18" BFD wheels : 285/60/18 Nitto terra grapplers : Sport tail lights

[RCsGX]

I bought my GX back in March 2012 and I knew I needed new wheels. I dont like chrome wheels at all so I bought a set of 18" BFD wheels last week from fnwheels.com (big thanks to Dustin!) and had them installed this past Friday. Before I bought them I photochopped my GX to see how they looked and the amber tails didnt go with them so I bought a set of sport tails too.

The wheels and tires look much better in person than in the pictures. I had a little rubbing at full lock on the front mudflap area and the front of the front fender liners. I cut about an 1" of material off of the mudflap area and I used a heat gun to push the front fender liners in. Problem solved, no more rubbing.

Specs and pictures below......



WHEELS
Matte bronze BFD wheels
- 18” x 9”
- 22lbs. (stock chrome wheel: 26.4lbs)
- 0mm offset
- 5” backspace

TIRES
Nitto Terra Grapplers
- 285/60/18
- 47lbs. / 31.5" (old tire: 38lbs. / 30.6")

WHEEL LUGS & LOCKS
Gorilla black chrome lug nuts
- part # 91137BCB

Gorilla black chrome wheel locks
- part # 71631NBC


http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2332.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2366.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2383.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2341.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2342.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2343.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2344.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2314.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2315.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2309.jpg

MUDFLAP TRIMMED
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2360.jpg

FRONT FENDER LINER
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2362.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2361.jpg

SPORT TAIL LIGHTS
- chrome 7440 bulbs

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2322.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2324.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2329.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r34/rrcompton/Lexus GX470/BFD wheels and NTG tires/DSC_2320.jpg

 

[tick2791]

Nice look. I to am looking for new wheels on a 03 GX

 

[RCsGX]

Thanks.

I wanted a simple looking wheel. I was trying to find a set of 18" BBS-RW but Toyota no longer sells them and a guy on the 4runner forum flaked on me the day I was going to pay for them. I looked at other aftermarket wheels but they had too much going on with weird looking designs, weird looking lips w/ indentions in it or partially painted, fake plastic rivets / bolts to make it look like a 2 piece wheel and most were lug centric, these wheels are hub centric.

There was no balancing issues and they weigh considerably less than the stock 17" wheels so I couldnt be happier with my decision to go with these wheels and the bronze is just killer looking!

 

[Makakio]

Dude those look fantastic! A few questions:

1) does the setup rub at all or is it free lock to lock?
2) did you add wheel spacers or is that a no-spacer fit?
3) where did you source the clear (sport?) tails?
4) would you be kind enough to keep us posted as you get more use out of those tires?

Thanks!

 

[RCsGX]

Dude those look fantastic!

Thanks!

A few questions:

1) does the setup rub at all or is it free lock to lock?
It originally rubbed at full lock but I trimmed the front mud flap area and used a heat gun to press in the front of the front fender liner. No more rubbing.

2) did you add wheel spacers or is that a no-spacer fit?
No, no wheel spacers were used.

3) where did you source the clear (sport?) tails?
Sewell <--- click

4) would you be kind enough to keep us posted as you get more use out of those tires?
I sure will.

Thanks!

 

[THEROK]

Dude those look fantastic! A few questions:

1) does the setup rub at all or is it free lock to lock?
2) did you add wheel spacers or is that a no-spacer fit?
3) where did you source the clear (sport?) tails?
4) would you be kind enough to keep us posted as you get more use out of those tires?

Thanks!

Mak,

I got love for my boy RC here, but you can avoid all the trimming if you just go with 285/60/18s which are readily available. I ran the Toyo Open Country ATs and it will NOT rub at stock height so I see very little reason why one should run anything taller like RC's 285/65/18. You'll also be closer to stock diameter so your speedo and all that will be a little more accurate.

I see little value in messing up your nice fender liner and the running board (it's not a mud flap) in going with the practical/tame ATs. I'd only trim if you're really getting something for the bigger size which in my decision matrix produced much more aggressive looks with the MTs. One of the downsides (I don't mind) is the attention you'll get from the seemingly ubiquitous soccer mom GX rolling on some truly knobby rubber.

ATs - 285/60/18 (zero trimming)

Current (trimmed as the MTs are about 2" taller)

P.S. To run the bigger tires like RC's or mine, you're going to want to go wider than the stock wheels which IIRC are 7.5". 8 to 9" and you'll be fine with 285s.

 

[THEROK]

Maybe I'm confused, but RC told me his tires were 285/65/18s, but I see that he wrote 285/60/18s above. If he is in fact running the latter, then the Nittos may likely run bigger than the Toyo ATs.

