Tire advice with pics

[basketcase]

Hey Guys. So this is my 4runner. Its an 87 and my father bought it in 89. I learned to drive on this beast in 95. 2 years ago I put new springs in the rear (OME), bj spacers up front and new shocks all around. I found some cheap used 31x10.5 tires and put them on 15x8 steel wheels. It is time for real tires now. I am most likely doing the BFG AT in a 33. I have spent a lot of time researching the pros/cons of 10.5 vs 12.5 wide tires but I was hoping for an opinion from folks with the same truck. I read the wheel/lift thread on here and a bunch of stuff online (mostly jeep forums) and I think I have a pretty good grasp on the performance characteristics of each as well as the caveats of running a rim that is a bit narrow for a 12.5 tire. At this point, I'll admit it. It's about looks. I don't wheel much anymore. I'm concerned that the 10.5s will look stupid. I dont really like the "pizza cutter" effect but is it going to be really obvious on this rig? On my Tundra I went with a 295 over a true 35 due to width and rubbing issues and its not that bad looking. I'd love to hear the opinions of some folks that share my love for these old rigs.

 

[Chuckles89]

[MENTION=84642]Quatre Coureur[/MENTION] and [MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION] have 33x10.50s if I'm not mistaken.

I really like the look of them. They're one of my favorite tire sizes.

 

[KidVermicious]

Check the first page of my build thread for lots of pics of 255/85r16 on my '85. Looks are a distant second place to function for me, but I have to admit I like 'em better than the fatties you see the Jeep and pickup crowd running.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

I've been running 33/10.5s for quite awhile now. For rockcrawling, u want a narrower tire for increased contact pressure. For sand, you'd want the wider 12.5, but that's not really a concern so... 10.5s weigh less, cost less, and will definitely fit better.

 

[89FourRunner]

I think you are at the right size now (31x10.5) with BJS and OME springs. It is for the looks? The truck will look lower to the ground on the sides with the bigger tires, an optical illusion created by the reduced wheel well space. Your gearing will suffer, and unless you really need that extra 1" of sidewall lift I don't see such a modification making the vehicle anymore capable. 10.5" is a wide tire, the tire by no means look pizza cutter like in your photos.

The 10.5 will also be better in the snow in the winter (well, in the snow in street conditions).

 

[basketcase]

I think you are at the right size now (31x10.5) with BJS and OME springs. It is for the looks? The truck will look lower to the ground on the sides with the bigger tires, an optical illusion created by the reduced wheel well space. Your gearing will suffer, and unless you really need that extra 1" of sidewall lift I don't see such a modification making the vehicle anymore capable. 10.5" is a wide tire, the tire by no means look pizza cutter like in your photos.

The 10.5 will also be better in the snow in the winter (well, in the snow in street conditions).

I don't pretend. Its pretty much just for looks. I'll wheel it a little, but not much. Right now there is just too much fender gap for me. I dont like the look of a truck with too much lift/not enough tire. Like I said, I dont wheel this truck much anymore since I left Colorado and that's why I'm sticking with IFS and BJ spacers. If I wanted a wheeling rig I would do a SAS (or I'd have kept my locked 80) So you guys think the 10.5 wouldnt look pizza cutter? I know it's the right size for my wheels too. I'm not too concerned about the gearing. There aren't a lot of hills to hit at highway speeds around here. Thanks for the feedback, guys.

 

[Boggs]

I run Master craft 33 12.50 on my 88 without bj spacers. Only a 2" bl for my 3.4. No rubbing and look great. Wheel is 15x8 with 3.75 back space. Look and drive great on the street. Was so impressed with the tire I bought the 32 11. 50 for my Tacoma. I vote for 12.5 but have seen the Cooper discovers in 33 10.50 on my brothers truck and look pretty good. Not pizza cutterish.

 

[wallytoo]

Check the first page of my build thread for lots of pics of 255/85r16 on my '85. Looks are a distant second place to function for me, but I have to admit I like 'em better than the fatties you see the Jeep and pickup crowd running.

i run 34x9.5x15s on my cj...... quite narrow. wheels are narrow, too.

 

[basketcase]

I run Master craft 33 12.50 on my 88 without bj spacers. Only a 2" bl for my 3.4. No rubbing and look great. Wheel is 15x8 with 3.75 back space. Look and drive great on the street. Was so impressed with the tire I bought the 32 11. 50 for my Tacoma. I vote for 12.5 but have seen the Cooper discovers in 33 10.50 on my brothers truck and look pretty good. Not pizza cutterish.

Looks good! I like this look. I know not everyone does but I do. Still not sure what I want to do but I appreciate the input. Ya'll have some nice looking rigs thats for sure.

 

[basketcase]

So I went to the tire store and physically looked at both tires. I had to go with the 12.5s. I like it. The ride is so much better than the old tires too.

 

[85RedRunner]

Cant lie, I laughed a little when you said you were getting some "real" tires and then I read 33" BFG a/t

They look great with your setup, good choice on the 12.5 imo.

Dont expect them to last very long, theyre notorious for terrible tread life.. just noticed my buddys truck the other day... I remember when he bought them new almost a year ago and them *****es are bald!

 

[KidVermicious]

I like it.

That's all that counts.

 

[wallytoo]

funny. didn't notice you are in nh, too. saw the CO plates in the top pictures. kind of nice to own a vehicle that you know most of its history.

looks good.

 

[basketcase]

Cant lie, I laughed a little when you said you were getting some "real" tires and then I read 33" BFG a/t

They look great with your setup, good choice on the 12.5 imo.

Dont expect them to last very long, theyre notorious for terrible tread life.. just noticed my buddys truck the other day... I remember when he bought them new almost a year ago and them *****es are bald!

Haha. I guess that's true. In comparison 33" all terrains are pretty tame. But compared to crappy old 31s, it's a world of difference!

Strange about the tread wear. A buddy of mine got ridiculous life out of a set on his H2, so much that he bought the same tires again when it was time. I've only heard good things about the tires so that's why I got them. I guess time will tell. Maybe the fact that the truck is about as heavy as a goose fart will be helpful.

 

[basketcase]

funny. didn't notice you are in nh, too. saw the CO plates in the top pictures. kind of nice to own a vehicle that you know most of its history.

looks good.

It is nice to know how it was maintained. Even though my dad didnt use it much after I left colorado, he still brought it in for scheduled maintenance. I ran it on his old plates until they ran out after I had it shipped here.

 

[Dropzone]

Cant lie, I laughed a little when you said you were getting some "real" tires and then I read 33" BFG a/t

They look great with your setup, good choice on the 12.5 imo.

Dont expect them to last very long, theyre notorious for terrible tread life.. just noticed my buddys truck the other day... I remember when he bought them new almost a year ago and them *****es are bald!

Weird. I had a set last me 40k and I sold the set for $200.

 

[HiLuxer]

Yeah. BF Goodrich has the reputation of its longevity tire life and the resale value is also great. That's the reason I'm getting a set of 33x10.5 M/T's this Christmas.

Nice looking rig, OP. Great you've made the right choice!