What are the Biggest Tires you can run on 4Runner (Stock, Lift Kit, and Leveling Kit)?
We have had a few questions on the biggest tires you can fit on your 4Runner. Asking this question on a forum might get you a few snarky comments, but it is welcomed over here. We got this question again and figured we should probably write something about it.
If you are asking yourself what the largest tire you can fit on your stock 4Runner is, you will find it here. If you want to know what the largest tire size you can fit with a lift or leveling kit is, we are also going to be covering this.
This should serve as your complete guide to the 4Runners tire size (for most people anyway). If you have any questions about tire size on your stock, leveled, or lifted 4Runner, you are in a safe place. There are no forum trolls on this page waiting to bark at you for asking one of the most common questions in off-road history.
Table Of Contents
Common Questions
I had these questions at one point as well:
- How big can I go?
- Do I want to go as large as possible?
- What are the benefits of going bigger?
- What are the downsides of going bigger?
- At what point do I need a BMC (Body Mount Chop)
- Should I keep my stock wheels?
- What is the best wheel size for Off-Road use?
- What are the best All-Terrain tires?
The most common questions about Tire Size:
- Largest Size Tires on Stock 4Runner?
- Largest Size Tires with Leveling Kit?
- Largest Size Tires with Lift Kit?
17″ Wheel/Tire Options (Examples for Rubbing Vs. Non-Rubbing)
- 265/70/17 (31.61″ – Stock 4Runner Size) (7-9″ Space Needed) – Won’t Rub
- 255/75/17 (32.06″ – 6.5-8.5″ Space Needed) – Won’t Rub
- 275/70/17 (32.16″ – 7-8.5″ Space Needed) – Won’t Rub
- 285/70/17 (32.71″ – 7.5-9″ Space Needed) – Questionable (BMC Might be Needed)
- 305/65/17 (32.61″ – 8.5-11″ Space Needed) – Will Rub – Adjustments/Mods Needed
- 255/80/17 (33.06″ – 6.5-8.5″ Space Needed) – Will Rub – Adjustments/Mods Needed
- 305/70/17 (33.81″ – 8-9.5″ Space Needed) – Will Rub – Adjustments/Mods Needed
- 285/75/17 (33.83″ – 7.5-9.5″ Space Needed) – Will Rub – Adjustments/Mods Needed
- 35X12.5R17 (34.76″) – Yes, you guessed it – Adjustments/Mods Needed
18″ Wheel/Tire Options (Examples for Rubbing Vs. Non-Rubbing)
- 265/65/18 (31.56″ – Close to Stock) (7.5-9.5″ Space Needed) – Won’t Rub
- 275/65/18 (32.07″ – 7.5-9.5″ Space Needed) – Won’t Rub
- 285/65/18 (32.59″ – 8-10″ Space Needed) – Questionable (BMC Might be Needed)
- 295/65/18 (33.10″ – 8-10″ Space Needed) – Will Rub – Adjustments/Mods Needed
20″ Wheel/Tire Options (Examples for Rubbing Vs. Non-Rubbing)
- 245/60/20 (31.57″ – Stock) (7-8.5″ Space Needed) – Won’t Rub
- 275/55/20 (31.91″ – 7.5-9.5″ Space Needed) – Won’t Rub
- 285/50/20 (32.22″ – 8-10″ Space Needed) – Questionable (BMC Might be Needed)
- 285/55/20 (32.34″ – 8-10″ Space Needed) – Questionable (BMC Might be Needed)
- 275/65/20 (32.99″ – 7.5-9.5″ Space Needed) – Will Rub – Adjustments/Mods Needed
Resources and Guides:
- 33″ tires: Fender liner push back
- 34″ tires: Fitting larger tires guide
- 35″ tires: Fitting 35×12.5R17s
- Trimming body and fender liners
- Body Mount Chop (BMC)
- Fiberglass fenders installation
The best resource out there for checking tire sizes and exact diameter measurements is the TireSize.com calculator. You can use this website to check your tire size diameter, height, and width to make sure the tire will clear your mud flaps, body mounts, fender liners, body plastics, firewalls, and pinch welds/seems.
You should always consult with these websites before you go larger on tires. One of the most important aspects of buying new wheels is the correct width and offset as well as backspacing.
If you don’t do your research on Width, Offset, and Backspacing, you will learn how to do a body mount chop or a body mount relocation and trim multiple areas of your wheel well. But this is also not a bad thing, either.
Body mount chops are nothing to be afraid of. Once the edge of the body mount is cut off, you paint over a new piece of metal and it looks factory again. When and if you go to sell your 4Runner, it’s likely no one will notice.
How to Check Tire Size and Wheel Size Fitment
Recommended Wheel & Tire Size for the 4Runner
Option 1: ToyoTires.com
If you are looking to figure out if a wheel fits a tire size, head over to ToyoTires.com.
They have a really good “recommended” wheel size for whatever tire size you enter. Go to ToyoTires.com and enter in your tire size. From there, Toyo will give a list of their tires. Select a tire that you have or are considering and then you will see a section labeled “APPROVED RIM WIDTH RANGE (IN.)”. This will give you a range of wheel sizes that are compatible with the tire size you enter.
From there, you see what wheel sizes will fit that tire. If you do not see your wheel size there, that doesn’t mean it won’t fit. It just means that it is not “recommended”. What does this mean? Maybe the tire company will not warranty the tire if some type of defect occurs. In any case, call your local tire shop for details on this one.
Option 2: TireSize.com
If you have any questions about the recommended wheel size for a certain tire size, what I usually do is visit the Tire Size website and search for the tire size. From there, it will tell you what the recommended wheel size is for that tire size.
Go to TireSize.com > Search your size > Find the “Generally they are approved to be mounted on “X” wide wheels.
- Example: 235/80/17
- https://tiresize.com/tiresizes/235-80R17.htm
- Recommended wheel size: Generally 235/80/17 are approved to be mounted on 6-7.5″ wide wheels.
- TRD Off-Road Wheels: 7.5″ width.
- 235/80/17 will work with the TRD Off-Road Wheels.
