3.0 4Runner w/ 32x11.50 tires - Owners?
 

I tried a similar thread a few days ago, and thought I'd try again and see if anyone missed it and has any experience they would care to share. My 4Runner came with 31x10.50s and I wondered what unwanted consequences I might see if I replaced them with 32x11.50s. Significantly less power? Lower mpg? More unwanted downshifting (mine is an auto) on the expressway? I'd hate to fork out all that $$$ only to discover I shouldn't have. Just thought I'd ask the weekend crowd. :D

go with the bigger tires if you want the ground clearence, if it's an A/T type tire the weight won't be much more, and one size up shouldn't kill freeway speed/power

I had 32" KM's on my 94 3.0 AT 4x4. Hwy performance was less than desirable. As far as around town goes, I didn't notice much difference.

I have just what you speak of..... A 3.slO Runna (that came stock with 31x10.5's).w/ 32x11.5 (BFG M/T's) With just 1 size difference the power isn't all that noticable. Not like it had any on the 31's anyway. It does jump in and out of passing gear a bit on the highways but it did before so again, not all that much noticable difference.

A few picsHERE.

what gears do you have?

If you have stock 31s from factory you should have 4:56. I'm going with 32s when mine wear out

depends on the transmission. manual gets 4.56 with 31's but auto gets 4.88 with 31's.

I ran 32's with stock gears for a while...then changed to 33's .
32's you don't notice the change that much. If you're using stock wheels, you will rub a little at full turns.

I should have put that in about the manual vs auto. I have little knowledge of autos.
4:88s from the factory, DAMN that is actually kind of cool

I upgraded from 31s to 32s and lost considerable m.p.g.

Man, I love those pics!!!

I'm pretty sure it's 4.88 with auto and 31s from the factory. So, negligible difference around town, but on the highway I'm looking at more downshifts and less mpg. That's not too good as I still use this as our main road trip vehicle. Thanks for the info, everybody.

I got 32s. I did notice a difference in mpg, top speed and they do rub a little when I back up and have my wheel turned just the right way but none the less it seems like ever since i got new tires my 4runner has just fallen apart. First a rear wheel seal, then I had to get new calipers because they froze up, then a $1200 burnt valve (and that was a deal on the labor) then the $190 knock sensor went bad, and now my 4runner is sitting in my driveway with a busted fan bracket. I had to get that part from yotayard in Colorodo which was another $200 plus labor(just the part would have been $650 at the dealership). I dont think the tires had anything to do with it but I probably would have done it all over again anyways because I love the way they look.

Wow, that's a scary post, but like you said I hardly think one had to do with the others. I guess I could take a hit on the MPG, and top speed doesn't bother me nearly as much as the thought of the TC engaging and disengaging more frequently on the freeway.
How many miles on your 4Runner, Marc? Maybe you just had a bad stretch and the fan bracket will be it for a while. BTW, how does a fan bracket break? Best of luck.

170,000 miles but i think the previous owner set the miles back because he owns a shop and a guy that works with him told me he has done it to a car before.

The fan bracket bearings just like busted off inside and all went in the timing belt and everything and shattered the fan too. I found bearings all over the place.

Power steering leaks all over too

and now for some reason its overheating, I replaced the thermostat, radiator and cap but still no good. The water pump looks good so I dont really know what do do now, screw it.

With your gearing the mpg won't be real noticable, but your gonna have to do some fender triming. I've been running my tires 33x12.5x15 for 3 years now, and for highway you'll be fine. If you plan on offroad you'll need to be careful. You also need to consider the backspacing, mine are 4 inches. Considering a lift at this point is highly recommended (your 4wheeling friends will whine that you go too slow.).

I've got 32's, auto, 3.0, and stock wheels. It really didn't feel much different at all, and I noticed no real drop in mpg. I got about 14-15 before, and after. For what it's worth, I would have gone with 33x10.5's if I did it again.

i put 32's on mine, and lost some mpg's...i didnt notice anything else though...other then a much better looking and mudding truck.

So 33's will fit with just a little fender trimming? I have some 285/75R16's AT's I took off a T100 because they were too big. That's a 33x11.50. Where's a good place to get 16" rims, and what backspacing do I need?

Thanks,
Steve

Yes they will but you'll lose some articulation offroad, you should really do a lift over a 32" it will even help out on the wider 31's. The backspacing will be your biggest issue not to mention the fender trimming. mine is trimmed to the extreme with about 4 inches trimmed out of the rear of the inner fender tappered to zero over 12 inches, you can get away with less on the street 1 to 2 inches. The front valance is trimmed 3 inches to zero for its entire height.

I've got 32x11.5" Roughrider At's on my Runner, the only issue I had was rubbing on the valance (it was bent up anyway, so I removed it) No more issues.... As far as power and fuel goes, I didn't see any significant chages as far as power/shifting and what not. Fuel consumption changed slightly, only about another $10 - $20 worth per week....More if I wheel it.. (with the larger tires I find I do that more often) I should also add, that my truck is v6, auto, and 4:10 geared for the original 225's that it came from factory with...