Will 16 inch wheels increase ride quality?

[TejasRunner01]

Hello fellow T4R enthusiasts,

I currently am rocking the stock 225, 15 inch wheel and tires. Would switching to stock 265-70R16 provide a better ride quality than the 225-75R15 wheels I have on now?

Thanks everyone!

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[IBallEngineer]

Hello fellow T4R enthusiasts,

I currently am rocking the stock 225, 15 inch wheel and tires. Would switching to stock 265-70R16 provide a better ride quality than the 225-75R15 wheels I have on now?

Thanks everyone!

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

No, the tire itself may help some, but the wheel or Tire size is irrelevant to ride quality. Lower profiles tend to be stiffer, but you won't be gaining much in that regard. The tire may help if it is designed for a better ride. But if you are looking to significantly improve the ride quality of a 3rd gen, better buy a different vehicle.

 

[Lindenwood]

Generally speaking, substituting steel/aluminum for rubber will give a smoother ride. Lighter wheels and tires will also smooth out the ride because as the tires roll over bumps, your springs can push them back down onto the road a bit easier without moving the car up as much.

So, most likely, you will have a slightly worse ride with the 16s.

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

if you're currently running load range D or E tires, then ride comfort will improve if you change to 265/70R16 load range C tires because the sidewalls of the load C range tires are more flexible than the D/E load range tires.

Also, with 225/75R15 tires, the sidewall height is only 169mm whereas for 265/70R16 tires, the sidewall height is 186mm. So with more flexible and taller sidewalls, you can have a slightly better ride.

BTW, how did you fit 15-inch wheels over the calipers?

 

[Kanoe]

BTW, how did you fit 15-inch wheels over the calipers?

Some 4runners came stock with 15" tires. Smaller calipers one would presume. Mine has 'em. More of a base model thing maybe?

 

[Mark_BC]

https://www.wheel-size.com/size/toyota/4runner/1996/

 

[TejasRunner01]

My 97 sr5 4x4 came with them actually. Thank you everybody for your posts. I had no idea that bigger tires could worsen the ride.. Go figure.

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[TejasRunner01]

Here is a picture of the stock 15 inch enkei wheels that came with my specific 4runner

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[phattyduck]

Some 4runners came stock with 15" tires. Smaller calipers one would presume. Mine has 'em. More of a base model thing maybe?

Yes, smaller brakes go with the smaller diameter wheels/tires. It is a base model and non-optioned SR5 thing. My '99 2WD originally had the 15" wheels.

The 15" wheel/tire package is much lighter than the 16" wheels/tires - you will generally have better ride with lighter wheels/tires. Slightly better mileage is a nice side benefit. Oh, and the gearing on the 15" trucks is different, to account for the different rolling diameter (my truck had 3.727 gears stock). The larger wheels/tires will be a pain with such tall gearing.

Get a passenger or highway type tire in the stock size (225/75-15) and make sure your shocks are in good condition.

-Charlie

 

[UnderFire]

Check out how far the rear axle is sitting from the bumpstops. A lot of the 3rd gens I've been around had bad ride quality due to sagged out rear springs letting the rear bottom out over minor bumps and potholes.

 

[alumarine]

What air pressure are you running?
If it's more than 32 psi it will stiffen the ride.

Different shocks can help as well.

 

[N180: Great car.]

Tire pressure has a big influence on how smooth your car will ride. I also own a 3rd gen, base model, (year 2000, with the 15" oem wheels). The recommended psi is 29, I believe. When I got my tires rotated, the technicians increased the psi, to 40, without telling me. The car rode harsh, and I didn't understand what was happening. Imperfections in the road, were much more intense. It was a bumpy, uncomfortable ride. After discovering the issue, I decreased the psi to 30 again, (my usual pressure). It felt like my beloved car again. Nice and smooth, soaking up the bumps with ease.