Newbee - Just Starting on 04 - Any Advice?

[drgabbert]

Hey all...

Been reading the forum as I began researching how to "man up" my 04 V6 4x4 purchased from a young lady going to China for Micro Soft that sold in 2009 to me with 48k on it. I now have 78k and was lusting over a 2013 Trail Edition on our lot (I run the sales department for a Toyota dealership) and my pastor said lust is a sin. So I talked my best friend into buying the 2013 model and then started to pacify myself with a few mods - but there's so much more to do.

A few months ago I had our leather guys install charcoal perforated leather with front heated seats. Best interior move I've made!

Last week I installed the ToyTec 3 inch Bilstein shock/coil lift system and love the performance and way it rides. Right now I look like I'm wearing high-water pants with white socks since the stock wheels with studded 265x17 65 series don't fill out the wheel wells.

This week I installed the Rocky Road Super Sliders. Yes, they're heavy duty as I discovered tweaking my back lifting them.

I just got my stock 17 inch alloys back from the powder coaters. They did a sweet job a black pearl satin color - sorta black/sorta gray/with a subtle metallic when you look close.

So...I'm all over the map on tires. I don't want a noisy, stiff ride and will rarely go wheeling. But I want it to work well when I do (thus all the future mods I plan to make I also don't want Oregon road spray all over the sides of the rig so I'm reluctant to do the 1.25 spacers and install the tires I think I want. In summary, I have landed on 70 series tires. Width will stay 265 because I don't think the 275 size will fit the front without spacers. As I've read on tires, I must admit I like the GoodYear Duratrac tire a lot. For a tire that has strong reviews, I've also been eying the Cooper AT3. That said I get dealer cost on the BF Goodrich KO TA.

Any recommendations???

Next will be skid plates and front end treatment.

Thanks!!

 

[NJshadow93]

Check out my build thread. I have the same lift as you with the Duratracs in that size with pics. Link in my signature.

 

[drgabbert]

Thanks - the 265 Duratracs look great on your 4Runner - I am concerned that my wheels with zero offset won't clear the inside of the tire lugs on Duratracs. Do you know your wheel offset?

 

[Mytoy4]

Welcome!

 

[NJshadow93]

Thanks - the 265 Duratracs look great on your 4Runner - I am concerned that my wheels with zero offset won't clear the inside of the tire lugs on Duratracs. Do you know your wheel offset?

My offset is 0. I do believe, however, that it created some rubbing. No big deal though, I just had to move my fender liners forward and remove the front mud flaps. Very easy to clear aggressive 265s, might have to play around a bit but definitely no cutting required.

Edit: Not sure which wheels you have, but the stock wheels have an offset of +35. Anything under that will push them out a bit.

 

[zimm]

Love my duratracs. Snow rated too. Bfg are good too.

 

[ridefast]

So...I'm all over the map on tires. I don't want a noisy, stiff ride and will rarely go wheeling.

Thanks!!

I would go with an at tire that does well in the rain as you will not wheel all that much.
You will hate any bfg in the rain the water loads up in the tire any hydroplanes.
These tires do well in the rain and hold their own on the trail!
Yokohama Geolander ats

 

[rebelbowtie]

I would go with an at tire that does well in the rain as you will not wheel all that much.
You will hate any bfg in the rain the water loads up in the tire any hydroplanes.
These tires do well in the rain and hold their own on the trail!
Yokohama Geolander ats

How much water is on the roads where you live? I have had T/A KO's on 3 different vehicles now and have never once hydroplaned and I currently live in the wettest part of the country. Mobile/Baldwin county area has 67" of rain on average per year and is the rainiest city in the nation.

The OP should go with a good all season tire like the Michelin M/S2 IMO since he doesnt go off road.

 

[ridefast]

We get our fair share of thunder storms in our monsoon season in NM. Sure not as much as you or the OP. Yes Michelin ms2s are great in the rain/snow. My tacoma came with bfg ats and those tires were crap in the rain there is nowhere for the water to evacuate the tire and they load up with water and hydroplane. Also they only lasted 38k miles. I got 90k out of my michelin ms2 and they perform well off road as they stay on top of the sand and don't dig in.

My brother made the mistake in buying bfg ta ko tires in 2011 and 25k miles later he needs new tires. Now he is wishin he bought a different tire as tires are expensive. Dont get me wrong they are great off road tires but they wear quickly.

I suggested the yokohamas because they are a bit cheaper than the ms2s they last just as long (90k miles) still offer a nice look for his build and are a really safe tire!!!

<a href="http://s1106.beta.photobucket.com/user/Ridefast84/media/D854812C-0D09-4F86-88FC-428FE1EF5798-4405-0000077CCEB16495.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h377/Ridefast84/D854812C-0D09-4F86-88FC-428FE1EF5798-4405-0000077CCEB16495.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo D854812C-0D09-4F86-88FC-428FE1EF5798-4405-0000077CCEB16495.jpg"/></a>

 

[drgabbert]

Thanks for the tire advice.

I just took off a set of the Yokohama Geolander ATS tires before powder coating the wheels. They are at about 30% tread so I'll give them to one of our Express Lube techs. I did get about 35k out of them so far and they have been a great tire. Since our store (Gresham Toyota) does handle Yokohma's - maybe I should do another set.

I just thought I should consider some others first.