'05 Tacoma Lift and Tires

I recently got an '05 Tacoma SR5. I've been saving for one since I was
14, now I'm 18. Currently everything is stock. I've been thinking
about getting a 3" ToyTec lift, and putting on 33" BFGoodrich All
Terrains. My Dad says I will need a longer drive shaft if I do. Is he
correct? If so, why? Also, my stock tires are 265/70 R-16 and the 33"
BFGs are 285/70 R-17. Will the BFGs be able to fit on my Toyota rims?
I didnt think so until I saw a picture of an 05 Tacoma on CarDomain.com
that had 33" BFGs on Toyota rims. Now I'm not sure, any help would be
great.

I don't know that yoru Pop is right or not, but assuming he is right, here's
why.

The distance from the transmission (or transfer case if 4WD) is a set
distance. If you raise the vehicle, then you stretch this distance. The
output of the transmission (or tcase), or the driveshaft itself, has a
coupling that is splined to allow for the axle to move up and down,
effectively changing the needed lenght of the driveshaft. When you raise the
vehicle, then you are stretching the driveshaft while the vehicle is at
rest, and when the axle drops for any reason, then the drive shaft will
stretch a bit more and come apart.

The longer driveshaft overcomes the affect of raising the vehicle.

My calculations say that a 285/70x16 is only 31.709" inches, making it a 32"
tire. You need a 285/75x16 to get a 33" tire. I don't quite understand why
you wouldn't simply get a 33x9.50x16, or whatever.

I feel the need to tell you that you might need to get new gears for your
differential(s). The new tires are considerably taller than the stock tires,
and this will alter the final drive ratio -- severly reducing power. It will
also alter your speedo calibration. A new gear set will fix the power issues
by bringing the drive ratio back into line, and probably fix the speedo
calibration at the same time. You might need to get a new speedo gear for
the transmission (or tcase) to correct the speedo calibration, but this is a
very cheap part.




<nickbruyn@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1130801652.606057.89770@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I recently got an '05 Tacoma SR5. I've been saving for one since I was
> 14, now I'm 18. Currently everything is stock. I've been thinking
> about getting a 3" ToyTec lift, and putting on 33" BFGoodrich All
> Terrains. My Dad says I will need a longer drive shaft if I do. Is he
> correct? If so, why? Also, my stock tires are 265/70 R-16 and the 33"
> BFGs are 285/70 R-17. Will the BFGs be able to fit on my Toyota rims?
> I didnt think so until I saw a picture of an 05 Tacoma on CarDomain.com
> that had 33" BFGs on Toyota rims. Now I'm not sure, any help would be
> great.
>[/color]

I don't think going from a 31 to a 33 tire is that big a deal. I have an 03
2.7L that came with stock 225's! Before I got the truck, I knew I had to
get bigger/better tires than those Dunlops. I too was concerned about going
to a 31 (265) that the V6 Tacos came with. But I did, 31 BFG AT's. Besides
having to gear down to 4th occasionally on a steep hill, I don't have any
complaints at all. My speedo is out, but not by much.

Now, a 3in lift is different. If I recall, you might be able to get away
with a 2in lift without having to modify your driveshaft. But for 3in, I
would investigate that option more closely.


