'98 SR5 New Wheels/Tires don't fit...need some advice!

We've been fixing up my son's 98 SR5. It has a 2" lift on it. He saved up and bought new wheels and tires. Wheels - HELO HE87817 X9 6-139.70 Tires: TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A/T III 265 /70 R17. I'm not expert on tires by any means. I did find a website online where you could put in all you tire information of existing vs. new and told if the new would fit. These fit, based on that online calculator. I called the tire shop, a national chain that we've used for years. They too verified the tires would fit. Today was the day...tires came in, the put them on, my son drives home. Calls me on the way and says their are loud noised coming from front. I inspect the vehicle when we get home and the tires are rubbing on both the end of the valance in the front and on the splash guard on the back. This happens on a turn or hitting any bump. It actually caught the edge of the fender liner and pulled it loose. QUESTION: 1. We love the tires and wheels.....is this a scenario where we could use a spacer? If so, what size?
I'm going to call the tire shop in the morning. I'm pretty upset they didn't check it more thoroughly. The only next smaller size in that tire is a 255 70/r17 which is only .6" shorter and .4" more narrow....I don't know if that would fit either.
Again - any info or advice would be appreciated. I've got one disappointed 16 year old! Thanks.

 

Post some pics. It'll definitely help us if we could get a visual. Also, what is the backspacing?

 

Sure thing. I'll snap a few shots in the morning and post. Thanks!

 

that’s odd, I have 1.5” of lift and I have 265/75r16 which is very similar. Now when I had no lift they rubbed same place as your son’s. But afterwards they’ve been fine. I do also have 16x8 with an offset of 0. Yours appear to have a minimum of -12 offset and are 9” wide which could explain the rubbing. I wouldn’t go smaller on the tire, I’d have them swap the wheels if it’s possible.

 

This is my 02 with 2” lift & 265/75/16 and Toyota wheels. Absolutely no rubbing. I think your wheels are the problem.

 

Ya but his are 17 inch rims? If they were 16 inch rims prob clear no problem?

 

Ya, but isn’t the 265/75 make it about the same diameter?

 

I think an inch in diameter is a lot..downsize to the 255/70? Or spacer?
I’m runnin a 245/45 on my 20’s....

 

Thank you all for your responses. I had planned on posting pictures this morning but made it the tire shop early and we got it figured out. We are certain it was the wheels. The -12mm offset pushed them out to far. We picked out some new wheels(17 x 8.5) with a 0 offset. We spoke directly with the manufacturer and they said these should work with the 265 70/r17's. They had to order them so they threw my son's old set back on. He's a little bummed, but does really like the new wheels. Supposed to be in Friday. The tire shop went ahead and ordered the 265 65's too, just to have in house in case we need to go down. Finger's crossed! Neither of us are very mechanically inclined, but both agree we like doing what we can on his 4runner. Swapped out the plugs and wires tonight. Nothing major, but it was a good couple hours of us hanging out tinkering on his car. I'll post pics when she get's her new shoes on! Thanks again - Bryan

 

Wheel size has nothing to do with tire size in relation to overall diameter. As you can see in the calculation below, they are almost identical. The issue is with the offset of the wheels as the OP has found. The -12 offset combined with the 9” wide wheel pushed the wheel out of the wheel well, causing the tire to have a greater scrub radius thus causing rubbing. Simply going to a narrower wheel, with less offset should be the fix.

 

Most assume the lift is what makes the tires fit, but really it just delays when they will have clearance issues. You could have sorted those other wheels/tires out but you were going to have to cut some.

For future reference I wish it were easier, but it took me a month of research to find the wheels I liked with the following compatible things:
1. The right lugnuts (harder than you'd think)
2. Offset
3. Backspace (mainly just care about offset honestly)
4. Width
5. Diameter
6. Weight
7. Style, of course

The hard ones were, most wheels are 9" wide. Honestly, too wide for a 265mm width but you can run it. I'd prefer a 7.5 or 8, but I found a 8.5 with the offset and weights I wanted.

Anyways, point is...there's a lot more to it than meets the eye when you start customizing, glad you got it figured out.

 

Let's just say I have taken a crash course in wheel dynamics this past week!! I had somewhat of an understanding as to what the offset and backspace were, but obviously I didn't fully comprehend how those dimensions would affect the spacing relative to the wheel well. Lesson learned....it all ended well......assuming the wheels and tires do come in Friday!!!! Thanks again to all of you for your advice!

 

Glad we could help! Post up a pic when done.

 

Wheels installed today! Stayed with the 265 70r17’s. Switched to different wheels....17x8.5 w/ 0 offset. Smooth sailing and a happy boy!!! Thanks again for all your input.

 

Looks great!

 

I know this thread ended a year ago but hoping somebody can help me figure something out based upon the situation in this thread as I recently ordered some wheels and now nervous I'm going to have issues (I have a 2002 and attempting to go with 18x9 wheels with a -12 offset.)

The OP bought 17x9" wheels with a -12 offset for somewhat average tires (265/70/17) considering he has a 2" lift. However when driving home he said they rubbed and he then switched to 17" wheels with a 0 offset and the rubbing went away. I was under the impression that going with a more negative offset would essentially act as a spacer that people use to prevent rubbing, not cause it. Or is that simply to prevent rubbing on the UCA but not other areas such as fender? Looking at the front of his tires, it looks like he has plenty of clearance, so do you think this was just an issue of him rubbing the back side of the front tires on the pinch well?

I know this is my first post on here but hoping someone will chime in. Thanks!