Folks,

I need your help. I'm new to the board. I just picked up a 89 4Runner. Veh has the the stock wheels, and will need new tires asap. Any recomendations on tire size to go with this 15x7 wheel? I'm leaning toward the Bridgestone Revos. I would like to use the stock wheels for now, and I don't want to go so big as to loose gas mileage, power, or have to change gearing.
Any help would be appreciated.

cheers,
ja

89 4Runner 150k
99 4Runner 85k
90 Fj62 135k

 

Welcome to YotaTech!
Small changes in tire size won't affect your power or MPG much. To find out what the truck had when new, look on the ID Plate on the driver's door jamb. The axle code will be on there too and will tell you what gears you have. This Page shows you how to decipher the code and also gives some recommendations on gear size when you upgrade the tires and wheels. This Page shows you how much your spedometer will be off if you change tire sizes without re-gearing.

 

The biggest size you can put on 15x7 0 Offset wheels without any mods or lift will be 32x11.5R15 tires. Anything bigger would rub. I ran 32's on both 1988 and 1990 4Runner with no problems. IF your 4Runner ass sags A LOT you MAY have to do something about it. If there is little or no sagging, 32's will not rub anywhere in my experience.

Unless your truck is a dog now, it will do fine with 32's... People are power hungry to extremes, but in my experience 4.10 gearing and 32's coexist quite happily. I am still able to cruise at 80+ mph, and accelerate nicely. You don't need to regear to go from 225/75 or 31x10.5 to 32x11.5...
The truck had good power with 225s and still has good power with 32's...

This is the cheapest lift / tire combo, because adding 32's will add a couple of inches clearance to your truck I would recommend Dayton Timberline AT 32's.. they are the best tires for the money. Top consumer reports rated and the cheapest ones around for the size.

Since you are in NC, I don't think you have a Townfair tire around there, but, if you can find Timberlines for under $100 installed, that is a good deal and up to 1/2 the price of a similar BF Goodrich, Goodyear or other tires that are not rated anywhere near as well by CR.

Any advice, of course, is based on personal experience, and your mileage / experience may vary.

 

Just as an FYI - switching from 225/75/15 to 32x11.5R15 will get you a 1.7" difference in ride height. Since the new tires will only turn 637 revolutions per mile (vs. 713 w/the old) your speedo/odo will be off by about 12%.
Also, the Timberlines aren't a bad tire for the money, but plan on throwing a party if you hit 30,000 miles and aren't thinking of replacing them.

 

True about the speedometer and odometer being off by about 10%.. curiously enough, my odometer is off by 10% but speedometer is pretty close to accurate. But, it is easy to adjust for it once you are used to it. These tires look like they will go a lot further than 30k.. Massive tread.. very deep. I am going to have to see for myself. So far, the handling, the feel, cornering and all that have been superb, much better than some a lot more expensive brands I have owned.

 

quote:
Unless your truck is a dog now, it will do fine with 32's... People are power hungry to extremes, but in my experience 4.10 gearing and 32's coexist quite happily. I am still able to cruise at 80+ mph, and accelerate nicely. You don't need to regear to go from 225/75 or 31x10.5 to 32x11.5...
The truck had good power with 225s and still has good power with 32's...
qoute:

Man! My engine must be dying, I put new 235/75 R15's on mine, same size I had before, the tread was gone on the old ones, and I am completely dogging up hills around here. Like, I have to go into 3rd to make it up them!! Makes me sick!! I have the 4 cyl. Don't know if you guys do too. If I were you I would try to stick closer to stock than 32"s, I wouldn't make it to 50 mph unless I was on salt fats or something :cry:

 

Hehe... I got a V6 but, you know, 22RE was pretty close powerwise. It is not that 22RE all that powerful, or 3VZE all that gutless (although some say otherwise).. it is a little bit of both

Truthfully, I would probably want the 22RE now instead of my V6 in my truck, mainly due to the horrible gas mileage V6 3vze is getting.

 

just as an example.. with my 1988 22RE standard tranny,with 32 inch tires, I towed a nearly 2000 lbs trailer with a fully loaded truck itself across the country.

West Coast to East coast, across Arizona and Colorado Rockies. Now, the mountain passes there are as steep as it gets. However even on the steepest hills, the lowest speed I hit was about 45 mph. And, once in Texas on flat road, I did 85 mph. All that while getting about 19 mpg...I hate to think my 22RE was unique, because I drove it into the ground eventually. Maybe I should have fixed it and kept the truck.. had around 230k on it when the motor went out.:cry:

 

Hey fellas,

Thanks for all the advice. I will let you know which tires I end up with, and post some pics of the rig when I get a chance. It was a V6 I decided to go with, just a personal preference.

thanks again,

ja