Wheel and Tire "Will this fit/rub" stock, leveled, and lifted info inside (complete with poll)

I'm one rim size up from you, I have 295/70-17. Toyo RT.

 

for any 3rd gen owner that knows. I want to run 275/65/18 or 275/70/18 this summer. What size lift do I have to go within order to attain this?

 

Change the stock tires for bigger tires, as 285/70 x 17, that will not affect the steering rack or steering pump, in the long-term ??

 

It 100% will affect the steering pump & rack, wheel bearings, tie rods, everything. You're adding more weight to the system and will wear these items more quickly. Just how quickly, who knows. The further out your wheels and tires sit the more leverage it's putting on the bearings for example. The heavier the tire the more it'll strain the ball joint and rack. This doesn't mean you'll be swapping parts every other day, nor does that mean once per year. I've put ~130k on my steering rack with oversized tires and it's still going strong. YMMV.

 

Okay guys, I need some serious help.
I have a 2014 taco 4x4 XSP-X.
Then standard tires are a 245-60R/18 but the XSP-X package came with numerous upgrades as part of the package including the tire upgrade which on the truck from the showroom had installed a 265-60R/18.
I recently added a 3 1/2" Toytech lift with a Road Armor bumper and a Warn Winch.
I want to increase the size of the tires and rims NOT to necessarily max out but to make it look good and solid/stable.
The whole XSP-X package seems to be throwing all discussions off.
Since the new bumper system was installed all of the underlying plastics have been removed so no rubbing concerns are on the front side.
I cannot get a grip on what tires and rims will look best and most of all fit????
Does anyone have any thoughts on this or have the same vehicle as I do?
Any HELP would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hello Ryan,

Good news is the way wheels and tires fit is not different given the XSP-X package. The frame, and suspension geometry is all the same.
Personally I'd drop down to a 17" wheel and either go 285/70-17 or 255/80-17. A 17x8 with 0mm offset or a 17x8.5 with -6mm offset would fit perfectly. You could go to a 17x9 with -12mm offset but the wider the wheel the greater the chance of rubbing. A 33" tire like the two I mentioned above fits very well to our trucks with a 3" lift.
I know you said the plastic is all gone and you're not worried about rubbing, but there is still the possibility you'll need to have the CMC (Cab Mount Chop) done to avoid rubbing at the rear of the wheel well. With the right alignment you may be able to add enough caster to avoid it, but it's a possibility.

 

Got your message about the potential sizes of tires. THANK YOU!!
To be clear as mentioned, I know there will be no rubbing issues on the front . its the rear of the tire near the cab that I really do not want to get into cutting.
The coilover springs with new shocks have all been installed that was supposed to be a 4 inch lift but due to the nature of adding the new heavy bumper and winch it settled down about 1/2" so I gained 3 1/2 inches in true lift but the wheel wells look like a huge area that needs to be filled but the clearance area to the rear of the tire towards the cab looks limited. There is some room for expansion but not much with a semi aggressive tread.
also I do not have any mud flaps to worry about either.

 

Please see the attached finished product that I am dealing with.
NOTE:
The clearance in the front of the wheel does not seem to be the problem.
the rear area looks like a lot of room but really isn't.

 

Gotcha! I misread you the first time in regards to the tire clearance, I now understand you don't want to rub/trim/cut the rear of the front wheel well.

I'd double check the lift specs. It's hard to tell, but it doesn't appear as though you have a drop bracket in the pictures you posted. On a 4x4 Tacoma, going over 3" of lift has a tendency to bind up the cv axles because they're at too steep of an angle. The only real way to achieve more than 3" is via a drop bracket...

The 285 sized tires would be pushing it... there's a strong chance you'd need to do the CMC to eliminate rubbing. It isn't a major modification but if you'd rather not then we can ditch that size.
255/80-17 would be a nice choice and a full 33" tire. It isn't as wide which means less chance for rubbing.
265/70-17 would fit without any rubbing, but may be a bit smaller than what you're hoping for.
A 275/70-17 might be right up the alley for what you're looking for. It's a good middle ground of height and width and shouldn't rub in the rear of the wheel well. It's a more difficult size to find, but it's out there.

