New Member - Looking For Help to Make My Taco Look BA

Hello Anyone Reading,

I am new to Tacoma World... Well not new as this has site has been a big help as I gradually upgrade my Tacoma to achieve the look I want. I will start with telling you all a little about myself. My name is Nick and I grew up in San Antonio, Texas and moved to St. Louis, Missouri around High School. I joined the U.S. Navy at 18 as an aviation ordnanceman and worked on board of the U.S.S Kitty Hawk which was forward deployed but based out of Yokosuka, Japan.

While in the Navy I got to travel and see a lot of the world while supporting the Iraqi Freedom War. Once I completed my enlistment I got out of the Navy and moved to Columbus, Ohio to pursue a bachelor's degree in Education specializing in Corporate Training and Workforce Development while minoring in Business Management. While at Ohio State I bartended and competed in MMA. In the beginning my specialty was wrestling and jiu jitsu since I wrestled a large part of my life. As I got into competition I gravitated towards Muy Thai and then boxing. I finished my MMA tenure 6-0 and won a handful of jiu jitsu tournaments.

Upon graduating from OSU I was forced to get a "big boy" job to provide better for my two kids and started working at Columbia Gas as an Instructional Program Designer. Basically, I was in charge of building all of the training programs. They varied from Instructor-Led Training, Computer-Based Training, On-The-Job Training, Performance Support, Micro Learnings, etc... Once I got some skin in the game working in the natural gas industry I got put in charge of the Measurement and Regulation Curriculum and managed that program primarily. Earlier this year (2024) I took on the role as the Measurement and Regulation Trainer for Ohio and Kentucky. This role has been challenging as I have to learn a whole new set of skills but with more responsibility comes more money and I was finally able to afford my dream truck... The White Tacoma. Well second dream truck because I always wanted a Ford Raptor but that is way out of my pay range right now.

So that brings me to why I have joined Tacoma World. Part of why I always wanted a White Tacoma because of how many modifications you can do. I have a vision of what I want and have already made a number of errors. First off was buying tires and wheels. The tire shop recommended 245/75r16 so I got some black Dirty Life Wheels that I like but my tires are too small. Also, the tire I bought was a BFG K02 and spent a ton so I am stuck right now. If anyone wants to trade or buy then I will give a great deal.

Next up I started on doing some fairly cheap modifications since I spent most of money. I hopped on ebay and bought the Billstein 5100's and installed those all around which leveled my truck, next a friend and I wrapped my roof, then I installed a black raptor grill with lights and wired them up. Finally, I bought some cali-raised fog lights and wired those in (Thanks Tacoma World for a great "How To."

During all of these exterior modifications I used a few gift cards that have been collecting dust and got some leather Carmeki seat covers, trd shift knob, white door handles, coasters, some chrome delete for inside and outside, as well as a few other interior modifications that I wanted to.

It has been a busy couple of months but I have enjoyed every second learning and understanding how my truck functions which has also helped me tremendously for my job as I am learning about regulators, spring rates, droop, proportional band and other similarities. So that brings me to today. I definitely want bigger tires. I love the white lettering on the K02's and would like to stick with them unless there is another tire that has a similar look and isn't as expensive. Also, I have always been a fan of 20' wheels but I am noticing that no one runs though. So I will be looking for advice on 20's or maybe 18's?

The more I learn about the Tacoma's the more I am realizing that you need more than a lift/level to achieve a bigger tire and wheel so I will be searching what spring to pair with the Billy's, UCA's, AAL's, etc.. to achieve the look I want. As of today I am thinking 275/55r20 or 275/60r18 or maybe what I really want is a 285 but then will that be too heavy with an 18' or 20' wheel?? So many questions that I hope to find the answers to. However, what I do know thanks to you all on this site is that there is a lot more than just buying tires and wheels and slapping them on so I want to do it right and all advice is welcome! I hope someone reads and don't be afraid to reach out and make a friend.

Thanks,

Nick

 

Welcome, nice truck already

 

I appreciate it and thanks for the first comment! I love it but it is not quite there ye at least what I want in my mind.lol However, I am so happy to be in my first tacoma and back in a truck after years of driving an SUV

 

Yeah SUVs suck But anyways you are in the right place, just stick around and you’ll start spending all your money

 

haha unfortunately that makes me happy because I have really enjoyed spending my weekends working on the truck and installing new things. Once I installed the Billsteins I thought to myself now I just need to save for bigger tires and wheels and got sad thinking my journey was over but good to hear I will run into some other mods to work towards.lol

 

Do this (*not mine*)

 

I love the open front and have really been considering doing it but then you need that lifted suspension and those Kings look sick under there. However, I have been advised by local taco drivers to not do this look because living in Columbus, Ohio the salt and snow will corrode all that beautiful equipment buttt on the other hand I am a very meticulous person and daily cleaning does not bother me. I blame the ADHD.lol

I love the pic though because what sticks out to me is the small wheels with big tire. I have been on the fence on whether to get a larger wheel 18' or 20' on a 275 or 85 or just keep my 16's and slap on a bigger tire. Right now I need to pick a direction. Slick looking street truck or offroad monster. Both are bad ass in their own right... Maybe I just need two tacomas. lol jk

 

Hey Nick, welcome to TW! I started in this thread and found a ton of amazing ideas

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-have-you-done-to-your-3rd-gen-today.399305/

really nice looking taco so far!

 

Hey man, I appreciate it and thank you! Just those 245’s are killing me right now. I wish I had a Time Machine and just would’ve known that stock could fit a 265. I will def read through that thread to get some ideas. Thanks again!

 

Welcome to TW!