Hey guys.
Looking to get new tires. I was originally interested in ko2s or duratracs at 305/70/16 or 295/75/16
really want an agressive bolder look.. but being from hawaii its very expensive. They each will run me 1k-1100
i have a chance to get the nitto terra grapplers [i think non g2] for 700 installed[sadly thry dont look as agressive as the others] although they are 315/75/16.
i love the savings of course but im concerned how it will affect my vehicle height... i drive in a lot of parking garages.
i hardly offroad and use it as a daily driver but i do drive it in the sand and stuff like that to go surf. I dont care about noise. Mostly value agressive look and cost savings and fitting into a parking garage.. id love some input from you guys.

i have an 2006 h3 adventure package with 265/75/16 currently. Downsized by previous owner.

 

 

Rough numbers, precision depends upon the brand and model tire.
#1) Starting point is the current height of the top of your H3 + roof rack if so equipped, 265 tires are 32" Diameter:
#2) 285s and 305s are 33" tires, so moving to those would add 1/2" to #1; and,
#3) 315s are typically less that actual 35" (same with 295s, most are like 34.5-34.7") so those would add no more than 1" to #1.

So unless you are in garages that are within 1" from the top of your 3 as is, not gonna matter.

 

does it drag performance down that much? I live in hawaii where fastest speeds are 60mph on hwys.

 

okay so i wont be gaining the full tire height size? The 3 inches or 2.7 or so from 265>>315. Will i only gain a portion of that like half because the axel goes into the mid point of tire..?

 

Exactly. If the tire is 2" taller total, the truck only raises 1" because the axles it rides on are in the middle of the tire, not at the top.

As for performance, you can go expressway speed with taller fatter tires, it just takes more fuel to do it. More circumference and weight to turn, greater wind resistance against the front tire width. Consider towing a trailer up a mountain grade, that I5 will be straining more with 315s that 265s. If you think your 0-60 speed is slow now, it will be worse with taller tires.

Here is my opinion part: H3s look darn right goofy on 265s. 285s are what I would consider the minimum, 305s are much better for the I5s, and 315 for Alphas.

 

Right out the gate your saying " you don't do off-road only beach driving".
A basic tenant to follow k.i.s.s.
You clearly will be better served with a AT or XT tire with low rolling resistance tire tech and a 285 to 305 tire.
Street driving eats up tires as well as needing to fit into parking structure.

PBX AT or Firestone's newest AT or something like Coursiuer AT.

General Grabber AT...etc.

 

I've had Dura tracs on my 2008 H3 since 2011, they are the best ,have been great in the wet (I live in the tropics) but are noisy . They are due for replacement and I'm going to buy them again .