When Choosing Wheels (Look at these specs):
Our wheel specs:
- Bolt Pattern: 5th Gen = 6×139.7mm or 6×5.5
- Wheel Bore: 5th Gen = 106mm
- Offset (-offset pushes the wheel out giving you a wider stance. +offset pulls wheel into the wheel well)
- Backspace (Similar to offset – the space between center tire and inside wheel)
- Rating (Weight rating wheels were designed for)
- Weight (lb)
- Lug Type (tapered “conical” and radiused)
- LipSize (in)
Here is a good guide on offset and backspace to help you understand the differences.
Note: When shopping for a wheel, I look for a wheel with at least a -6mm offset or higher. Maybe a -10mm or even higher offset. This is going to push your wheel out of your wheel well which may eliminate the need for wheel spacers, but not always, all while providing a wider stance.
An extreme example of offset is the -38mm SCS (Stealth Custom Series) F5. That is going to push your wheel out of the well 1.5″ which is a lot. Most wheels are going to come in a 0mm, -6mm (.2″) or -10mm (.4″) offset. If you buy a wheel at this offset and are looking for a very wide stance, you want to add a set of wheel spacers to widen your stance even more.
Stock wheel size on our 5th Gen
- The SR5 comes stock with 17 x 7, 4.5″ backspace.
- The TEP (Trail), the TRD Pro, and the TRD Off-Road come with 17 x 7.5″ and a 4.875″ backspace.
- The Limited Edition comes with 20 x 7 with a 4.5″-inch backspace.
Largest Tire Size on 5th Gen 4Runner?
Stock 4Runner?
The short answer is 32″. Our stock 4Runner has a 31″ tire (265/70R17 – 31.61″). Making the jump to a small 32″ tire should be fine on stock suspension. You want to make sure this is a smaller 32″ tire and not a larger 32″ tire. Some 32″ tires measure closer to 33″ tires.
For example, a 32.06 is basically a 32″ tire, while a 32.79 is closer to a 33″ tire. If you get a 32″ tire that is closer to 33″, you may end up doing a BMC and other modifications like a fender liner push back to ensure your tires will not rub without a leveling kit. If you want a larger tire, you should really look into a leveling kit or lift kit, though.
Most owners make the jump to a 33″ tire (285/70R17 – 32.71″). Moving up to a 33″ tire requires a leveling kit or a lift kit. If you have 3″ of lift in the front, then moving to a 33″ tire should be fine, but there are 33″ tires that will rub even with 3″ of lift. It may seem confusing but every tire is different due to the tread pattern, and general design.
With 33″ tires and 3″ of lift, you may have some rubbing on the fender liners – which is a really easy fix that no one will notice. If you are trying to avoid trimming fender liners, BMC and other areas of the well, stay away from 34″ tires or large 33″ tires as this will absolutely cause serious rubbing all the way around. 34″ tires (285/75R17 – 33.8″) will rub on the front fender liners, and body as well as the body mounts and possibly even the firewall.
Largest Tire Size with Leveling Kit?
The largest tire size you can run with a leveling kit is entirely up to you. With a 2″ leveling kit, you may still be stuck at a small 32″ without any modifications like a BMC.
If you move up to a small 33″ (32.7″) tire with a 2″ leveling kit, you will likely need to do a fender liner push back.
Small 33″ tires are probably as big as you want to go with a 2″ leveling kit unless you want to get into more adjustments than just your fender liners. Which, at the end of the day these adjustments are not hard, they just require some testing and consistent adjusting until you no longer have rubbing.
Largest Tire Size with Lift Kit?
Most owners that have a lift kit are still at the same level of a leveling kit, but possibly up 1″. The basic suspension lift kit for a 4Runner is 3″ – 3.5″. 33″ tires are usually fine without any major modifications here, but it also depends on the exact measurements of your 33″ tires and the terrain. If you Mud Terrains with large tread blocks and lugs, you may be closer to rubbing as opposed to mild All-Terrain tires.
Small 33″ (285/70R17 – 32.71″) tires should clear fine with 3″ lift kit but if you get into 33.5″ tires or 33.7″ tires, you will need to do some adjustments for sure.
With 33″ tires, you still always run the risk of a BMC, fender liner mods and actually trimming off parts of your body. Just keep in mind, that if you go with 33″ and up, you will have a higher probability of adjustments to make.
At 34″ tires with a 3″ Icon suspension lift, we had to do numerous modifications (fender liner, body, pinch welds, rocker panel caps, etc.).
Wheel Spacers & Offset (same concept)
When you add wheel spacers, this may cause more rubbing than before. After we installed our Icon stage 2 suspension and added Spidertrax wheel spacers, we had more rubbing on the fender liners and body.
With the 2″ (50.8mm) spacers (for example), you are pushing your wheel and tire out of the well 2″.
Without spacers or little to no offset, your tires are sitting in the center of the wheel well, for example. In this position, they have plenty of room to turn inward without rubbing because your fender liners are curved inward. But, once that wheel comes out of the wheel, that outside edge of the inward curve (body and fender liners) then becomes a collision course for your tire thus causing the rubbing.
So keep in mind, the more negative (-) offset your wheels have, the more likely you are to rub on the fender liners and body plastics.
Common examples with a 3″ of kit:
- 275/70R17s (32.16″): Rubbing unlikely
- 285/70R17s (32.71″): Mild rubbing, fender liners and plastics, BMC likely, body trimming optional, rocker caps questionable.
- 285/75R17s (33.8″): Prepare to trim and chop mostly everything.
With 33.8″ (34″) tires, we had to chop our body mounts, push back our fender liners, slice big sections off of our fender liners, slice sections off our rocker panel caps, new lines in our 4Runner’s body, smashed in the pinch welds, and removed the mud flaps.
It was a lot of work to get things to work and constant testing but the off-road result with 34″ tires was well worth it. Once you get your 34″ tires to comfortably fit inside your wheel well, wow. The results are amazing. Just make sure you have an adjustable suspension (Icons, KINGS, FOX, Radflo) or any others so you have more flexibility in your adjustments.
Do I want to go as large as possible?
Not always. Going with the biggest tire you can mean that you need to cut your body mounts, trim your fender liners and cut into your 4Runner’s body. If that is something you are interested in doing, then, by all means, go all out. If we could have gone larger than 34″ tires, we would have. We likely will in the future.
Benefits of going big?
