Cooper AT3s 265/75R16 height difference vrs TRD OR stock 265/70R16

First time poster here! I have been lurking since 2013 when I bought my 3rd Toyota but first Tacoma. I also own a 2003 Tundra and traded a 2006 4-runner for the pictured TRD OR 4x4. I do not have much 4x4 experience, but have been in Toyota's for 10 years now. Enough with introductions.

I replaced my stock 265/70R16s today with Cooper AT3's in 265/75R16s and gained 1/2 inch in height. I have read many times on here that the 265/75R16 is the largest tire size I can run on the stock rims without complications. For some reason I thought I was going to gain closer to an inch with this tire, but that's not the case. Don't get me wrong, i'm not looking to go to big with my truck, but an inch more was what I was going for.

With that in mind here is my contribution. Pictures of a stock 265/70R16 with less that 20 miles on it (its the spare on a 16inch steel rim), up against a brand new set of Cooper AT3s in 265/75R16. As you can see, there isn't much of an altitude gain at all.

The truck has 3 inch Pro-Comp Coil overs in the front with UCAs, and blocks plus AAL in the back. I know many of you hate everything except OME, Toytech, and Blisteen, but this setup is working well so far. After the upcoming hunting season is over, I will have a real idea of how well Pro-Comp works on the truck.

 

Different makes of tires will vary in height...not all 265/75/16's are the exact same. Also, if your rims are wider than the stock steel wheel it will make your tires shorter. On my FJ40 the 35/12.5/15's are about a half inch shorter in height on a 10" wheel than the same tire on an 8" wheel.

 

That picture isn't really a fair comparison since the AT3 is on the truck with weight on it. The only way to truly see the difference in height would be to have both tires off the truck side by side.

 

Good point. I will do that and post a pic.

 

Ok, as Bueller pointed out. My comparison wasn't consistent. Here are the new pics, both tires off of the truck. The cooper A/T is 3/4 of an inch taller than the stock tire, not to shabby.

 

one thing you can do is look at the mfg specs. they will list OD which is a good indicator of size. but being loaded you will achieve less than that and over time wear down the tread making it even less and less

 

The tires are 1" diff with the 265 75 being the larger. But half is above center of the wheel and half below. Thus the 1/2" increase in height of the truck and not a full inch.

 

What do you mean, the proof is in the pudding, as the pics above show, its 3/4 of an inch gain.

 

new tires vs worn tires. tread decreases

also construction of the tire determines what actual size it is

 

Truck height is only increased by the increase in the radius of the dire, not diameter (2x radius). So a 1inch bigger diameter tire, will lift your vehicle 1/2in

 

The tire is the spare with less than 20 miles on it. both tires have full tread.

 

I put a measuring tape on it! There are pics! 3/4 inch gain.

 

again like stated, sizes are close but approximate.

 

Again like stated? Sorry, I missed were you said approximate above.

 

The lowest points on our Off Road Tacomas being the bottom of the rear differential and the transfer case area. With stock 265/70-16 (31") tires, the truck had 9.25" of ground clearance.

When I switched to 265/75-16 (32") tires, the truck now has 9.75" of ground clearance. 1" taller tire adds 1/2" of ground clearance. New, unworn tires.

Measuring from the center of the wheel to the outer edge of the tire, that 1" taller diameter is 1/2" in each direction (radius) increase.

Keep in mind, the intentionally fast set speedometer will now read correctly, but the accurate odometer will read slower. Making you have less miles that you really traveled, and making you think your gas mileage is more worse than it really is. Add 5 miles for every 200 traveled to find your true mileage.

 

as OTHERS have stated.

 

nd4 and David has it right. your truck isn't sitting "on top' of the tires, it is sitting in the middle so you have to split the difference in overall "tire height" and that's the "increased truck height"

and sorry, I though it was the worn tire in the pic, I'll look more closely next time

 

how do you like the cooper's. im looking at the same tire. my truck rides rough with the bfg's KO's 8 plys.. im looking at the 6 ply option,, where did u buy them and what cost,, im looking at them on Amazon 144.00 each free shipping ..thanks

 

The stock BFG were supposed to be 30.7, and cooper's 31.5 from what i can remember. I did the comparison while mine were getting put on and I got about the same 3/4" difference.

 

That is how I always looked at it . Very well put. Now what you said about the milage is very interesting. Good to know ! Thanks for that .