Jumping down the (even) bigger tire hole

Vulgarian

Vulgarian

New member
When I bought my 4Runner, I had all these fake rules like, "I'll never get an aftermarket front bumper." That lasted about six months before I ordered one. I also said, I'd stop at 33" tires. Well, that one's about to get thrown out the window too as I descend further yet down the rabbit hole of mods.

As my Cooper's are nearing the end of their life, my next mod is probably 285/75 R17 Toyo MT's (although the noise may push me into a quieter tread like the Cooper's ST Maxx.) What that means is a BMC and 4:56 re-gearing - no worries there. It may also mean bump-stop extensions in the rear. Following this logic, it will also help me rationalize a rear bumper just so I can carry a full-size spare. Naturally, all this will precipitate a divorce so I'll need to prepare to live in my truck and I may as well get an Alucab RTT while I'm down here this deep. lol.

I've read almost every thread on the topic and really appreciate the wisdom I'm reading from some longtime contributors here, but I have a few questions.

From those of you who have committed to this next step, what negative effects, disappointments or regrets will I have on the road. This is my daily driver.

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
I'm running 285/75R17 Cooper AT3 XLT in E

They're around the same weight as the duratracs they replaced so no noticeable differences other than I'm much happier with this tire size and design.

I've got some crazy caster in the front so no need for BMC still, but I probably should.

FWIW, I could have easily fit a 315/70R17 in this specific tire but I'm not sure how much trimming of the fender flares, etc would need to take place after. Also, much like your position, I didn't want anything larger than 285/75 for the DD aspect.

I already had wheelers bumps installed previously and seem to be fine.
 
You may need aftermarket UCAs to get caster adjusted. I had the Toyo MTs on a Chevy Silverado, they were great, got by on sand dunes without airing down, maybe because they were 305s.
 
If you don't have KDSS, you can probably fit the 285/75R17's underneath still.

Edit, never mind I saw you have KDSS. That size won't fit underneath.
 
Vulgarian said:
When I bought my 4Runner, I had all these fake rules like, "I'll never get an aftermarket front bumper." That lasted about six months before I ordered one. I also said, I'd stop at 33" tires. Well, that one's about to get thrown out the window too as I descend further yet down the rabbit hole of mods.

As my Cooper's are nearing the end of their life, my next mod is probably 285/75 R17 Toyo MT's (although the noise may push me into a quieter tread like the Cooper's ST Maxx.) What that means is a BMC and 4:56 re-gearing - no worries there. It may also mean bump-stop extensions in the rear. Following this logic, it will also help me rationalize a rear bumper just so I can carry a full-size spare. Naturally, all this will precipitate a divorce so I'll need to prepare to live in my truck and I may as well get an Alucab RTT while I'm down here this deep. lol.

I've read almost every thread on the topic and really appreciate the wisdom I'm reading from some longtime contributors here, but I have a few questions.

From those of you who have committed to this next step, what negative effects, disappointments or regrets will I have on the road. This is my daily driver.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...



Toyo’s? M/T? Nice. I was looking at those tires for while when I ready for new tires, but they are little pricey, and up with Falken 285/70/17 M/T. About trimming , it depends on rims off set you have. Maybe you don’t have to do any trimming. About noise, well it’s M/T’s , like music to me. Bottom line, no regrets absolutely love them,and I am a DD . Good luck with your new shoes!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
mteolus said:
If you don't have KDSS, you can probably fit the 285/75R17's underneath still.

Edit, never mind I saw you have KDSS. That size won't fit underneath.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure where you got this information but it is completely untrue. I have run 285/75's and now am on 305's with no issues.

EDIT: Ok I apparently can't read. Yes a 285/75 will not fit underneath. Sorry about that
 
Last edited:
Vulgarian said:
When I bought my 4Runner, I had all these fake rules like, "I'll never get an aftermarket front bumper." That lasted about six months before I ordered one. I also said, I'd stop at 33" tires. Well, that one's about to get thrown out the window too as I descend further yet down the rabbit hole of mods.

As my Cooper's are nearing the end of their life, my next mod is probably 285/75 R17 Toyo MT's (although the noise may push me into a quieter tread like the Cooper's ST Maxx.) What that means is a BMC and 4:56 re-gearing - no worries there. It may also mean bump-stop extensions in the rear. Following this logic, it will also help me rationalize a rear bumper just so I can carry a full-size spare. Naturally, all this will precipitate a divorce so I'll need to prepare to live in my truck and I may as well get an Alucab RTT while I'm down here this deep. lol.

I've read almost every thread on the topic and really appreciate the wisdom I'm reading from some longtime contributors here, but I have a few questions.

From those of you who have committed to this next step, what negative effects, disappointments or regrets will I have on the road. This is my daily driver.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

You will definitely need a BMC and high caster UCA's. I think it will be very challenging to get the caster you need to clear the body mount even when it's chopped without a front bumper to give you more room to push everything forward. I run about 4.9* caster to get everything to not rub with the 305/70's I'm on now at full compression. (Nitto Ridge Grappler)
In hindsight I think staying at the 285/75's would have been fine. The extra width doesn't seem to make much difference in traction and it required a lot of extra trimming to fit the 305's. (Hammering pinch welds and major trimming of the rear fender liner) As well the 305's are much heavier and much stiffer. (The 285/75's were C rated and the 305's are E.) Ride quality was much better with the 285's. I'll probably go back to the 285's at some point.
I went to the 285's before re gearing and had to re gear to 4.56 right away. So I'd plan on that.

