285/ 70 or 75? That's the question.

[Wayne M.]

OK. I'm done with Michelin. I don't like how the AT2's wore for me. I'm really liking the Terra Grapplers, but I'm uncertain about the few versions out there and the aspect ratio of 70 or 75. I'm pretty sold on 285 size. Any opinion and experience greatly appreciated! Lets hear what you have! I'm mostly highway, need good snow traction, and MUST be quiet.

Thanks.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I have Toyo AT that are 17 285/75's. It did lower my RPM at highway speeds by about 200 resulting in kind of a mixed bag for towing. It obviously makes OD a little tall if your towing heavy unless you have a lot of power. The good thing is it seems to make 5th gear much more usable which is especially handy in the hills.

 

[Wayne M.]

I have Toyo AT that are 17 285/75's. It did lower my RPM at highway speeds by about 200 resulting in kind of a mixed bag for towing. It obviously makes OD a little tall if your towing heavy unless you have a lot of power. The good thing is it seems to make 5th gear much more usable which is especially handy in the hills.

Good start! That's what I was looking to hear.

 

[Superdawg]

I have about 20k on the Hankook Dynapro ATM 17 285/70. I occasionally tow a 10k trailer. I have been very impressed with the ice traction. They are relatively quiet and handle well on the highway for the somewhat aggressive tread pattern. I don't have enough miles to see how well they hold up in the long run. I am optimistic though.
I am pretty sure these are 1" taller and 1" wider than stock. Fits the wheel well better but is noticeable when towing. Much better at 75 mph when unloaded.
I wish I would have bought these for my Landcruiser when I put new shoes on it.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Good start! That's what I was looking to hear.

Thx, I guess the bottom line is if I towed heavy - maybe 10K or much more, I would stick with the 70 series.

 

[wyosteve]

I had the 285/75 Terra Grapplers on my 04.5 and on my 2012 until about a month ago. I went with the 75 because I wanted a bit taller tire than the 70's. With them, my speedo was off (read slower) by about 6%. They do ok in the snow. Not great, but ok. Same thing in mud. I just went back to the BFG AT KO's a couple weeks ago. The Terra Grapplers didn't get the mileage I expected compared to the BFG's. I got around 35 k out of a set and have been getting 50 to 55k out of the BFG's. I also wanted a better snow tire than the Terras. Just my .02!

 

[photowrite]

OK. I'm done with Michelin. I don't like how the AT2's wore for me. I'm really liking the Terra Grapplers, but I'm uncertain about the few versions out there and the aspect ratio of 70 or 75. I'm pretty sold on 285 size. Any opinion and experience greatly appreciated! Lets hear what you have! I'm mostly highway, need good snow traction, and MUST be quiet.

Thanks.

There is lots of general tire info and commentary on my neglected blog linked in my signature. I have no specific expirence with Nitto but some with the sister brand, Toyo. Though they are niche sizes with few tread choices, I really like that Nitto/Toyo offers the 285/75R17 and 285/75R18 sizes. These 34" and 35" tall tires help fill a big void in the taller but narrower tire arena for modern trucks that must run 17- or 18-inch wheels. I've been a long-time fan of the 33" 255/85R16 size, but they are only 33" tall and won't fit many newer trucks. The 275/70R18 is possibly a reasonably narrow replacement for a 255/8x, with a great load capacity, but again only 33" tall.

It will be months before I able to publish anything, but this winter I'll mount and start testing a set of Toyo A/T II treads in the 285/75R18 size on my '14 2500, 6.7L CTD, 6-speed G56, with 3.42:1 gears project truck. One of my hopes is that the minor width increase over the OE 275s combined with the 2-inch overall taller height and resulting final drive change will cancel each other, and mpg will not be negatively impacted, or only slightly. We shall see. My observations will be published in a review on www.expeditionportal.com and in the Turbo Diesel Register magazine.

Happy tire shopping.

 

[Regcabguy]

I like the 34" tall 285-75-17's but in spite of the high rpm g-56,I did experience a slight loss in mpg and power. I simply cranked Smarty up another notch. The constant camper load compounds the issue too.
That 285-75-18 is a neat size with a very generous 3900# load capacity.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I just bought a set of Nitto G2's. The new generation has a treadwear warranty, new compound and siping.

 

[photowrite]

Added text

I like the 34" tall 285-75-17's but in spite of the high rpm g-56,I did experience a slight loss in mpg and power. I simply cranked Smarty up another notch. The constant camper load compounds the issue too.
That 285-75-18 is a neat size with a very generous 3900# load capacity.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the 35" 18s on my '14 G56, 3.42:1 truck... Likely the same as you, a slight loss in power and mpg. Initially I'll test empty, baseline highway numbers, and later hope I can do the same with a camper. And agreed on the carrying capacity, tons for a SRW application.

 

[JR]

About a year and 15k on my Nitto TG 285/75/17. Kind of hard to do a fair comparison because the last few sets of tires have been mud terrains so obviously I did lose some traction capabilities. I would give them an OK rating in the mud unless you get into clay then it's game over and time to call for reinforcements. Last winter we saw record amounts of snowfall and record low temps and the only time I ever needed 4wheel drive was to get out of the drive and onto the main roads But then back to 2wheel. My commute is 25 miles of rural roads that are rarely plowed at 430am.

Just my opinion, but I think the 285/75 looks better than the 70. The 70 series sidewall looks like it bulges out on the wheel more, 75 looks a little taller and narrower. I wish there was a better selection out there in this size.

