Need suggestions and input. Base Taco 15 or 17inch wheels?

Debating 235/75/15s vs 245/65/17s
Keeping truck stock (5 lugs 4cyl) can get wheel and tire sets I like but can't decide.
Want height but thick looking tires.
Going with falken wildpeak AT3w regardless of tire size selected.

Help, want and need input.
Will going w 17s require a lift, etc.
Goal is no lift but maxing out on height and losing the stock 215s.

 

I have 235/75/15 on a stock 2015. Tires lifted the truck just a little from stock size but some power loss/ worse gas milage than stock tires forsure. (Mostly uphill on freeways) Id say any bigger and you would need a lift or at least 2” level spacer up front to fit. An the black box mod. Also it might be super slow getting up to speed but if ur not worried about that it would probably look sick! (Bfg KO2 and stock wheels)

 

Why AT’s on a 4-cyl, 2WD truck that you want to keep low?

Anyway, I’d factor in the total weight of the wheel+ tire and go with the lighter one. It’s going to slow you down significantly and reduce your gas mileage.

 

99% of the time ur on pavement if its ur daily. It helps an works fine on occasional minor off-road

 

If I lift it what's the recommended height and tire / wheel size?
I'm essentially looking for maximum lift without having to use spacers or new springs hence the debate on 15s vs 17s.

 

It depends on what lift you get for tire sizes. I have a 2" front spacer lift with 245/75r16 which is equivalent to a 31x9.5, and I wouldn't recommend anything over that for that lift. You can do the 2.75" spacer lift and go to 265/75/16 or a 32x10.5, but you would definitely want to re-gear at that size. If you are looking for a "maximum lift" without an actual lift, the normal recommended 235/75r15 will be your best option. I have heard of some people running a 30x9.5 with no lift and the black box mod before with no issues, so you could try that route. To answer your original question though, you might be able run a 245/65r17 tire on stock suspension, seeing as it's equivalent to a 30x9.5 and others have ran that size. You can run a 17" rim with no lift, but your tire size is still limited to a 30x9.5 at the MAXIMUM. Rim size doesn't really matter, run whatever wheel you like (keeping in mind backspacing and offset). If you want a bigger tire, but want to stay low budget, I'd suggest doing the 2" spacer lift I have. It's super simple to install and costs $60. You really can't go wrong with it. Also what do you plan on doing with this truck? If you aren't going to be wheeling it every weekend, you should look at the Dynopro AT2s that I have on my truck. They look like Wildpeaks, although a little less aggressive, but they are lighter and less noisy. Plus they are cheaper, so that can open up some room in your budget for a lift or whatever else you want to do.

 

Thanks jsheets - super helpful info and I'll look @ the DynoproAT2s. With the 2" spacer lift, is it needed for both the front and back? Sorry if this is a noob question. I think here is what I am going to go with: 17' wheels w/ 245/65/17 tires (Dynapro ATs's or similar lighter than falkens, etc.). This would give me 29.5 for height for the tires vs. 26.9, or 3 inches higher than stock - am I looking at this correctly? I mainly want to get some height from the stock set up without having to mess w/ the suspension and or lift elements, etc. It is mainly a daily driver w/ limited if any off roading. Thanks again for any and all intel / thoughts.

 

The 2" spacer is just for the front. A spacer lift will actually lower our trucks in the rear. I've got a small post on my page with the info on my 2" lift with a price breakdown at the end if you want to look at it for ideas. It also shows the Dynopros and lift installed on my truck so you could get a feel for how it would look. Another user posted a small instruction write-up about how to install the kit yourself if you don't want to pay someone else to, although you'll still have to pay for an alignment. And there are no stupid questions here. I knew nothing about these truck when I first got mine, but I spent plenty of time reading every post and asking plenty of questions about these trucks on this forum and others. Feel free to ask any questions, plus there's tons of guys on here who could answer pretty much any question you might have if I don't know.

 

Thanks again and I saw your page - sweet set up - what size tires are they? I see they're Dynapros

 

They are a 245/75r16, which is a perfect size for that 2" lift, anymore and I'd rub in the front. You would want a 245/70r17 for your 17" wheels.

 

OK...so. If I wanted to:
#1 - go with NO LIFT w/ no rub I can go with a 245/75r16 set up?
#2 - use a 2" lift I would need to go with 245/70r17 w/ 17" wheels?
#3 - could I do: 245/65/17s with NO LIFT and have NO Rubbing?

What I ideally am thinking (all things considered) is to do #3 - 245/65/17s and call it a day - no lift installed, no rubbing (hopefully) and no other modifications needed to the truck. Get the 17s, which gives me a bigger and higher set up (height increase of 3 inches), 245s (aggressive looking but smoothish ride ATs (a la the Dynapros) and I'm rolling.
Is what I describe above possible? Let me know if I am missing a step and or need, etc. Thanks again

 

Alright so #1 No those tires would rub because they are a bit too tall with no lift

#2 that is correct, at least that is the biggest tire you can safely run

#3 is correct as well as long as you pay attention to the backspacing and offset of the 17" wheel you are putting on. You will also need to remove the black box that is held in by 3 bolts behind your front fender lining. You can either cut away at the fender liner or remove it completely and replace it with stock prerunner fender liners for a cleaner look, like I did.

 

OK thanks and again super helpful - lastly 235/75/15 would work the same as #3 (i.e. no lift, no rubbing) and assuming there wouldn't be the black box issue given the tire and wheel size?
Jeeze, lots to consider but I'll mull it over and make the call here soon. Thanks again

 

Yep 235/75r15 is the biggest tire you can go with 0 modification. If you have any rubbing at all with those the black box mod is super easy and is probably what would be causing rubbing. But I don't think you will have any issues with that size.

 

OK - think I'm going with
245/70/17s or is it 245/75/17? want to make sure I get the right tires

jsheets1 can you send me the info on the $60 2" lift? Is that all I would need before the install (i.e. have the 2" lift installed before the wheels and tires go on?)

 

Here is the exact 2" lift I bought: https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-2005-2...nsion-Lift-Kit/162571497090?fits=Model:Tacoma

You will need to run the 245/70r17 with this lift and do the black box mod to clear with no issues. Do both the lift and black box mod before installing the wheels and tires.

 

Anybody have any photos (step by step) of the black box mod? I want to tackle this myself so appreciate any and all suggestions, details on how to do this - thanks in advance.
Going to go with a 2" spacer lift in the front w/ 17s and tires 245/70r17.

 

Here's a link to the how to I used: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-black-box-removal.357919/

There's a guy who commented on there that did it pretty cleanly, without buying prerunner liners like I did. He's got pictures and tells you what he did, so you should be able to do it easily.

 

Great thanks and most helpful - last (hopefully) ? for now on the tires. With it being a 4cyl and 5 lugger, even w/ a 2" lift in the front it wouldn't be wise to go any higher than 245s correct? Reading a lot about re-gearing, etc. so trying to get max height, tire bulk w/ lift w/out compromising the truck's performance. So question is, max w/ the 2" should be 245? Also 245/70/17 and NOT 245/75/17 right? Is there that much difference between the 245/70/17 and 245/75/17?

 

I wouldn't recommend anything over the 245/70r17 for that lift. You will have some power loss, but you will only really feel it on long uphills at freeway speeds. You won't have to re-gear unless you REALLY want to. I've been driving on my setup for 6 months now with no issues. And yes, there is a 1" height difference between 245/70r17 and 245/75r17 and you will rub with the bigger tire. Stay with the 245/70r17.