That's a good looking truck! Definitely needs more meat to the tires though

 

Okay,We are making progress.
I do not see a problem with the axle binding as the lift that we installed from ToyoTech came With replacement upper control arms and struts thus, they were extended so we did things right.
I am thinking the tires we need overall would be a 31 1/2"
So what would be the recommendation for an offset on a 17 inch wheel?
You guys are a huge help thus far and I can't thank you enough for walking me thru this process.

 

17" x 8" with 0mm offset or a 17" x 8.5" with between -6mm offset and 0mm offset.

 

Is there an option that would be suitable using an 18"inch Rim?
The Wheels that we are really looking to install are not offered in a 17'inch

 

What wheel are you looking at?

 

The Fuel Cleaver design.
The 18 inch Rim seems to fill things out relatively nice and I am also thinking that the 17 Inch would make things look a little more Ballooned then balanced....
Also we are not looking for a low profile tire look either so, I hope this make some sort of sense in this discussion.

 

For the Fuel Cleaver I'd recommend the -12mm offset if you want the option to run a larger wider tire in the future, or the +1mm offset if you plan to stick with a 31.5" tire. The -12mm offset will stick out an additional .5" and have a greater chance of rubbing but provide enough inside clearance for a 33" tire; which is why I mention both.

 

Thanks Mike (@eccracer104) for putting together such a comprehensive and informative guide. I just found this yesterday and now am re-reading it over and over to absorb all the great details. If I could ask you for a little more insight prior to my purchase?

1) Choosing a wheel was initially based on appearance. Then as I read up more and talked with other Tacoma and 4Runner owners I learned that "fit" would need to be considered. Then I learned that both 16 and 17 inch wheels would work just fine and the major difference between the two were that there are more options in the 17 inch wheel size for wheels and tires. But, that 16 inch wheels had a couple small advantages; 1) more sidewall which would benefit off-road use, 2) higher probability of getting a 33" tire without rubbing on a stock suspension (gratis of your post/poll).
2) That choosing a wider wheel can/will affect the stress placed on the axle bearing over time, causing faster wear and sooner bearing replacement, (supported by your post).
3) Each of us have different goals with our trucks and there is no one answer except in the case where two or more drivers have the very same use and a particular setup is discovered to maximize that use. In my case my truck is being used for overlanding for the purpose of backcountry access for photography and camping. Which will include consistent long highway travel before heading off road, so not only is traction and clearance important but comfort and fuel efficiency.

This brings me to the question, based on what is available and all the variables, what tires would serve my needs best and hence what wheels are available? My initial thought was to run with the stock rims and go either with the Cooper ST / Maxx in a 255/85/16. The one downside to this tire is it is not offered in a C rated sidewall and is a heavier tire. The benefit is (if I understand all I have learned in my research) is it does not put added stress on the axle bearing, it has a good chance of fitting on the stock suspension and wheel of my Gen 3 without rubbing. This tire and size gets good ratings for traction in snow, rain, ice but drops slightly in mud and sand. If I were to opt for a C rated tire the only option I have found is the KO2 in the 255/75/17 (32") or 265/70/17 (31.6") reference: which show a rim width of 6.5-8.5" and 7-8.5" respectively. Which then requires me to purchase wheels and go up in size. The one thing in their guide I don't understand how affects things is the "Measured Rim" spec.
Eventually I will add a lift to my truck through improved suspension, Fox/King/BP-51. This being eminent I now add in the 285/70/17 to keep the C rated tire as an option.

Q1) How much different is the C vs E rated in on-road comfort vs off-road strength? I have heard that we do not need the E rated for the Tacoma. Thoughts on this?
Q2) What does "Measured Rim" spec reference?
Q3) How important is the C rated tire in the scope in my use and desire for comfort and strength?

Thanks for the great visuals and explanation with "offset" and "backspacing". It helped me work through all the myriad of options to come back full circle to "what is more important in fulfilling my own requirements".

 

I replied within your quote in bold to make it easier to see what I am replying too

 

Thanks @eccracer104

 

If I did a 2 inch lift can I go with the 275? Was thinking of 18's but does that mean the sidewalk has to be 65?

 

A 2" lift should give you enough room for that size. Yes, 275/65R18.