Winter Tire & Rim set

[A10GAC]

Ok not surprisingly I have come to the conclusion that the stock Bridgestone HT's are a lousy snow tire. What I would like to do is set up a set of winter rims & tires and keep the Bridgestones for summer highway use. Given the amount of salt they throw on the roads here in the NE I'd prefer a set of steel rims. Has anyone tried fitting a Tacoma or Tundra steel wheel on thier 4th gen?

My 06 currently has the factory 17" rims; assuming that they fit over the calipers will dropping to a 16" rim affect anything besides the speedo calibration? My big concern is that it would screw up the ABS.

 

[sharp4runr]

What model of 4Runner do you have? The SE (it's been said the Limited too), has bigger disc brakes in the front so 17" rims are a must. There may be 16" rims that can accomodate the bigger brake setup on the SE, but you might as well get the 17" to be safe.

Just because you go a bigger or lower size rim, doesn't mean 100% that you'll affect the speedo or ABS. If you go a bigger rim, then go a smaller profile tire and it will keep the same diameter wheel/tire combo.

 

[leftyrb]

I have used a set of steel Toyota 16" take-off rims on both my 2004 SR5 and my 2005 Limited. Both vehicles had 17" OEM aluminum rims.

The 16" steel rims fit fine, and no problem with ABS.

As was stated in the previous post, if you have a Sport model, you may have difficulty finding steel rims, due to the larger front brake caliper.

FYI

 

[Uneek]

Speedometer calibration shouldn't be a problem as long as the overall (outside, including tire) diameter is maintained you should be ok. FYI, 16" rims have 265/70R16 tires, 17" have 265/65R17 and 18" have 265/60R18.

Tacoma rims will fit no problem, as the TRD Sport package comes with the same 17" that's found on SR5s and 2003-05 Limiteds. The Tacoma unlike the 4Runner comes only with four alloys and the spare is always a steelie. My coworker's got a TRD Sport Tacoma and that spare is a steelie.

Alternatively, you should be able to buy a complete winter tire package from TireRack.com with steelies to use as take-offs. Also check eBay, sometimes you might be able to get a good deal on take-offs and probably sell those tires to a tireshop and apply a discount towards new snow tires.

 

[A10GAC]

I have an 06 SR5 and got the 17" rim option, short money for a better looking wheel & tire, so I'm guessing that a 16" would fit. Ideally I'd like to stay with a 17" wheel and stock size tire just to avoid any possible issues but I suppose I could always do the math and come up with a tire size/aspect ratio that mimics what I have now.

My biggest question at this point is whether or not to spend a ton of cash on another set of TPS sensors or just live with the warning light from November to April.

I hadn't thought about Ebay, I'll have to poke around there for a set of take offs.

(heh, just noticed that Uneek did the math for me. Thanks.)

 

[shotchkiss]

I'm using a set of take off rims without the TPS sensors on my '07 with its snow tires and the low pressure warning light has never come on for me. It is parked in the garage near my regular rims at night, but I was surprised that the light would never come on during the day when I was driving it. It does the self check when you turn it on, so I know the bulb is good.

Maybe these trucks don't get a low pressure signal when the sensors are gone.

 

[A10GAC]

I remember reading a thread on the TPS systems a while back and someone else had mentioned that parking the truck near the tires with sensors would prevent them from getting a light. I think he mentioned that the light came on during a 3 day road trip but "reset" itself within a couple of days of being near the sensors again. Unfortunately my 4runner doesn't get garage space unless it's in for a cleaning or maintenance. So, I figure I'd be stuck with a light for pretty much the whole winter.

I let the wife's car in the garage last winter and spent nearly the whole spring cleaning the rust off my bench tools. The added moisture from a melting car was too much even for the Boeshield I use on the tablesaw & drill press. After that we came to agreement, no cars in the garage until we build a workshop out back.

 

[Kmvreter]

I'm using a set of take off rims without the TPS sensors on my '07 with its snow tires and the low pressure warning light has never come on for me. It is parked in the garage near my regular rims at night, but I was surprised that the light would never come on during the day when I was driving it. It does the self check when you turn it on, so I know the bulb is good.

Maybe these trucks don't get a low pressure signal when the sensors are gone.

You will get a blinking light after exactly 60 minutes of constant on "runtime" away from the sensors.

Search my gallery for the 16" OEM steels (dealer had the best price for these) with the BFG A/Tko winter setup. Don't forget to get different lug nuts if you go with steelies.

