Tire sizes

How big of a tire could I run before I have to worry about having to regear my 4Runner I am running 285/70/17 right now

 

I am running 285/75/17 with no re-gearing, I’m fine with it, but I use sequential most of the time.

 

Explain "I use sequential most of the time"?

 

I have a set of 295/70/17 MT's, and no regear.

In regular driving, and even towing, It doesn't bother me. The times I feel it the most are when I try to accelerate quickly, and also in highway cruising.

In regular acceleration, it seems to move pretty normal. But, when you hammer it, you definitely feel the extra weight and leverage of the tires. And, on the highway, I am pretty much stuck using S4, because it just downshifts too much otherwise.

For off-roading, it definitely doesn't help with low speed maneuvering. The 4Runner doesn't have a great crawl gear to begin with, and running bigger tires makes it worse.

It really comes down to personal preference, and how you use your 4Runner. Another thing to keep in mind is the added wear on differentials, CV, axles, etc.

I believe he is referring to S mode. Which, doesn't actually make it a sequential transmission. S mode locks out all gears above the selected gear. It also can be used for engine braking. But, it's not intended to be used for banging through the gears like a sequential transmission.

I also use S mode quite a bit.

 

So, keep in mind you guys are responding to a thread in the 4th gen forum. We don't have S mode and depending on the year, we don't even have the same V6 that you guys have. Some of us even have V8s.

As for what tire size to regear at, it really depends on how the truck feels to you and what you are using it for. Going to a 35" tire for example (315/70 = 34" and change), you are going to start feeling the size difference like @Thatbassguy described. We just don't have the option of S mode, so the A750 in the 4th gen is going to be doing a fair bit more downshifting, especially going up inclines.

Helpful tools for tire size comparisons:

 

Oh, sorry, I totally missed that. I guess @Nikebank should disregard my comments regarding S mode. Also, I don't believe any of the 4th gen's had the dual vvti version of the 1GR, but I could be mistaken.

If I recall correctly, my fourth gen had the option to lock it out of overdrive also, which is pretty much what S mode accomplishes in S4. But, mine was the V8 model. Did the V6 have a 4-speed or 5 speed transmission? And, aren't you able to lock it out of overdrive?

Also, I believe the 4th gen's had a smaller OEM tire so, going to a 33, 34, or 35-in tire will be an even bigger jump from OEM then it is on the 5th gen.

 

Yeah, we can lock out of OD. Didn't realize that's what S mode did as I'm not that familiar with the 5th gens.

4th gen had the 4.0L V6 1GR-FE, which is only single VVT-i.

Stock tire size varied but generally was a 265/70/17. V6 models had the 4 speed transmission and the V8 all had the 5 speed.

 

Yeah, it just lets you choose the highest gear you want it to shift into. It's not for banging gears or anything exciting. Super handy for off-roading, though.

The dual VVT-I version uses the same code, so that makes it confusing to me.

My '03 V8 had 265/65/17's, so I assumed the other trims went with the same size.


@Nikebank - you didn't specify V6 or V8, and that will definitely make a big difference in how it responds to bigger tires.

 

2003-2009 4Runner with the V6 was the single VVTi 1GR-FE.
2009-current 4Runner 1GR-FE is the dual VVTi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_GR_engine

 

I understand that. What I was saying is that it would be nice if they had changed the engine code somehow to specify which one was single VVT-I and which one was dual VVT-I. So, I wasn't 100% certain if the 4th gen had ever gotten the dual VVT-I version, but I didn't think it had.

 

Mine drives like shit with 285/70’s and all the extra weight. It would be nice to throw some 4.56’s in it for sure.

 

4th Gen, VVTI, the "I" stands for intake. There was no Dual (Intake & Exhaust) option made in the 4th Gen 4Runner
5th Gen, VVT, both Intak and Exhaust are variable

 

The "I" stands for Intelligence.

Right on the website:



And, I'm pretty sure I said from the beginning that I didn't think the 4th gen ever got dual VVT-I. What I said was confusing is that Toyota never changed the engine code. It's the 1GR-FE whether it was single or dual VVT-I.

Edit: did you even read the post you quoted?

 

Doh, see what happens when I assume!
Having said that, my recollection when I was shopping for 4Runners the 2010 4Runner had the Dual VVT both cams while the 03-09 only had a single variable cam which is the intake.

 

I can see why it would seem that way. I've been a bit of a Toyota nerd since the '90s, so I remember when it was a new thing.