So I am at about 31K on my stock GY Wranglers. There's still a good bit of tread left but I am noticing a loss of performance, especially on wet roads. I have long decided that I want to replace them with the Falken Wildpeak's when it came to it, however, I thought I was going to go with the A/T3's. Turns out, they are just starting to put out the new and improved A/T4's... I was a little bummed out about getting them (4's) when they are still a newly introduced tire, but the more I have been looking at them and waiting for them, I don't really mind. In fact, I'm pretty excited about them! But, much like when I ordered my truck (22MY) I had a long wait... which made me start debating options. It's kind of like that with the tires...

I had decided I wanted to go with a 285/75/18 size, but the more I sit here and wait, the more I have been considering the 295/70/18's. I'm pretty sure I would be happy with either... but while I sit here and wait for either size to be available, I figured I would have a little fun and do a poll... and yes, I know this has been hashed out many times before... and I'm sure some will post links back to those threads, and that's fine. This is just something to mull over until one or the other is released...

So anyway, I settled on the 285 because it is a taller tire, closer to an actual 35" tire, which would fill more of the wheel well, and this is what I really wanted. (I do have the snow plow front end, so it's sorta lifted/leveled, but I'm not putting anything bigger than a 35" tire.) The 285 is slightly wider than the stock GY tire I have now, but not as wide as the 295 tire. I do think a little wider tire will look better, and while the 285 isn't as wide as the 295, it isn't far off... The 285 weighs a couple of pounds less (each) than the 295, but the 285 is about $50 more expensive (each) than the 295 tire. And while I imagine I will get about the same mpg on both tires, I do wonder if the 285 will have a slight advantage over the 295 due to it being narrower, and lighter... Other than that, they both have the same tread depth, warranties, sidewalls, etc...

As for the 295's, they are about 3/4" shorter, which will fill more wheel well space than my current stock GY's, but not as much as the 285's. And while I do plan to adjust the speedometer with Forscan, the shorter wheel will be closer to the OE speed... although, changing it via Forscan is just as easy no matter the size. Of course the 295's are wider though by just over 1/2", and they are also heavier than the 285's (by 2 lbs each). The best part of the 295's are that they are $50 less expensive each (so $200 less total) and I am seeing the 295 size already listed on some sites (like Tire Rack & Discount Tire - however, I cannot actually schedule an install date on them, so that makes me think they aren't available yet, but they are scheduled to become available soon). One other bonus to the slightly wider 295's is that we will most likely be relocating to New Mexico later this year, and if so, we will likely find ourselves not on paved roads quite so much. Now I know this isn't a mud tire and I don't intend to treat it as such, but I imagine a slightly wider tire would do better "off-road"... in this case maybe about as much better as the narrower 285 tire having a slight advantage of better fuel mileage... not enough to matter, but enough to say it could... LOL!

I am leaning towards ordering them from Discount Tire. The closest one to me is about 50 miles, but I can plan to have them installed first thing in the morning and then spend the rest of the day in Pensacola with my wife. (For this reason I am not considering a 35x12.5 size, - they won't install them on the stock size rims, not to mention the extra cost of this size.) I can also use a Discount Tire card to save 5%. However, the "protection plan" from DT is expensive... About $280 for 4 of these tires... so I am pretty certain I won't be adding that... but, at that price point, I have considered getting a 5th tire for my spare. The only problem with that is that I don't know if I would be able to fit the spare under the bed. I have read that some have under inflated their larger aftermarket tires so that they will fit in this space... And this also makes me lean towards the 295 size more... not only are they less expensive, but it is a slightly smaller diameter, which may lend itself to fitting in the spare tire area better. And 5 of the 295's will only be a little more than 4 of the 285's... ($1,576 vs $1,730, so $160 more for 5 295's). I will admit though, the spare under the truck now has never been used, and less than 3 years old... the only downside is that it is a 33.2" tire, so it would be just over an inch shorter than the 295 tire... it would hurt my feelings to get rid of a perfectly good tire though...

So, the poll is 285 vs 295. But a few other questions:

"Protection Plan" Yes/No
Extra Spare. Yes/No

Also, I have considered ordering from Tire Rack. The tires are the same price at both places, but Discount has more fees added in. With Tire Rack, I can have them shipped to me for free and then take them anywhere I want and have them installed (so more $$ there...) The problem is, I don't know who's any good and who's not where I am... and it's just easier to have them shipped to the place that will install them so I can just drive in and then drive out. One option via Tire Rack is a Pep Boys near me, but I am not sure how I feel about them installing my tires on my truck... saying that, they did have to install a set on my wife's car on a Sunday and besides over tightening the lugs and leaving the tires with the goop all on them, we haven't had any issues...

So, what's everyones thoughts on Discount Tire vs Tire Rack? I know that's a loaded question since it really just depends on who's doing the job at any of these places. Which leads me into my final question, does anyone have any experience with the Discount Tire in Pensacola, FL?

And lastly, here's a pic of my truck! (With the stock tires... of course. I think it's going to look better with the new A/T4's!)

 

I don’t think the truck is tall enough for the 285, my opinion.

A taller sized 295 would be better. Cooper AT3 runs taller in that size, maybe a good happy medium if there is any conflicting thoughts.