Having bigger tires allows you to clear more obstacles off-road. With larger tires on your 4Runner, you have more grip on all types of terrain. There is a huge difference between 33″ tires and 34″ tires and 35″ tires when you are off-road. I have had 31″ tires, 33″ tires and 34″ tires and with 34″ tires, everything is easier. It also depends on the driver and how much experience you have. Also airing down your tires has a big impact on what you can do and what your tires can grip.
Downsides of going big?
Gas mileage and trimming 4Runner liners and plastics. When you make the jump to 33″ and 34″ tires, you will see a decline in gas mileage. Even if you regear (change the gearing ratio), you will still see a slight decrease in gas mileage with larger tires.
The good happy-medium tire size is probably 32″ – 33″. With 33″ (285/70R17) tires, you can still trek just about anywhere you want off-road while still maintaining some decent MPGs.
A larger tire has a greater circumference. So the wheel turns fewer revolutions to go the same distance as a smaller tire.
How does that affect RPMs?
So you’ll be increasing tire size by 10%, so you’ll decrease engine speed by 10% too. Assuming you’re running about 3000 rpm at 70 mph with the small tires, you’ll drop 10% with the big tires. 10% of 3000 is 300, so you’ll go down to 2700 rpm. Jalopyjournal.com
Re-Gearing?
Re-gearing your 4Runner is not cheap. The cost of Nitro Gears is about $1200. Depending on where you take your 4Runner, you can spend $1000-$1500 in labor. And while you have IFS apart, you might as well add a front locker. An ARB front locker is $1000. All out the door, re-gearing and locking the front diff can run you around $3500.
With 33″ tires, re-gearing is debatable. Very few guys do it. With 34″ tires, gearing is highly recommended, and most shops will recommend a gear ratio of 4.56. If you are moving to 35″ tires, you can go with 4.88s or even 5.29s. This completely subjective though and many guys will argue this point back and forth.
Just know re-gearing can get expensive but is highly worth it if you decide to go with larger tires.
BMC (Body Mount Chop)
- True North BMC Kit: Check Price
This all depends on what lift kit or leveling kit you have. In most common cases, you will want to go with 33″ tires. With 33″ tires, you need a 3″ lift in order to avoid a BMC, but not always. Once you go to 33″ tires, you will likely need to chop the body mounts.
If you only have a 2″ leveling kit with 33″ tires, you will need to do a BMC for sure.
With 34″ tires and 3″ of lift, you will need to do a BMC, trim your fender liners, push back your fender liners and cut into your 4Runner’s body.
Aftermarket UCAs (Upper Control Arms) are also recommended to get an increased caster spec (to push your wheel/tire away from the body mounts) but not always needed. For this, you want to contact a good off-road alignment shop in your area. We live in Sacramento, CA so we go to Stellar Built. They do the off-road alignment (yes it’s different), installs, and much more.
Should I keep my stock Wheels?
Always a good option. There is nothing wrong with keeping your stock wheels and making the jump to bigger tires. The stock 17″ wheels are great for on-road and off-road use. Moving to an aftermarket wheel is only more expensive and oftentimes, more confusing.
If you are a first-time owner and not sure about aftermarket wheels, just grab a new set of larger tires and go experience what your 4Runner has to offer.
What is the best Wheel Size for Off-Road Use?
Typically, the smaller the wheel size, the better your off-road performance will be, but not always. When it comes to our world, 17″ wheels are probably your go-to size. You want to stay away from 20″ wheels on your 4Runner if you plan on frequent off-road trips.
When it comes to smaller wheel size, you can air down the tire pressure further than you can with a 20″ wheel. Having less air pressure in your tires means your tire will have more flotation and grip the terrain much easier than at full PSI where the ride is stiffer.
With less air pressure, the ride will be smoother and less bumpy, all while gripping the terrain much more efficiently.
Good All-Terrain Tires?
The section of copy came from another post we wrote on Mods (Part 1). All these tires are based on a 285/70R17 (about 32.71″ depending on tread). Always check prices online Vs. your local tire shop. If online is cheaper, just have them shipped to your tire shop.
For the best AT tire or MT tire, Cooper offers some pretty great options for just about every driver. Of course, the BFG KO2 is a popular brand but Cooper has quickly become one of the go-to brands in the Toyota SUV/Truck market.
Check out our complete guide to buying tires – An article created from 20+ different drivers.
Most popular options linked below.
$100-$200/ per tire
- Yokohama Geolandar
- General Grabber
- Firestone Destination
- Nitto Terra Grapplers
- Toyo Open Country
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 4
- Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT
- Cooper Discoverer S/T MAXX
- Falken Wildpeak
$200-$500/ per tire
- Cooper Discoverer STT Pro
- BF Goodrich KO2
- Toyo Open Country AT 2
- Toyo Open Country MT 2
- Cooper Evolution MT
- Cooper Discoverer MTP
- Goodyear Duratrac
- Nitto Trail Grapplers
- Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac
- Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T
If you guys have any questions – let us know.
If you see a question asked that has not been answered – feel free to answer it.
Just put 275/60 20 Nitto Terra Grapplers on my 2016 and there is no rubbing with basic turns. Took front mud flaps off. About to level the front by 2” but I’m sure it would rub with some flexing if I didn’t. About a 1/2” clearance at the closest point.
Hi Brenan,
I’m either leaving my 2018 sr5 stock or getting it leveled. Thinking of getting Some Rhino Warlords’ (see below). With a large offset (-12), would 275/70/17 still fit without rubbing?
Part Number Size PCD Offset
1790WAR-26140M12 17×9 6×139.7 -12
Thanks
I have a 5th Gen TRD off Road stock, by doing just BMC can I install 285/70/17 off-road tire or do I need to do any other modifications?
Thanks
2014 Runner..2+1/2 inch toytec suspension. 305/70/17 Toyo AT2’s. Will they fit?
What year and trim 4Runner?
Anybody have an idea if a 265/70R18 will fit on a stock 4runner without rubbing? Looking at the cooper at3 xlt…
Wow. Your a busy man. And you answer everything! I have a 2019 TRD Off-road, I’m install a Dobinson 2.5 lift on the front, and 2 inch on the rear. Keeping my stock wheels, have decided to run a 255 x75x17 tire, not sure what just yet. Think I should be fine not rubbing, what are your thoughts? Probably going to replace my spare also, will it fit?
