Cruising at 85-90 mph seems like the sweet spot

I had a pucker moment in Florida last year, when someone decided to make an emergency lane change in front of me on 75 north. I thought for sure I was hitting him, but I managed to brake and swerve just enough. I was pretty impressed how well it did, but it definitely wasn't like being in a sports sedan.

One of the factors that we need to consider is the tires we put on these things. Any aggressive all-terrain let alone MT is going to suck ass in situations like that compared to a street tire.

 

That and the weight distribution. I was on stock dunflops in my situation but I've added a lot of weight to make me more top heavy - mostly the roof rack (almost everything else is passenger level). My tires now are very aggressive ATs (some call them hybrids) rugged treks. I've been able to break them loose in wet traction situations but they are still way over inflated. They were filled to 38 psi when mounted but that's the range for e-load and these are P. From the online calculator they should be 26, which is a bit low for my comfort. I'm going to drop them to 28 (cold, summer temps) before the weekend is out to see how they feel. Gonna have to reset my psi ranges on the aftermarket sensors too so they don't keep setting off alarms

 

Very stable compared to SR5s I have rented. Brake dive I eliminated with Toytec coilovers with 6112s.

 

28 is under inflated. I set mine to 32 cold and they never go higher than 36.

i have also panic stopped a couple of times because of asshole drivers, at speeds from 40-55 and my Falken ATs gripped hard and stayed stable. Felt like my body was going to go through the dash.

 

Now that I'm an older and wiser (questions my Wife) retired driver, I in most cases drive 5-10 under the limit on the open highway.
I find it more pleasant to watch where I'm going rather than keeping an eye in the mirror for the "man" or Lady patrol officers.

Case in point, I 15 in Northern ID. north of Spencer. Middle of the night, towing a 4,195# cargo trailer. I'm doing 65mph in an 80mph zone, I dim my high beams for oncoming traffic, and see something like dark shadows in both the #1 and 2 lanes.
I hit the brakes hard, kept it straight, and just missed a bull Elk and 2 cows that were in the #2 lane.
Thank goodness for a loaded trailer with good electric brakes. Swerving would have been bad for us.

 

The 4R is by far the least nimble vehicle I've ever owned. That's fine. It has a different purpose for me than zipping around like a roadster and I believe it will serve that purpose very well. However, for me, changing direction quickly at speed like I might in a different vehicle, especially with the brakes on, is a move of last resort.

 

i agree not in its stock version, but when i changed suspensions and tires, mine feels very nimble and controlled. Im always smiling when im in my 4rnr.

 

Gotta get my limited sorted out, not looking for a car feel but more or less a tank.

Wish I got a Land Cruiser.

 

32 is for stock size tires. I bumped up to 285/70's so they require less pressure in the same P-load according to the calculators

 

I hear in some states that rely on traffic fines for fiscal income, choose the 3mph and over rule. They say (think) since speeds are measured with the non-foul able... electronic speedometers, the driver should know that they are exceeding the posted limit.

So if a vehicle has non-factory size tires, it's not an error in manufacturing.
It's 99% driver input.

YMMV

Side note. I've checked my 4R and TJ against a speed app. and the 4R is within a 1mph difference and that's good enough for me.
However when I got my TJ in '04, the mph was about 20 off. It displayed 85 but was actually 65. and that was due in part to having a stock speed pick up gear in the T/C. And that's because it got a ring & pinion and tire size change.
It went from 3:73's to 4:88 and 6" taller tires. I did the calc's and installed the correct and close enough gear pick up in the T/C. So when it displays 55, I'm going 53.

 

~80 is my sweet spot, even with my off road tires with max of 90mph. But I also monitor the tire temps.

Speed limits are a suggestion and depend on conditions with limitations. But I run a ton of countermeasures to avoid the mobile tax collector.

 

i have 285s as well and 32 psi works well for me.

 

Agree, I just changed pads using OE replacement pads, and I’d say the brakes bite almost too much. Better than not having enough brakes.

 

I just dropped from 38-40 down to 28 using my core remover quick deflator today. I have a road trip coming up and will see how they do. Have a feeling they'll get up to around 30 when warm. If they feel too squishy I will add a couple psi

 

Yeah, I've found my best mpg on the 4th gen was between 90-95 mph. Once I hit 100, though, the mpg does go down quickly.

 

It’s “9 you’re fine, 10 you’re mine…”…

 

really like that steel bumper. What brand is it?

 

thank you. Southern Style Offroad (SSO). Got a great deal on it as well and came powder coated which was really well done. Glad i didnt go with anyone else.

https://www.southernstyleoffroad.com/product-category/4runner/4runner-bumpers/

 

Sweet spot starts where speedometer is about to end for me around 2800-3200rpms. Imagine if you had a 4:30 or 4:56. You would be in that spot about 65mph then.