Question about lift and tires - please help!

[t_reth]

Posted this in the new members section as well, since I am one. Thought I might get a better response in this section though...

Hey all, new to the forum here. Not used to this forum style, so I apologize if I use it wrong! The only other one I'm on is twinturbo.net, for my 300ZX TT, and it's laid out completely different than this.

My 4Runner is an '02 SR5 4WD with about 120k miles. Stock at the moment, except for the sound system, tires, and I switched to the 99 style grill. Right now sitting on 31x10.5x15 all-terrains. However, they are bald and I need new tires asap. That's why I'm here! I've been wanting to lift it, and I figure now is the perfect time.

My plans are to lift it 3" with front and rear Old Man Emu coils. On top of that I want to do a 2" body lift. I will also be getting the radiator drop brackets, steering shaft extension, and a front differential drop kit. For tires, I'm planning on running 33x10.5x15 all-terrains on the stock wheels (for now).

My question is, is this doable? Am I missing any supporting parts? Are there any issues with doing this? Obviously gas mileage will decrease, the speedo will be off, and the center of gravity will be higher, but are there any other major issues I should be aware of?

Also, with this lift, and keeping the stock 15" wheels, could I run 35x12.5x15 tires? I don't mind a little rubbing, or hammering down the pinch weld, or not being able to make u-turns, but I do need to make rights, haha.

All info/suggestions are welcome! Thanks, and I look forward to learning more here.

On a side note, anyone in the area go to the Uwharrie 4x4 trails? Got the annual pass last year, it was a blast! (This is why my tires are bald...)

 

[Dezert4Runner]

With 33x12.5 tires I'd be concerned with rubbing the UCA to the point of not being able to drive without some wheel spacers. The 33x10.5 should work great for that setup. You'll need an extended rear brakeline too. Panhard bar may need lengthening as well (depends on who you ask- similar to a diff drop).

 

[t_reth]

With 33x12.5 tires I'd be concerned with rubbing the UCA to the point of not being able to drive without some wheel spacers. The 33x10.5 should work great for that setup. You'll need an extended rear brakeline too. Panhard bar may need lengthening as well (depends on who you ask- similar to a diff drop).

Thanks for the info! When you mention rubbing the UCA, did you mean with the 35x12.5 tires? You wrote 33x12.5, just want to be sure, as I didn't mention 33x12.5's. But now that you did, would 33x12.5's work (if that indeed isn't what you meant to write)? I like the look of the tires sticking out a bit so 12.5's would be nice. I would really like to go with 35x12.5's, but if I need a wheel spacer I'm worried they might stick out too much? How much of a spacer would I need? And I can't find 35x10.5's, guess it's an odd size?

Sorry for all the questions, I've always been a sports car guy, just getting into trucks. But any help is much appreciated!

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Sorry, thought you meant 33x12.5, but either way on stock rims a 12.5" wide wheel is going to rub (that's if a tire shop will even mount that wide of a tire on a 7" wide rim). You could always get an aftermarket rim with less backspacing (less backspacing = sticks out further) to run a wider tire.

35's should fit height wise by the time you add the 2" BL, but you're still bound the have to trim and pound the fender wells.

But yeah, if you make a 12.5 wide tire fit, it's gonna stick out of the wheel well a bit.

 

[t_reth]

Sorry, thought you meant 33x12.5, but either way on stock rims a 12.5" wide wheel is going to rub (that's if a tire shop will even mount that wide of a tire on a 7" wide rim). You could always get an aftermarket rim with less backspacing (less backspacing = sticks out further) to run a wider tire.

35's should fit height wise by the time you add the 2" BL, but you're still bound the have to trim and pound the fender wells.

But yeah, if you make a 12.5 wide tire fit, it's gonna stick out of the wheel well a bit.

Thanks, looks like I'll be going with the 33x10.5's. New wheels aren't in the budget, and the only 35x10.5's I see are swampers. Besides, they'd probably look way too skinny. Don't want to use spacers and have them stick out really far, and the 35's would probably be a lot of unnecessary stress on the drive train anyway. I wheel as much as I can, but it's primarily a daily driver, for now.

Appreciate the input! You made the decision much easier.

 

[newmexrunner]

If your only going to put 33's on i wouldn't even bother with a body lift. Save that money for some armor or something.