Need new tires for my LR3 currently running toyo Open Country HT2s . I have iidtool and the PR 2.5 rods. IIDtool gives me about an 1 1/4in lift max.
I have looked at a lot of tires and narrowed it down to the two below. I drive mostly on the road m-f. Weekend winters are spent in up at a ski resort (so far this year we have had over 350in total accumulation) snow performance is number 1 for me as I do not want to buy a dedicated set of winter tires. Summers are spent driving on the beach and mostly logging roads. Most I would ever do with it is probably the Naches Trail up here in the cascades. I have done it in my wife's Cherokee trailhawk so I think the lr3 would do just fine. Not sure if the 285 or 265 would be better. I have read a lot of people that have said go with 265 but I wonder if the toyo at3's are the better performing tire in snow.

Toyo TireOpen Country A/T III 285 /60 R18 120S XL BSW - $1147

NittoTerra Grappler G2265 /65 R18 116T XL BSW - $962

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Pretty similar tread pattern. I'd go with whichever one has the Severe Weather rating. I like the 285/60s. They are a little wider than stock, just be sure to move the wire harness in the front driver-side wheel well to the top of the frame rail and it should be fine, especially with the IIDTool or those rods at your disposal. Personally I'd ditch the rods and just create a setting or two in the GAP tool for what you need.

....man I need to hit Naches, too.

 

Both are the same over all diameter so i would stick with the 265 for a slightly taller sidewall.

 

They both have the mountain snowflakes so that makes it tough. I was hoping I could get away with only using the GAP tool I didn't want to use the rods. Any other reason you prefer the wider 285's over the 265's? Are the wider tires better in snow and sand? I don't use chains but I do keep some snow socks around can't imagine they would cause clearance issues with the 285's.

The Naches trail sure is fun. It has a cool history too boot.

 

Does a taller sidewall let you air down more?

 

I don't see why the rods would be needed. I run 32.6" tires with just the GAP.

 

Go with the Nittos - nearly $200 stays in your pocket

 

Go with the thinner taller tires, better in snow and ice then the wider ones. Wider tires are good if you air them down for sand, that's what my Independent/friend who owns Rover's East in Rhode Island told me.

From online search...
Are wider tires worse in the snow?
– In the winter, narrow tires are better under extreme conditions as they provide higher surface pressure against the road. Narrow tires also work better than wider ones in loose snow and slush. Wider tires, for their part, will offer more grip on hard surfaces, Martin Dražík says.

 

Yes, i would rather that than the extra 20mm width. Realistically there is not much difference between them in sidewall height, but if you ever end up on the bumpstops the narrower tyre will let you drive still.
Forget rods, you have a GAP tool so that makes rods redundant .

 

Just left discount tire. I ended up getting the 285/60/18 nittos for $190/tire. discount tire price matched the $100 off from Tire America. I was able to get 1.37in of lift from the gap tool so I was thinking go with the slightly small diameter one.

They are both so close in size it almost feels like an apples to apples comparison. Biggest thing is that 1in width difference. I honestly wonder how much a difference in 1” makes. But it does makes since a narrow tire would be better in snow. Kinda wish I checked the thread again before I jumped on the nitto deal. Discount tire says I have 30 days to decide if I like them so I’ll see. I’ll have them up in the snow this weekend.