Hey all, new to the forum. Have been searching the threads and have found some bits and pieces of what I'm looking for, but need to post some more pointed questions for you to weigh in on.
About me and my intended uses: I live in Vancouver, Canada, surrounded by the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges which I frequently explore in summer (backpacking/camping) and winter (backcountry skiing). My LR3 is meant to access trailheads and places of interest at the end of active and de-activated logging roads. Lots of cross ditches, some streams and washouts, generally at a moderate to high incline, gaining elevator with every switchback. Loose gravel/small rocks in summer and slick, not deep mud/packed snow/ice or deep snow in winter. I anticipate my greatest traction needs would be early season skiing on some slick snowy/icy roads that have been packed down from previous traffic.
So being new to the LR3 and At tires in general, the BFG KO2 stand out as well reviewed, aggressive, severe snow rated and durable. They are also available in 2 popular sizes at my local Costco at a great price when considering the currency exchange.
So it comes down to 265/60-18 or 265/65-18, the former being close to stock, quarter inch of lift, no rub. The latter having about 3/4" lift, minor rubbing and in sure marginally poorer fuel economy and ride quality in road. Both have sufficient E / load ratings, same width etc.
Few questions - what is your opinion on needing tire chains with these tires? I'm concerned that if I go 265/65-18 I will forgo the option for chains, though I'm not so certain I'd really be in need of them with these tires, perhaps they get me a little higher on some roads in winter, but how much higher? Probably not enough to warrant purchase of chains and time to deploy them in thinking.
265/65-18 has more sidewall, which allows for safer airing down. Though again not sure how much airing down I'll really need in summer or winter for my purposes, this truck will not be a rock crawler, but snowy off-road driver for sure.
It seems many call out 265/65-18 as the best/max tire size without any mods and only the slightest of rubbing. Is there any reason I should choose the 265/60-18's over the 65's?
What about spares? I guess I have to buy 5 either way, can either size be shoehorned into the spare underside? I believe I'd need another rim too as my current spare is not full-size.
Do I really need a full-size spare for my purposes? I don't suppose the small spare I have now can be used to limp down a road back to a service station once I make any tire size changes?
I'll add I've got the 4l v6, not sure if slightly less power is a consideration. Also I don't put a lot miles on my car, transit to work, bike for groceries etc. So probably 50/50 city and hwy vs mountain explorations and probably only about 10k miles a year.
Thus concludes my many questions, thanks in advance for weighing in.
Oh, while I'm at it, any other accessories I should be considering? Some access would be solo. Perhaps some winch straps? And thoughts on the iidtool vs nanocom? Are these CPUs a no-brainer or do many find them unnecessary, particularly for my purposes above?
Edit: I've read that pre-2008 Lr3 had a bit more tire clearance than post 2008 and LR4? Any truth to this? Helps en qualify some of the other threads to my respective example, thanks.
About me and my intended uses: I live in Vancouver, Canada, surrounded by the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges which I frequently explore in summer (backpacking/camping) and winter (backcountry skiing). My LR3 is meant to access trailheads and places of interest at the end of active and de-activated logging roads. Lots of cross ditches, some streams and washouts, generally at a moderate to high incline, gaining elevator with every switchback. Loose gravel/small rocks in summer and slick, not deep mud/packed snow/ice or deep snow in winter. I anticipate my greatest traction needs would be early season skiing on some slick snowy/icy roads that have been packed down from previous traffic.
So being new to the LR3 and At tires in general, the BFG KO2 stand out as well reviewed, aggressive, severe snow rated and durable. They are also available in 2 popular sizes at my local Costco at a great price when considering the currency exchange.
So it comes down to 265/60-18 or 265/65-18, the former being close to stock, quarter inch of lift, no rub. The latter having about 3/4" lift, minor rubbing and in sure marginally poorer fuel economy and ride quality in road. Both have sufficient E / load ratings, same width etc.
Few questions - what is your opinion on needing tire chains with these tires? I'm concerned that if I go 265/65-18 I will forgo the option for chains, though I'm not so certain I'd really be in need of them with these tires, perhaps they get me a little higher on some roads in winter, but how much higher? Probably not enough to warrant purchase of chains and time to deploy them in thinking.
265/65-18 has more sidewall, which allows for safer airing down. Though again not sure how much airing down I'll really need in summer or winter for my purposes, this truck will not be a rock crawler, but snowy off-road driver for sure.
It seems many call out 265/65-18 as the best/max tire size without any mods and only the slightest of rubbing. Is there any reason I should choose the 265/60-18's over the 65's?
What about spares? I guess I have to buy 5 either way, can either size be shoehorned into the spare underside? I believe I'd need another rim too as my current spare is not full-size.
Do I really need a full-size spare for my purposes? I don't suppose the small spare I have now can be used to limp down a road back to a service station once I make any tire size changes?
I'll add I've got the 4l v6, not sure if slightly less power is a consideration. Also I don't put a lot miles on my car, transit to work, bike for groceries etc. So probably 50/50 city and hwy vs mountain explorations and probably only about 10k miles a year.
Thus concludes my many questions, thanks in advance for weighing in.
Oh, while I'm at it, any other accessories I should be considering? Some access would be solo. Perhaps some winch straps? And thoughts on the iidtool vs nanocom? Are these CPUs a no-brainer or do many find them unnecessary, particularly for my purposes above?
Edit: I've read that pre-2008 Lr3 had a bit more tire clearance than post 2008 and LR4? Any truth to this? Helps en qualify some of the other threads to my respective example, thanks.
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