Going to lift it, finally - need advice

[BENJMNS]

I'm getting 3" adjustable coilovers up front (Bilstein) and an OME coil setup in the rear. I run the 18" OEM Limited wheels right now and completely stock suspension.

Here's my car as of today:

I want my result to look similar to these rigs:

I want to avoid touching my fenders or liners.

-What tire sizes should I go with given I run the 18" Limited wheels? I'm thinking of going with BF ATs

-Should I get the 1.25" wheel spacers or will this cause my truck to rub? I believe all the examples above are running the spidertrax spacers?

 

[K.C.]

Benjamin Choi,

I would do 265/65/R18 or 265/60/R18.

SidVicious has 285/60/18 Nitto Terra Grapplers

I'm sure you need to do some trimming, maybe remove the front mudguard & 1.25" wheel spacers.

HOJeepster's signature doesn't state that he has wheel spacers.

But SidVicious does have 1.25" Spidertrax Wheel Spacers.

Sid's 2007 4Runner LTD
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3805

via SidVicious

 

[BENJMNS]

so are sid's 285s a 33" tire or bigger? my friend tells me i need to get some better gearing if going to 35s.

also, i hear spacers mess with the ride/balance a bit. recommended?

I really like HOJ's setup esp since he has the same wheels as i do sans spacers. i think since i fitted the '08 limited wheels onto my '03 with less aggressive fender flares, it might just look even more filled out.

how big of a tire can i go with? i'm just confused with the whole 33s and what that equates to in 265 --> 285 range. i want the biggest tires that i can fit sans modifying fenders/liners. i will be going BFG ATs.

 

[K.C.]

i want to avoid running spacers. how can i tell if these guys are runn 33s or 35s?

am i safe with the stock tranny with 33s?

Easy!!

Because 35s are way bigger. 315s are 35"

To avoid wheel spacers...I think you have to get Camburg UCA (Upper Control Arm).

You'll be fine w/ stock tranny.

I think if you go 35s...you need a locker or re-gear. (I don't know much info in this area)

so are sid's 285s a 33" tire or bigger? my friend tells me i need to get some better gearing if going to 35s.

also, i hear spacers mess with the ride/balance a bit. recommended?

I really like HOJ's setup esp since he has the same wheels as i do sans spacers. i think since i fitted the '08 limited wheels onto my '03 with less aggressive fender flares, it might just look even more filled out.

how big of a tire can i go with? i'm just confused with the whole 33s and what that equates to in 265 --> 285 range. i want the biggest tires that i can fit sans modifying fenders/liners. i will be going BFG ATs.

285s = 33"

265/75/16 = 265/70/17 = 265/65/18 = 32"

via Thai

 

[K.C.]

33s = LT285/70R17 BFG KM2

Picture was a courtesy from Pritchnakoff

September 2009 T4ROTM - Pritchnakoff
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=54222

via Pritchnakoff

 

[K.C.]

34s = 295/70/17 NTG's

Picture was a courtesy from crazydubman

crazydubman's PreRunner Build
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7706

via crazydubman

 

[K.C.]

35s = 315/70/17 Pro Comp Xtreme MT

Picture was a courtesy from medic83

Phil's Build Thread
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8804

Rubicon Trip
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8396

via medic83

 

[BENJMNS]

So if I did 285/60/18 BFG ATs on a 3" lift up front and maybe a 1.5-2" in the rear, no spacers on 18" factory wheels, am i good to go with no rubbing at all full lock?

anyone done this on an '03 limited 4x4? are the spidertrax spacers totally trouble free? should i do spacers for the best look? I dont want the whole sticking outside of fenders look. i want it as flush as possible but not at the expense of potential probs with running spacers (vibration/noise).

KC your whole thing on tire sizes helped me a great deal. i def want the 285 or 33s then. thx so much man!

 

[K.C.]

So if I did 285/60/18 BFG ATs on a 3" lift up front and maybe a 1.5-2" in the rear, no spacers on 18" factory wheels, am i good to go with no rubbing at all full lock?

anyone done this on an '03 limited 4x4? are the spidertrax spacers totally trouble free? should i do spacers for the best look? I dont want the whole sticking outside of fenders look. i want it as flush as possible but not at the expense of potential probs with running spacers (vibration/noise).

KC your whole thing on tire sizes helped me a great deal. i def want the 285 or 33s then. thx so much man!

First & foremost...you're very welcome!!

Thank you for showing appreciation...it did take me some good time to post all that.

From looking at that picture...you will for sure need wheel spacers. Wheel Spacers have been discussed many many times. It does put more stress on your bearings & I too don't like the wide stance, but to go larger in tires, you need them to avoid rubbing. In some cases, you may not be able to turn if you don't have wheel spacers.

Sid's 2007 4Runner LTD
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3805

via SidVicious

 

[Uneek]

Easy!!

Because 35s are way bigger. 315s are 35"

Not neccessarily. A 315/50R17 is 29.4". However a 315/75R17 is 35.6". The first set of numbers are the width of the tires only and overall diameter is affected ONLY if the side wall aspect ratio and rim diameter remains constant.

To avoid wheel spacers...I think you have to get Camburg UCA (Upper Control Arm).

You can also get a new set of rims with a different offset and backspacing. UCA's will give you additional clearance with wider tires. But more importantly, UCA's will give you caster adjustability so your alignment can be in OEM specs after a lift. I would recommend Total Chaos over Camburg UCAs based on what 2nd gen Tacoma owners are running. 2nd gen Tacoma shares similar front suspension components as 4th gen 4Runners.

I think if you go 35s...you need a locker or re-gear. (I don't know much info in this area)

Re-gearing the diff is recommended. But with 35"s you'll most likely need a body lift for the additional clearance.

A locker won't change a thing whether you're running 30" highway tires or 40" swampers. The loss of power is still evident with a bigger tire with or without a locker. A locker will help you in situations where only one tire on that axle has grip--it prevents power on an open diff going to the wheel without traction. With an open diff, power will goto the wheel with the least resistance.

285s = 33"

265/75/16 = 265/70/17 = 265/65/18 = 32"

via Thai

Again, only if the sidewall ratio is constant, 285/70R17 is 32.7", whereas 265/70R17 is 31.6".

Tire size calculator

 

[K.C.]

BENJMNS,

Too bad you don't have 17s...I would recomment the LT255/75/17 BFG KM2s.

Both 4runnerfourplay & BlairB are running these.

32" BFG M/T installed no lift (pics)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46799

via 4runnerfourplay

BlairB's 2008 4Runner
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=53612

via BlairB

255/75/17 or 265/70/17
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46926

via K.C.

 

[K.C.]

Uneek,

Thank you sir for clearing this up!!

I meet Phil (medic83) recently & my jaw dropped when I saw his 4Runner w/ 35s :jaw drop:

I then assumed all 315s = 35"

**NEVER ASSUME**

 

[K.C.]

• 32's- Can run stock with some trimming

• 33's- require lift, UCA's or spacers, lots of trimming and removal of mudflaps

• 34's- require lift, UCA's or spacers, lots of trimming, removal of mudflaps, lowering of bump stops and body mount chop (some times body lift)

• 35's- require lift, body lift, UCA's or spacers, lots of trimming, removal of mudflaps, lowering of bump stops, body mount chop and limiting the steering angles

and with all of that, you will still probably rub with 34's and 35's

-Even though he's currently temporary banned...this is a courtesy from BlairB