06 TR4 4WD Sport: I installed 08-LTD 18" Wheels & Toyota Master Tech say not to do?

[Jed]

Thanks for the replies. I swapped the wheels and I think they look great. What is kind of sticking with me is how this Tech was so just so adamant and with so much conviction. Even if he is wrong he believes fervently that this is the wrong thing to do. For me as a rule in life regardless when someone in the know is so emphatic about something I try to consider it more closely rather than just fluffing it off. He said they covered this in certain detail at Toyota Tech School or training or what ever and between swapping wheels from different sizes to different models to different trim levels ect and they Toyota strongly discourages this because of non published implications or what ever. Thanks for all the input. I feel like I have more info now but he was pretty convincing. He certainly was sincere and serious enough about it to make me wonder.
Thanks

You should tell him to discuss this with his co-workers. I'm sure they'll help him understand that there is no problem whatsoever in your wheel/tire swap. He's probably just confused or didn't fully understand his training. If anything, you'll help the guy out in the future if he should come across someone who asks him the same question.

 

[rook]

What is kind of sticking with me is how this Tech was so just so adamant and with so much conviction. Even if he is wrong he believes fervently that this is the wrong thing to do.

Most dealer techs are like this... they have their small area of expertise and learn to think inside the box only.

I believe theat this master tech should be able to plug in his big expensive computer into the OBD II port and actually reprogram the ecm and VSC modules to account for a different tire size. I bet he was out at the roach coach smokin a butt when Toyota was teaching that part of the class.:vader:

 

[kimboy]

Go find a service center that likes to mod cars and trucks. You'll find an enthusiast somewhere along the lines that can provide you with good real world experience.

Enjoy the 18"s, I wish the BBS RW 18"s I had on would support the TPMS system.

I got rid of them for BFG's made in America.

By all means, post some pics would you... I'd be upset if you went this far and didn't show the goods.

 

[RickC]

I think the diameter of an 18" wheel and tire is actually smaller than the 265 70 17's. Yes the real mph will be off, but tell him to install them anyways.

265 70 17 are not the correct factory size. The correct factory size is 265 65 17. Just go to 1010TIRES.COM — Tires and Wheels Absolute Authority. and input the 265 65 17 as the factory size and then type in the new tire size and hit the compare button. It will tell you the difference.

And the "Master" tech is wrong that it will throw everything off. If the tire circumference is different, it will throw off the speedometer, but the test above will let you know if it is. But even that will not break the ABS, or VSC or whatever other crap he was telling you.

 

[IOP25]

Mine came from the dealer with Limited wheels. I bought the 4R from a friend in Atlanta. That guy is wrong. There are thousand of 4Runners rolling around on aftermarket wheels. What a ron.

 

[Barefoot]

Sounds like the "master" tech was trained, but not educated...

 

[MikesToy]

Me thinks the Master Tech is wrong but he's just doing his job. We all know that it will fit. But the Master Tech does not have the new specs. They only go-by Toyota guidelines for specific vehicles (since they're in hot water right now). Go ahead and put them on. Next time you go there for service, they'll pull the VIN # and look into their database. While he's at the computer, (just for a test), ask for what tires you need? I bet he'll say 265/65/17 or 265/70/17s.

 

[4runnerjack]

Sounds like the "master" tech was trained, but not educated...

Well Said, that it hits it right on the nose.