Hey Ed, I have a 2019 trd or and I’m also getting a 2” dobinsons lift and thinking of going the 255/80/17 route. Was wondering if you made a decision and how it went?
Hi guys,
Struggling a little bit right now with finding the right tire to work with my vehicle. So I’ve gone to a bunch of off road shops around my area and inquired with them and seem to still be a bit confused…
So here it is. I have a 2016 sr5 runner and I’m getting close to get everything put on, here’s what I got.
Icon lift kit with 2.5 extended travel coil overs in the front with upper control arms. 2.0 struts in the rear with the 3” Springs. So in total going to be doing a 3” lift.
Stealth custom ray10’s specs: 8.5×17 with -10 offset.
Tires undecided.
The shop I went to said with that wheel specs of that ray10 I got I wouldn’t be able to go larger than a 265/70/17 Nitto Ridge Grappler. However I really want a larger tire than that…
What’s your take on this? Should I try and sell this wheel if it truly won’t support a larger tire? They said I would need more offset to get in a larger tire….
If I stayed with this wheel spec could I get a larger tire to work with some simple wheel well trimming?? I would in reality like to avoid a bmc.
Look forward to your response!
Cheers
275/70/17 should be fine on 3″ lift with minimal fender liner push back. If you really want to go with a larger tire, just plan on adjustments and you will make it work. Also, a body mount chop is not the end of the world but doubt you will need with it with 275/70/17 tires.
I got a 18 Trd ORP with stock suspension. Port already cut the front bumper to make the trd pro wheels fit. I want to get some 18×9 +0 wheels and can’t decide to either go 275/65/18 or 265/65/18 tires. Any suggestions? Not trying to hack up my brand new fender liners.
First off, how did you get them to cut the front bumper at the Port (if I’m correctly understanding you to mean the Port of Delivery)? …
Anyway, assuming you’re now running the stock 265/70/17 tires on the 17×7 TRD Pro wheels, then a 275/65/18 tire, on an 18×9 wheel with 0 offset, would be ¹⁄₁₆” closer to suspension components and the rim would be ²⁷⁄₃₂” closer to suspension components. As for the tires and fenders, each tire will stick out ³⁄₈” farther than what you have now, and each rim will stick out 1 ⁵⁄₃₂” farther than the TRD Pros
With the 265/65/18 tires on the same wheel: for that setup the rim would be also be ²⁷⁄₃₂” closer to suspension components. As for tires and fenders, the 265/65/18 tire would stick out only ³⁄₁₆” farther than the 265/70/17 does now, but the rim will stick out the same 1 ⁵⁄₃₂” more. So, on that basis, the 265/65/18 would be a safer one to try.
Also, he 265/65/18s will make the speedometer read virtually the same as the 265/70/17s. The 275s might put the speedo off a very small amount.
I didn’t get them to cut the bumper. Toyota cut them before I took delivery. I looked inside and you can see where they shaved off the front inner bumper. My car had the xp predator package that came with the trd wheels. Yes, I have the 265/70/17 wrangler dura tracs on there now. I decided to go 275/65 and live with the fender liner/mud guard rubbing if it happens. I will install and report back! Thanks for your help!!
I have a 2018 TRD Offroad with KDSS, and I just put on the King kit from Toytec set to 2in. I have Wrangler Duratrac 265/70/17 on stock wheels, and now they look tiny. I was hoping to go bigger, but this sounds like the biggest size I could do is 275/70/17. That’s only going from 31.6 to 32.2 (and the duratrac isn’t available in that size). Will that even be noticeable?
So are there any guesses about what else I could do and what might be involved? I don’t mind a few mods to fit tires, but I don’t want anything too crazy. I can do different wheels as well, so maybe there’s a better choice at 18 or 16in?
Thanks for your help, great website!
Duratrac are available in 255 70 r17, which are 32.2.
Mark,
I just finished a 3″ toytec lift on my trail without kdss and I have 305/70/17 on the stock wheels. I made no BMC or modifications except the removal of my mud flaps. I did originally go with the 285/70/17 but they were to small and looked like an F250 out of factory. I had Cooper STT Pro and ended up with KM2’s. Personally I would stick with the TRD wheels as those are really nice, try the 285/70/17. Remember Discount Tire has a 30 day return/exchange period, I took advantage of that. The dimensions of the 285/70/17 are roughly 33″ x 11.2″.
I have photos of what i did on my IG @fattycorpsl. the before and after with new tires and before and after with lift.
Great article! What is the max negative offset without lift on a 2017 trd offroad?? Tks
Wow this is the best googles I’ve done yet even I picked some stuff up here. I am stuck in a 2wd for the next year or so and my highway rain tires need changed out pretty soon. Florida swamp mud no climbing just wet soggy fields, creek crossings and such. Any suggestions on the tires I might put on here for best offroading until I can go 4wd? Set up currently with a 2010 4Runner 2wd, P265 70 R17 Bridgestone Dueler HT. Thanks
I’m wondering if I can replace the stock wheel-tire setup on my 2019 4Runner Limited to Toyota’s 7×17 TRD wheel with General Grabber ATX 265/70/17, without having to modify the fenders, etc.?
Thanks
Charlie
A local tire shop gave it a try, but they did rub and so they took them off. They are ordering a set of Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws 275/75/17s. They are a virtual exact size match, on a 7×17 wheel with 4mm offset, for the OEM 20-inch wheels (15mm offset) and stock Yokohama Geolandar G96B all-season tires.
Hello Brenan: I have a 2019 4Runner Limited. I want to change to the 275/55/R20 all-terrain tire. I haven’t chosen which wheel to fit. Can I help recommend the size parameters? No friction
My tire place in town won’t mount tires on my Ultra Phantom wheels I purchased online. They are saying that every 4Runner they put tires on with aftermarket rims hasbhd vibration issues. Has anyone had any problems with this? Also the rims I purchased are 17×8 with a +1 offset. They are also telling me this won’t work. Any thoughts?
The vibration issue with aftermarket wheels is most often reported by people using lug-centric wheels instead of hub-centric wheels like Toyota OEM uses. Make sure your wheels are a hub-centric design like the ones Toyota uses for these vehicles. SCS and RRW among other manufacturers make wheels like this specifically for use on 4runners and Tacomas…
We just bought our first 4Runner and I’m super glad I found this site. Professional, down to earth, respectful and someone, obviously, proofreads before they publish. 🙂
With that said, I’m a newbie (Better to be a newbie than a never!) and with “newbieness” comes ignorance. Therefore, I beg your indulgence.
