Decided to replace my tires last week. I had been using a set of BFG All-Terrains in 285/75R16 I put on right after I bought it 37000 miles ago. These are about 33" tires and looked alot better than the 235/85s that were on it stock.

I ordered a set of BFG Mud-Terrains (like the looks and occaisonally need them) in the same size-285/75. When I went to have them put on the shop had accidently got the Muds in 265/75. I had been toying around with going back to the stock height tires so I went ahead and bought them.

The Muds look great, I noticed better acceleration and softer ride. Plus I'm back to my actual factory gear ratio instead of a numerically lower one due to taller-than stock tires. The 265s will also be better for towing which I'll be doing often as the summer approaches. Those are the good points.

The bad thing is they just don't look as good as the 285s did. I mean they don't look bad, just don't feel the wheelwells up as good. Now I'm debating on whether or not to go back and get the 285 mudders and sell the 265's.

I really don't need to waste the extra money and there's no reason to trade off except for looks. You guys talk me into keeping the 265's before my wife kills me! Any other positives to using the stock size tires I didn't think of??

 

You really should keep them, you won't enjoy the 285's if you're dead

 

Keep the current tires for:

Less rolling resistance (power and MPG adder)
Less unsprung weight (easier bound and rebound increases stability)
Less overall truck height (effects air flow and reduces drag coefficient)
Better mechanical advantage (effectively lowers final gear ratio)
Better ride quality (safety and comfort)
Better braking response (see above)
Least expensive option (who likes to pitch money out the window)

Reason to change to the taller tire..... vanity

(BTW, when you are driving her, you can not see the wheel well. So who cares what the numb-skull in the Hemi thinks any way (GRIN))

 

20 mm difference is less than an inch in width lost. Not much to care about flotation or traction wise.

In snow? Skinnier is better. Mud? Well, that's a toss-up depending on whether or not there's hard ground under the mud and/or the mud is more than 2 feet deep in the first place

The only thing you have to deal with, like Fred said, is your own vanity.

 

Stock tire size will work better with your 3.73s for sure.

 

Good info. Thanks as usual, guys!