18x9's and a 3" lift

I've researched wheels, tires and sizes like crazy and I'm gonna' throw my selection out there for feedback before ordering. I'm a rookie at this kind of mod.

'09 Taco DC TRD Off Road
3" billet spacer lift w AAL's in back

hoping to do BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2's 305/60/18 mounted on XD Hoss 18x9's with -12 offset (4.53 backspace)

am I missing something?

 

With 305's you are going to have to do a lot of trimming. You may also have to chop the body mount.

 

its gonna rub a ton! need to go bigger on the lift.

 

Thanks! I did some further research and think I am going with a 285/65/18 BFG A/T and same 18x9 wheel. am I safe at this size/ dimension?

Here's a photo link I found...mine is Barcelona Red

http://www.burtbrothers.com/trucks/fullsize/2009_Toyota_Tacoma_Gray.jpg

 

^^^ You will still have to trim, but that is a size a lot of people are running with no problems after trimming.

 

Can I ask you a question? Are you a serious hard core wheeler? Just wondering because your about to make some pretty big changes. Gonna hafta cut up your new truck to fit those tires. Also those bfg ta ko's are extremely heavy and will kill your power and gas mileage. Just a few things to think about.

 

The 285s will "kill" the power and gas millage? I don't think so. What am I missing?

285s with a 3" lift may require a little trimming but from my research you wont have to trim much. I know guys that run 285/70/17 BFG ATs with a 3" lift and didn't have to trim anything so I think it varies from truck to truck.

 

The tires he's looking at weigh as much as his stock wheels and tires combined! That can't be good for gas mileage?

 

You won't lose power (the engine still puts out the same amount of power), but it will feel less powerful. A taller, heavier tire is going to take more power to turn.

As weight increases, the power required to turn the wheel is greater. Also, the further out that weight is, the more power it will take. Same with diameter. For two tires of equal weight, the larger diameter tire will be more difficult to turn. Combine the two (larger diameter and heavier) and you require even more power to turn it. More power to turn it means more gas, hence, less mpg.

It's not as pronouced on the manuals as we're geared higher. But it is noticable.

 

Well said Mr. Evil Monkey!

 

I understand the physics....just didn't think 285s would "kill" the power and gas mileage.

 

ever try to pick up a bfg ta ko in a LT285/70/17? they are a very heavy and well made tire! our trucks come with those cheap rugged fails that dont weigh nothin cause they dont have any sidewall! lol I'm just sayin a stock truck may get 20mpg and when you start adding all that unsprung weight it'll drop a pretty good amount.

 

It didn't really kill mine (maybe 1mpg?). I still get 18mpg highway, which is good for a manual. I think it actually makes the manual's gear ratio more useable. I can't really speak to the autos though.

I think it depends on the type of driving you do as well. If you're mostly city driving, then it will probably affect you more.

 

I guess i shouldn't have said kill? I mean it will have a negative affect on performance and gas mileage!

 

I'm running 305-60-17 and I only had to trim a small piece of plastic on the inside front of the wheel well. My gas mileage didn't change much and I notice a small amount of power loss at take off but not enough to matter. The tires are a little heavier but like I said not enough to matter.

 

Well your odometer is off too so you can't use that to determine fuel economy.

 

There are other ways to determine gas mileage and speed than your stock instruments.

 

^^^This is true. Nav.

 

Plus mileage would be worse if you didn't take tire size into consideration.

 

Thanks for all the input. I ordered just the wheels last night. I'm not a serious off-roader. I'm a contractor in St. John US Virgin Islands and a lot of roads are unpaved and lots of rock. As for fuel economy I hope it doesn't get too much worse!! The island is mountainous therefore I only get about 12mpg as is (if I'm lucky!!!)

The lift arrived yesterday and is going on shortly.