Torn Between 315/70R17 or 35x11.5x17

[amadeus303]

Thanks man...that's actually super helpful.

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[amadeus303]

If one is C rated and the other is D or E then the C is lighter in weight.

On the road, the wider the tire the more you're going to feel cracks, seams, tar snakes and the tire will try to follow them.

If you're not going off road, get the lightest tire you can.

If you're going to be off roading, you want the strongest side wall you can get (E).

I think you just helped me decide. I do some very light off road stuff on the weekends when I can, but right now, I use my truck for work, getting my kids to school/sports/activities, and truck type stuff for around the house. For my use case, I think 11.5s make the most sense.

 

[Ferg]

Those look great...those are 315s or 11.5?

11.5

 

[kevman65]

Now, I run Toyo RT in 35 x 12.5. I like the tire, but starting not to now that the tread is wearing away.

In an AT, BFG KO3 (new tires) may be lighter than the Toyo. Might want to take a look at them before you jump.

 

[amadeus303]

Now, I run Toyo RT in 35 x 12.5. I like the tire, but starting not to now that the tread is wearing away.

In an AT, BFG KO3 (new tires) may be lighter than the Toyo. Might want to take a look at them before you jump.

I actually looked at them...early reviews weren't actually very good, but I chalked that up to "high expectations". However, they're impossible to find in 35s. Tire Rack only has them in 285/70R17 and Discount Tire says they're "coming in August 2024".

Based on the specs for a 315/70R17, they weigh 70 lbs...so significantly more than the K02 in the same size, and obviously significantly more than the stock Falken MTs.

The K02 and the AT3 were the 2 tires I had narrowed my choices down to. The only reason I finally decided on the Toyo is because I had read so many good things about the tire, and I've had both the K02 and KM3 on past rides...figured I'd try them and find out if the hype is/was legit.

 

[kevman65]

I actually looked at them...early reviews weren't actually very good, but I chalked that up to "high expectations". However, they're impossible to find in 35s. Tire Rack only has them in 285/70R17 and Discount Tire says they're "coming in August 2024".

Based on the specs for a 315/70R17, they weigh 70 lbs...so significantly more than the K02 in the same size, and obviously significantly more than the stock Falken MTs.

The K02 and the AT3 were the 2 tires I had narrowed my choices down to. The only reason I finally decided on the Toyo is because I had read so many good things about the tire, and I've had both the K02 and KM3 on past rides...figured I'd try them and find out if the hype is/was legit.

My observations about Toyo, and again these are RT's not AT's.

Have had them on for 3.5 years, less than 15,000 miles on them. They have lost half or more of tread. As they have worn down they have become harder and have less traction on cold roads or wet roads.

I will be changing to KO3's when the 37's come out.

 

[Geoarch]

I think I've finally decided on new tires for my wheels - going with the Toyo Open Country AT3...but I'm torn on whether to go with 315/70R17 or 35x11.5x17. For my use case, the JTM is primarily a daily driver with some occasional light trail and over landing. It rarely, if ever, sees any rock crawling, etc. I don't tow anything.

Can anyone help me decide one way or the other? I like the lighter weight of the skinny tires, and I assume the skinny tires would also be slightly better in rain and snow. Both also measure at the same 34.5 inches. Is the only real advantage to the wider tire better dry traction and aesthetics?

If it matters, my wheels are 17x8 +12 w/ 4.97 backspacing.

I would recommend the Goodyear Ultraterrains (only from Discount) 35/12.50 17s. E2 I've used them on my Tacomas and now JTR in snow, ice, rain, and desert (I live in NM), and they only weigh 68 lbs.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I would recommend the Goodyear Ultraterrains (only from Discount) 35/12.50 17s. E2 I've used them on my Tacomas and now JTR in snow, ice, rain, and desert (I live in NM), and they only weigh 68 lbs.

I’ve had those tires for almost 40k miles now and they’ve been great. Still lots of tread. They’re fairly inexpensive too.

 

[Geoarch]

I’ve had those tires for almost 40k miles now and they’ve been great. Still lots of tread. They’re fairly inexpensive too.

This is my third set (2 Tacoma's and this JTR). I just had them in 4' of snow and they did well. I ran Goodrich TAKOs for years, but I'd never go back. The Ultraterrains are better in our monsoon rains in the summer as well. I have 14,000 on this set and can't tell.

 

[mjg4xe]

Oh...I was referring to the 35x11.5x17 as the "skinny" tires since they'll fit on a 7.5" rim.

My bad! Misread what you said. One additional thing to note that I haven’t seen mentioned yet - the 11.5 will be closer aligned to your fender line while the 70R17 will “poke” out more. Based on your offset, would be about the same as the Xtreme Recon Wranglers. If you don’t like “poke”, you could get the fender flares to extend the inch out.

 

[amadeus303]

I would recommend the Goodyear Ultraterrains (only from Discount) 35/12.50 17s. E2 I've used them on my Tacomas and now JTR in snow, ice, rain, and desert (I live in NM), and they only weigh 68 lbs.

Went to go check them out...only 1 in stock w/ no expected restock date yet, so unfortunately it's a moot point.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Wide tire type guys will not like this, but …
I would not say wide(r) tires have “better dry traction.” It is all about pounds per square inch.

I love when people use moab/sand hollow performance to show how great a tire grips. It's literally the highest traction surface you'll ever wheel on. Any tire works there. We wheel 5k+ lb rigs, you'll never find a tire so wide that you aren't getting enough lbs per square inch to get traction. Drag cars run massive and wide tires on ultra light vehicles and get the best dry traction you'll ever witness. Try that skinny tire on something with some horsepower on a loose type of terrain and even dry it will just dig. Sure you can run those wagon wheels on a vehicle that weighs 2k lbs and make 60hp, but none of that applies to a JT.

 

[amadeus303]

Got the 315/70.....wished I got the 35 11.5. Also in the tires I have looked at, the 35 11.5 ones were closer to actually being 35s

Out of curiosity, why the regret?

 

[OffAxis2021]

I love when people use moab/sand hollow performance to show how great a tire grips. It's literally the highest traction surface you'll ever wheel on. Any tire works there. We wheel 5k+ lb rigs, you'll never find a tire so wide that you aren't getting enough lbs per square inch to get traction. Drag cars run massive and wide tires on ultra light vehicles and get the best dry traction you'll ever witness. Try that skinny tire on something with some horsepower on a loose type of terrain and even dry it will just dig. Sure you can run those wagon wheels on a vehicle that weighs 2k lbs and make 60hp, but none of that applies to a JT.

The OP by his own admission, is not doing an extensive amount of offroading. Never any rock crawling. Wide(r) tires are really only better when and where flotation is needed. Offroad deep sand/snow and watery mud holes. Wide(r) tires are are just not practical for a daily driver. Even worse on mentioned wet/snow road conditions. Lane groove wandering too even.
Ultra high horsepower drag cars? Stability has nothing to do with their use of wide tires, I’m sure.
The “wagon wheel” video clip is “for entertainment purposes only.”
Seemingly found the wide tire guy.
?

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