Stock 265 vs 285 tires, is it really worth all the trouble?

I'm trying to sort out my upgrades to a recently purchased 2021 TRD Off Road. Most everyone says upgrading to the 285/70R17 is a must do. This seems to drive a need for the leveling kit, or new shocks/springs to support a lift. I also see a body mount chop, and various cuts to the plastic to get the 285's not to rub. When looking at a tire comparison chart there is not that much of a real size gain. My question, is it really worth all the trouble?

 

I am happy with my 2017 SR5 stock suspension and tire size with AT rubber. I found cheap unused F & R shock takeoffs and installed them for several more years of usage. When these shocks need replacement probably other suspension parts will too. I already have a grease leak on drivers sway bar link to fix.
I am averaging 16.7 mpg according to instrument panel driving town and freeways. Highway trips is much better mileage. My next upgrade is bump stops.

 

I like the look of 285s.

Even though my Limited is a pavement princes it got 285/70R17. I didn't have much trouble putting them. I have the 285s on TRD offroad wheels. I only got a 2.5in lift and push the fender liner forwards. (Sway bar relocation thing included in the lift kit)

For my TRD ORP I got 285s on TRD offroad wheels. I only got a 2.5in lift. I needed to cut the lower part of the front bumper and push the fender liner forward. I still kept the mud flaps. (Sway bar relocation thing included in the lift kit)

I put 285/70R17 on my TRD Pro on stock TRD Pro wheels. Front side of the wheel well clears after cutting the lower part of the bumper and pushing the fender liner forward. But has rubbing on the mud flap in back of the front wheel well at a certain angle. At an angle just before a full lock. I think a mild lift with sway bar relocation thing should clear it.

Edit -
Adding a pic to temp you to drain your wallet in mods.
BTW, I try to buy light weight tires so I don't get hit in mpg. Also buy Load C or Standard Load to keep the comfort level on pavement.

 

Unless you offroad often and really need that small amount of extra clearance you get, then they are not IMO. With that being said, I am currently on 285s. lol

I ran 265s for quite a while before I went to the 285. Both tires I ran are Wildpeak At3s in SL rating. The 265s, weighed a lot less (better handling & MPG) and required basically no trimming even with a -25 offset. The 285 does look a little better, thats about it unless you are off the road a lot.

The first picture is the 265 with a 17x9 -25 wheel.

The second one is a 17x8.5 wheel -25 offset.

Suspension set up is Eibach 2.0 kit w/ JBA UCAs.

 

No.

I firmly believe the folks that do this do it for the looks and not for any real advantage they'd get as far as driving off road. And since on a scale of 1 to 10, looks for me comes in at about 99, I stayed with the stock size.

 

Just about any A/T tire in the stock size improves the looks of a 4R immensely, and doesn't affect, maybe slightly, the handling and/or mpg characteristics over the oem tires.

 

If you get a set of wheels within the sweet spot of width and offset this should lessen your potential corrections. This is one of the reasons why I went with FN(x) TRD Sema reps in a 17x8 with a 0 offset. This seems to be the sweet spot that should require little to no trimming. My fenders were already trimmed slightly from the TRD wheel add at the delivery port.

I am still contemplating 285's or 265's. I don't particularly care about the anticipated 1-2mpg loss as much as I care about the power loss and gear hunting on hills. The FN(x)wheels save me 2 lbs over stock and Toyo Open Country AT3's weigh in at 46lbs. The stock Terra Grapplers weigh 41lbs. Even going to 285's I'd only be adding 3lbs per wheel on the 285 SL tire. But this still has me going back and fourth weekly.

A more aggressive wheel look like Sandman has above in the first photo make 265's look a lot better and makes it appear to fill in the wheel well more. Tire choice will play into this, AT3s are a wide 265. KO2's on the other hand would not look the same due to the tread width being a full inch narrower if memory serves me correct.

If you are going for looks, consider a 17x8 or 17 x 8.5 with a 0 offset that adds some concavity and pair them with 265's.

 

+1 on this. Not only is it really for looks, but the people that upgrade see less MPGs due to the weight of 285’s. I stuck with a stock size and most people assumed I went up a size or two, because the sidewall is aggressive.

 

That’s a sharp looking ride . Black valances would really make it stand out even more .
My 2 cents .

 

I have 285/70r17 tires and I suppose the decision to go with this size depends on where you’re driving. I’m primarily on pavement, but I play in the Owyhee region of Idaho and Oregon. This area is very rocky and while the extra clearance gained is minimal, the ability of the larger tires to roll over obstacles was the reason I went the larger tire direction. I didn’t have to do a body mount chop, but I did shave about a half inch from the plastic fender on the driver side. I also get rubbing on the plastic mud flap when at full lock turn, but I just ignore it and haven’t bothered to do anything about it.
If you want a visual comparison of stock size vs 285, the pic is new from the sales lot and built with a 2.7” lift.


Also for comparison, this pic is with the 2.7” lift and 265/70r17 KO2s.

 

Suspension lifts don't actually clear tires on these vehicles. They just hide rubbing.

There's definitely some trimming of plastic. But, a body mount chop might be avoided with a good alignment and the right wheel offset.


Whether or not it's worth it to you will depend on how you use the vehicle. The added clearance and flotation are minimal, but worth it to some. If the vehicle isn't used for off-roading, then it's just an aesthetic choice, and it's up to you whether it's worth the loss of fuel economy it comes with.

 

imo - YES! I did a 2” lift, stock UCAs, stock rims, no trim, no BMC , kept all mudflaps and no rubbing. Still can get 19-20 mpgs in hwy

 

Can I put 34 on my rear and put 33 in the front?

 

I believe that will wreck the transfer case, normally 4x4 and AWD need all of the tires to be the same size.

 

I actually have the OEM black valences sitting in the boxes still. Bought them when I bought the 4Runner back in 2022, just never got around to installing them. The silver has actually grown on me for some reason.

 

Are you running Wildpeak AT3s?

 

2023 ORP with aggressive 285's and no lift. Minor trimming on front bumper and mud flaps removed.

 

That is correct

 

Originally I had 285’s with a 3/2 lift. I removed the lift and went back to 265’s.

I have not experienced any decrease in off-road capability.

 

2 times the fun! Nice rigs.

 

I am mostly going to be on road trips, but with some forest service roads/BLM land kind of off road adventures, so not much off road. Love the green, couldn't find that color when shopping for my 4Runner.

 

I'm leaning towards sticking with 265's, but maybe get a full skid plates (in Alum) as my "just in case" measure should I end up in a tougher off road situation by accident.

 

I like your build a lot, super nice. I don't see me rock crawling, but forest service roads in the south, and some easier desert adventures are on my list. I'm trying to keep the on road driving experience decent while protecting the vehicle, and having enough capability for easier trails.

 

Very nice!

 

If it’s 2wd, hell yeah!

 

I go everywhere the guys with 285's go. I get better mileage, a quieter ride, more power towing and have cheaper tires. I don't look as cool, I'm ok with that, I still look damn good.

 

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holy ground clearance loss..... sheeeesh.

 

..and at the end of the night who even cares that the girl went home with the 285’s guy

 

Slick rig.

basically no trimming on the 265 @ -25, how about with the 285’s? thanks

 

Just hang with what you have now. No, ... its not worth it. Especially if you chew into the ground clearance, that a taller tire is supposed to net you. Just leave it and spend the money else where.