After reading your post about maximum tire sizes I’m considering going with a conservative 275/70/17 tire. I want to put them on bead lock wheels that I’ll swap out with my stock tire/wheel combo before hitting the trail.
Q1: Do I understand the article to suggest that 275/70/17 tires with a -10 offset wheel would likely not rub and give a slightly more aggressive (wider) stance? (stock 2019 TRD Off Road w/KDSS)
Q2: Could you please recommend a wheel brand for “less” expensive bead locks? There are SO MANY!
Are you looking for real bead lock wheel or just faux bead locks? I have heard of 275/70/17 tires with a -6 offset wheel rubbing. And yes, it will offer a wider stance. I am looking at RRW (relationsracewheels.com) for our third 4Runner. They make plenty of awesome wheels with a “simulated beadlock design”. I know Method makes a few Beadlocks, here is one example. We will be writing a post here soon on new 2019 wheels.
I’m looking for real bead lock wheels.
My goal is simple…come to think of it, I’m simple…at least that’s what people tell me, but I digress. I’d like to put some dedicated off-road tires on a set of bead lock wheels that will not rub on a stock 2019 TRD Off Road. (I’ll occasionally put them on the 4Runner at home with a floor jack before going wheeling and take them off when I get home)
Since I will not be running them daily, I’m not especially concerned what the wheels look like (well, pink isn’t an option). I’d be OK with steel as long as they’re bead locks and not too expensive.
It sounds like maybe I should stick with the stock size of 265/70/17 to avoid rubbing and mods. So, I guess that leaves me with just 1 question.
Where can I find affordable bead lock wheels with the same specs as my stock wheels?
(17 x 7 1/2 and a 4.875″ backspace) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My online research has not produced results.
Brenan,
I would like to know if you think I could run Duratrac 285/70 17″ on our 2019 TRD Pro with out any modifications or rubbing issues. I don’t know if the TRD Pro setup will allow.
Thanks
I would say possible rubbing.
Brenan,
I am looking into a 5″+ lift on my 2016 4 runner trail. I do not have KDSS but am looking to get as close as i can to 35’s.
I have read the articles over and over and don’t see much information on anything greater than 3″ lifts. That said, am i capable of purchasing a 5″+ lift and fit under there something close to 35 or even 35’s? Or will this require a major BMC and mods to get them under there?
I would read this post first, that got me to about 4.5″ of lift in the front with KDSS. I am running 285/75R17s (34s) and still have rubbing. I need to cut off my pinch welds. Even with the pinch welds bent in, I still had rubbing. Honestly, if you want to run 35s, it depends on the actual 35s, the tread pattern, the lift you have, etc. Its a process that requires lots of cutting and trimming but in reality it’s not difficult, you just need to go for it. There are guys out there with LT (long travel) KING and ICON suspensions running 37″ tires on 5th Gens.
Hey guys super awesome info. Theres so much i dont know about but i do know i love my 4 runner. Ive been really trying hard to find a direct answef to thecquestion im about to ask but i havent been able to. So here it goes .
I have. 2003 sr5 v8 stock as hell 4 runner with stock 265/70R16. I found someone on tje facebook marketplace that has 2010 4 runner wheels and he said they are 6 lug 17” will they work for my 4r or is that something i shouldnt do?
Brenan, thank you for this article. I appreciate the time and effort you put into writing it. I saw the comment you left someone referring them to read Clint’s article on 275/70R17 Cooper tires which I enjoyed as well.
I am really stuck between the BFG All-Terrain T/A KO2’s in either the 275/70r17’s (32.2 diam.) vs 285/70r17’s (32.8 diam.)
My head wants the 275/70r17’s bc I commute about 60 miles Monday – Friday. Keep in mind my commute is in Utah from SLC to Park City (valley to ski resort) where we often get tons of rain and snow that make the roads a mess.
My heart wants the 285/70r17’s bc I spend every Saturday and every other Sunday off road. Also bc I am getting 9 in wide wheels.
I plan on purchasing Venomrex VR-602 17×9 in wheels. They have to ability for a 12/-12 offset.
I also will add either the Icon Stage 1 or 2 lift-kit, but do not want to max it out at 3.5 inches.
Lastly I don’t want to have any rubbing or have to do any BMC as this intimidates me.
With all of that being said, I have a few questions:
1) If you were to get the 275/70r17’s, what height would you adjust the lift to? I don’t want to go too tall and have the wheels look small. I saw a 4runner with 275’s and a 3.5 lift and it looked really odd to me.
2) What is the minimum height lift needed to avoid rubbing and BMC with the 285/70r17’s?
3) I noticed you wrote, “33″ tires, you can still trek just about anywhere you want off-road while still maintaining some decent MPGs.” Do you happen to know the MPGs with a 285/70r17 set up?
4) Lastly if you were me and considering all that I said, along with your knowledge and experience, what would you do?
Again thank you, this website is awesome! I am a Ca surfer with an Audi Q5 who moved to Utah and became a backcountry fly fisherman / hunter. After getting stuck, flat tires, and ripping off components off the undercarriage of my Q5 for the past 2 years in remote locations, I decided it’s time for an upgrade. I will be purchasing my Silver TRD Premium on Thursday and could not be more excited.
1) For 275/70r17’s I would go with 2.56″ lift that Bilstein offers. Or, somewhere around there.
2) Minimum lift to avoid rubbing and BMC with the 285/70r17’s? I would say 3″ lift and you are still looking at a BMC and rubbing. So, to answer the question, I am not sure, maybe 3.5″ but at that height, you need UCAs and you may rub regardless somewhere/somehow. It also depends on the type of tires and lugs.
3) Do you happen to know the MPGs with a 285/70r17 setup? That depends on many added accessories and weight but when I had the 285/70r17s KO2s on my other 4Runner (all stock), we saw 15-16MPGs around town and 17MPGs on the freeway.
4) What would you do? I would go BFG (or something else) 285/70r17’s, chop the body mounts and push back your fenders. Seriously I think people over-hype this too much. Fixing tire rub with 285/70r17s is really easy.
