So, I have a totally stock '04 SCREW FX4 4x4 with 17" OEM wheels and 255/70-R17 Firestone Destination A/T tires.

I am perfectly happy with the current tires in terms of longevity and quiet ride, but am wanting to go a notch bigger when these need replaced in a few months.

My driving is 99% road, and of the road driving, I am probably 70% highway.

I have read here that I can fit a 35" tire if I get a leveling kit, but I am not sure what size leveling kit is required or even how to tell? Also, what is a 255/70-R17 in terms of inches? How much bigger would a 35" tire be, and what size is a 35" tire in terms of the "normal" screwy tire size numbers?

After I get through trying to understand tire sizing, what is a good all-season tire that will give good mileage and quiet ride, but also not fall totally on its face when I do need to get into some dirt?

If this has been gone over a million times, I apologize. I try to search, but keep getting a billion results for every search.

 

Go to tire rack.com for all of your tire questions. Go to hellbent steel.com for all of your leveling kit questions.

 

By rack.com, I assume you mean tirerack.com? Alsready been there. I enter make/model/year, and all it gives me is the same stock tire sizes. Did not help even a little bit as to options for a F150 with desire for upsizing and still keeping good ride and longevity.

I also went to discounttire.com, and at least they showed the following options for a 17" wheel:

235/80-17
245/75-17
265/70-17
275/65-17
285/65-17

EDIT: From discounttire.com, the best I could tell is something like this, but I have no idea if that is the same basic size I have except a little bit wider?

Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S275/65R-17 115H RBL

 

Here's a good tire size calculator. It'll tell you what your screwy metric sizes are in inches. I looked up your 255s, came out to 31" tall and 10" wide

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php

 

Tire rack has a chart telling the actual size in inches as to what height a tire is. Depends on what gearing you have in your truck as what size would be good for you. Myself I have an 05, 4.6L, auto trans. I am running 265,70-17's . They do make it drop out of overdrive going up small grades more than what the stock tires did. I would like to go taller but think for my driving these are just fine. As far as leveling kits go, measure the distance from the ground to the center of your wheel well on the front wheel well and rear wheel well. The diff between the two would be what size leveling kit.

 

OK...So, I found this spot on tirerack.com that lists all tires for 17" rim. That was the closest I could get to an actual chart. It lists tires in my stock size out the wazoo for like $150-200 per tire, and then next size up seems to be a 33"x12.5" at like $230-280 per tire. Does that sound like I am reading the right stuff?

A 33" will just make me sit up 1" higher, where a 35" would give a full 2" lift, right? Do I still need a leveling kit for a 33" tire?

 

Seems like everyone is to good to help out, your gas millage will go way down and stuff will start messing up if you cram 35s under that, they are huge, if you get a leveling kit for it (I have no idea how to size them) you should go with a 285 70 17 and without a leveling kit go with 275 65 17 or 265 65 17 a 275 is not a common tire so it may be hard to find a good tire in that size. And to the last part if you question, what kind of tire is a good one and will last? I like the BFG all terrains, but they don't last long, Goodyear makes one that's pretty good but I forget the name of it. Hope i helped you out some!

 

And with it being fx4 it should already be level so a leveling kit would be a wast

 

Sorry, forgot the link!

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php

 

I'm not sure what is normal on an FX4 since I bought the truck used from a dealership, but mine definitely does not sit level. Measuring from top of tire straight up to fender, I am at gaps of 9.25" rear and only 6.25" front.

Is it possible that I have an add-a-leaf in the back or something?