17" TRD Wheels on 04 Tacoma 4WD

Excuse me for asking another "Will if fit" question but I have specific combination I could not find for early Tacomas. Plus I'm a little leery because of an $800 seat swap fail.

When it's time to replace my stock 16" wheels and tires I'm really liking this combination.

Toyota 17' TRD Alloy PTR45-35010 Tacoma

17”x7.5”x .24” of + offset, 3.98” back spacing




Nitto Ridge Grappler

LT265/70R17 E 121/118Q 217100 Dia. 31.65, Width 10.71 Rim 7.0-(8.0)-8.5

LT285/70R17 C 116/113Q217010 Dia. 32.76, Width 11.50 Rim 7.5-(8.5)-9.0


For tires I prefer 285/70R17 because of the C load rating.

My truck has ICON 3" lift suspension and SPC adjustable UCAs. I like to do rocky tight trails were flexing and full steering lock is possible.

My question is will the 285/70R17 tire fit with minor wheel well bending? I'm not willing to use wheels spacers.

My truck is an auto tranny with 410 gearing. Will these larger tires require lower gearing to help maintain MPG and not over work the torque converter while off road?

PS: Any one interested in a set of 04 4Runner Limited seats PM me.

 

I'm pretty sure they will rub against your spindle without a wheel spacer.

 

If your talking what the FSM calls the steering knuckle near the upper ball joint you look to be right. There is less than 1" of clearance as is with the stock size tire which has a max width of 10". The Ridge Grappler has a width of 11.5" being 1.5" wider than stock. Divide that in half would be 3/4" closer to the knuckle. This doesn't take into account back spacing and offset which I have yet to fully understand.
From what I have found the stock wheel have .6" of offset and an unknown to me amount of back space. The 17" TRD wheels have .24” of + offset, 3.98” back spacing. Is it possible to determine if the TRD wheel will be more outward or inward?

 

If you don't like the fact of having a lug centric or hub centric wheel spacer, but want to run the 17" wheels, I used Toyota Matrix studs on my 03 Tacoma and put a 1/4" or 1/2" aluminum spacer to run my 285's on my stock 16" wheels before. Those studs are identical to Tacoma just longer.

 

Interesting idea...I happen to have a 05 Matrix. I'll check it out, Thanks

 

Your Matrix will be hard to drive without those studs lol j/k - why couldn't you make the seats work - too much fabrication needed for your application?

 

Stock wheels for an 04 have 4.5 inches of back spacing so you are gaining on the width, it might be close to the UCA but you should be good. Most of the extra width looks like it is moving outward so you may throw a bit more crap down the side of your truck depending on the weather and where you are. You will be close to rubbing the frame a bit on full lock as well but it will depend on the tire mostly and its profile on the rim, a slightly skinnier tire may be better.

 

The Matrix being so much lighter than the Tacoma I figure a bunch of zip ties with a few wraps on safety wire as back up I should good to go

Even after removing the mounting tab on the seat sliders the drivers seat sat too high for me. I'm kind of long trunked and my head was too close to the head liner. Too bad though, the Limited seats are way more comfy than the stock seats.

Okay that sounds good. I'll try the LT265/70R17 at 10.71 wide. Can you explain how offset and back spacing are related? From what I understand it seems like offset or back spacing are the same.

 

Now that you mention it that might actually work. Just make sure to cinch down the zip ties in a criss cross pattern and check their torque after the first few miles and you should be good to go.

Bummer about the seats - I bought some very used 02 regular buckets and they feel like race seats compared to my 60/40 bench so I can only imagine what the limited seats feel like. I'm not sure of what seats are supposed to sit lower than the ones you already had. At least you have some measurements to go by now. Hopefully you don't lose out too much on them!

 

Yeah, my 89 Toyota truck had 60/40 that was originally owned by a 300 pounder. The drivers side was sunk down to the floor board. Felt like sitting in a 5 gallon bucket. First tried a set of no name aftermarket seats that were a total PoS. The foam was so soft that within a few months a metal cross member in the back came through to poke me in the lower back. Final I found a good deal on a set of 04 Civic seats. Pretty easy install and way comfy.
Once the 04 4Runner seats are out of the garage all search for a 02 Tacoma Limited seats.

 

Before you get set on these rims, I do not believe they are obtainable. I have tried several vendors online and I am being told that Toyota will only sell these as replacement to your vin. So if you don't have a vin for the 4 runner that came with these from the factory and reason why you are replacing them you will not be able to purchase.

I would love to be wrong and would buy them for my truck if I am.

 

My dealer says that Toyota changed the availability for these rims about a month ago. I imagine the online stores will be late to party and only pull their advertising as they are refused inventory.