weight distribution of the tyre. There is a proper amount of beads to install and the folks at the company will work with you to make sure you have the right amount. Big lug tyres like mine may need a little more than a standard road tyres would.

Hope this helps  to understand why I prefer the beads and endorse them for on and off road driving.

Cheers