Wheel/Tire/Suspension combo for lift?

Hey all,

Somewhat new to this. Tried to search but didn't really find a concrete answer.

I have a 2018 Tacoma sport (yes I know I should have gotten an off-road, too late now though). Everything is currently stock. I would like to lift it a little bit by getting bigger wheels and maybe a different suspension.

What is the preferred wheel/tire size, and what is the preferred suspension lift and by how much? I would like all the safety stuff to still work so I guess I'm only looking for a lift of a couple or a few inches. This will be my daily driver ninety-nine percent of the time it's driven, mostly highway. But I am planning on putting a locker on it and taking it through some trails eventually.

Bonus question, anyone know a good shop to do the sort of work in Maryland, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

If you want to stay on the cheaper side look into a leveling kit or spacer lift. They are fine for trail riding, granted they won't handle like a cadillac at 100mph through the desert like a 6k suspension will. They come in different varieties and sizes so just look around.

If you are feeling a bit frisky many people here get taller strut assemblies, a popular brand is bilstein. These will ride a bit better than a spacer lift.

Or you could go all out and get coilovers to replace your front struts, and a new upper control arm for the best ride possible - but this will run you on average $2-$3k just for the front. Many places sell a full kit - front and rear and for a reasonable price. Google is your friend here. I put an Icon kit on mine and am more than happy. They go in stages where stage 1 is the cheapest and stage 8 is too expensive to think about.

If you are 2wd there is also the option of a spindle lift, but I don't know enough about them to explain them as I'm 4wd.

The rear is simple - you can get a block to put under the leaf springs (lift block) which wont change the handling or quality at all, or you can get extra leaf springs (called an AAL or Add-A-Leaf) that go under your existing ones and are technically higher quality than a lift block.

For wheels and tires - if you plan on offroading many people like 16's or 17's. I personally like the look of 17" wheels. The idea here is you have more tire to cushion while you are driving over bumps on the road or offroading. If you plan to stay on the street most of the time, as you say, you can look into 18's or 20's but unless all you care about is looks, they are probably not the best suited for your case. You'll have a rubber band tire wrapped around it. Tires, I believe with a leveling kit most people can clear 265 75 16's or 265 70 17's. With a 3" lift you can probably clear 285's but it may require a little modification. Keep in mind you can lift your truck as high as you want to fit bigger tires, but when the suspension moves and the tire has to tuck into the fender, you're going to rub. If you don't plan on tearing up your fenders to make room for clearance, stick with a 265 or something close. Also, I'd recommend a highway or good all-terrain based on your driving habits. Many all-terrain tires last people 40 or 50k miles.

I would say the most popular setup on TW is a 3" lift front (coilover or billstein struts) and 2-3" rear (add-a-leaf or lift block) and the most common tire sizes are either 265 or 285

 

Check your inbox. Links in the welcome to Tacoma world email

 

I'm also in Maryland, looking for a one stop shop where they'll discuss the options and do the work. Did you ever find anyplace like that?

 

You asked what I was wanting to ask, been searching a couple of days and the search so far is not going well. I want to rise an only an inch, go 1 size up on tires. Get new wheels and rubber, I have an OR with 16 now. With 300 miles. Where is a good place to sell them? Ebay? duh right? I want to look cooler than a pro,,, lol.