Suspension Upgrades For Tacoma With New FWC

[DaveInDenver]

A 32" tire or very narrow 33" (roughly a 265/75R16 or 255/85R16) is the limit on a 2005-2021 Tacoma. The issue is the cab mounts behind the front wheels under the front door hinges.

Suspension lift doesn't change this clearance issue, at least if you drive off highway and expect full travel of the wheels at steering lock. People do squeeze larger tires (like 285/75R16) but they will rub eventually if you 'wheel it.

You have to shave the mounts (called a cab mount chop, CMC) to gain clearance. There's a risk to doing this because you're changing the crash performance. Some chops are done very well IMO, probably minimal change in structure. Some are real hack jobs, too.

 

[rruff]

I'd forgotten how "confused" people are on forums regarding tire fitment, so decided to look myself. Stock tires on your truck are 265/70r16 I think? Those are 30.6" diameter. You could fit 265/75r16s (31.6") with no extra mods, or 285/75r16 (32.8") with some plastic manipulation. That's on the stock rims. A mild lift doesn't really help because the rubbing is at the front and back of the wheelwells.

 

[DaveInDenver]

@rruff - exactly. Don't gloss over section width. The 265/70R16 is stock on TRD but the truck's base tire size is 245/75R16 so Toyota has already upsized from "stock" so-to-speak from a roughly a 30.50x9.50 to a 30.50x10.50, both being on 16x7JJ rims.

So going to 265/75R16 (31.50x10.50) is upsizing an additional inch, just this time in height, or 255/85R16 (33.0 x 10.0) is giving up width for more height.

The height and width are important because the space between the frame and cab mount at steering lock is where the tire has to fit. A 285/75R16 is 32.8x11.25. It's the width that gets ya with them, either the fender lip or frame. That's why 285/75R16 is usually done with less backspaced aftermarket wheels or spacers on stock ones since clearance to the fender doesn't solve that they will rub the frame with stock backspacing.

A wildcard size is 235/85R16 (31.8x9.25) that gives you tons of clearance all around the wheel. That's what I ran before going to 265/75R16 and this gives enough room those I felt comfortable with front chains on the truck. None of the other sizes I feel will clear the frame, spindle and brake line. Toyota doesn't recommend front chains at all, so they think 30.50x9.50 is too tight even.

Also bear in mind that one reason to replace suspension on a 2005+ Tacoma is to change the front geometry, particularly with upper arms. You can move the wheel forward in the wheel well and this helps with clearance. Doing that with stock arms leaves you will insufficient castor and alignments are terrible. Aftermarket UCAs will be built with additional castor so that if you do decide to have your alignment guy move the wheel forward your steering doesn't become hyper sensitive.

Nothing is done in a vacuum. It's why the advice to leave it stock, particularly in front, is good. You really open yourself to problems tinkering with the front end. The question of rear airbags vs springs I think isn't nearly as variable in terms of potential headaches.

 

[rruff]

Also bear in mind that one reason to replace suspension on a 2005+ Tacoma is to change the front geometry, particularly with upper arms. You can move the wheel forward in the wheel well and this helps with clearance.

Yup... that's an important factor that's often overlooked. Even with stock suspension you have a fair amount of fore and aft adjustment via alignment. Another thing that people are often confused about is how important the wheel offset is. The rub will be on the outer edge of the tread against the front and back of the wheelwell. Narrow tires will help, and also getting the offset so that the tires are as "tucked" as they can be without interfering with the UCAs or swaybar.

I hadn't even looked at 255/85r16. Those should be easy to fit on a stock truck. It seems to be a rare size though.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I hadn't even looked at 255/85r16. Those should be easy to fit on a stock truck. It seems to be a rare size though.

That's the size I really want. BFG only makes the AT/KO2 in 235/85R16 (so that's what I got) and the MT/KM3 in 255/85R16. Both of those sizes are pretty specific and limited selection. At least with 235/85R16 there's several street and all terrains options (it's a common size for commercial users). The few tires in 255/85R16 are usually aggressive mud tires. This time I still didn't want a mud tire so I decided to give the Falkens a try in 265/75R16. You can usually get most tires in 265/75R16.