15 Inch Rims -Want a bigger tire, What size tires fit?

[SeaBass8]

I just picked up a 2002 4Runner and it has 15 inch rims with 225/75/15 tires on it and they look tiny.

My question is whats the largest tire I can put on the 15 inch rims? The 15 inch rims are really nice so I was thinking about keeping the rims and put the biggest tire I can on them to make the truck look better.

I had a 98 Tacoma that had 15s with a weird tire size something like 31/10.5/15 or something like that, I can't remember now.

Pics of big tires on 15's would be great, thanks!

 

[T4R2014]

I'd bump up to 16's. Matter of fact, I think 17's are the standard now. Tire and braking options are better with larger wheels.

 

[4Runner fun]

The width in more important than the diameter. And a 31/10.5/15 is not really a weird size, it's just not a metric measurement, it's a tire measured in inches is all.
knowing how wide the rim is dictates max tire size

 

[snivilous]

These are 35x12.50r15. And a 31/10.50 is one of the most common tire sizes out there, nothing weird about it.

 

[SeaBass8]

By weird I guess I mean I'm used to seeing tire sizes in metric not standard.

 

[rdr99]

Lots of other questions... Lifted? Overall goal/use of rig? Backspacing of current rims? 33's, 35's, 37's all come in a 15" rim size.

 

[phattyduck]

Keep in mind the 15" wheel trucks also came with gearing appropriate for the tire size (3.73 or 3.90, I believe) which will make larger tire sizes worse for power/torque than the 16" wheel trucks.

Otherwise, the same overall size tires fit the same.

-Charlie

 

[JZiggy]

Keep in mind the 15" wheel trucks also came with gearing appropriate for the tire size (3.73 or 3.90, I believe) which will make larger tire sizes worse for power/torque than the 16" wheel trucks.

Otherwise, the same overall size tires fit the same.

-Charlie

Good point! Best to look up the axle code and see what gears you've got so you know what you're getting into by putting on larger tires.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Keep in mind the 15" wheel trucks also came with gearing appropriate for the tire size (3.73 or 3.90, I believe) which will make larger tire sizes worse for power/torque than the 16" wheel trucks.

Otherwise, the same overall size tires fit the same.

-Charlie

Beat me to it

If you put larger than what's on there, your speedometer will read you are going slower than you really are. Same with mileage. If you put say, a 32" or 33" tire on there, gearing will be a real issue and it will have absolutely no power down low. Most 15" 4Runners came with the 4-cylinder engine, so I'm assuming that's what you have as well. It'll be a real slug. However, you might be able to swap out the entire 3rd member from the rear differential and put in a 4.10 ratio 3rd member from another 4Runner, or at least a 3.90 from another 2WD 4Runner if you don't have 4WD.

 

[SeaBass8]

Lots of other questions... Lifted? Overall goal/use of rig? Backspacing of current rims? 33's, 35's, 37's all come in a 15" rim size.

It's got the 3.4 V6. It's all stock right now.

It's not lifted now but I will likely install a mild lift at some point. 2 inch spacer up front and a 1.5 spacer inch in back. That's what I did on my '97 and I like the stance.

Honestly I don't really do any off-roading so this is mostly for aesthetics. Likely I will be looking at a All Season type road tire that will ride nice but work decent in the snow as well.

I'm okay with losing some performance/gas mileage but not too much.

 

[SeaBass8]

Keep in mind the 15" wheel trucks also came with gearing appropriate for the tire size (3.73 or 3.90, I believe) which will make larger tire sizes worse for power/torque than the 16" wheel trucks.

Otherwise, the same overall size tires fit the same.

-Charlie

I'll see if I can figure out what gears I have.

 

[SeaBass8]

Otherwise, the same overall size tires fit the same.

-Charlie

Okay, so I could go with the same size tires that are on my '97 just in 15s. I think they are 265/75/16 or something like that. I'll double check

 

[Kanoe]

The most common 15 inch size these days is 235/75r15. It seems in a lot of tire brands that is the only 15 inch option. The 225 size seems defunct now.

I have the 235s. They are visibly larger than the 225 I have on the spare.

 

[phattyduck]

Speaking of other issues, the 15" wheel trucks also have smaller brakes (smaller front rotors/calipers/pads and rear wheel cylinders). An upgrade to the 16" wheel components would be good idea if you go to a larger wheel with those larger tires.

-Charlie