How much lift needed for 285's without having to remove mudflaps? Some questions.

My 2011 currently is sporting 3rd gen standard 16" rims with 265/75/R16 BF KO2's, and I've already decided on a suspension upgrade, probably OME, and would at the very least upgrade to 275's for a different look, but I have to say the 2nd gen Tacomas I see with 285's look so much more aggressive. But I really don't like the idea of removing the flaps - they;re there for a reason. If I was living in the city where mud/dirt wasn't going to be an issue, I wouldn't mind but I'm a contractor in a rural area and over 50% of my client's driveways are dirt.

Is 2.5" the limit for a lift without putting undue stress on the front running gear?

I did a comparison on an online tire size calculator, apparently 285/70/R16 is an almost identical diameter to 265/75/R16.
Is 285/70/R16 a difficult size to find?

Also if I DID decide to go 285/75/R16, what amount of lift would I need to not have to remove those very functional and important mudflaps?

 

I've honestly never heard of or seen a tire in a 285/70r16. If your looking for a size other than 265/75 or 285/75, you'll likely need to go to 17" wheels. There is much more size selection for 17's than 16's and also more varying load ranges as well.