My 2000 4Runner SR5 4wd has stock wheel/tires at 225/75/15. I'd really like to upgrade them to 265/70/16.

Having researched for a while, I was told the bigger wheel/tires will fit well (no rubing) without any lifting. However the problems appear to be, brake (it takes longer to stop), sluggish (it accelarates much slower), and fuel inefficency. I do not want to make my runner look better by sacrificing too much on performance. (By the way, it costs $$$ to regain performance by re-gearing )

Can anybody who did this tell me your real experience? Thanks in advance,

 

my brothers 98 2wd v6 has that size and it is alot faster and gets a ton better gas mileage than my 4wd v6 with 265's (i know there are alot of other differences too... gearing ect...)

 

My wife used to own a '99 V6 2WD that came stock w/ those small tires (29") and 15" rims. It also came stock w/ the 3.90 gears and not the more common 4.10s.

I upgraded the tires to the 265/70 (31x10.50...I forgot the brand name, but it was a street/AT tire) and used factory toyota 16" rims. Everything bolted up nicely and I can say the 4Runner looked A LOT better. I actually didn't mind driving it now. I did notice a decrease in mpg and acceleration, but after a few months I had already forgotten how it performed previously. Anotherwords, I got used to how it drove and so did my wife.

She was getting around 300 miles to a tank of gas on the stock tires, whereas after the upgrade, she was getting on avg 250 miles to a tank.

So yeah, you'll see some decrease in mpg and acceleration, but personally me and her both were willing to accept that to make her 4Runner look more stout. If I had it to do all over again, I'd still do the upgrade.

New gears could always correct the mpgs and accel prob, but it depends on your own $$$ situation.

 

That's what mine had pre lift, no regearing, just stock with aftermarket wheels, and it worked good. Maybe a bit sluggish from a stop. I sold those old tires to a buddy and he put them on his stock '00 Runner with stock wheels. Looks real good!

 

Thanks for the replies. I do not mind a little sluggish and fuel inefficency. I am only concerned about break safety. Do you guys feel any significant distance increase when braking? (15" rim brake shall work harder when working with 16" rim).

 

You can always upgrade your brakes easily. If you're strapped for cash, there are guys that have upgraded to Tundra brakes, and would probably sell theirs for cheap.

But I don't think braking will be that big of an issue.

 

My brakes are still stock even with 285/75-16s stops on a dime. I'd go for it!

 

i had that size, and going to 265 70 16 did not give me any problems, just do not go with 265 75 16 as you will tear up your fender well offroad. looks good and not too many negative effects. good luck

 

Same here. I did not notice any difference in braking performance when I upgraded the size of the rims and tires.

 

braking difference will be negligible with these tire sizes...go for it.

 

Thank you all very much! I really appreciate for all the replies to my first post in this forum. I'll continue to visit this forum and contribute as soon as I can.

 

I have 265/75's and haven't Had any problems with rubbing on a stock suspension. As far as sluggishness, I'm sure you'll get used to it and appreciate the extra clearance.

 

have you run these? i have heard nothing about them rubbing anywhere, on/off road!

 

im guessing you have the base model 4runner

 

Yeah, i have had 225s, 265 70s, and 265 75s, with absolutely no problems from the 265 70 16, but when i went to the 265 75 16, they rubbed under extreme conditions offroad, i.e. being dumb and going way too fast over a drop off that i did not see, however the bump stops were not enough to keep the tire from hitting the inside of the fender well, so it is possible to rub with this size tire with stock ride. the fact that the 4runner is "base model" is irrelevant, as we all have the same suspension excluding the 99 4x4 series with 1.5" longer coils. good luck with your decisision

 

Go ahead and throw them on. You won't have any rubbing or braking issues. Besides, you didn't buy the 4R for gas mileage or acceleration, did you?

 

You could not be more right...

 

i just put on some 235/85/16s on my 80 rig. the rims are off of a 03 taco. these do not rub up and down but when my back axle articulates the tires rub against the frame as the axle changes angle. so my tires pinch against the frame and it sux for big ditches. dont know if this will apply to u