Brian, your posts prove that (with possible exception those equipped with 4.56 gear) 31 and 32 inch tires are outside the optimum total gearing for a mild power motor like th 3.4.

I am sure we can bench race that debate all day long. However, a hunting transmission is a key indicator of ill fitting tires.

The stock sticker on my door is 225/75/15. When I go to costco.com, it asks the very same question if I have the pizza cutters. The 4.3 gearing makes for marginal performanc e with tires put on for marketing purposes, not performance.

Those with 4.56 are far better off. Some even claim they have 4.56 and lockers. That is a very unusual combination which I would like to see.

To the original poster, if you have a factory rear locker and go to something different, you will lose the locker-or so I have heard. If you don't have a locker, and want one, you will need to go something like ARB.

If you want to do any sort of trail work with the 4runner, a locker is highly advised. Or bring a winch, friends or all of the above.

 

Parker, not sure what you mean by "the optimum total gearing for a mild power motor like th 3.4"? The optimum gearing is determined by the size of the tires you are spinning w/ any given motor. That's why it's possible to run 35s w/ a 22R.

IMO, the largest tire that you can run w/o really noticing power loss w/ 4.10s would be a 265. If the original poster was to run 265s with 4.56s, I think that this would be one way he could get the extra power he wants. The other way is to leave the gears alone and run "pizza cutters" like you suggested. Either option would remedy the problem of a "hunting" transmission and will give more acceleration. The S/C will do this too, but at the cost of running your engine and trans a lot harder.

The locker is a great idea - especially if you have it installed at the same time as the gears because it will save you $$ on labor. I have an ARB in the rear and love it. The factory elocker is also a good option and you can in fact change the gear ratio w/o losing the locker. The ring, pinion, and bearings are all that is swapped out. The locker (or the spider gears on an open diff) stay.

There are quite a few people here on YT that are running non-factory gears w/ a factory elocker. You can also retro-fit an elocker w/ minor mods as another option to getting an ARB.

 

I guess the locker would be a good mod while I'm having the work done, but I think the 4x4 system will be plenty. I won't be doing any real off roading. I may see a few inches of mud from time to time, but that's about it. I think the 4x4 and decent AT tires will get the job done. I'm trying to work on a deal with a 03 4runner locally, if that falls through I'm going to start searching for a 99-02. Thanks for the input!

 

Hmm, I haven't seen any on this forum and retain the stock locker on the rear. I have seen those who have opt for an ARB locker .Perhaps I am drawing the wrong conclusion that indeed they want air lockers over stock electric?

I guess I should say "optimum tire size for optimum final gearing". If one is driving largely in 4 lo with an automatic, tire size is irrelevant with exception to fender fit.

If one is doing mostly city driving with an eye towards performance, they need to look at their stock gearing to determine optimum tire size for desired acceleration.

I submit that many 4runners with 4.3 or even 4.1 gearing were given 31 inch tires in error simply because they "looked" better.

 

I dont know what was wrong with your 97, but my 97 has PLENTY of get up and go to get in and out of traffic and climb hills, no problem. Just STEP ON IT. Try driving another truck, maybe there was something wrong with your 97.

 

After test driving a 03, I have made up my mind to go ahead with the 4th gen. However, I'm really starting to reconsider because of price. I've found some really nice 3rd gens, so I'm definitely keeping all this in mind.

 

That's a good point. My truck hauled ass with 4.10s and 265s.

Parker,
It sounds like we have totally different driving styles and "to each their own". I agree that stock gears and pizza cutters will give you the best city performance. Maybe not with the chicks though....