 

[Camprunner]

I would check a few junk yards for some 17 inch size rims you can pick up for a good price. And if your stock size was 265/65/17 then I would go to a 245/70/17 in a snow tire or a real good A/T tire and when I say real good im not talking about a big $$$ tire there are many low cost A/T's that do quite well for the winter driving but don't cost an arm and a leg.

The tire size change will make a big improvment in the weight per inch on the tire tread "265 to 245" and give you a great deal more bite esp when cornering. But the overall size of the tire will be almost the same as stock size.

Ck out the tire size thread chart and compair the 265/65/17 to a 245/70/17 and you will see how close they are in size/overall dia.

 

[leftyrb]

Kmveter wrote:

Don't forget to get different lug nuts if you go with steelies


Why do you recommend this?

 

[Camprunner]

Kmveter wrote:

Don't forget to get different lug nuts if you go with steelies


Why do you recommend this?

I think you were refering to me leftyrb ....... And I guess the question is why do I recommend going to a 245/70/17 from a 265/65/17.

If I had just one set of rims then I would not change the tire size from the stock 265/65/17 but if I had a second set of winter rims then the 245 size tire will just give me more bite on a snow covered corner. Also in some cases the 245 size in some tire makes has a deeper tread depth then a 265 tire. (note- some brands). Also the 245/70/17 is a clooser size then going to a 265/70/17 from a 265/65/17. The only drawback to a 245/70 is in the dry the tire may feal a little more "wishey washey" becouse of the narrow tread and taller aspect ratio then the 265/65 tire.

I tried this on my old dodge truck and the bite in the snow was just great.

 

[Camprunner]

Kmveter wrote:

Don't forget to get different lug nuts if you go with steelies


Why do you recommend this?

My bad you guys ............ You were talking about the lug nut thing "it would help if I could read "

........ I cant help with the "nut" question.

 

[Kmvreter]

Kmveter wrote:

Don't forget to get different lug nuts if you go with steelies


Why do you recommend this?

The lug nuts that come with the stock 16" aluminum wheels are a center-piloting type. The OEM steel wheel I bought for the winter has a conical nut seat on the bolt hole that requires a conical nut.

 

[leftyrb]

The lug nuts that come with the stock 16" aluminum wheels are a center-piloting type. The OEM steel wheel I bought for the winter has a conical nut seat on the bolt hole that requires a conical nut.

+++++++++++++++++++

Thanks, I just removed my steelies yesterday so I will check them.

Lefty

 

[Kmvreter]

Thanks, I just removed my steelies yesterday so I will check them.

Lefty

Did you DIY or a shop?
You should have 2 seperate sets of lug nuts. One for each type of wheel, aluminum vs steel.

 

[leftyrb]

Did you DIY or a shop?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


I bought the rims from a tire shop and had my Toyota dealer remove the aluminum rims and install the steelies in December and reverse the process on Monday - I thought that someone would have alerted me to the need for two sets of wheel nuts.

Rick

 

[Kmvreter]

I bought the rims from a tire shop and had my Toyota dealer remove the aluminum rims and install the steelies in December and reverse the process on Monday - I thought that someone would have alerted me to the need for two sets of wheel nuts.

Rick

Maybe your steelies have a different nut seat, maybe not conical. Can you take some pics of the bolt pattern and one close up of the outboard side of a bolt hole?

 

[leftyrb]

Kmveter wrote:

Maybe your steelies have a different nut seat, maybe not conical. Can you take some pics of the bolt pattern and one close up of the outboard side of a bolt hole?

+++++++++++++++++++++++=

Yesterday, I stopped at the dealership to pay my tire install bill and asked the service guy. He agreed that there were two types of facing for the lug nuts and suggested a different style for my steelies. I don't know why they did not suggest this before, but I will use these different lug nuts when I re-install my winter steelies.

Thanks for the information

Rick

 

[Kmvreter]

Yesterday, I stopped at the dealership to pay my tire install bill and asked the service guy. He agreed that there were two types of facing for the lug nuts and suggested a different style for my steelies. I don't know why they did not suggest this before, but I will use these different lug nuts when I re-install my winter steelies.

Thanks for the information

Rick

I'll try to remember to take some pics to show the difference when I take off the snows and put on the soon-to-be-purchased Mich CT's (goodbye Doneflops.)

 

[leftyrb]

put on the soon-to-be-purchased Mich CT's (goodbye Doneflops.)

++++++++++++++++++++=

I had Dunlops on my '04, but my '05 has the Michelin C/T's. I have only driven 100 km on the latter tires, but they seem quiet and have good consumer ratings. Doing a trip this weekend and may encounter rain and perhaps a bit of snow - I think the C/T's are up for the job.