Question on tires

[James Morse]

I have 235/75-15 but door sticker says use 225/70-15. At some point I have to get new tires. Is it advised to go to the stock 225/70-15 (I would think so...). Also, any recommends for brand/type? Since it's not 4x4 it's pretty useless in the snow so just a decent tire that is good in dry or rain is fine for me. Thanks.

 

[Shran]

Either size is fine, the 225s will be smaller. I have Cooper Discoverer ATS 235's on my daily driver, I am pretty pleased with them in the rain and snow and they were cheap. Wife has Dextero tires on her '87 and "Commando" brand tires on her '95, both of those have been decent too.

The only tire I'd really suggest avoiding is the cheap Goodyear Wrangler Radials. Seems like they were the bottom dollar cheap tires that everyone bought so I have ended up with a bunch of them on junker trucks - I hate them. They dry rot and crack after just a year or two, traction off road is mediocre and the tread on them seems to make them track funny on certain roads.

 

[pjtoledo]

either size tire will work with no major issues.
you may notice a slight reduction in acceleration & braking with the larger tire.

 

[superj]

Here is the differences for your two tire sizes.

235/75-R15 vs 225/70-R15 Tire Comparison - Tire Size Calculator | Tacoma World

225/70-R15 tires are 1.48 inches (37.5 mm) smaller in diameter than 235/75-R15 tires and the speedometer difference is 5.1%

www.tacomaworld.com

 

[superj]

Your says the lower size though? Mine says the 235 on the door sticker

 

[Blmpkn]

Stick with the 235/75s.

225/70s would look like an 8 foot tall man with a size 9 shoe.

 

[racsan]

heres mine with 225/70’s & 235/75’s. Overall my performance & fuel milage is a little better with the smaller tires, Im running a 2.3 (lima) , manual transmission & 4.10 open. Originally it came with 225/70/14’s & a 3.45 rear axle. The 235’s do look better but given current gas prices Im running the slightly smaller tires to get a little better fuel economy.

 

[renton]

The traction in these trucks is bad enough with stock tires. I went with 235/75r15 general grabber all terrain and its so much nicer. I don't lose traction In rain and snow nearly as much

 

[James Morse]

@racsan wouldn't larger tires, with less revs/mph, yield better mileage? I'm missing something...
@superj thanks for cool calculator here is pic of my door sticker differences are the year and "make" (Mazda) though it says of course right there made by Ford gross weight a bit diff also mine is extended cab that might be the diff there

 

[RumPunch]

Depending upon your driving conditions/gearing makes the difference in fuel mileage with larger/smaller tires. Yes larger(taller) take less turns than smaller to accomplish same distance although add weight. Also depending upon gearing and highway no stop driving once your up to speed or starting and stopping city it takes more engine load to turn the larger tire. Are you achieving factory spec fuel mileage with the larger tires?

 

[racsan]

Yes “technically “ bigger tires would give less rpm and therefore more distance per gallon (mpg) but, it also increases load on the engine, too much load and its lugging, working too much and using more fuel. With a 4.0 litre you can run at a lower rpm and not be lugging it, I have a 2.3 lima that needs to be spinning pretty good, the 3.0 V6 is similar, it makes its power at a fairly high rpm.

 

[James Morse]

Last fill I got 14.0 mpg. I know one fill isn't real accurate, but, I go to the same place and use the same pump every time so it's probably fairly accurate. Seems like in winter I was getting less. So with the bigger tires I'm actually probably getting just a bit more than that which sounds about right I think. I get it about the larger tires are heavier etc. Not sure what spec is. Engine seems fine (knock on wood), I don't feel it's underpower or anything. For regular driving. I think I do like the larger tire size for appearance.

 

[racsan]

You will get less mpg in winter for several reasons, oil is thicker & more resistive to movement, some areas of the country have a “winter blend” fuel, its less efficient, Your engine is most efficient at operating temperature and it takes a bit to get there when its cold out, if you run a more aggressive tire in winter that can affect things. Put all these little things together and its no surprise to see a 4/6 mpg drop from summer mpg.

 

[Blmpkn]

Weight of tire has a lot to do with efficiency.

With a new ranger for example.. the most popular upgrade tire height is 32". Those of us with lighter 32" tires.. c-rated.. 6 ply.. whatever.. will get 19-20 average mpg.


The guys with the heavy 32s though.. e rated.. 10 ply.. 50lbs+ a piece tires... they average 14-15 mpg.

Massive difference.

 

[Roert42]

Both sizes are factory sizes.

The 225/70 is a 2wd stock size and the 235/75 is a 4wd stock size.

I would just go with whatever size was easiest/cheapest to get with whatever tire you decided on.


I will second the copper discoverer. Excellent tire, good in snow.


If you don’t need a bigger tire, I would get the the narrower tire. All things being equal.

Again, if you don’t need an aggressive tread, get a highway or GT tread. They will give you a much nicer ride on pavement.