RockKrawler, nicely written post. However I would have to disagree with you on your statement that FJ owner's olnly have three choices.
Now I'm no vender, nor am I a mechanic or a wheel/tire or suspension whiz. But I am an FJ owner/operator......and I have in fact had larger tires installed, 285/70/17 Bridgestone Revos, on the stock 17" alloys, stock suspension (no lift) and no cutting or grinding on the mounts. The tires never rubbed anything, fully turned, even when climbing a curb and turned. (Admittedly, hard core rock climbing might be different).
I then decided on changing wheels to 17" black steelies (OEM). And still no rubbing or clearance problems.
I recently had a 3" lift kit installed (for looks mostly), I now have twice the clearance at the rear part of the front wheel well than I had before. And still no bubbing at the mounts.
I sincerely believe the clearance and rubbing problems encountered are mostly brought on by one's eagerness to make something fit where it is not intended. (Mostly wheels that have the wrong offset and/or sopacing while also installing tires that are just too large for the application) And that your well written and documented post is a good solution for those situations.
It just seems like a lot of chopping, grinding and cuttin' that isn't necessarily unavoidable.
__________________ "The problems we have created cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them." Albert Einstein
RK: Man, that was a cool compendium of information. Now you got me concerned. I am thinking about upgrading my tires and wheels to the following specifications:
AR Chamber Black Teflons on 16x8 (part. 3985-6838)
with
Toyo Open Country AT's (305/70/R16)..
Do you think I will have a body mount issue? If there is a way to figure this out, i am all ears!
I would never run 35"s on mine but I would love to throw some skinny 34"s on mine with my 3" lift and am afraid I will have to do some trimming. I will never do this myself but I love the write up and will gladly print off yoru directions as a guide for my local fab shop.
RockKrawler, nicely written post. However I would have to disagree with you on your statement that FJ owner's olnly have three choices.
Now I'm no vender, nor am I a mechanic or a wheel/tire or suspension whiz. But I am an FJ owner/operator......and I have in fact had larger tires installed, 285/70/17 Bridgestone Revos, on the stock 17" alloys, stock suspension (no lift) and no cutting or grinding on the mounts. The tires never rubbed anything, fully turned, even when climbing a curb and turned. (Admittedly, hard core rock climbing might be different).
I then decided on changing wheels to 17" black steelies (OEM). And still no rubbing or clearance problems.
I recently had a 3" lift kit installed (for looks mostly), I now have twice the clearance at the rear part of the front wheel well than I had before. And still no bubbing at the mounts.
I sincerely believe the clearance and rubbing problems encountered are mostly brought on by one's eagerness to make something fit where it is not intended. (Mostly wheels that have the wrong offset and/or sopacing while also installing tires that are just too large for the application) And that your well written and documented post is a good solution for those situations.
It just seems like a lot of chopping, grinding and cuttin' that isn't necessarily unavoidable.
I appreciate your opinion, but you have to understand that when a customer wants to run a non-stock rim they often have non-stock backspacing that pushes the tire out, that causes the tire to swing in an arc instead of pivoting on center, which typically causes the rubbing issues. Also understand that just because 2 tires have the same size numbers, they arent necessarily built the same, and may vary quite a bit especially at the shoulder, or corner, of the tread. The corner is usually where it rubs.
You are 100% correct that clearance and rubbing problems encountered are mostly brought on by one's eagerness to make something fit where it is not intended, but not everyone has the ability or resources to fund and install a lift. On the last 2 vehicles I have done, both 305's and 285's were fit with no rubbing and no lift on the mounts, and clearancing the mount is definitely cheaper than adding a lift. Many people are very preferential to certain tire brands, or they just got a smokin deal on a particular set and couldnt pass it up. They want a way to make it work until they can afford to make it fit. Thats where this job comes in. If you want a 35" tire you have to do it regardless of backspacing, and that goes for most 12.5" wide tires, even 33's. Me, I got a smokin deal on my 35" BFG's, so I took them to hold me over until I can get Goodyears or Toyo's. Personally I HATE BFG MT's but I made the concession for price. While the Revos worked for you on stock rims, not everyone wants that setup, but you made some valid points.
RK: Man, that was a cool compendium of information. Now you got me concerned. I am thinking about upgrading my tires and wheels to the following specifications:
AR Chamber Black Teflons on 16x8 (part. 3985-6838)
with
Toyo Open Country AT's (305/70/R16)..
Do you think I will have a body mount issue? If there is a way to figure this out, i am all ears!
Thanks,
I think the width of the tire is going to be an issue at the body mount, but the offset of the rim should help. If you dont have a lift, I'd bank on modding the mounts.
RK: Man, that was a cool compendium of information. Now you got me concerned. I am thinking about upgrading my tires and wheels to the following specifications:
AR Chamber Black Teflons on 16x8 (part. 3985-6838)
with
Toyo Open Country AT's (305/70/R16)..
Do you think I will have a body mount issue? If there is a way to figure this out, i am all ears!
I think the width of the tire is going to be an issue at the body mount, but the offset of the rim should help. If you dont have a lift, I'd bank on modding the mounts.
RockKrawler:
Thank you for your opinion. I will have to take that into consideration if I
don't get the lift and consider a narrower tire that wouldn't cause issues.
Another concern that I have right now is concerning lifting and warranty
but that's another thread.
I finally got around to chopping mine this past weekend and I did have one comment. I noticed that allot of the posted "chop" pictures (from everyone) have removed what I think may be more material than needed. Cutting more off the body mount than the effective radius arc of the wheel-well does not gain you anything.
However having said that, as long as it's all welded back up I don't see how it could hurt anything.
__________________
When people I dont know come up to me and tell me motorcycling is dangerous I tell them so is talking to strangers!
"The problems we have created cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them." Albert Einstein
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