Quote:
Originally posted by v8Toilet
I want to go to a skinnier tire for better snow traction and fuel economy but I don't want to compromise handling and my speedometer accuracy either. Anyone every try this size and if so what are your thought? I saw a new Chevy Silvorado with this size tire on it.
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I have P245/75-16 winter tires...Bridgestone Winter Dueler DM-Z2, and they work very well, both in fresh snow an on ice. The truck is stable on ice that's too slick to walk on.
The O.D. is the same as the stock P265/70-16, so no speedometer issues. These winter tires with soft rubber and deep siping are OK on dry roads...not as steady as a summer tire, but not scary.
One odd thing--the width of the tread in contact with the road on the winter 245s is wider than the width of the tread on the stock 265s.
If you get LT245/75-16 tires that are pretty good in snow, e. g., Michelin LTX M/S, they'll be slightly better than the same tire in 265s. Figure this way--the more pressure the contact patch exerts on the snow (or rainy road) the more traction it'll have. The truck weighs the same, but the skinny tire has less contact area. Same pounds & fewer square inches of contact = more pounds per square inch of pressure.
If you get 245s, check the weight rating vs. the max load you're likely to carry. If you max out the load, you might need Load Range E tires inflated to near 80 psi to carry the load. Check the numbers.
Ken