"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:AJadnT03IaIYJfveRVn-gw@ez2.net...[color=blue]
> I don't know that yoru Pop is right or not, but assuming he is right,[/color]
here's[color=blue]
> why.
>
> The distance from the transmission (or transfer case if 4WD) is a set
> distance. If you raise the vehicle, then you stretch this distance. The
> output of the transmission (or tcase), or the driveshaft itself, has a
> coupling that is splined to allow for the axle to move up and down,
> effectively changing the needed lenght of the driveshaft. When you raise[/color]
the[color=blue]
> vehicle, then you are stretching the driveshaft while the vehicle is at
> rest, and when the axle drops for any reason, then the drive shaft will
> stretch a bit more and come apart.
>
> The longer driveshaft overcomes the affect of raising the vehicle.
>
> My calculations say that a 285/70x16 is only 31.709" inches, making it a[/color]
32"[color=blue]
> tire. You need a 285/75x16 to get a 33" tire. I don't quite understand why
> you wouldn't simply get a 33x9.50x16, or whatever.
>
> I feel the need to tell you that you might need to get new gears for your
> differential(s). The new tires are considerably taller than the stock[/color]
tires,[color=blue]
> and this will alter the final drive ratio -- severly reducing power. It[/color]
will[color=blue]
> also alter your speedo calibration. A new gear set will fix the power[/color]
issues[color=blue]
> by bringing the drive ratio back into line, and probably fix the speedo
> calibration at the same time. You might need to get a new speedo gear for
> the transmission (or tcase) to correct the speedo calibration, but this is[/color]
a[color=blue]
> very cheap part.
>
>
>
>
> <nickbruyn@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:1130801652.606057.89770@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
> >I recently got an '05 Tacoma SR5. I've been saving for one since I was
> > 14, now I'm 18. Currently everything is stock. I've been thinking
> > about getting a 3" ToyTec lift, and putting on 33" BFGoodrich All
> > Terrains. My Dad says I will need a longer drive shaft if I do. Is he
> > correct? If so, why? Also, my stock tires are 265/70 R-16 and the 33"
> > BFGs are 285/70 R-17. Will the BFGs be able to fit on my Toyota rims?
> > I didnt think so until I saw a picture of an 05 Tacoma on CarDomain.com
> > that had 33" BFGs on Toyota rims. Now I'm not sure, any help would be
> > great.
> >[/color]
>[/color]

<nickbruyn@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1130801652.606057.89770@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I recently got an '05 Tacoma SR5. I've been saving for one since I was
> 14, now I'm 18. Currently everything is stock. I've been thinking
> about getting a 3" ToyTec lift, and putting on 33" BFGoodrich All
> Terrains. My Dad says I will need a longer drive shaft if I do. Is he
> correct? If so, why? Also, my stock tires are 265/70 R-16 and the 33"
> BFGs are 285/70 R-17. Will the BFGs be able to fit on my Toyota rims?
> I didnt think so until I saw a picture of an 05 Tacoma on CarDomain.com
> that had 33" BFGs on Toyota rims. Now I'm not sure, any help would be
> great.
>[/color]

Can't help with the lift questions, but my Tacoma came with BFG AT tires.
They absolutely SUCKED in snow. I don't mean sometimes, or only when the
roads were more slippery than usual. I mean ALL THE TIME. Something to
consider if it snows where you live. At your age, you don't need any quirky
variables to deal with.

"Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:n6M9f.953$lg.780@news01.roc.ny:
[color=blue]
> Can't help with the lift questions, but my Tacoma came with
> BFG AT tires. They absolutely SUCKED in snow. I don't mean
> sometimes, or only when the roads were more slippery than
> usual. I mean ALL THE TIME. Something to consider if it
> snows where you live. At your age, you don't need any
> quirky variables to deal with.[/color]

Crap! I didn't need to hear that! I'm going to be picking up my
'06 Tacoma tonight . . . and I live in Ontario. I hope Toyota
Canada has a more weather-appropriate tire on the Tacoma line up
here.

"Enar" <enar@stribmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns97019EC1AF2DDenarstribmailcom@216.196.97.142...[color=blue]
> "Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in
> news:n6M9f.953$lg.780@news01.roc.ny:
>[color=green]
>> Can't help with the lift questions, but my Tacoma came with
>> BFG AT tires. They absolutely SUCKED in snow. I don't mean
>> sometimes, or only when the roads were more slippery than
>> usual. I mean ALL THE TIME. Something to consider if it
>> snows where you live. At your age, you don't need any
>> quirky variables to deal with.[/color]
>
> Crap! I didn't need to hear that! I'm going to be picking up my
> '06 Tacoma tonight . . . and I live in Ontario. I hope Toyota
> Canada has a more weather-appropriate tire on the Tacoma line up
> here.
>[/color]

If you can change them to Nokian WR tires, you'll be happy. They're
snow-rated all season tires. Not quite a true snow tire, but I like mine.
And, they've not left me stranded in mud, or on extremely slippery boat
launching ramps.

<nickbruyn@msn.com> sez:
[color=blue]
> I recently got an '05 Tacoma SR5. I've been saving for one since I was
> 14, now I'm 18. Currently everything is stock. I've been thinking
> about getting a 3" ToyTec lift, and putting on 33" BFGoodrich All
> Terrains.[/color]

Well, that'll raise your center of gravity and make the vehicle more prone
to rollovers as well as decreasing your fuel economy. The truck in stock
trim is already quite capable and you'd be hard pressed to really need more
ground clearance unless you're tackling 4 and 4+ rated trails.

