Tire size on a stock suspension

I agree that cost probably plays a role. I don't believe that it's the primary cause. Tires have traditionally been skinny, and the wide tires are an American trend that began fairly recently with huge trucks, and found their way to smaller ones. I would guess that tradition has as much to do with it as cost, along with what simply works. I don't think the rest of the world would continue to use skinny tires if they weren't effective. Look at the USMC LAV reconnaissance vehicle...it uses very skinny tires considering the weight of the vehicle and the size. And you can't exactly argue that cost was the deciding factor along with the 25mm chain gun.

These photos I took a few years ago aren't exactly a Spartan interior:

 

Who's used a leveling kit to bring up the front end? If so, what brand?

 

I have 255/80-17 Cooper ST Maxx's which are 32.8 and they didn't rub too much with 4.75" backspacing FJ wheels, but after adding 1.25" spacers they rubbed a lot

 

A small update to my new tires (255/85/16 BFG MT); It seems the left front tire (only) does rub a little on the mud flap, but only with forward weight transfer (on a downhill), and a gentle left hand turn. It doesn't rub at all even on a downhill if the wheels are at full lock, or even a decently sharp turn, only a very gentle turn to the left. I may just remove the front mudflaps. It didn't seem to be doing any damage to the tire, and there was no sign of contact anywhere else.

 

I can’t believe we may not put tire chains on the front end! I’d carry two sets for my 2002 4x4 to a mountain highway construction job I used to go to, as the road was closed to the public and unplowed, I had to break trail on it a lot and double chains was the only way. I had extra big tires on it too, before I even heard of using “pizza cutters”, they would have helped!

 

Where are you getting that? The dot.ca.gov website says;
"Chains must be installed on the drive axle. All-wheel drive vehicles and 4-wheel drive vehicles may have chains installed on either drive axle, but the rear axle is preferred, unless the vehicle manufacturer recommends the front axle."

I'm not reading anything about chains not being allowed on front tires. Or is that Toyota's rule?

 

It’s in the owner’s manual, but for a good reason- there’s not enough room between the inside sides of the tires for chains, particularly the double lugged ones I have. If they are at all loose, it will tear up several critical parts next to the wheel. I don’t like cables, so wouldn’t try them either up front, even if they are low profile- just too slippery.

 

Thank you so much for this post @Joe23 it really means a lot to us!

 

Do you just have the white letters on the inside?

 

Yes

 

Are they very noticeable?

 

Not really sure if you’d call it noticeable or not...I just don’t care for any white on the outside of tires. You can see it on the inside of the tires in this shot:

 

Nice setup - I always have the letters mounted inward too, they get bunged up a lot while off-roading and I rarely wash the tires, so it is lower maintenance that way.

 

Have you had any rub looking back now?

 

My Maxxis Bighorn 255/85/16 rub on my after market mud flaps and on the front lower fender corners a bit during full articulation on my 2020 so just a heads up if you were eyeing those

 

Just picked up my 2020 DCLB Offroad and I'm looking to upgrade to the 17" matte black 4runner wheels with a 275/70/17 tire...diameter is 1.55 inches larger than stock with a -21mm change in offset (from 25mm to 4mm). Does anyone know if this setup work with no suspension mods?