Odd, cross model tire fit question, '96 4R content

[Mendoncyclesmith]

Hey folks, hoping someone can shed some light on an odd thing.

I have some BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A's mounted on steels, that were run on my 1996 4Runner for a few years, in the winter, never a problem.

I added a OME 2" lift (shocks and struts) to it last year, which logically, didn't make anything worse. Not sure why it'd be relevant, but I'm mentioning it anyway.

So.

Just got a rather sweet 2004 Taco (so, exact same size vehicle) out of Florida, and I'm so happy to be back in a truck after a few years in a wagon.

It came with mint OEM alloys, which I didn't want to expose to the remaining road salt here in NY, so I swapped them out for my steels with the T/A's.

Drivable, but really nasty tire rub. Stock Taco, 4x4.

Shocks and struts were shot, so I replaced them recently with stock configuration stuff.

I figured the front may have been a tad saggy, and this would correct it.

Nope. Same issue, my shop even informed me how bad it was, yikes,

So, I called Tire Rack, figuring that Toyota may have changed fitment slightly, and I was above the maximum tire size.

Nope, same chassis, same tire size, no changes noted on their end.

So if I'd purchased these new, I'd have been expecting a perfect fit.

I'm not out any money, so no stress, but I am totally baffled.

My wrenching skills and mechanical knowledge, aren't strong on this stuff, so I'm reaching out, on the off chance that someone might have a bright idea.

I did tell the guy at Tire Rack the exact size, he confirmed, yep, should fit (sorry, I don't have the size at my finger tips right now).

What the hell am I missing?

Carfax comes back clean, truck drives great, no steering or handling weirdness, so I'm disinclined to blame frame or impact issues too. So clean in fact, the frame almost looks replaced, but it's not. :biggrin2:

Thanks, long read, and weird non 4Runner question, I know!

Edit: Fear not, the poor dinged up 4R is looking much better now, just gathering funds to get my high clearance bumper kit for it so I can complete the repair....

 

[phattyduck]

We do need to know the tire size in question...

Get an alignment done, and have them set the caster to the high end of the factory settings. As long as you have "32" tires (265/75-16 or 265/70-17) or smaller it should clear everything just fine with factory offset wheels.

-Charlie

 

[Mendoncyclesmith]

We do need to know the tire size in question...

Get an alignment done, and have them set the caster to the high end of the factory settings. As long as you have "32" tires (265/75-16 or 265/70-17) or smaller it should clear everything just fine with factory offset wheels.

-Charlie

Checked, 265/75-16.

So there's a setting that can affect this?

Just got the truck a week ago, it drives great, and the existing tires look perfect, so an alignment wasn't something I'd considered?

Can "caster" be adjusted without alignment?

Like I said, I really don't understand that stuff, I just drive 'em...

Thanks!

 

[phattyduck]

Ok, that is the +1" size from stock, so it isn't too surprising you are getting a bit of rub without a correct alignment.

Changing caster requires an alignment, generally at a decent alignment shop (many cheap places don't like to mess with it if they don't have to).

Some reading:
Caster, Camber & Toe Explained
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=4

The truck can drive decently and have normal tire wear with caster on the low end of the OEM spec, but for maximum tire clearance you need maximum caster due to the way it is adjusted on the 4Runner/Tacoma (and many other double wishbone vehicles).

Increasing caster moves the wheel forward in the wheel well (top arm stays fixed, bottom arm moves forward). When this change is made, camber and toe are also affected, so it takes a decent alignment tech to get it all correct.

-Charlie

 

[Mendoncyclesmith]

Awesome info, I really appreciate it.

Final question?

Is this something that would be "one way or the other" or does it sort of wander over time?

Just curious since it was never an issue with my '96, and such an obvious issue with the '04.

Any rate, I'll look into alignment in the next week or two. Again, thank you.

 

[phattyduck]

Is this something that would be "one way or the other" or does it sort of wander over time?

It won't wander with time unless it has been knocked out of place (hard off-roading or an accident). Where it is set just depends on the last alignment and how it worked out for the tech (and what they would 'accept' as good). Unless you owned both trucks from new, you won't know what really has happened over their lifespan.

-Charlie

 

[Mendoncyclesmith]

Understood!