Tire Size With and Without Levelling

Hey there,

New here. I know there is lots of posts about tire size, etc. and I may be blind but can’t find a simple and clear answer on this….

I am running 265/65/17 right now. I’d like to buy something bigger that would fit and look good right now, but also work and look right if I added around 2-3” lift/levelling kit.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

John

 

Best recommendation would be to look in the spec sheet for the lift your looking into.. and by golly if they say 0 offset make sure you buy accordingly. I made the mistake of going -12 in hopes of nice wheel poke but had to do some plastic trimming and “custom” alignment

 

I'd go 265/70/17, that size will work stock, yet still look good with a small lift. Any bigger and you run into a domino effect of needing more and more modifications to make everything work. If it were my truck I'd level it and go to 265/70/17. Otherwise, you're going to end up spending a butt load of money for 1/2" more ground clearance. You'll also get worse fuel mileage, reduced performance and towing capability, and more expensive LT tires with a harsh ride.

 

265/70/17 will look like you skipped leg day with a 2-3" lift.

You can get pizza cutter tires (255/70/17) now with stock wheels and be able to run a 33", so I've read.

Or be a man and trim..... and just get 285/70/17 tires with a -12 offset wheel for the stance

 

So what would the general consensus be on 265/70/17’s with a possible 2” lift? Would it look out of place?

I guess it a question of the cost. If I could just do it all, I would lift/level it 2” and get new tires, but at the moment I’d like the option of getting tires and deciding later about the lift.

 

i know this is a 2nd gen, but this is with a 3" lift.

265-70-17 will still look good.

but i would recommend the 255-80-17 tires. 33" tires that dont require too much work to make them work.

 

2 inch lift (eibach pro) with 265 70 17 bfg k02s

 

I hated the looks of my 265/70/17s on a 2 inch lift. I dropped mine down to one inch, kept the rake, and it both looks and drives fantastic. It has that subtle "this is what stock should have looked like," look.

 

I've seen several comments over the years that 33's just don't quite clear in all conditions - stock spring height. Last tire change I went to 255/70/18 which is 32 dia (original Limited tire was 30.5) and can't find any signs of touching. So this time - how about the next size up? The next size is 265/70/18 in that series and they begin life just a hair over 32.5. Beginning to think a half inch spacer would be a good change.

 

275/70/17 but on stock 4Runners. One day I’ll put on some Bilsteins with an inch or so of lift.

 

Not to highjack, but I've been debating the same as the OP, just sans lift. Other than the extra 1/2-inch clearance, what's the advantage of going 265/70R17? I realize that's the biggest I can go stock, but wondering if the change over the OEM 265/65R17 size is worth the squeeze

 

its just a little bigger tire, so you will be little higher off the ground. more clearance. and since your tire is bigger, you will have a bigger contact patch, so more grip.

 

255/80/17 is a true 33” tire. It’s 33”x10”

 

You will get about an inch and 3/8s of clearance over stock size if you get 33x10, which is 255/80/17 or 255/85/16

 

This is a 2" lift with 265/70 17 tires. They also fit without the lift just fine

 

For the look!

Here was my side-by-side, Falken Wildpeaks in 265-65, then 265-70 a few days later.






To me, it was a night and day difference in how the truck looks. To anyone but me, they asked if I was feeling ok.

Performance wise, it's almost imperceptibly more cushy due to the imperceptibly larger sidewall. Speedometer is now imperceptibly incorrect, 62 actual vs 60 displayed. There is a noticable punishment in mileage, not at all imperceptible (but still reasonable). I did not notice a change in traction or off-roadability, but I really really wanted to.

 

LOL sounds exactly like my wife. Whenever something else shows up in a box and I say it's for the truck, I get "geez it's just a truck, how old are you?" routine. Lovingly of course

It does look better with the 70s for sure. Is it possible your MPG hit could be due (at least in part) to the odometer difference?

 

Dang you are gonna make me do math! But yes, the readout is going to appear lower due to the slower rolling odometer. Depending on how much accelerating you do, it really comes out as a wash.

 

Well I would say going up from 265-65-17 to a 265-70-17 also adds a couple pounds of weight per corner. Not sure how much, but it will affect the milage.

My tires are about 2/3 done….so I’m shopping for new tires. And I’m looking and weight as top priority. Heavy tires kill mpg, acceleration, braking, and how the truck feels.

So far, for my life style, probably going to get the Michelin ltx at2. Great on highway, ok off road. Good mpg.