In addition, wider tires will be more skittish on snow and ice, narrow tires
bite better.
[color=blue]
>My Dad says I will need a longer drive shaft if I do. Is he
> correct? If so, why?[/color]

When you lift a truck, the distance from the transmission output increases
to the differential input so you need more length on the driveshaft to make
the stretch.
[color=blue]
>Also, my stock tires are 265/70 R-16 and the 33"
> BFGs are 285/70 R-17. Will the BFGs be able to fit on my Toyota rims?[/color]

No, you cannot put 17" tires on 16" rims or vice versa.
[color=blue]
> I didnt think so until I saw a picture of an 05 Tacoma on CarDomain.com
> that had 33" BFGs on Toyota rims. Now I'm not sure, any help would be
> great.[/color]

Are you sure those stock tires are BFG All Terrains or are they BFG Rugged
Trail T/A skins?

[url]http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=All-Terrain+T%2FA+KO[/url]
[url]http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Rugged+Trail+T%2FA[/url]

The Rugged Trail T/A tires were the OEM setup on my Tundra (USA) and they
are lame tires. Complete banana peels on snow 'n ice. Since you're up in
the north country, I'd pull 'em and put on studded snows before the flakes
fly and then swap 'em out and wear 'em out next summer (they'll only go some
30,000 kilometers before they are shot). Then you can shop for fresh rubber
....

VLJ
--

Nick,
First off, I also had the BFG A/T ko's and yes they did suck in snow,
and rain also. For about the same price you can get Bridgestone A/T
Revo's, probably the best truck tire on the market today. Number one
rated tire on the web.
Secondly, go to the tire rack, click on tires, then pick a tire, then
click on Specs. This site will tell you everything you want to know about
what size rim you need for any tire, there is also an infinite amount of
information on this site. Study it, do your homework.
I see you did your homework on your truck, I think you got the best
truck on the market, I also have one, an 05. Good luck.

I too can attest to the fact my BFG AT's on 16in alloy rims suck in snow
because they are a wide tire and the Taco is a light truck (03 2.7L). I kept
the stock rims and 225 tires for winter...night and day difference.


"Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:zuQ9f.11629$cg.3920@news02.roc.ny...[color=blue]
>
> "Enar" <enar@stribmail.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns97019EC1AF2DDenarstribmailcom@216.196.97.142...[color=green]
> > "Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in
> > news:n6M9f.953$lg.780@news01.roc.ny:
> >[color=darkred]
> >> Can't help with the lift questions, but my Tacoma came with
> >> BFG AT tires. They absolutely SUCKED in snow. I don't mean
> >> sometimes, or only when the roads were more slippery than
> >> usual. I mean ALL THE TIME. Something to consider if it
> >> snows where you live. At your age, you don't need any
> >> quirky variables to deal with.[/color]
> >
> > Crap! I didn't need to hear that! I'm going to be picking up my
> > '06 Tacoma tonight . . . and I live in Ontario. I hope Toyota
> > Canada has a more weather-appropriate tire on the Tacoma line up
> > here.
> >[/color]
>
> If you can change them to Nokian WR tires, you'll be happy. They're
> snow-rated all season tires. Not quite a true snow tire, but I like mine.
> And, they've not left me stranded in mud, or on extremely slippery boat
> launching ramps.
>
>[/color]

Enar wrote:
[color=blue]
> Crap! I didn't need to hear that! I'm going to be picking up my
> '06 Tacoma tonight . . . and I live in Ontario. I hope Toyota
> Canada has a more weather-appropriate tire on the Tacoma line up
> here.[/color]

It depends on which BFG Tire.

I've heard mixed snow reviews on the Long Trails that came on my '05,
but mine haven't seen snow yet. They can't be as bad as the Goodyear
Wranglers or Firestone Wilderness AT's that came stock on Wrangler and
Outback. The Wilderness AT's made a manual tranny'd AWD Subaru Outback,
arguably one of the best snow cars ever, lame. The Goodyear Wranglers
were OK until about the 5000'th mile, then they sucked totally. A JEEP
that sucked in snow, imagine that! <G>

The BFG AT KO's I've put on other vehicles (including the Jeep) have
been outstanding in snow.

