Changing Tire Size or Wheels? Read this first!

[Loogey]

Figured i should add that i have a 2016 Trail.

 

[Ohio Hawk]

I have a 3" lift going on in a couple weeks, but now im pondering REALLY hard on what tire size to go with. I do a ton of exploring in the Rocky Mountains, on decapitated, gnarly old logging roads, and dont want to get myself in too much of a sticky situation. I have read this post front to back a bunch of times, trying to decide.

I hate to day it, but im going with a RevTek kit. Only reason being it was recommended by the dealer, and they will keep the warranty. Once that is done, i will change the lift to something better.

Anyway, i would like to put something on thats a little bigger then stock. I have 285/70/17 Duratracks on my list, as well as, BFG K02's. Should i even be going with a 285 in these tires, since i wont be changing the UCA's for a little bit? or should i stick with 265's? I have also noticed that most tires in a 285 are E rated. Will this be WAY too stiff? I was thinking of putting them onto some 8.5" Methods.

Thank you for all your expert advice. Its getting close to crunch time, and its stressing me out hahaha!

Stay stock or look at 275/70/17. There are a number of tires from different manufacturers in that size that are "C" rated. It really boils down to what is most important to you. The E rated tires will be a bit more stiff, but not that much. I have c rated Firestone AT2's 275's on mine, but I have a friend, in the same exact spec 4Runner, that has e rated 275 KO2's. There is a difference, but it isn't a huge one. The good thing about 275's is that it will minimize rubbing issues. Mine rubbed and required an alignment adjustment and some bumper trimming, my friend didn't have any rubbing!

Good luck, it is a tough decision and you can't test drive them to decide!!

 

[CF_Machete]

I have a 3" lift going on in a couple weeks, but now im pondering REALLY hard on what tire size to go with. I do a ton of exploring in the Rocky Mountains, on decapitated, gnarly old logging roads, and dont want to get myself in too much of a sticky situation. I have read this post front to back a bunch of times, trying to decide.

I hate to day it, but im going with a RevTek kit. Only reason being it was recommended by the dealer, and they will keep the warranty. Once that is done, i will change the lift to something better.

Anyway, i would like to put something on thats a little bigger then stock. I have 285/70/17 Duratracks on my list, as well as, BFG K02's. Should i even be going with a 285 in these tires, since i wont be changing the UCA's for a little bit? or should i stick with 265's? I have also noticed that most tires in a 285 are E rated. Will this be WAY too stiff? I was thinking of putting them onto some 8.5" Methods.

Thank you for all your expert advice. Its getting close to crunch time, and its stressing me out hahaha!

Love my 285/70/17 General Grabber AT2s no lift with mild rubbing in reverse and some flex. No lift yet, just a fender liner mod. Price them out off of tire buyer and check retailmenot.com. I got mine for around $800 shipped with an 8% off coupon. There is a 9% one now. Once I get my lift, I'll be fine. Also, no issues on wet pavement.

 

[Onetonf350]

Learning how to send pictures

This is my 2014 Limited. LT 285-70-18 Duratracs

 

[Loogey]

Thanks for the responce guys. Def helps! :hatsoff:

 

[carlomagne]

Tire weight vs tire diameter?

If a certain tire in 285/70/17 is still heavier than another tire in 295 or even 305/70/17, does the weight or diameter have more of an impact to the drivability as far as initial acceleration goes? Would the heavier or larger diameter tire cause the gears to search more when driving at higher speeds?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ECUDrummer]

If a certain tire in 285/70/17 is still heavier than another tire in 295 or even 305/70/17, does the weight or diameter have more of an impact to the drivability as far as initial acceleration goes? Would the heavier or larger diameter tire cause the gears to search more when driving at higher speeds?

Thanks in advance.

I'm no expert when it comes to this topic, but I recently jumped to a heavier tire and can definitely feel it. I jumped to a 295 from a 285 so this may not be as relevant of an answer as it could be, but I can feel the difference in initial acceleration. It's not a huge difference, but she takes a little more juice to get going now.

