Heritage Blue 4Runner SR5 — The Start of My Build (Please Help!)

[neilkansal]

Hey everyone!

As a 22nd birthday present/start of my career celebration, I just bought myself this new 4Runner a few weeks ago and have put about 3000 miles on it. Absolutely love this car.

I’ve never been off road before buying this car, but I’ve been starting off the learning process. I’d love to start hitting more interesting obstacles, but here’s a clip of my first time taking it offroad.

My end goal with this 4Runner to turn it into a pseudo-overlanding rig I can use to explore the country. Have its first big trip planned for next August. So, let the build begin!

I’ve already ordered a Prinsu roof rack, and the next and most significant upgrade I’m looking at is a set of tires.

At this time, I do not plan on upgrading the wheels or lifting the car. I’m trying to figure out the ideal size tire I can put on the SR5 wheels. I’ve read plenty of forum posts where people say 285/70r17 fits just fine. However, I haven’t seen pictures or videos of people off-road with that size.

My question to all you fine folks is… anyone running 285s off-road with a stock setup? Do you run into any rubbing with more suspension articulation? And for my particular use case, do you think 275/70r17 would be a better bet?

Like I said, I’m entirely new to all of this so I’d appreciate your insights. I’ll post pictures of my low-budget build do this forum as I get things going! Thanks in advance!

Sponsored

 

[shine]

Best guess the first limitation you'll run into is that a 285 requires a wider wheel. According to some guy on the Internet the standard SR5 wheel is 17x7", meaning you need a tire that fits on a 7" wide wheel. You can check the various tires that you're considering, but I believe they need a wider wheel.

 

[neilkansal]

Best guess the first limitation you'll run into is that a 285 requires a wider wheel. According to some guy on the Internet the standard SR5 wheel is 17x7", meaning you need a tire that fits on a 7" wide wheel. You can check the various tires that you're considering, but I believe they need a wider wheel.

Appreciate this comment! From the 4Runner Facebook groups, it looks like plenty of people have managed to fit a bunch of different 285s on the stock rims. But they are definitely wider than the stock rims. What are some detriments to forcing a 285 onto a tire that’s slightly too narrow?

 

[Scrappopatamus]

Congrats. Where you located in Kentucky and where was the vid shot?

 

[neilkansal]

Congrats. Where you located in Kentucky and where was the vid shot?

I’m in Lexington. That video is from a trail slightly east of Berea

 

[Scrappopatamus]

S Tree?

 

[neilkansal]

S Tree?

In that same system. KAT 3. I went in from the south side and turned back a bit before getting to S tree. Didn’t have enough faith in my abilities for some of those ruts without someone to pull me out haha

 

[shine]

Appreciate this comment! From the 4Runner Facebook groups, it looks like plenty of people have managed to fit a bunch of different 285s on the stock rims. But they are definitely wider than the stock rims. What are some detriments to forcing a 285 onto a tire that’s slightly too narrow?

I don't have first hand experience with that so it would just be speculation on my part. I'm just too risk averse, especially when it comes to something that is this critical to safety.

If you are seriously wanting to go with wider tires but you're on a budget I suggest looking for take-offs from 2025+ 4Runners and 2024+ Tacomas that came with wider tires.

 

[chasedstream641]

I also just graduated and got my 4runner as a start of my career celebration, congrats! In my opinion the 275 is the safer option for offroading. Ive heard people claiming they needed to do some cutting to fit the 285s. i ended up buying stock TH wheels and the 265/18 tires they come with and think they fit great for 1200 total from someone on this forumn

 

[neilkansal]

I also just graduated and got my 4runner as a start of my career celebration, congrats! In my opinion the 275 is the safer option for offroading. Ive heard people claiming they needed to do some cutting to fit the 285s. i ended up buying stock TH wheels and the 265/18 tires they come with and think they fit great for 1200 total from someone on this forumn

Congrats to you too! I’ll have to consider a set of takeoffs too

 

[odins_beer'd]

1. tires
2. armor
3. air compressor

Those are your essentials. I'm running 285/70r/17s Wildpeak M/T's on stocks. No rubbing at full lock.

You can check out my recent build thread if you’d like. I graduated last December so I get the struggle.

 

[neilkansal]

1. tires
2. armor
3. air compressor

Those are your essentials. I'm running 285/70r/17s Wildpeak M/T's on stocks. No rubbing at full lock.

You can check out my recent build thread if you’d like. I graduated last December so I get the struggle.

That’s an awesome build! Did you have to remove your mudflaps or do any other modifications to fit those?

When you say full lock, are you referring to full steering lock?

Have you noticed any rubbing in terms of suspension travel over larger rocks? I’d hate to have my tires rubbing the fender liners when flexed. Sorry if you already explained this… total newb moment

 

[odins_beer'd]

That’s an awesome build! Did you have to remove your mudflaps or do any other modifications to fit those?

When you say full lock, are you referring to full steering lock?

Have you noticed any rubbing in terms of suspension travel over larger rocks? I’d hate to have my tires rubbing the fender liners when flexed. Sorry if you already explained this… total newb moment

Thank you! No modifications necessary, I bought absolutely bone stock beside predator steps (Dealer wouldn't take off) so I'm not sure on mudflaps unfortunately.

Yes

No, but with all my added weight (roughly 355lbs unloaded) I sag a bit but still no issue after last adventure. The sag and bottoming out on skid plates is exactly why I'm upgrading suspension. I was being a newb and completely disregarded skid plates + heavy load wreck your clearance haha. I'm not sure how far you're wanting to take your build but there will come a point you almost have to upgrade suspension depending on weight and terrain difficulty. That's the inflection point I'm currently at.

 

[neilkansal]

Thank you! No modifications necessary, I bought absolutely bone stock beside predator steps (Dealer wouldn't take off) so I'm not sure on mudflaps unfortunately.

Yes

No, but with all my added weight (roughly 355lbs unloaded) I sag a bit but still no issue after last adventure. The sag and bottoming out on skid plates is exactly why I'm upgrading suspension. I was being a newb and completely disregarded skid plates + heavy load wreck your clearance haha. I'm not sure how far you're wanting to take your build but there will come a point you almost have to upgrade suspension depending on weight and terrain difficulty. That's the inflection point I'm currently at.

Makes sense. I’m definitely planning on loading it down a fair bit, which is also part of my worry. Was thinking a 275 might help give me just a little extra room. But correct me if that’s entirely incorrect logic.

 

[odins_beer'd]

Makes sense. I’m definitely planning on loading it down a fair bit, which is also part of my worry. Was thinking a 275 might help give me just a little extra room. But correct me if that’s entirely incorrect logic.

That is correct logic, you'll also put less strain on your engine, suspension components, MPG, etc.

If you don't plan on lifting/upgrading suspension but adding a good bit of weight I think 275's are your optimal choice. The more weight the more your suspension compresses = rub.

If I was keeping my build as is I'd probably be running 275's as well. But full width front and rear bumpers are too much weight to be abusing stock suspension off road.

Sponsored