265 or 275?

[Dreamer Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dreamer]

I have a GXL and camper trailer with matching wheels and tyres (MT ATZ 4-Rib 265/70R17).

The Prado needs new shoes but the trailer is still good. The Prado got almost 50,000km from the Mickey Ts with a lot of that being off-road (26,000km trip to W.A. this year including the Gibb River Road).

The new ATZ P3 Mickey Ts are being quoted between $380 (Melbourne) and $425 (Sydney). I'm looking at alternatives (thinking Bridgestone 697s @ $300), but want to keep the tyres as close, in size, to the 265/70R17 (Diam = 804mm) so that changing wheels around in emergencies isn't going to cause too many dramas.

Standard size 265/65R17 (Diam = 776mm) seems too big a difference in diameter, but 275/65R17 (Diam = 790mm) seems within acceptable limits.

Bridgestone do make a 265/70R17 in 697s but they don't have any in stock.

The Bridgestone 275/65R17 has a higher load rating than the 265/65R17 :-) but are there any disadvantages in going for a 275/65R17 over a 265/65R17?

Thanks,

Lee.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I've run 275/65s on the 120 and now the 150 because they are the largest legal option in Q under the old rules. Bear in mind the 275s on factory alloys will be quite close to the UCA but I have had no problems so far. Bear in mind though that not all tyres are the same width at the same place. BFG A/Ts are a little narrower than 275mm at their widest point with a tread width of around 230mm while the Pirellis I have now are the full 275mm and a bit with a wider tread. From memory Hutch has run the 697s so have a talk (pm) to him though he is smarter than me and is running a wheel with less offset than factory.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

I run the 275/65/17 Bridgestone 694's on mine. As you stated, the load rating is a bit higher than the 265.

With the 275's, the speedo reading is closer it's true reading, because the 275 is 13mm larger in diameter than the 265. (maximum increase in NSW is 15 mm from factory fitted tyres)

Checked that out with my aftermarket GPS unit, also the overhead speed checking unit on the Hume Highway, Victoria, when heading south from Albury.

[Dreamer Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dreamer]

Thanks for the input guys :-)

Hutch is running 275/65R17 Bridgestones in the older 694's but he told me he'll be updating to the 697's when the time comes.

My Mickey Ts had the speedo and GPS giving virtually identical readings.