 

[carlomagne]

I'm no expert when it comes to this topic, but I recently jumped to a heavier tire and can definitely feel it. I jumped to a 295 from a 285 so this may not be as relevant of an answer as it could be, but I can feel the difference in initial acceleration. It's not a huge difference, but she takes a little more juice to get going now.

Yea from 285 to 295, there should be a difference.

I'm really debating on 33x12.5 Toyo Open Country MT (pretty heavy tire) vs 295/70 or even 305/70 Cooper STT Pros. From what I've heard and read, the coopers are pretty light.

 

[ECUDrummer]

Yea from 285 to 295, there should be a difference.

I'm really debating on 33x12.5 Toyo Open Country MT (pretty heavy tire) vs 295/70 or even 305/70 Cooper STT Pros. From what I've heard and read, the coopers are pretty light.

I've got a buddy who runs the 295/70 STT Pro, he seems to like them alot.

I've go tthe 295/70 Open Country MTs. Have only had them for 2 days, so the best I can say is they look mean.

 

[SamuelSandoval]

Hey all,

I'm new to this forum and have a simple question that might or might not have been asked, so please bare with me.

I just bought a 2017 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium and love it.
I'd like to swap the tires, but am not necessarily looking to getting larger tires. My vehicle came with the Bridgestone Duelers, which are just fine for a highway tire, but I would like to eventually put a set of Terra Grapplers G2, 265/70/17, just like the TRD Pros. I know that this will not cause rubbing or other issues besides a slight MPG loss, which is fine, the 4Runner is not my daily driven vehicle. I can live with .3 - .5 mpg less.

The second thing I'd like to do which would be later down the road is to lift, only the front slightly. I will not be doing any "real" rock crawling and I doubt I'll be driving in the deep Louisiana clay mud like some of you. But I do want a slight increase in clearance just in case, and want to rise the front end. I think the TRD Pro sits a bit higher in the front compared to my TRD ORP.

Is this recommended? Is it a mortal sin to only think of lifting the front and leaving the back stock? And is Icon a good reliable aftermarket brand for doing this?

Other than those two things, I don't see myself modifying suspension much. The vehicle is set to handle my local Colorado weather just fine.

Thank you for your input!

 

[VT245]

Hey all,

I'm new to this forum and have a simple question that might or might not have been asked, so please bare with me.

I just bought a 2017 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium and love it.
I'd like to swap the tires, but am not necessarily looking to getting larger tires. My vehicle came with the Bridgestone Duelers, which are just fine for a highway tire, but I would like to eventually put a set of Terra Grapplers G2, 265/70/17, just like the TRD Pros. I know that this will not cause rubbing or other issues besides a slight MPG loss, which is fine, the 4Runner is not my daily driven vehicle. I can live with .3 - .5 mpg less.

The second thing I'd like to do which would be later down the road is to lift, only the front slightly. I will not be doing any "real" rock crawling and I doubt I'll be driving in the deep Louisiana clay mud like some of you. But I do want a slight increase in clearance just in case, and want to rise the front end. I think the TRD Pro sits a bit higher in the front compared to my TRD ORP.

Is this recommended? Is it a mortal sin to only think of lifting the front and leaving the back stock? And is Icon a good reliable aftermarket brand for doing this?

Other than those two things, I don't see myself modifying suspension much. The vehicle is set to handle my local Colorado weather just fine.

Thank you for your input!

While I'm not a 5th gen owner, I can say with certainty that plenty of 4th and 5th gen owners level the front out without touching the rear end. I did this with my 4th gen, and plenty of people have done it with their 5th gens as well. This thread below is a good reference to what a lot of people do when they want to level out their rig using Bilstein 5100s and leaving everything else stock (it compares people doing 0.85" in the front and keeping the back stock, to using 1.75" setting in front and a spacer in the back) So no, it is not a mortal sin....at least not to me.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/102288-bilstein-5100-85-pic`s.html

 

[mybabydaddy]

Hey all,

I'm new to this forum and have a simple question that might or might not have been asked, so please bare with me.

