95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Really Confused 16" or 15" wheels?

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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 05:23 PM
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Really Confused 16" or 15" wheels?

Ok, I have a 1999 SR5 4x4 4runner with the 3.4 When i bought it and now, it has 16" wheels (265/75r16 revos). The "stock" split 3 spoke alloy. ok, now to my question. I was reading everywhere that if the truck came with the 16" wheel, it came with bigger brakes and you cannot put 15" wheels on the truck or the calipers will rub. well i was washing the truck yesterday and noticed the info tag on the drivers side door. It says it came stock with the 15" wheels (the 225/?r15 ??) so does this mean the truck came with 15" and someone put the 16"s on it? or do the tags read 15" even if it came with 16"s?

I have been looking around for a nice set of wheels and tires and have passes up quite a alot of good deals on 15" wheels thinking they would not fit. if they do fit im ganna be upset.

any ideas?
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 05:25 PM
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Unless its a mix up on the tag, it should mean that the originals were 15inch. But I'd wait till somebody with a 3rd gen chimes in to be sure
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 05:39 PM
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dont trust the door tags the 4runner im driving says 15x7 rims when i know it came with 16x7s i know that because its only had 1 owner soo 15s wont fit on your 4runner
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 05:42 PM
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the same thing happened to me a couple weeks ago. the door jamb sticker says 15x7, but it has 16s. i am not the original owner, but it seems to me that the previous owner would have no reason to go to 16" wheels, especially to the OEM ones.

maybe it came from Japan with 15s and dealer installed 16s with bigger brakes? my window sticker says something about 16" wheels and brakes as an option...
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 05:44 PM
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From: Siletz,Oregon
i think its cuz the base model comes with 15x7s and the sr5 has the 16x7s
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 05:46 PM
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well the rig was in an accident.. i do now know the extent of the accident, but there is over spray on the frame rail, and in the sunlight you can see the different in paint shades... so i was maybe thinking they put 16"s on it when they fixed it up.... i dont know.... it just annoys me
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Elton
i think its cuz the base model comes with 15x7s and the sr5 has the 16x7s
There are SR5's with the famous design in 15"
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 07:00 PM
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yup... they make the split 3 spoke design in 15" and 16"
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 07:00 PM
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This has something to do with the actual dealer upgrades, so I've heard from reading on here.

Like I've said before, the best way to check is, to physically take a peek underneath the truck. Turn your wheels to one side, and look and check the clearence!
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Old Apr 3, 2006 | 07:36 PM
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From: Reading PA
good call...
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 07:55 AM
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Either your truck has the brakes like mine that will let you fit 15" wheels or somebody somewhere along the way put the 16" wheels and brakes on it-only way to find out is to test fit and see. There has been a lot of confusion because like you said some 4Runners say 15" wheels on the door sticker and some say 16", mostly the Limiteds in my experience. Whether or not you have the 15" or 16" brake calipers they use the same brake pad.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 09:08 AM
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Its mislabeled by Toyota. My 99 / SR5 door certification also says 15, but the original wheels are 16 and rotors are sized for 16.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 10:25 AM
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If I remember correctly they get the 15" door tag when they are built in Japan and then get the 16" wheels and brakes port installed here in the U.S.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 10:51 AM
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We were having this discussion on 4roc a while back. The rotors are the same size, the calipers are what is different. From what I understand, ABS is what causes the brake caliper to be bigger. On my '98 NON-ABS Tacoma I have 15 inch wheels w/ brake rotors and pads from a 2001 ABS Tacoma w/ 16" rims and they clear just the same. It is the caliper itself, not the rotors or pads that make it bigger. I had spoken with Valkyrie from TRDParts4U a while back and he agreed that if you do not have ABS, then regardless of what wheel size you have, you can fit 15's. I haven't gotten a test fit yet to double check this, but it appears to be the truth.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 10:54 AM
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This topic comes up every now and then:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/whats-your-door-sticker-say-68630/

Bottom line is the door sticker is not always correct on 3rd gen 4runners.
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Old Apr 4, 2006 | 10:57 AM
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From: Old Line State
Originally Posted by Intrepid
We were having this discussion on 4roc a while back. The rotors are the same size, the calipers are what is different. From what I understand, ABS is what causes the brake caliper to be bigger. On my '98 NON-ABS Tacoma I have 15 inch wheels w/ brake rotors and pads from a 2001 ABS Tacoma w/ 16" rims and they clear just the same. It is the caliper itself, not the rotors or pads that make it bigger. I had spoken with Valkyrie from TRDParts4U a while back and he agreed that if you do not have ABS, then regardless of what wheel size you have, you can fit 15's. I haven't gotten a test fit yet to double check this, but it appears to be the truth.
That's a great tip, thanks. Makes it easy to check.
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 09:57 AM
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While I don't know if the rotors are the same size, there are two different part numbers for them, depending if you have 15" wheels or 16".
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Intrepid
We were having this discussion on 4roc a while back. The rotors are the same size, the calipers are what is different. From what I understand, ABS is what causes the brake caliper to be bigger. On my '98 NON-ABS Tacoma I have 15 inch wheels w/ brake rotors and pads from a 2001 ABS Tacoma w/ 16" rims and they clear just the same. It is the caliper itself, not the rotors or pads that make it bigger. I had spoken with Valkyrie from TRDParts4U a while back and he agreed that if you do not have ABS, then regardless of what wheel size you have, you can fit 15's. I haven't gotten a test fit yet to double check this, but it appears to be the truth.
for further clerification... the contrapositive is not true, which means having ABS does not necessarily mean that you can't fit 15s. I have ABS and the stock 15" wheels on my truck.

Last edited by jacksonpt; Apr 6, 2006 at 10:09 AM.
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 11:59 AM
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I had the same issue (15" in door, 16" wheels on truck). I ended up measuring the rotor it was excalty the size for the 16" replacement rotor (from Brembo). My bet is you have the 16" setup (calibers, rotors etc), but you could measure to be sure.
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Old Apr 6, 2006 | 12:31 PM
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Mine says 15" on the door tag too, I think it's because the 16" SR5 was an option and installed after the body itself was built. Not sure why they wouldnt put a specification for 16" wheels. I bought mine with around 30k on the clock, and I knew the guy that had it since it was new, and it still had stock 16" alloys w/ dunlop(or firestone, can't remember) 265/70s on it. My buddy has a Taco, and and same deal, came with 16" rims, and has a tag on the body that says 15". Not sure what this is all about, but those 15s porbably wont fit. Correct me if I'm wrong but didnt all the 4wd drive 3rd gen 4runners come with 16" wheels? I believe only 2wd came with 15".
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