If you’re interested in finding out what the biggest tire you can fit on your MQ Triton running on stock suspension, then you’ve come to the right place. Tire upgrades are usually one of the first and most popular modifications to off-road trucks since it’s the quickest way to get a more aggressive look with better traction on and off-road.
The biggest tire you can fit on an MQ Triton with stock suspension and stock rims is 265/65/17 or 265/70/16. They both equate to 29.5” to 30.6” in metric measurements. This size fits without any rubbing problems, and no trimming or additional modifications are required to make it function properly.
A 31.6” or 265/75/16 or 265/70/17 will be a very snug fit on an MQ Triton. Compared to the previous ML shape, the MQ Triton wheel arches and basic chassis design remained very similar. You could get away with this taller aspect ratio on-road, however, there might be some scrubbing on the wheel arches when at full “flex” off-road. You will get conflicting opinions from tire retailers regarding whether 265/70/17 will fit without rubbing during suspension articulation.
With a bigger, heavier tire, you will also notice a slight reduction in all-around performance. It’s not a major difference and it’s barely noticeable most of the time in real-world daily driving, however, if you know your truck well enough, you’ll notice a slight shift in its performance characteristics.
Table of Contents
Biggest Tires on a Stock MQ Triton – No Lift
Factory standard tires on the MQ Triton is a 245/65/17 which roughly equates to 29.5” in metric sizes. The MQ Triton’s biggest downside is the lack of off-road clearance. If you ever intend on taking this vehicle off-road then it is highly recommended to invest in a quality 2” or 50mm lift kit. This will improve approach, break-over, and departure angles, however, the only way to truly improve ground clearance and off-road ability is by fitting a larger set of tires.
Let’s now look in more detail at what is involved when fitting 265/65/17 tires on an MQ Triton running a stock suspension
Wide vs Tall Tires
Most problems with fitting bigger wheels to your truck are caused by the width of the tire. A wider tire looks really impressive but it causes a lot of clearance complications. The aspect ratio or sidewall height is what improves your ground clearance, so a taller skinny tire can do just as well with fewer complications. Fitting a slightly wider 265-width tire to a stock MQ Triton with a taller sidewall of 65-70 aspect ratio is your best option here.
Poke
Another problem caused by wide tires is the “poke” issue. Every country has its own regulations regarding this and some countries are stricter than others. Poke occurs when you fit a wide tire like a 33-inch or 35” tire with a 285 or 305 width which results in the tire protruding from the arch. Fitting a 265-width tire eliminates this problem completely. There will be no need for aftermarket arches.
Performance
Keep in mind if you go larger in rolling diameter, the bigger, heavier tires will affect performance to some degree. Expect delayed acceleration, worse economy, slower braking performance, and a slight decrease in both high and low-range performance on rough tracks and steep hills. With the 265 widths on a 16 or 17-inch tire, you don’t exceed the maximum allowed percentage you are legally allowed over the stock size. Always check your local state rules on that.
Trimming
If you decide to go wider like say a 265/70/16 you will need to do some trimming on the inner mudguard. IT will catch there and scrub at full lock. Again the 265 in a 16” or 17” tire will be the tallest and best-suited option when running a stock suspension on a Triton MQ, especially if you want to retain full articulation for off-road performance. Running the 265 widths on the 16-inch compared to the 245 widths in the standard 17-inch tire is roughly 8.3% wider but offers you more than a 23% increase in sidewall height. Ideal for off-road clearance.
Wheel Arch Clearance
A wider tire needs to clear the front inside fender guard, cab side mounts, UCA, as well as interior fenders. The wider you go the more difficult and expensive this upgrade becomes. You’ll need to invest in a more negative offset wheel for improved backspacing and clearance in these areas, alternatively in a set of wheel spacers.