 

[98ramtough]

I have had 3 sets of Toyo AT2 285/75/17 tires. Love them. The new "extreme" AT2 give it just a little nicer more aggressive look. I think they changed the rubber compound a bit as I seem to be getting better miles with the AT2 vs the older AT. Used to get about 45k miles out of the AT, now with the AT2 They seem to wear similar to michelins. I expect to get 75k miles out of them, unless they are getting bald during summer then I might get up to 90k.

 

[Wayne M.]

Thanks for the input guys! I guess I have the aspect nailed. I like the 75's. Now I have to consider brand. I thought I was sold on the Nit's. I'm thinking anything on the thread here is more aggressive than the mich AT2 that are coming off.

 

[jgillott]

Thanks for the input guys! I guess I have the aspect nailed. I like the 75's. Now I have to consider brand. I thought I was sold on the Nit's. I'm thinking anything on the thread here is more aggressive than the mich AT2 that are coming off.

I'm with you on ditching the Michelins. I had several sets of AT2's on the 04.5 that were a disappointment. I tried a set of MS2's on the 1/2 last year. Got just over 24K on them before they were gone. I had one blow out while driving down the road. There wasn't enough left of it to see if there was a nail or something in it, but it has been years since I had a tire grenade like that.

Except for this last set of MS2's, I've been running Firestones now. I've had really good service out of them and I went back to a Destination AT on the 1/2 ton to replace the Michelins.

 

[LFalconer]

Nitto's

I'm with you on ditching the Michelins. I had several sets of AT2's on the 04.5 that were a disappointment. I tried a set of MS2's on the 1/2 last year. Got just over 24K on them before they were gone. I had one blow out while driving down the road. There wasn't enough left of it to see if there was a nail or something in it, but it has been years since I had a tire grenade like that.

Except for this last set of MS2's, I've been running Firestones now. I've had really good service out of them and I went back to a Destination AT on the 1/2 ton to replace the Michelins.

I have had 2 sets of the Nitto Terra Grappler 285 / 70 R17 LR E on my 2006 in sig. Tows great - with heavy gooseneck loaded with hay, good hiway manners. Stays balanced. Road noise minimal. It is not a mud tire per se, but in fields, hunting etc, never have been stuck. I just put a set of the G2's on 20's on the 2006 in the 275/65R20, a bit better in the rain, fine in the mud. I put a pair of 265/70 R 17 on the front of my Ford Dually about 6 months ago.

Never had any tire failures, the original Nitto Terra Grapplers did wear in 35K, not fully out but with winter oncoming replaced them. Personally from my experience with BFG All Terrains this tire is a better value, and does not require rebalancing like the BFG's. I am north of 55 years old and have driven pickups towing and hauling for years. I have recommend the Nitto Terra Grapplers G2's to friends and they as well are impressed.

Best price I found on the 285/70 R 17 was 229 recently.

Luke

 

[BillDriscoll]

I have about 20K on the Nitto Durra Grapplers. 285/75/17 I will probably never put an AT type tire back on my truck. No need while living in FL and I dont offroad. Went to MI in the snow and the tires did fine. Very quite compared to the Terra Grapplers or other AT type tires. They wear nice and even. Rotate and balance every 5K from Dis**** tire.
Th bad...I have 4.10 rear end, so these are great for extending the gear ratio, 70mph is 2K, but the best fuel milage I get is about 17.5, wonder if there being heavier hinders the fuel mileage

 

[Regcabguy]

I have about 20K on the Nitto Durra Grapplers. 285/75/17 I will probably never put an AT type tire back on my truck. No need while living in FL and I dont offroad. Went to MI in the snow and the tires did fine. Very quite compared to the Terra Grapplers or other AT type tires. They wear nice and even. Rotate and balance every 5K from Dis**** tire.
Th bad...I have 4.10 rear end, so these are great for extending the gear ratio, 70mph is 2K, but the best fuel milage I get is about 17.5, wonder if there being heavier hinders the fuel mileage

I've got essentially the same axle ratio with my G-56 and 3.73's. If I ever chuck my camper,the 285-75-18's are looking good. Too tall for the camper weight. I'm @ 2000 rpm at 65 mpg with 285-75-17 AT's.

 

[Kry226]

I prefer the 75 ratio, but I've also only had that over 70.

I had a set of Terra Grapplers which I loved and I got about 41K on them. I towed with them and they did well. But I'm getting older and appreciating the finer things of silent rides these days, so I've moved on to Dura Grapplers in the same 285/75/17E size.

They're awesome, quiet and smooth, and have plenty of traction for me even in winter weather (they did just fine during last year's Polar Vortex x3 we had in Maryland). No issues in the snow and ice.

Best of luck in your tire shopping.

 

[Cooper_D]

I too have mixed feelings about the Michelin AT2's, but they have better traction than the factory M/S. I could not pull out of wet grass with the factory tires unless I put it into 4 wheel drive.

Which tire/rim combination are most of you guys getting on your 2015? 17in 18in or 20in rim? Which rides the best?

I never purchased aftermarket rims for my 06 because of the limited availability of wheels with the proper backspace is this still an issue with the new 2015's?

 

[photowrite]

I have had 3 sets of Toyo AT2 285/75/17 tires. Love them. The new "extreme" AT2 give it just a little nicer more aggressive look. I think they changed the rubber compound a bit as I seem to be getting better miles with the AT2 vs the older AT. Used to get about 45k miles out of the AT, now with the AT2 They seem to wear similar to michelins. I expect to get 75k miles out of them, unless they are getting bald during summer then I might get up to 90k.

Wow, that is fantastic wear you are getting our of your AT IIs, 75,000+ is some serious milage for that tire. But 45,000 from the previous version sounds like you are a light and smooth driver. I've heard and read many reports of much less wear from the gen. 1 Toyo AT.