Still Rubbing with 285s? Here’s What I’ve Tried – Need Input!

Shortly after installing 285/70/17s on some Bilstein 1500s, I did some minor trimming in the wheel well, which dramatically improved what was a significant rubbing issue at the time. After less frequent but still continuous rubbing continued, I eventually took a heat gun to the fender liner and was able to mold back much of what was making contact with my tires. Since then, pavement driving has been almost perfect, with the occasional rub on turns onto steep driveways or other scenarios you could imagine.

Still, I don't feel confident for this summer's trail season. I've yet to take this new setup off pavement, and I want to feel the same confidence that I did on the stock 265s.

I'm wondering if anyone could share what they did with their fender liner. Third-party replacement, further trimming or heat gun adjustment, removal altogether? Whatever you got!

I want the wheel well to look as OEM as possible while giving me close to, if not 100%, confidence in its clearance.

 

What are your wheel specs?

Any added caster to the alignment?

 

They are the KMC KM725 Terra's.

0 offset with no caster.

 

Get some caster added and that will solve the majority of your issues. I believe I was running 4.2 or 4.5 on mine.

You may have to shove the front of the fender liner forward a bit after this, but that is super easy to do. I only had minor heat molding in the back and a small front tuck to get to no rubbing outside of my flaps

 

Hadn't thought of that, thanks!

Is 4.5 noticeable visually at all? Caster is something I never considered simply because I like the 0 degree look. What do you think?

 

Caster will be hardly visible it just shifts the wheel slightly forward in the wheel well.



That's a 17x9 +1 285/70r17 and the high caster alignment

 

Caster added at the LCA can be helpful, but caster added at the UCA is counter productive. More info here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAYGdcKSA3o

 

https://accutuneoffroad.com/product/accutune-offroad-tubular-upper-control-arm-kit-heim-joint-ball-joint-2005-tacoma/
get some of these and shove your lower control arms as far fowards as possible.

 

I’m familiar with @AccuTune Offroad , but not this product. It advertises that it helps larger tire fitment, but doesn’t explain how. Is it simply the adjustable camber which allows more flexibility in the LCA adjustment to maximize wheel forward placement?

 

Not exactly sure about the adjustable camber but yes they allow you to pretty much max out your lower control arm adjustment foward and still achieve good alignment

 

explanation at :56 second mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydp5VhgHtXY

 

There's a few things to do, also depends on where you are still rubbing:

1 - Cab mount chop or relocation.
2 - hammer down the pinch weld in the fender.
3 - add wheel spacers or get wheels with more offset. I had to change from 0 to -12.
4 - change the UCA and/or LCA's and then get another alignment.
5 - start tubbing the fenders.
6 - high clearance fender liners. C4 makes a really good kit.

Don't forget some black paint too. Because even after all of that, you will still probably rub the top of the inner fenders.

I eventually moved up to 35's, so I've done it all. Here is the final look. Once you start wheeling though, that whole OEM look goes out the window, ha.

 

^^
That's a bit extreme for 285/70R17 (basically a 33x11.50R17). OP should not have to do anything beyond moving the wheel forward a bit by adding some caster, and possibly the CMC and reforming some plastic at the front of the wheelwell with the heat gun.

OP, check these threads, should be some relevant info here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/255-80-17-vs-285-70-17.860238/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/show-your-285-75-16-and-285-70-17.469963/

 

I really wanted to go the 285 route, but at too much cost. And really it's more for the looks than performance.

33" 255 is the way go, performance wise and ground clearance.

You 285 guys can beat me up all you want for saying this, I've got broad shoulders...

 

Yea, another convert to 255/85R16s.

 

Intuitively, diameter is more functional than width and it’s backed up by looking at the tires used by competition off-road, farm, and military vehicles and this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wAJAOxh8LE

 

Again285s here and no issues! No rubbing, no cutting, speedometer calibrated, tuned and a great alignment! I like a wide tire as a 285 is close but no like the days of 35x12.50s floating Accross the beach! Run what you brung!

 

There is some mis-information in here.

I would determine where you are rubbing 1st.

More caster from the LCA moves the wheel forward. Aftermarket UCA's with additional caster moves the wheel backwards. 0 is the best offset to clear, going to -12 will generally not give you more clearance unless we are talking about clearance between the tire and the UCA. -12 will take a little more work to clear front and back.

Your best bet for offroading is a body mount chop for the rear and, an inner fender mod, or a small viper cut for the front.

They key thing to remember is that you might clear on the street, but not so much while off roading. Turn those wheels and hit some bigger dips into parking lots and drive ways to articulate the suspension as much as possible, or pull the shocks and cycle the suspension to see how much clearance that you have.