Alignment problems with bigger tires??

First post but love TW and a complete amateur so be warned!

For starters, I have a 2012 Tacoma with Nitto Trail Grapplers LT285/65R18 with lift.

Ever since purchasing this truck used with 18,000mi on it, it has ALWAYS pulled hard to the left. I never noticed it before since I was so stoked with the truck. I recently got an alignment since I seemed to always have my arm locked at the 2 oclock position, or else it pulls immediately. I took it to my local Toyota dealer and they said the toe, camber were WAY off. ( will post spec report later) they were able to fix to suggested specs and thought I would be good. NOPE, still pulls hard to the left. The roads in Alaska are pretty bad with tons of ruts and grooves but im more concerned why im still having the pull.

So here's my questions....

1.) Should I ditch the bigger tires and go back to stock?

2.) Will going back to stock tires and wheels have an issues the lift?

3.) Recently got a flat, and the tire is hard to find in Anchorage. In fact no one had it in town and would have to order the $400 tire. LUCKILY the shop was able to patch it. Should I just go to stock tires for the sake of them being more available and less expensive?

Thanks in advance! Just want a straight and true taco.

 

Read more up on it here. I don't have a lift or issues. Many seem to find the best luck at an offroad shop that deals with this and might have some good values to start with. Gonna take time and effort, it's not the tires etc, just need to find the right settings. Make sure your tire pressure is correct.

Try reading up in these sub forums

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/wheels-tires.15/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/suspension.18/

 

If your tires are cupped or worn unevenly from driving with a bad alignment for this long that could be the issue.

 

thanks I guess ill take it to a different shop that deals with way more off road trucks. Worth a shot. Will check sub forums for more help thanks

 

I would bet your tires are worn unevenly from being out of camber and toe. That's why it's still pulling even after alignment.

New tires will make the issue go away; rotating tires will help for now. Aggressive tread and larger tires tend to follow the grooves in the road more. 285s that aren't all jacked up from being out of alignment should still handle fine on a truck that is in alignment.

I'd also check your tie rod ends for play.

Next time it's out of alignment, take care of it right away.

Shouldn't have any issues going back to stock.

 

Aftermarket Upper control arms would probably help. I've read in here that it is difficult to get a good alignment with a lift over 2.5 inches without some aftermarket UCAs...I would look into that. I just had my truck lifted and put on 285s. Toyota said it aligned just fine but it doesn't feel perfect. I'll be getting UCAs to fix this soon.

 

if you are asking these questions then you don't require bigger tires, [like
you aren't driving on corduroy roads prospecting new grounds or anything...]

[if you were swamping and breaking trail stock size is not the way to go]


so I guess stock tire sizes are the way to go.

nitto tires are not balanced from factory as well as a michelin. you
may want to go back to stock size and michelin tires to get the absolute best
chance at a wheel and tire combo that has no imperfections or balance issues.

then using this, have it balanced and aligned

 

I paid my dealer to do an alignment after I lifted. They said they would try to get my toe and camber to the 0 I asked for. They got it "in spec", which was nowhere near 0. Go to a small shop for alignment and ask for specific numbers. Your caster is not adjustable without special UCAs that are adjustable, but most aftermarket UCAs are designed to correct caster after lift. Narrower tires will probably help you. My truck wandered like crazy with 265 tires on backspaced rims. I sold the rims/ tires and put 255s on stock rims and there's no wander at all. 255s are slightly taller than your 285s, but much narrower. I do have a pull to the right, but it's an alignment issue.