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Stock tires? Or upgrade size?

19K views 17 replies 10 participants last post by  jotster 
#1 ·
Just bought a use 2012 and it is bone stock with the 17" OEM wheels and a set of cheap replacement tires by the dealership. My mechanic can't get the wheels and tires to balance properly, so I have a continuous vibration. Thinking of just changing out everything with a set of aftermarket wheels and tires. I commute a long distance for work, so I'm not looking to totally kill my ride and fuel mileage, but I want to upgrade the look to something more beefy. Without a spacer kit or small lift, what is the largest tire I can run without rubbing? Or should I just keep the stock size but go to a more off road tire? OR...should I just install the lift/spacer? Suggestions?
 
#2 ·
G'day and welcome from Down under.

The OE stock rims should be 100% perfectly fine to keep ... its probably just the cheap tyres causing the challenge. Hard to know without specifics, but replacing the rubber with a good set of tyres, and a good alignment should fix the issue.

Tyre choice is subjective, do you plan to go off road with your FJ ? if so consider an A/T style tyre, if not consider a road based tyre. The OE rubber is actually very good on the road, so perhaps consider a new set of these. Also worth being aware of is winter /snow conditions when choosing the tyre, some are better than others .....

As for size, every manufacturer is a little different in actual size, so a 265 or 275 or 285 is your best range of sizes ...some 285s will rub the body mount, some won't. With a 265 or a 275 you won't rub. If you go 285, you may need other suspension modifications to make the tyre work best....

There are lots of threads and information available on the forum, to help you choose the best set up for you, search around, and its all at your finger tips.....

good luck, and post up some pixs of your ride ... we all like to see another one....

cheers
Baz
:blueblob:
 
#3 ·
Have the rims checked but like the above says, the rims are likely not the culprit but make sure.

Most will fit 285 with no issues again due to variances it is indeed the max without mods.

BFG all terrain and Nittos ATs have served me very well over the years.

IF you go new rims your offset choice will effect your tire size choice. Typically Offset will help you clear the UCA but can cause the tire to rub the body mount so choose wisely with what your desired build will be. Good luck
 
#4 ·
Ive got a new 2014 4X4. Has stock 265-70 17's on it right now with some Toyota after market wheels.

Im wanting to go 285 70 17 AT's. Don't want to add a lift or leveling kit. Wife says NO LIFT KIT! Its her daily driver.

Im running 285 70 16's on my 06 Tacoma and had to do a 3" lift, trim the rear of the front finder flares, and shave down the body mounts to stuff the tires under the front end.

Wondering if the 285's will work on the FJ without all of the mods? Front fender wells look like there is enough room.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 

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#7 ·
The majority of the time they will fit without any issue. You may need to work on the caster on the alignment to get it pushed out to ~3.5ish. The other factor involved is the offset and width of your current wheels. Do you know what they are?
 
#8 ·
Dont know the wheel off set. This FJ was a Toyota Corporate Vehicle and I purchased it with 13k miles on it. The Toyota dealer that I purchased it from put these wheels and tires on it and can not tell me anything about the wheels other than that they are "the exact same size" as the stock wheels. These are 'after market' wheels offered at all Toyota dealerships.

Will double check all of the clearances on/around the current tires to see whats there. Might get lucky and have enough room for the 285's.

Dose a "leveling kit" count as a lift?? Wife can't say anything about leaving the truck, right??

Thanks for the help.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Those are Helo HE835 wheels. 17x8 et0.

Leveling helps the looks a lot. I'd suggest it. Toytec makes a nice spring for leveling......Bilstein 5100 leveling struts...or there are the cheaper spacers you can add if it is all on pavement.

Those wheels actually stick out ever so slightly more than OEM...That can hurt in adding bigger tires, but I think it is still close enough to stock that you would be just fine. http://www.tire-size-calculator.inf...5&1off=15&2tw=265&2ar=70&2dia=17&2ww=8&2off=0
 
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#12 ·
helichik, FJ tires are notorious for having steering wheel shake. There have been many long threads on this suggesting road force balancing, alignment tricks, changing wheels and tires ...maybe? After struggling with this with my 11 TTSE, went to a local tire, wheel, brake, suspension specialist who informed me after checking that my tires weren't "true", being out of round. Supposedly most except Michelins aren't to a greater or lesser degree.

"Truing" involves slightly "shaving" the tires until they're within spec and balance as they should. Need to have a shop that really knows what they're doing to accomplish this, mine did; and not expensive at $20 a tire, including balance. Not one hint of a problem in last 3 years with stock BFG.

Of course, bigger, nicer wheels and tires are always nice: but could still have vibration issue that could need to be solved? "Truing" is a much better "value" solution.
 
#13 ·
I bought my FJ used and the dealership put some cheap-ass "Sailun" tires on. My wheel guy couldn't get any of them to balance right (partially due to the type of rim not being able to place weights on both sides) and the tires. Right now we have resorted to putting the worst two on the back and not rotating until they die. It still shakes like crazy at 45 and again around 65...I'm not sure the cop will buy my speeding excuse!! LOL. So, I'm thinking going to a different wheel with a lip on both sides that will accept weights (did this on my jeep and it worked great) may be the best option.
 
#15 ·
I would buy tires before new wheels. Keep an eye on the classifieds. you can pick up a set of take-off OEM tires for very cheap....they are quality...just nobody really wants the highway tires.
 
#16 ·
I just bought my FJ cruiser a month ago. I stopped by Toytech and am looking at buying their Boss suspension system for a 3" lift. My question is about wheel travel. I have 275/70/16 tires on it now. Does increasing the size of the tire decrease the amount of wheel travel I get, and if it doesn't what size tire should I look at? Again I do not want to lose any performance of the suspension system so no rubbing allowed even going fast over rough terrain. I have always had BFG AT tires on my trucks but I have read many reviews about them on FJ's with the results not being great. So I am open to trying something new. After all I was a straight buy American and now I have a Japanese rig. Still getting used to the idea but I love my FJ!
 
#17 ·
Tire size has no impact on suspension travel...
 
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