We recently bought a used 2010 Sequoia Limited to tow a travel trailer. (It's rated to haul up to 7500 lbs., we're just looking to tow 5000 or under. We haven't pulled the trigger on one yet, but we've towed a couple rental trailers and it's done pretty well.) The Sequoia is about due for new tires, and it has 20" wheels. My brother recommended that I get smaller diameter wheels for towing. Any advice for a towing newbie before we drop extra $ on wheels AND tires?

Krisbabs wrote:We recently bought a used 2010 Sequoia Limited to tow a travel trailer. (It's rated to haul up to 7500 lbs., we're just looking to tow 5000 or under. We haven't pulled the trigger on one yet, but we've towed a couple rental trailers and it's done pretty well.) The Sequoia is about due for new tires, and it has 20" wheels. My brother recommended that I get smaller diameter wheels for towing. Any advice for a towing newbie before we drop extra $ on wheels AND tires?The diameter of the wheels doesn't matterThe diameter of the tires does.Having said that, shorter tires than stock will give you more pulling power. It has the same effect as changing gear ratios. The downside is that the speedometer will no longer be accurate, and you will lose some ground clearance. A gear swap may actually be cheaper than new tires/rims.Your money, your choice

Depends on what "diameter" of the tire you are looking to reduce?I've got OEM 20" wheels on my 13 F150. Stock size is 275/55/20. They are about 32" tall overall.The OEM spare tire for my truck is an 18" wheel diameter... They are basically the same overall height of 32".Your brother might be thinking that reducing the overall height of the tire is better.. And yes, that will change your final rear gear drive ratio, but then you will have to re-calibrate your speedo/odo depending on where you go with it..Most folks go for taller tires and want that "big tire look", and that's all fine and dandy, but if you increase the overall height of your tires, to say, 33" or 35" or taller, you are changing your overall gear ratio for the worse if TOWING is your goal..I'd stick with the stock size tire and if you get a #5000 GVWR TT (not #5000 dry weight) you should be just fine..Good luck!Mitch

^ What huntindog said. You're fine with (presumably factory) 20s. What size tires are on it?Find a nice XL or LT rated tire close to the OE tire size/diameter if you're going to be towing and everything will work just as designed.

What is the TV’s payload? Classic mistake! Buy or select the trailer first, then match a tow vehicle to it. Your brother is well meaning but knows little about TVs and TTs.

The Sequoia is based on the Tundra drivetrain and as such already comes with an excellent 4.30 rear gear ratio for towing. No need to downsize the tires. Stick with the stock size but upgrade from the stock P rated tires to LT tires for better towing.

Towing with a Toyota Sequoia: wheel size question

camp-n-family
Explorer
Oct 22, 2019
The Sequoia is based on the Tundra drivetrain and as such already comes with an excellent 4.30 rear gear ratio for towing. No need to downsize the tires. Stick with the stock size but upgrade from the stock P rated tires to LT tires for better towing.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Oct 22, 2019
What is the TV’s payload? Classic mistake! Buy or select the trailer first, then match a tow vehicle to it. Your brother is well meaning but knows little about TVs and TTs.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Oct 22, 2019
^ What huntindog said.
You're fine with (presumably factory) 20s. What size tires are on it?
Find a nice XL or LT rated tire close to the OE tire size/diameter if you're going to be towing and everything will work just as designed.
MitchF150
Explorer III
Oct 22, 2019
Depends on what "diameter" of the tire you are looking to reduce?

I've got OEM 20" wheels on my 13 F150. Stock size is 275/55/20. They are about 32" tall overall.

The OEM spare tire for my truck is an 18" wheel diameter...

They are basically the same overall height of 32".

Your brother might be thinking that reducing the overall height of the tire is better.. And yes, that will change your final rear gear drive ratio, but then you will have to re-calibrate your speedo/odo depending on where you go with it..

Most folks go for taller tires and want that "big tire look", and that's all fine and dandy, but if you increase the overall height of your tires, to say, 33" or 35" or taller, you are changing your overall gear ratio for the worse if TOWING is your goal..

I'd stick with the stock size tire and if you get a #5000 GVWR TT (not #5000 dry weight) you should be just fine..

Good luck!

Mitch
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 22, 2019
Krisbabs wrote:
We recently bought a used 2010 Sequoia Limited to tow a travel trailer. (It's rated to haul up to 7500 lbs., we're just looking to tow 5000 or under. We haven't pulled the trigger on one yet, but we've towed a couple rental trailers and it's done pretty well.) The Sequoia is about due for new tires, and it has 20" wheels. My brother recommended that I get smaller diameter wheels for towing. Any advice for a towing newbie before we drop extra $ on wheels AND tires?
The diameter of the wheels doesn't matter
The diameter of the tires does.
Having said that, shorter tires than stock will give you more pulling power. It has the same effect as changing gear ratios. The downside is that the speedometer will no longer be accurate, and you will lose some ground clearance. A gear swap may actually be cheaper than new tires/rims.

Your money, your choice

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