5) Sorry for late response, send me an email anytime and we can chat further.
I have 275/55/20 on my 2011 limited. Wrangler adventurer all terrains with 64k miles on them. They road really rough after 55 but the tread lasted. I just replaced with exact same tire. Also pull a 3500lb camper up and down the mountains with same tires. No flat spots and awesome in the snow and asphalt. Just my 2 cents
Great information here, I have a pretty good idea of what I can and can’t do now. I just wanted some clarification before I went into it. I have a stock 89 4runner, wanted to put it on 17’s with -12 offset. Later in the season I plan on installing a 2″ OME lift and setting her on 35’s. I don’t have the time for that now and need tires. So my question is can I fit 32’s on 17’s with out substantial rubbing or no rubbing at all? Recommendations welcome, tha is for your time! 🙏
IIRC, I ran 32×11.50×15 on my 1987 4Runner years ago. I don’t recall any major rubbing. But I think anytime we toy with going up in size, we need to be prepared to live with rubbing as a possibility and/or options on what to do when it does. I just put 285’s on my 2011 4R and it rubs slightly. My wife and I were prepared and I know what my options are.
Right on, I’m prepared, I just wanted to know what I was dealing with and get some more knowledge from yall. Thanks for getting back to me Tobin!
Hey could I run the Wrangler Duratrac 255 75 17r with stock rims and suspension on a 2011 4Runner. Without rubbing. Nice to have this guide thank
You might be able to get away with running that tire on with stock suspension. The factory tires are 31.61″ and that tire you mentioned is 32.06″ so they are pretty close. If any rubbing, it will be very minimal. Good luck!
Thanks, I’ll try it and post results.
I am putting a 6112 / 5140 Blistein Lift & Icon 2″ Springs for the rear on my 2016 Toyota 4Runner SR5 Premium. Was going for the lifted and level look and to stop the nose dives….Was looking to go with the Cooper SST Pro’s and in 265/70/17….Would this look good with this lift and tire?? Was also considering 275/70/17, but don’t know what to get. Cooper doesn’t make this for the SST Pro so would need a different make if I go this route. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!
Christopher S.
If you go with 6112 max ride height (2.65″) in the front, 265/70/17 may look a little small. I would go with 275/70/17 if you are going with that lift, or something similar. You may also want to check out this post on the Falcon Shocks, we added a few tire size options in there and what to expect (the Falcon is a similar kit to the 6112/5160).
Hope you can advise. Have a 2013 Limted and want an All Terrain tire that the 20×7″ rims can’t handle. Have had the BFGoodrich AT KO2 on previous Jeep GC and 2001 4Runners so that is what i look at first. Thinking of new 18″ wheels, and the chart is very helpful with tire size options that won’t rub, but no idea on width or in chart what “space needed” referrs to?
Space needed just means that you will need space around the lugs of the tires. No space measurements exactly but you will need room around the tires so they do not rub. You may want to comment on Kevin’s blog post or reach out to him directly. He has a early gen limited with all-terrains.
I would like to know the best tire for a stock 2011 4Runner limited. Tire size 275/55/20. I ran Goodyear wranglers in the same size for 50 thousand miles and they’re great tires but uncomfortable. I had them balance it as well as could be and still have a lot of shaking in steering wheel around 55-65 mph. Any advice would be great before I buy some new ones for this season. Thanks
Ok, so I read all of this and have a much better understanding now, thank you! However, I still have a question because I am looking at the new Nightshade edition, and that comes with 20×7.5 stock wheels. I am wanting to put 275/55/20 KO2 on it, but dont know if it will rub because of the extra 1/2″ on a stock xreas suspension. Please help!
Long time 2006 4Runner owner but new to the lift world as of today. Had a 2″ leveling kit installed with Bilstein 5100 Series Front/Rear shocks. Currently running old 265/R65/17 Big O Big Foot tires that are in sore need of replacement anyway and look too small now for the lift. I’d like to have a bigger tire using my stock rims. What size tires would you recommend? 275/70/17 (BFG All Terrain T/A K02 for example), 285/65/17, or 285/70/17’s and that avoids rubbing/modifications?
Awesome site for this noob! Thx!
I have a 2016 limited 4wd and i would like to go to an 18in tire for just a better overall ride, thoughts or input? Bit out of my realm here 🙂
First of all, this a great forum that has been put together. After reading all the posts I am still a bit confused. I also just bought my first 2018 4runner off-road premium and want to make some modifications. I was thinking of putting a Icon phase 1 3″ lift with TRD Pro 17″ wheels and 285/17R17 BGG A/T K02 tires. But, based on the previous posts I am assuming I will experience rubbing if I do not do other modifications. Is that correct?
Taller tires will lower RPM, not raise them. At highway speeds, you’ll probably increase gas mileage.
I bought the Nitto Grappler G2 tire is great in water snow and mud plus ok on the highway not that loud with a 3″ lift on my FJ Cruiser and I owned BF goodrich Radial TA Baja Off road 6 ply which are loud…
Just fulfilled a life-long dream and bought my first 4Runner! Now looking to add a leveling kit and 285/70/17 AT Tires onto it.
Any opinions on the Nitto Ridge Grapplers? I’ve heard good things, but should I just go with a KO2 or Discoverer instead?
I have a 2012 Toyota 4Runner Limited that is all stock. I am looking into a 275/60/20 BFG AT KO2 tire but I am wondering if they will fit without rubbing with a 3”/1.5” leveling kit.
I have a 2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited that is all stock. I am looking into a 265/70/17 tire but I am wondering if they will fit without rubbing. From the factory I am running a 245 tire
265/70R17 should be plenty fine. You will have room for days in there.
Really enjoy your site and find it informative, helpful, and fun. I even use it as a reference for my Tundra, as most tundra websites are more focused on massive lifts and tires vs functional trail driving.
We recently got a new 2018 SR5 4Runner 4×4 for my wife so that we could split up our off-road & snow trips.
Your site was a great reference tool as we started our build. The first thing we did was put BFG Ko2 275 /70/17’s on with TRD wheels. Looked great with the stock suspension but rubbed at full turn on the front right. Enough to cause concern. We countered that by adding 5100’s front and back. Front set at 1.75. No rubbing, but has a slight rake and alignment doesn’t feel perfect. I don’t want to add UCA’s as this is really my wife’s daily driver most of the time and it feels overkill. So I’m going to drop the front down to .85, which should allow for better alignment and no rubbing. Any thoughts?
