5Speed - 88 - V6 - 4Runner Gear/Tire Help

[Arivalsend]

Well guys I am at a impass and I wanted to post in the vehicle section only because I am curious about the particular 5spd transmission that is equiped in my 4Runner. I have a 88 with the 3.0 in it and because I work at elevation all summer I have 5.29s front and rear. I have been running 33's on the truck but have totally worn them out. And I am now at a impass as to what tire to use with this gearing. Here is the problem. I have a full set of new Toyo AT's in a 265/75/r16. I would like to just put those on but I am worried with this engine/drivetrain/gearing combo that I will be overreving the engine? I am not looking to drive at 75 on the freeway. I generally go at about 60-65. Any tips, help, or suggestions would be very appreciated. I am heading out soon and I am either looking at ordering a new set of 255/85/r16s BFG muds, or using these Toyos? Or should I just scrap the truck and buy a FJ 40 Thanks guys

 

[DaveInDenver]

You have the R150F transmission behind your 3.0L V6, which has an overdrive of 0.838:1. For comparison, I have a 22R-E with the W56 5-speed and my O/D is 0.850:1. I also run 5.29 gears and have 33x9.50 tires, like you. Those 265/75R16 tires are something like a 32x10.50, but the actual measured diameter is probably smaller than that. As you know the 5.29/33 combo is on the low geared side of acceptable. It's OK if you take your time and relax, but 70MPH is really the top end of comfortable cruising speed. I think going to a 1" smaller tire is going to start being tough to live with. I like my combo because off all the hills and the elevation here, but I would not want to go any smaller on the tires.

 

[Arivalsend]

Dave thanks for your input and I had hoped you would post as we have similar vehicles. I don't generally cruise at anything over 65 even on freeway driving. I work just over the pass from you in the roaring fork valley and yes at elevation I also really like this gearing combo. I am pretty set of ordering a set of 255/85's this afternoon. But it hurts to buy them when I have this full set of 5 new AT's

In anycase I know what I should do and its just getting my checkbook to agree with me that is difficult:safari-rig:

Thanks for the input

 

[crawler#976]

While chasing some serious vibration problems a many years ago I thru a set of 32" tires on my SAS's '87 to eliminate the tires as the problem. I was running 5.29's and 35" MT/R's on the rig as a daily driver back then. The 32" tires did show me the problem was in the drive train, but also showed me that I was revved out at under 60 MPH. Awesome acceleration tho...

It ended up being a slightly twisted d'shaft - it was off about 7 degrees.

Mark

 

[DaveInDenver]

I honestly believe the idea of comfortable cruising speed is so different for everyone that you can't make a universal statement. Both you and I are happy to sit at 65MPH and my gearing right now puts my 22R-E right around 2,800 RPM at my happy speed. My engine is OK with this RPM and makes good power and returns decent mileage. I don't have much experience with the 3VZ-FE, but being a 'V' and slightly more displacement, my guess is it likes to be just a little lower in RPM. So really with a R150F and 33 on 5.29 gears, you are probably just a touch lower in RPM than me and all is good. I think the 255/85R16 tire is the right thing to do. That is going to keep you where you are right now. If I ever got 16" rims, I'd be doing 255/85R16 or 265/85R16 (if that's a real size).

 

[Arivalsend]

While chasing some serious vibration problems a many years ago I thru a set of 32" tires on my SAS's '87 to eliminate the tires as the problem. I was running 5.29's and 35" MT/R's on the rig as a daily driver back then. The 32" tires did show me the problem was in the drive train, but also showed me that I was revved out at under 60 MPH. Awesome acceleration tho...

It ended up being a slightly twisted d'shaft - it was off about 7 degrees.

Mark

Hmm thanks for the input Mark, a couple of buddies of mine are also running 5.29's and 35's. I can clear them but for my uses I really prefer a bit smaller tire as I use this for a good deal of travel and road time, ect. But very good to know that the 32's were really not practical. Ok list is adding up to just get the 255 MT.

 

[Arivalsend]

I honestly believe the idea of comfortable cruising speed is so different for everyone that you can't make a universal statement. Both you and I are happy to sit at 65MPH and my gearing right now puts my 22R-E right around 2,800 RPM at my happy speed. My engine is OK with this RPM and makes good power and returns decent mileage.

Great info to have. I had wondered what the RPMs would be for the 4's on this size tire. I am all about mileage and that is one of my main criteria for running a narrow tall tire. I am hoping to keep in the 19-20mpg range. Ok I am going to call in my tire order now:bike_rider:

 

[tdesanto]

I am new to this recently and I don't know how accurate this calculator is; however, it might just give you some idea.

It assumes (apparently correctly in your case according to DaveInDenver) a transmission ratio of .8 for a 5-speed.

Assuming your tire size is about a 32", the calculator projects an RPM of 2888 at 65mph.

That doesn't seem that bad to me. A little high, but really, what would you expect otherwise at that speed? 2200?

It would seem offroad to give you a little more power than now.

Certainly wouldn't seem worth it to regear just to save tires or not use the tires just because you'll run =< 600 rpms above stanard some of the time.

At any rate, you can put the different tire sizes in there and notice that you'll only affect the RPM's a few hundred at most compared to a 33" tire.

As stated before, I'm new to this, but I'm trying to learn. I hope the calculator at least helps you get an idea of what the difference would be.