New tire-lift-spacer question for 2012 TE

[mook21]

I am almost ready for new tires on my 2012 TE. My current set up is the 2" suspension lift (1.5" Toytec springs and 1/2" spacer in front with Blistein shocks) Toytec springs in back. Stock TE wheels with Firestone Destination A/T 285/70/17 LT tires. When initially lifted had same tires but size 275/70/17. 275's looked a bit empty in the wheel well to me, 285's full it better. Had to do the front wheel well liner mod to stop rubbing.

I like wheeling it 3-4x every year on some pretty tough terrain... The Cove in Gore, Va. And actually ripped the sidewall on one of my 275's (LT tires with E load rating), that's when I got the used 285's to see how they felt. I also drive on the highway 15k per year so like a quiet tire. Finally, I do drive in the snow to ski/ snowboard in the winter.

With all of that, I am looking at tire options as well as tire size. I would like to add spacers to get the tires to extend a bit outside the wheel well for protection when wheeling, but don't want to chop the body mount. With my lift, can I do this with 285's? From searches, it does not look like I can. Also, I need to maintain the wheel articulation. Can I add the spacers with 275's and not have to do the body mount chop and keep my articulation?

Tires considering: another set of Firestone Destinations, Dick Cepek Fun Country (or equivalent M. Thompson or Cooper) all LT. Ideal would be a C rated for weight but none of these come in that.

I appreciate any feedback.

 

[1engineer]

Further out you space your wheels the more you rub, generally. If you rub with no spacers you will really rub with spacers.

 

[mook21]

Rubbing

1engineer, that's what I thought about spacing out and rubbing, thanks or confirming for me. That's what I expect with 285's if I add the spacer. Wondering if anyone had my setup running 275's and if that will require a body mount chop if adding the wheel spacer. I would like to have my wheels and tires slightly outside my fenders for wheeling so that if against a rock or tree that, like sliders for the sides, the tires will help protect the fenders.

 

[mook21]

Sooooo, is anyone out there running 275's with a 2" lift and spacers on the wheels

See post thread for details, but trying to see if I would need to do any body mount mods if running 275's instead of 285's with weel spacers

 

[proquip]

See post thread for details, but trying to see if I would need to do any body mount mods if running 275's instead of 285's with weel spacers

I distinctly remember [MENTION=8206]harper7[/MENTION] early on running 275 BFG ATs with a spacer lift and spidertrax spacers and confirming that it rubbed a bit - I think this is what led him to figure out the front liner mod. You might want to check out his build thread.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/gallery/58037-june-2010-t4rotm-harper7-3.html

Good luck!

 

[mook21]

Thanks for feedback!

Awesome, will check out his build thread. Thanks for the feedback