Thanks Mike. Sounds like dropping it back down in the front should fix the issue to me. I guess it depends on your goals. I just threw the Bilstein 6112s on our 2016 SR5 4Runner and it rides really nice. If you drop it back down and still have problems, check out the 6112s. Although, it sounds like a simple fix and you have it under control. Also, thanks for pointing out the typo!
If i were to get the 2.5 leaving lift or 3” lift, what size bfg would you recommend ? Or should I just keep it stock height with the 275/70/17 bfgs?
Buying a New 2018 off road premium as we speak, They are upgrading the wheels to the trd black 17″ and i asked for 275/70r17 BFG ko2 AT, just confirming this will fit with no issues on the stock suspension? Or I can always lift it 3″ and get even bigger tires, but that would be overkill as I’m a road queen.
Rob,
You should be fine with the 275/70r17 (32.2″ diameter, 10.8″ width). You shouldn’t need to trim at all for that tire. Welcome to the fam.
Few questions:
1. Did you regear? if so, when did you do it and how long did you wait before doing it. 4.56 or 4.88?
2. If not, how is it so far and how long has it been?
Thinking of going to 34’s. I don’t mind the trimming and I’m getting a BMC soon anyway. 35’s are just TOO much work.
Thanks!
Have not regeared yet. Contemplating 35s or supercharger, or both. If I go with a supercharger and stay on 34s, I would go 4.56s. If I move to 35″ tires and decide against the SC, I would go 4.88. Also if I regear, I would lock the front, so it’s not cheap. The quote I got for 4.56 was $3600. I want to see which direction I am heading before making the jump.
What kind of mileage are you getting on 285/75’s, and how bad is the power loss? I have an icon stage 2 kit that I am installing with the factory TRD OR wheels on my ’18 and am stuck between 285/70 or 285/75 ST Maxx’s (Both E range tires). I off-road maybe once a month or once every other month but drive 60 miles a day mostly highway. If I go 285/75 I will eventually regear, but that will most likely be early 2020.
Zach, currently sitting around 11.5mpg around town. I get about 13mpg on the freeway. The power loss is noticeable at first, especially off the line, but I got used to it, of course. I do need to regear, but at one point was considering a supercharger, so that would have shifted my focus on the gear ratio. I might pass on the SC though, jump to 35″s tires and then regear to 4.88s.
If I went with SC and stayed on 34″s, I would have gone to 4.56. Who knows, the ideas are always changing. I don’t regret the 285/75s but my commute is only 2-3 miles a day (round trip, lol). If I had to drive 60 miles a day, I may reconsider?? IDK. All personal preference as I am sure you already know.
Phenomenal answer.
Another question: what would you do if you got both?
I would probably go one way or the other but if I did go with 35″ tires and an SC, I would lean on 4.56. I would go 4.56 with 315/70R17 which is a mid-range 34″ tire (34.4″). For 35/12.50R17s tires which are true 35″ tires and an SC I would lean on 4.88s. It really depends on the exact tire size and the goal of your build.
This is great info! But I’m lost, my first rodeo…Just bought my first 2018 sr5, I’m going for a tire that fills the wheel well without rubbing and get a little width. I want a AT tire that’s not too loud. What’s the best look?
Candy, you should check out this article on 275/70R17s written by Clint.
Another, will it fit question: TRD Pro, Spidertrax 1.5″, OME 3″. Will 285/70/17 fit without BMC?
Spidertrax 1.5″ spacers? I am pretty sure Spidertrax only makes 1.25″ spacers (6 on 5.5″) for the 4Runner but I could be wrong. I would say plan on a BMC and a little fender push. Wheel spacers will often cause more rubbing. Without the spacers, it will be close. Full wheel turn in reverse you will probably experience some rubbing.
My bad. You are correct, 1.25″. I really don’t want to get involved in a BMC. Thank you!
Thanks for putting this together. I have a stock SR5 I’m putting some TRD Pro suspension in shortly (may be upgrading springs anyway to offset weight of roof rack with tent and bike rack on rear), and really want to do the 255/80/17. Where will this tall skinny tire be causing issues?
I have researched the “Cookie Cutter” tires a lot in the 155/80 17 size with a focus on the Wildpeak AT3W. Not a ton of info out there, but people seem to really like them. Rubbing does not seem to be an issue with stock offset, there are even people running them with no lift without rubbing (likely no flaps) With offset wheels people seem to have at least a minor lift. Great traction, strong side walls (since really this is a dually size), smooth running, better steering response, better gas mileage (less rolling resistance) and able to air down to 18psi so very good traction off road with less float and more contact pressure. Performance Cons: As far as I can tell done. Looks, yeah I think most of like the looks of a wide bigger tire. But this will be my next tire. Plus the SL versions wear MUCH faster because of the softer compound, I have a Jeep as well that is on C’s while the 4R is on SL’s, same mileage and the C’s still look great at 10K the SL’s not so much.
one thing to keep in mind is that the narrower and/or the smaller the tire diameter is the less likely it will rub. Larger AND wider tires will rub more. Also adding wheel spacers or using aftermarket wheels with more negative offset will cause rubbing more
Chris, that tire is 33.06″ so you should be fine as long as you have 2.5-3″ on the suspension. I don’t think the TRD Pro suspension (1-1.5″) would agree with that tire. It will fit but you will be rubbing on the front fender liner, possibly the body mount and pinch welds, etc. If you really want that tire, consider a different suspension. TRD Pro suspension is overrated anyway for an “aftermarket” option. If it came on the 4R cool, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy that suspension.
Brenan
Your thoughts
Method racing wheel
20×10 -24 4.55” bs
33 12.50 20 tire that true measures
32.8 11.50
With 3/2 level kit on a 2016 trail
Will it fit
Thanks.
Brendan,
Can you tell me the most aggressive tire combination look meaning lowest to the tires and least gap. Without having to lift or change suspension on my truck and use factory 20 inch wheel it came with. I just want to know what is the biggest per this particular application, and know one not even the dealer can tell me, thank you. My specs are the following:
2017 Limited 4Runner Wheel Specs
OEM t ire wheel 245 / 60 / 20
Bolt Pattern: 6×5.5
Wheel Size: 20×7″
Wheel offset: +15
Wheel backspace: 4.5″
please take into consideration no off roading will be done what so ever. I just want the most aggressive look for the street driving an everyday driver. Your my last hope.