Good Luck!
 
camdz said:
I think he is saying the spare wont fit underneath if you have KDSS. I do not have KDSS so I cant say for sure how much clearance you'd have.
Click to expand...

Maybe. I was not able to fit a 285/75 spare underneath but it had nothing to do with KDSS. Simply wouldn't fit

EDIT: Ok I see what you're saying. Yes you're right
 
Last edited:
comtn4x4 said:
You will definitely need a BMC and high caster UCA's. I think it will be very challenging to get the caster you need to clear the body mount even when it's chopped without a front bumper to give you more room to push everything forward. I run about 4.9* caster to get everything to not rub with the 305/70's I'm on now at full compression. (Nitto Ridge Grappler)
In hindsight I think staying at the 285/75's would have been fine. The extra width doesn't seem to make much difference in traction and it required a lot of extra trimming to fit the 305's. (Hammering pinch welds and major trimming of the rear fender liner) As well the 305's are much heavier and much stiffer. (The 285/75's were C rated and the 305's are E.) Ride quality was much better with the 285's. I'll probably go back to the 285's at some point.
I went to the 285's before re gearing and had to re gear to 4.56 right away. So I'd plan on that.

Good Luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. You've answered a few other questions too. I think I'm going 285/75 for a lot of the reasons you've mentioned. I don't think the extra width will benefit me as much as the diameter increase will and the narrower profile seems to make sense from a stuffing a tire into a wheel well aspect too. I heard someone who had tried a lot of different sizes say he thought the 285/75 was the best fit for a 4Runner in the final analysis. I also appreciate the regear first comment. I was wondering how long I could let that slide. lol. My UCA is an Icon, so I think I should be fine.

Thanks again
 
I’m about to run some 285/75/17 toyo rt’s. I recommend those. The mt’s are all I ran on my diesel/ desert trucks and they kick ass every where for sure. The rt’s are damn near as good but even better on the hwy. really quite and they look aggressive.

I’m doing 2” up out back and about 2-2.5 up front but I have some billet upper control arms that will allow for best caster to clear the tires. But also I will be running trd forged wheels 17x7.5 w/ +6 back spacing. I will prob just have to trim the front fender liner and remove the front mud flaps to fit this and get full cycle with some extended travel Kings I custom ordered.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Vulgarian said:
D'oh! Yup you're right. Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes, the KDSS bar is maybe 1/4 inch from my 285/70R17 if I push it as far as I can back towards the rear bumper as I finish raising it up. No way a tire any bigger will fit. Seems like a 34 inch tire would fit without the KDSS bar in the way but maybe not. I was just under there today installing the C4 diff skid and checked it out up close.
 
mteolus said:
Yes, the KDSS bar is maybe 1/4 inch from my 285/70R17 if I push it as far as I can back towards the rear bumper as I finish raising it up. No way a tire any bigger will fit. Seems like a 34 inch tire would fit without the KDSS bar in the way but maybe not. I was just under there today installing the C4 diff skid and checked it out up close.
Click to expand...

mteolus, no contact between the diff skid and the trac bar? Steve has been helping me to trouble shoot some contact between his trac bar and my diff and he said the diff skid could be a problem
 
I can't think of anything disappointing, regretful, or negative effects from going to 285s. I love mine.

Wait, I lied. The logistics of figuring out whether you need a BMC and/or UCAs was the biggest "challenge" from a time perspective for me. i.e. how many times do you want to lug your 4runner to the shop?

You might not even need a BMC or UCAs -not everyone that goes to 285 needs them, but I imagine that depends on your usage and suspension travel. I think the process would go something like this:

* Put on 285s
* See if they rub and if so, assess mod what you can e.g. remove front mudflaps, splash guard mod, and probably trim some of your front bumper (keep in mind, if you get UCAs down the road, you might have to trim some more of the bumper depending how much clearance you give yourself the first cut around)
* With my bilstein 5100s and stock UCAs, I can't get more than 1 degree of caster. So, it'll be a toss up at this point whether you get one or both re: BMC and UCAs. If you get the BMC, you can forget the UCAs altogether since you'll have clearance, but if caster means anything to you, UCAs might be for you.
* If the BMC bothers you at all (e.g. I hate rust and the minor rubbing that occurs brothers me less than potential rust from a less-than-perfect BMC job so no BMC for me), you might want to try the UCAs first. All depends on your comfort level.

Or, you can commit to both and get it done in one quick trip to a shop and be done with it. Super fast peace of mind.

I don't do anything hardcore with my runner so I put up with the little bit of rubbing at full articulation (more so in reverse). The front mod/splash guard rubbing is starting to bug me so I'll take care of that in the spring (I run OEM sized winters during winter).

$0.02
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 742 (members: 0, guests: 742)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,083
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top