What do the MQ Triton Owners Say
I had bfg k02 in 265/65/17 and km3 in 265/70/17 both absolutely cleared everything but the bigger tyre was about 4mm bigger than legal here in Victoria. Unfortunately the Triton is released with a 29.5 inch tall tyre factory unlike all the other utes.
https://4x4earth.com/forum/index.php?threads/whats-the-biggest-tyres-i-can-have-on-my-2018-triton.45535/page-2
I fitted 265/65/17 from new and have had it off road and flexed (if you can call it that) and absolutely won’t rub at factory suspension travel limits. I’d say the 275 would clear it without a doubt also. The speedo is still 4km/h fast at 100km/h even with the 31inch KO2 fitted. The factory tyre fitment is very small possibly for extra fuel efficiency numbers and to maintain short gearing which is useful for high loads of course
https://4x4earth.com/forum/index.php?threads/275-65r17-without-lift-on-mq-triton.42823/
What About Your Spare Wheel?
The 265-width tire is the biggest you can squeeze under the MQ tub. Even with a 2-inch (50mm) lift running 33″ tires, the spare tire will rub on the back of the diff when stored in the spare wheel carrier.
If at a later stage, you decide to upgrade your suspension to accommodate a bigger, let’s say, 33-inch tire then you’ll need to invest in an aftermarket spare wheel carrier or find another mounting solution since the 265-width tire is the largest tire that can be squeezed under your tub without any modifications.
Will The 265/65/17 Throw Out Your MQ Triton Speedo?
In many cases when you upgrade from a stock tire to a taller one, your speedo can be thrown out and might require recalibration. In this specific instance with the diameter being a 3.7% increase and a 7.9% increase in the aspect ratio, the speedometer will be thrown off slightly. The 3.7% increase in tire circumference means the actual speed will be higher by up to 3.4 mph @90mph
The below table will give you an indication of how the speedometer reading is affected.
| Speedometer reading | 20mph | 30mph | 40mph | 50mph | 60mph | 70mph | 80mph | 90mph |
| Actual Speed | 20.7 | 31.1 | 41.5 | 51.9 | 62.2 | 72.6 | 83 | 93.4 |
Below are the actual differences between the stock tire and the upgraded 265/65/17
| Measurement | Stock Tire (245/65/17) | Upgrade (265/65/17) | Differences |
| Diameter | 29.5” | 30.6” (777mm) | +3.7% |
| Width | 9.6” | 10.4” (265mm) | +8.3% |
| Sidewall | 6.3” | 6.8” (173mm) | +7.9% |
| Circumference | 92.8” | 96” (2438mm) | +3.7% |
| REvz/Mile | 683 | 660 (410mm) | -14 |
How Do 33” Tires Affect Fuel Economy on a MQ Triton
Increased unsprung weight is the quickest way to increase fuel consumption. The heavier tires and rolling mass affect the consumption directly since it’s positioned below the suspension, which means, the engine, transmission, CV Joints, and other drivetrain components are required to work slightly harder to move and rotate the heavier wheels. This is especially obvious when pulling off.
So, before you do the big tire upgrade, make sure you understand your fuel economy WILL be negatively affected! Sure, your truck will look more aggressive, have better traction, and perform better off-road, however, it all comes at a price. Also, depending on how big you go, it might not even be more than 4kg heavier per wheel, however, this makes a substantial difference in torque applied on the wheels.
Resources
- https://4x4earth.com/forum/index.php?threads/275-65r17-without-lift-on-mq-triton.42823/
- https://4x4earth.com/forum/index.php?threads/whats-the-biggest-tyres-i-can-have-on-my-2018-triton.45535/page-2
Conclusion
When doing a tire upgrade, there are so many variables to consider before running out and dropping a load on some expensive oversized tires. Your first and foremost exercise should be to determine what your primary purpose for the upgrade will be. Is it purely for aesthetics or will you need maximum practicality, and off-road ability, while maintaining articulation?
Do you need more load-carrying capacity, which means the tire’s load rating will be an important factor? Also, what other accessories are you planning on fitting to the truck at a later stage? Will you be towing? This will determine what kind of suspension package you should opt for, which might impact the maximum recommended tire size.
However, if the main purpose for the tire upgrade is for improved aesthetics, and you have no intention of venturing off-road, apart from the occasional dirt road then your stock suspension is more than up for the task and you will not need to lift the truck. In most cases, a truck with a stock suspension can actually accommodate the same size tire as a truck with a 2″ lift but without the flex.