I just bought a 2017 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium and love it.
I'd like to swap the tires, but am not necessarily looking to getting larger tires. My vehicle came with the Bridgestone Duelers, which are just fine for a highway tire, but I would like to eventually put a set of Terra Grapplers G2, 265/70/17, just like the TRD Pros. I know that this will not cause rubbing or other issues besides a slight MPG loss, which is fine, the 4Runner is not my daily driven vehicle. I can live with .3 - .5 mpg less.

The second thing I'd like to do which would be later down the road is to lift, only the front slightly. I will not be doing any "real" rock crawling and I doubt I'll be driving in the deep Louisiana clay mud like some of you. But I do want a slight increase in clearance just in case, and want to rise the front end. I think the TRD Pro sits a bit higher in the front compared to my TRD ORP.

Is this recommended? Is it a mortal sin to only think of lifting the front and leaving the back stock? And is Icon a good reliable aftermarket brand for doing this?

Other than those two things, I don't see myself modifying suspension much. The vehicle is set to handle my local Colorado weather just fine.

Thank you for your input!

Welcome! Sometimes the search function within the Forum doesn't work too well. Most recommend that you just use Google... try things like "5th gen 4runner level lift", and you'll get tons of hits.

Short answer, one of the most common mods on here... leveling the front or slight lift front/rear. Best way to accomplish your goal and what MOST, BUT NOT ALL, agree improves the ride and front end brake dive.... simple, buy Bilstein 5100 shocks for both the front and the back, and use the .85 setting for the front. That will take out most of the factory rake.

Even more cost effective (if you must/prefer) is just using a top-spacer lift for the front. There are a few options/companies to use that will lift/level it... and that option keeps your stock shocks.

Keep searching on Google, you will find hundreds of threads on this topic. Good luck!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SamuelSandoval]

Welcome! Sometimes the search function within the Forum doesn't work too well. Most recommend that you just use Google... try things like "5th gen 4runner level lift", and you'll get tons of hits.

Short answer, one of the most common mods on here... leveling the front or slight lift front/rear. Best way to accomplish your goal and what MOST, BUT NOT ALL, agree improves the ride and front end brake dive.... simple, buy Bilstein 5100 shocks for both the front and the back, and use the .85 setting for the front. That will take out most of the factory rake.

Even more cost effective (if you must/prefer) is just using a top-spacer lift for the front. There are a few options/companies to use that will lift/level it... and that option keeps your stock shocks.

Keep searching on Google, you will find hundreds of threads on this topic. Good luck!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Before purchasing the 4R I read that some people do a top-spacer jig. I was looking forward to it being that easy, but then after reading more into it I started running into people saying that spacers make the ride terrible and that certain joints will wear faster and require more mods... basically that yes spacers are cheaper at the beginning, but not necessarily the way to go.

So basically, I'd like to just slightly lift the front but if I'm going to modify the front end, I'd like to improve the overall ride and performance which is why I would probably not put spacers. Are the 5100s a serious upgrade, is that the consensus choice around here? Again, what about Icon?

BTW does anyone know what type of shocks the '17 TRD Off Road comes with stock? Is it identical to the SR5? I've only had the 4R for three or so weeks. I have a '16 Tacoma which I've owned for almost two years and know that TRD Sport and TRD Off Road suspensions on Tacomas are tuned differently- what about "TRD vs non "TRD" 4Runners?

This is probably the wrong forum for my questions and I've seen that there are forum police around here. Please spare me this once.

 

[Cymon]

Before purchasing the 4R I read that some people do a top-spacer jig. I was looking forward to it being that easy, but then after reading more into it I started running into people saying that spacers make the ride terrible and that certain joints will wear faster and require more mods... basically that yes spacers are cheaper at the beginning, but not necessarily the way to go.

So basically, I'd like to just slightly lift the front but if I'm going to modify the front end, I'd like to improve the overall ride and performance which is why I would probably not put spacers. Are the 5100s a serious upgrade, is that the consensus choice around here? Again, what about Icon?

