4x4 Tyre Size Guide: What Fits Your Ute or Wagon

If you drive a 4x4 in Australia, one of the most common questions is also one of the most confusing: what tyre size actually fits my vehicle? Between factory sizes, plus-sizing, load ratings and the jump to a bigger set on a lift, it is easy to get lost. This guide breaks down the most popular 4x4 tyre sizes in Australia, the vehicles they suit, and the brands worth considering for each.

How to read a 4x4 tyre size

A size like 265/70R17 tells you three things. The 265 is the tyre width in millimetres. The 70 is the profile, the sidewall height as a percentage of the width. The 17 is the wheel diameter in inches. On many 4x4 and light-truck tyres you will also see an LT rating, which means light truck, built with stronger construction for load and off-road use. For heavier touring rigs, that LT construction is often worth having.

Popular 4x4 tyre sizes and what they fit

Here is a quick reference for the sizes we are asked about most, the vehicles they typically suit, and brands that make a strong option in each:

• 245/70R16 and 265/70R16: Hilux, Prado 120 and 150, Patrol, Triton, D-Max. Brands: Maxxis, Bridgestone, Toyo, Falken.
• 265/65R17: Prado, Hilux, Fortuner, D-Max, Triton. Brands: Maxxis, Bridgestone, BFGoodrich.
• 265/70R17: Hilux, Fortuner, older 4x4 wagons. Brands: Maxxis Bighorn and Razr, BFGoodrich, Toyo.
• 285/70R17LT: LandCruiser and lifted 4x4 running muddies. Brands: Maxxis Bighorn, BFGoodrich KM3, Mickey Thompson.
• 285/65R17: LandCruiser and upsized 4x4. Brands: Maxxis, Mickey Thompson, Cooper.
• 265/60R18: Ranger, Everest, MU-X, D-Max. Brands: Bridgestone, Maxxis, Cooper.
• 255/70R18 and 255/65R18: Ranger, Amarok, MU-X. Brands: Bridgestone, Maxxis, BFGoodrich.
• 265/65R18 and 275/60R18: newer Ranger and VW Amarok. Brands: Maxxis, BFGoodrich, Kumho, Hankook.
• 285/60R18: upsized 4x4. Brands: Maxxis Razr, BFGoodrich, Cooper.
• 265/75R16 and 285/75R16LT: Patrol and heavy or muddy 4x4 builds. Brands: Maxxis Mud-Terrain, Mickey Thompson, Cooper STT.

If your size is not on this list, just ask. We can source most sizes on request.

All-terrain or mud-terrain?

Once you know your size, the next choice is tread type. All-terrain tyres are the all-rounder, comfortable and quiet on the road, capable on dirt, gravel and moderate tracks. They suit most daily-driven 4x4s and touring setups. Mud-terrain tyres have a far more aggressive tread built for mud, rocks and serious off-road work, at the cost of some road noise and comfort. If your 4x4 spends most of its life on the highway with the occasional weekend track, all-terrain is usually the smarter pick. If you are regularly in the thick stuff, muddies earn their place.

Getting the right size for less

Whatever your vehicle and size, you should not have to pay big-chain retail prices for genuine brand-name 4x4 tyres. At TyreHaus we supply all the major brands, Maxxis, BFGoodrich, Toyo, Cooper, Mickey Thompson, Bridgestone and more, delivered across Melbourne and shipped Australia-wide, at prices below typical retail.

Send us your tyre size or your vehicle details and we will come back with a sharp price, usually within one business day.