"B a r r y" <keep_it_in_the_newsgroup_please@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:cv2af.4590$8W.3691@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
A JEEP[color=blue]
> that sucked in snow, imagine that! <G>
>
> The BFG AT KO's I've put on other vehicles (including the Jeep) have been
> outstanding in snow.
>[/color]
Why are Jeeps terrible in the snow? I have had many neighbors that can't get
their Jeep out of their driveway after a storm and have had to shovel them
out. I think the only thing Jeep has going for it is the 4WD. The interior
space is horrendously small and it's reliability is third from the bottom of
all vehicles. Only Cadillac and Corvette are worse.

"Bob Palmer" <jenbobkatelyn@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:b8ydnVNjLYZicPXeRVn-gA@adelphia.com...[color=blue]
>
> "B a r r y" <keep_it_in_the_newsgroup_please@thankyou.com> wrote in
> message news:cv2af.4590$8W.3691@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com...
> A JEEP[color=green]
>> that sucked in snow, imagine that! <G>
>>
>> The BFG AT KO's I've put on other vehicles (including the Jeep) have been
>> outstanding in snow.
>>[/color]
> Why are Jeeps terrible in the snow? I have had many neighbors that can't
> get their Jeep out of their driveway after a storm and have had to shovel
> them out. I think the only thing Jeep has going for it is the 4WD. The
> interior space is horrendously small and it's reliability is third from
> the bottom of all vehicles. Only Cadillac and Corvette are worse.
>[/color]

Per my mechanic, Jeeps are for people who enjoy diagnosing electrical
problems - lots of them, eventually.

Bob Palmer wrote:
[color=blue]
> Why are Jeeps terrible in the snow? I have had many neighbors that can't get
> their Jeep out of their driveway after a storm and have had to shovel them
> out.[/color]

They aren't terrible in the snow, unless they have the wrong tires on
them. Your neighbors also probably have automatic transmissions, stock
tires, and no limited slip or locker. They're "girlie" Jeeps.

Without the right options, the low gearing and available torque make
them incredibly easy for an inexperienced driver to dig them in, DEEP!
[color=blue]
> I think the only thing Jeep has going for it is the 4WD. The interior
> space is horrendously small and it's reliability is third from the bottom of
> all vehicles. Only Cadillac and Corvette are worse.[/color]

Have you ever driven one on the beach, with the doors and top off? Have
you ever seen the aftermarket part selection for them? <G>

I think of them as 4WD Harleys. But then again, I'm a mechanical type
of guy...

Doug Kanter wrote:[color=blue]
>
>
> Per my mechanic, Jeeps are for people who enjoy diagnosing electrical
> problems - lots of them, eventually.
>[/color]

The '99 TJ I have now loses the entire instrument cluster at times. If
I push on cluster in the vicinity of the airbag light, it all comes
right back. It's vehicle character! <G>

Jeeps are fun! Think no doors, no top, driving slow, etc... My Tacoma
is for actual practical use.

The Harley factory is 10 miles from my house in PA, so everybody has to have
a Harley. The problem is, they spend more time in the garage being fixed
than on the road-however, I do agree it is a status symbol. I have a 100MPG
Honda Scooter that keeps on going with just oil changes.
"B a r r y" <keep_it_in_the_newsgroup_please@thankyou.com> wrote in message
news:YB6af.4455$Y61.2038@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...[color=blue]
> Bob Palmer wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Why are Jeeps terrible in the snow? I have had many neighbors that can't
>> get their Jeep out of their driveway after a storm and have had to shovel
>> them out.[/color]
>
> They aren't terrible in the snow, unless they have the wrong tires on
> them. Your neighbors also probably have automatic transmissions, stock
> tires, and no limited slip or locker. They're "girlie" Jeeps.
>
> Without the right options, the low gearing and available torque make them
> incredibly easy for an inexperienced driver to dig them in, DEEP!
>[color=green]
>> I think the only thing Jeep has going for it is the 4WD. The interior
>> space is horrendously small and it's reliability is third from the bottom
>> of all vehicles. Only Cadillac and Corvette are worse.[/color]
>
> Have you ever driven one on the beach, with the doors and top off? Have
> you ever seen the aftermarket part selection for them? <G>
>
> I think of them as 4WD Harleys. But then again, I'm a mechanical type of
> guy...
>
>
>[/color]