Tire fit question from a newbie. 285s on stock suspension

Sorry if this has been covered in another thread, but I couldn't find the info I need.

I just purchased a 2006 Tacoma Double Cab Short Bed 4x4 about a week ago, and by the way I love it so far. I will be needing to get new tires soon as the rubber on it is almost done.

Here's where I'm a bit confused...It seems to be a stock suspension and has LT285/70 R17, BFG All Terrains, on it. Everything I've read on this forum so far seems like I would need to lift it at least 3" maybe 4" to get that size tire on it without major rubbing issues. It rubs a little on the upper control arm, but that's it, and I've turned it lock to lock to check. I haven't wheeled it yet, but I've driven it around town and hit some dips on the road to my house that would normally bottom out and scrap the bumpers of most cars if hit at any speed. It took the dips at 25 mph without any bottoming out or rubbing on fenders. It seems to drive and handle pretty well.

Anybody have any advice? See attached pics.

Thanks!

 

can you get some better pics of the struts/coils for us? you will want to get spacers asap, or youl ruin your tires/UCAs...

 

Looks like the blue top of a stock TRD bilstein

 

I'll get some better pics of the suspension ASAP. What do you mean by "ruin" the tires and UCAs? So far it's only a rub mark on the UCAs and I believe those tires have been on it for quite some time. I don't want anything to get screwed up though, so please explain. Thx!

 

yea i noticed that...

the tires arent supposed to rub on your UCAs like that. you can see that the UCA is starting to rust where its been rubbed, it will weaken and youll have to replace it. also, it will chop the shit out of the inside treads of your tires from rubbing on it. at $300+ per tire, i wouldnt want that to happen...

are you sure those arent 265's? they look a little small...

 

Yeah, I'm sure. Unless all four tires have typos on them. They read 285, but there's not much tread left, hence the question. I need new tires soon.

 

So what's your question?
I can run 34s on my truck with no lift.
If you like that tire size put some new ones on in the same size if not go with whatever size you want.

 

If you plan on keepin the stock suspension, just go back to 265/70 and all you doubts and worries will go away.

 

This.

 

So, you're already rubbing on the UCA pretty bad.

If you change the wheel offset to avoid that rubbing - you'll get into more rubbing on the inner fenderwell plastic and cab mount.

Here's the thing: ultimately LIFT doesn't create much increased clearance for bigger tires. Because as soon as the suspension is *compressed* the wheel has to go back into that same wheel well.

Now, it's often true that once you're lifted you'll EITHER be at full bump OR at full turn but seldom both at the same time. But that's kinda true to a certain extent of the stock suspension as well.

So it shouldn't shock you too much that a tire that many folks run when lifted "almost" fits when not lifted.

 

theoretically, 285/70R17 is only about 1/2" larger in radius than 265/70R17...

If you want to keep that tire size, you should probably get a small lift and wheel spacers or new wheels with the necessary backspacing to keep from rubbing.

Also, pick up some sand paper and black spray paint to get rid of that rust.