It will “fit” but you will need to trim a few areas. That is a wide tire and may even rub on your upper control arms. I would probably not go with those tires on a 3/2 leveling or suspension but it depends on your goals. With the 20″ wheels and a wide tire like that, you are looking at some rubbing for sure.
Stock 2015 SR5. I want to run 275/70/17. What offset would I need on a 17×8.5″ wheel to run these tires without rubbing? Or is it not possible? I’m thinking a 00 offset or maybe even a small positive offset.
I run that size on my T4R, no rubbing at all and the suspension is completely stock. You should be good to go
What about 33/12.5/17s? If I have an icon stage 2 kit on, will these fit?
The 33/12.5/17s is a 33.03″ tire with a width of 12.5″ – compare that to a 285/70-17 which is a 32.71″ tire with a width of 11.22″. The 33/12.5/17s are taller and wider. These will fit but you will need to trim your fender liners, push them back as well, and a BMC is likely.
Can I successfully run 285/70/17 w/o messing with the fender liners and a BMC? What about 295s like you run?
Probably not, the 285/70/17s are probably going to rub, especially at flex when your wheel is tucked into your well and cranked. We have 33.8″ tires on our 4Runner and they severely rub.
Would you personally recommend 285s or 295s?
Its all preference. I like a taller tire, not a wider tire. The 295/70s are 0.39″ wider than the 285/70s. The 295/70s are also taller than the 285/70s by 0.55″. Either way, you are going to be trimming areas in your well but the 295/70s are going to cause more rubbing. I would rather go with the 295/70s over the 33/12.5/17s because the 33/12.5 is really wide. But, again that’s just my preference. It depends on the look you are going for and the application. With 285/70s, you will trim less than 295/70s. It just depends on how bad you want to go bigger. Trimming is really not that big of a deal, just kind of a pain sometimes.
Thanks so much for putting this information together. Honestly, as soon as I became a 4Runner owner I was so excited to get on the forums and jump in. All to find out how bitter everyone seemed about TRD owners. I’m super thankful to find this information. Been looking forever. Everyone in the forums says you can find it if you look, but I’ve looked everywhere and this is the first place I’ve ever found it spelled out clearly, and respectfully. Thanks so much for that! This article answered so many questions I’ve had. So glad I don’t have to bother with disrespectful people from the other forums/communities. There nothing worse than a newbie trying to get an education and then being made fun of.
I second this opinion a 100% as I approach becoming a 4Runner TRD Off-Road owner myself.
Been reading the forums and though I may keep reading them I doubt I’ll be posting any questions there any soon. Can’t understand why there are so many disrespectful people that delight on making fun on other’s lack of knowledge. Keep these articles coming, please! I thank you for your work.
I want a big enough lift to fit 275 BFG KO2s, no crazy off-roading but mild to moderate. I didn’t know if I should just go Bilstein 5100 set at 1.75 and 1 inch rear spacer or something bigger to fit that tire. Do you have any advice?
Josh,
275 what? 275/70/17s? 33.8″ tires? or are you looking to fit a different size?
What is the largest diameter tire that will fit in the spare tire storage?
I know 285/70/17s fit for sure, but it hangs down a little low which looks kinda funny. I am buying another 285/75/17 here soon, so we will see if that fits… just to check.
Did you end up doing this Brenan? It would be awesome to see a before and after photo.
Tobin, I need to get our tire in there and see. I have a spacer mounted on a wheel just waiting. Was planning this weekend. Lots on the todo list. lol.
Brenan, do you have a pic showing how “funny” it looks. I am soon to buy a ’19 4Runner and would like to put a spare 285/70/17 on a TRD rim underneath without having to purchase a aftermarket bumper with swing arm. BTW, this is a great site with accurate info, thanks for putting it together.
I don’t personally. Check out this thread on the forum.
I am looking at the 285/70/17 BFG KO2 A/Ts and was wondering if the TRD suspension might give me enough clearance, so the fit would go from “Questionable (BMC Might Be Needed)” to “Won’t Rub”?
That tire has a size of 32.8″, a width of 11.5″ which is essentially a 33″ tire. The TRD suspension does not give you enough lift to clear that tire completely. You will need to throw a spacer on top of your strut to clear that tire. You should really go 3″ in the front and the TRD suspension is nowhere near 3″ in the front. Either buy a spacer leveling kit like this one or buy a new suspension if you want to throw on those tires.
What’s the biggest tire size I could run on a 2018 TRD Pro without rubbing or mods? Thanks.
Tim,
I would think this article would help you understand how to better answer that question. Did you have another, more specific question?
This dood has 35s with long travel kit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz0kOuMlS9A
Great write up. I purchased the Dobinsons 2.5″ front and 1″ rear lift kit. Do you think 285/70/17s K02s will fit without rubbing? I didn’t want to go 3″ in the front to stay away from changing upper control arms. Also, I wanted a very level looking lift. There is a ~2″ rake on my 2019 TRD Premium.
Your post made it seem unsure if modding the BMC and fender liner mod is needed.
Did you ever do this? Do you have KDSS, if so how is the ride and lean now?
Jason,
Yeah, nice set-up for sure. I need some 35s in my life. The 34s are getting a bit small for me these days.
I have a 2018 4runner off road with 3 inch toytec lift…I have a new set of Cooper 255/85/16 at tires. Athese ate skinny but tall tires…what offset rim would I need to use with these tires and what kind of mods will I be lookin along with the lift that is already on the 4runner? Thank you👍
Tall and skinny is the way to go, especially in the snow. I had an 82 Chevy Scottsdale pickup truck years ago with a 4 inch lift and 35’s. In the winter time I needed a tire that didn’t look too small so I went with these winter/studded 225/85/16 tires and they were amazing in the snow. Such a skinny tire along with the studs and all that weight from such a large truck made it have amazing traction in tthe ice and snow. I currently have a stock 04 4Runner with the 265/65/17’s and would like to change to a tire that is a little more narrow and with a higher sidewall.