BTW does anyone know what type of shocks the '17 TRD Off Road comes with stock? Is it identical to the SR5? I've only had the 4R for three or so weeks. I have a '16 Tacoma which I've owned for almost two years and know that TRD Sport and TRD Off Road suspensions on Tacomas are tuned differently- what about "TRD vs non "TRD" 4Runners?

This is probably the wrong forum for my questions and I've seen that there are forum police around here. Please spare me this once.

The TRD off Road (Old Trail Edition) SR5, and Limited all have the same OEM Shocks. The TRD Pro comes with 60mm Bilstein front shocks with about a 1-1.25" lift. The rear TRD shocks are Remote reservoir Bilstein shocks. The Aftermarket to this setup would be the Bilstein 6112 front with Bilstein 5160 rear. This is a step up from the 5100's.

 

[VT245]

Before purchasing the 4R I read that some people do a top-spacer jig. I was looking forward to it being that easy, but then after reading more into it I started running into people saying that spacers make the ride terrible and that certain joints will wear faster and require more mods... basically that yes spacers are cheaper at the beginning, but not necessarily the way to go.

So basically, I'd like to just slightly lift the front but if I'm going to modify the front end, I'd like to improve the overall ride and performance which is why I would probably not put spacers. Are the 5100s a serious upgrade, is that the consensus choice around here? Again, what about Icon?

BTW does anyone know what type of shocks the '17 TRD Off Road comes with stock? Is it identical to the SR5? I've only had the 4R for three or so weeks. I have a '16 Tacoma which I've owned for almost two years and know that TRD Sport and TRD Off Road suspensions on Tacomas are tuned differently- what about "TRD vs non "TRD" 4Runners?

This is probably the wrong forum for my questions and I've seen that there are forum police around here. Please spare me this once.

+1 to what [MENTION=120701]Cymon[/MENTION] said. Also, any Bilsteins, including the 5100 are going to be an upgrade from stock (at least in my mind). My 4th gen is noticeably tighter in the handling department, brake dives less, and looks better to boot. You can't go wrong with any of the suggestions above!

Edit: I also tow a 4500b trailer all summer and I've found the Bilstein 5100s to reduce the "sag" my rear end has when hooked up to my Chris Craft. I need a good pic of that!

 

[SamuelSandoval]

The TRD off Road (Old Trail Edition) SR5, and Limited all have the same OEM Shocks. The TRD Pro comes with 60mm Bilstein front shocks with about a 1-1.25" lift. The rear TRD shocks are Remote reservoir Bilstein shocks. The Aftermarket to this setup would be the Bilstein 6112 front with Bilstein 5160 rear. This is a step up from the 5100's.

Thanks a lot. This was the information I was looking for!

 

[SamuelSandoval]

Is there anyone that has a 2016 or 2017 that upgraded fronts first? If so, how fancy did you get? 5100, 6112, 8100?
I'm looking to replace the current fronts with something noticeably better than the TRD Pro.

The two reasons I didn't buy a TRD Pro are:

1. There are never any in stock, not anywhere near me
2. So many people insist that if the TRD Pro is outside of one's budget or simply unavailable at the time of purchase, it's ok - because the suspension upgrades are "upcharged". I've heard numerous times that it's better on your pocket to slap aftermarket parts, and you'll have a "better than TRD Pro" all around.

Any thoughts?

 

[tacoyota]

If you aren't planning on doing heavy offroading, just go with 5100s up front. Cheap, works well and improvement from stock.

As for the tire, I just went from stock dueler to 275 ko2's and lost .5 mpg.

 

[SamuelSandoval]

If you aren't planning on doing heavy offroading, just go with 5100s up front. Cheap, works well and improvement from stock.

As for the tire, I just went from stock dueler to 275 ko2's and lost .5 mpg.

Thanks for the tip! Hey do you have pics of your 4R? It's hard to find any of 17 TRD ORP with different tires than stock.

 

[tacoyota]

Thanks for the tip! Hey do you have pics of your 4R? It's hard to find any of 17 TRD ORP with different tires than stock.

Yea I feel you. I was looking high and low for photos of white 4runners on 275s without a lift.