 

I'd go taller. I put 285/75-18 Yokohama XDs on my SD. They measure out to 35". Not wide enough to throw mud and rocks all down the side either.

I'm not a huge fan of Discount Tire or Tire Rack. The DT where I live tries to aggressively upsell you. I got mine from Simple Tire and had a local shop mount them.

 

Being that these come with the 285's on a Tremor (which isn't any bigger than mine) do you think that a 285 (35) just looks too big on the truck? As for the Coopers, a friend of mine has ran some on his 150 and he seems to like them ok. I am pretty deadset on the Falkens though... I know the A/T4's have absolutely no record, but the A/T3's seem highly regarded... well, other than the weight and that they have since gotten more expensive. It seems that they are in the same price range as many of the other popular tires though...

That is another good point that I forgot to bring up, not being too wide to throw rocks or mud. I ended up putting a set of Weathertech mudflaps on mine (as seen in the photo) and they have almost eliminated mud/dirt spraying the sides of my truck, even with the stock tires. The 285's are slightly wider than my current tires, but I don't think they will stick out past the mudflaps I have on now. The 295's are wider and they would be much closer...

I haven't had experience with DT other than when I first reached out to them a couple of weeks ago about when these tires would be available in my size. I actually spoke to a guy at the Pensacola store over the phone and he was very helpful. He didn't seem pushy at all, which is why I have started leaning towards using them. (Well, and because their card would save me 5%, which is about $80 on a set of the 285's.) I have ordered a set of Maxxis tires for my camper from Tire Direct and had a local tire shop install those. If I were still in the same location I would definitely do the same in this case because I knew that shop and had used them several times and trusted them. I am going to do a little more searching around for local shops that could do this for me though... I am also leaning towards the bigger companies to at least purchase them from just because I guess they may get inventory first... I could be wrong on that though...

 

Also, just for kicks, here's a screenshot of the tire comparisons between the 2 sizes...

 

I ran 295/65/20 on a 2019 with stock 20s with HD front springs and they looked a little stuffed in my opinion. 35.1 tall. They also didn’t stick out, they were under the wheelwell so no issues there, same backspacing and width as your 18s would have.


I avoid the falken because of weight, BESIDES ONE size I need and that is a 285/65/18 AT3 I am going to put on an lx600 I have on order (weigh just a tad more than stock 265s remarkably). Reminds me to order them now! Good thread forgot they are discontinuing the AT3.

 

I voted for the 295’s. But, there’s not much perceptible difference really between them! I like the look of slightly wider. I sure wouldn’t even consider the difference in tire weight, that F250 isn’t going to know it! I also like the Wildpeaks.

I have no knowledge of tire dealers in Pensacola, but I can say I have used Tire Rack, Discount Tire, Simple Tire and National Tire and Wheel in Wheeling, WV with excellent results from all of them. I have used Tire Racks recommended installers, having the tires shipped directly to them, also with good luck. I have not looked at Tire Racks web site in a long time, but it seems to me they used to have two levels of recommended installers, but that may have changed.

Good luck on your decision, thankfully you aren’t having to decide on wheels also!

 

Tire Rack and Discount Tire are both owned together. I have had very good luck with Discount Tire.

I think Discount Tire price includes mounting and balancing and I know they can do road force balancing. They saved me a pile of grief on some trailer tires that were bad. Locally for me, a lot of the tire places won't or don't like to mount Tire Rack tires anymore. It is organized here so maybe in a larger market it is still possible to get them just mounted for a reasonable price, of course you will be out of luck if something goes bad with the tires that you bought somewhere else.

 

Discount Tire acquired Tire Rack a couple of years ago. I ran Wrangler Duratrac in a 285 on my MY17 truck and really liked them. They did get a little loose in the rain. On my MY24 I installed Wrangler Duratrac RT tires (GY lastest Wrangler) and after a few thousand miles I like them better than the original Duratrac tires. They don't get as loose in the rain. They ride better and so far are quieter. This is another option for you.

 

Can't speak to the tires, but Discount Tire is the Chick-fil-a of the tire business. You will like doing business with them. We have bought several sets of tires from them and they have always been polite, professional and timely. Basically awesome.

 

I have run Wildpeaks for years, love them. I went with the 285's on mine. Just a hair taller but that is what I wanted. I like a little narrower, but we have snow here and a narrow tire is better.

 

I have had both sizes on F250 Superduty trucks . I like the 295 size better than the 285 to me i get less squirming around towing 12k-15k loads. Dont get me wrong both sizes will work fine. Just my 2 cents

 

Stock suspension 2019 F250 with 295/70/18 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, I have had these tires on my last 2 trucks and can't say enough good about them. I can't wait to get the AT4W when I need a new set.

 

Man, I couldn't get a better photo to demonstrate what those Falkens would look like on my '20, thanks!

Just wish mine was as clean as yours

 

"Was clean" ...... That was shortly aft I got it last August and spent 3 days doing a full detail in my driveway. Now, it's covered in ice, mud, salt, sand, etc as we thaw from negative temps that hit just after having 11" of snow. But I feel the 295/70 is perfect . I average 15.1 mpg on my daily 44 mile commute with an average of 55 mph.