 

[RCsGX]

My tires are 285/60/18. I told you on CL that my tires were slightly larger than your old Toyos ATs, plus my wheels are 9" wide. I know yours were either 8" or 8.5", not sure what your old backspacing was but that plays a huge part in rubbing as well. Either way it wasnt a big deal to stop the rubbing.

As far as messing up a fender liner / mudflap spot, who cares, unless Im at full lock you wont cant even notice it and even if I was at full lock you still cant tell anything was done unless you have another GX side by side to compare it to.

Ive done the mud tire thing before on my Tundra with 33" Cooper STTs. I dont plan to do any mudding in my GX and when I move to Orlando at the end of May im going to be spending alot of time at the beach and MT tend to dig in sand even aired down so why loose MPG and functionally just for looks? Plus theres nothing tame looking about my GX in person, trust me.

Also, with my larger 18" wheel / tire package I only added 5lbs of un-sprung weight, you added 20lbs+ and stayed with the stock 17" wheel size.

To each their own.......

 

[THEROK]

at ease, bud. all i'm saying is you don't have to trim at all if you get the right wheels and 285/60/18 tires. been there, done that.

but just don't ever have my gx line up next to yours. you know you'll have MT nv plus i get 14mpg all day. lol and with the MTs, i'd rather have more tire than metal so i'd stick to the 17x9s v. the 18s anyways. i'd go for 18s with the practical looking and performing ATs you got (i.e. my last setup).

 

[Makakio]

You guys crack me up, but keep it going: I (and I'm sure plenty of other lurkers) are getting lots of good research here!

 

[RCsGX]

at ease, bud. all i'm saying is you don't have to trim at all if you get the right wheels and 285/60/18 tires. been there, done that.

but just don't ever have my gx line up next to yours. you know you'll have MT nv plus i get 14mpg all day. lol and with the MTs, i'd rather have more tire than metal so i'd stick to the 17x9s v. the 18s anyways. i'd go for 18s with the practical looking and performing ATs you got (i.e. my last setup).

Makakio says he likes the research, here some more info, I have the same sidewall height as the stock 17" setup. For what I'll be getting my GX into I'm good with my setup. I can still air down if need be, so I dont need the extra inch of sidwall like you have with those cute lil' 17s you got there sitting on M/Ts.

I cant picture your GX getting into anything crazy enough to where youll actually need that extra inch or M/T tires, especially since you just put suede on your headliner / pillars, itd be a shame to get any dirt on it. But hey ROK, she sure is purdy.

"MT nv", never that.... Ive alredy been there and done that w/ 33" M/Ts.



my friend.

 

[THEROK]

Makakio says he likes the research, here some more info, I have the same sidewall height as the stock 17" setup. For what I'll be getting my GX into I'm good with my setup. I can still air down if need be, so I dont need the extra inch of sidwall like you have with those cute lil' 17s you got there sitting on M/Ts.

I cant picture your GX getting into anything crazy enough to where youll actually need that extra inch or M/T tires, especially since you just put suede on your headliner / pillars, itd be a shame to get any dirt on it. But hey ROK, she sure is purdy.

"MT nv", never that.... Ive alredy been there and done that w/ 33" M/Ts.



my friend.

that's one tame looking $15k tundra, bud. but i do like the BBS wheels. i'm a huge BBS fan and had multiple sets of their LMs which are my fav all time wheel on sports cars.
ok i'll keep playing

looks like your GX has this confused knock-off volk TE37 look matched to balloonish stock looking tires and then you actually cut off parts of the running to board to make them fit for very little gain along both the functional and aesthetic fronts. to others looking to get AT tires... don't replicate his setup. do what i did prior to going with my MTs.

-285/60/18 Toyo Open Country AT
-18x8-9" wheels from kmcwheels - your local tire chain store should be able to help you test fit them as well

you absolutely DO NOT have to trim anything to make 285/60/18 tires fit. Either his GX has been in an accident and/or he just picked the less than ideal wheel/tire combo. he calls them mud flaps, but if you look at the rear area of the front tire, you'll see that he also cut off the plastic screw piece that attaches the huge running board to the liner as it gets in the way at near full lock. sure, you guys aren't stupid to think that this is the end of the world, fairly harmless, but the question is why touch it if you don't have to? i know this because i also had to take mine out, but i get a lot more ROI since I'm rolling on these super quiet Toyo MTs. you make the value judgement.

and if i really had any time or interest in getting into 4x4ing, i would've gotten a 4runner or a 100 series LC (which i still love and would def be interested in an '07+ LX with the stock LEDs in the rear).

hey, i have no hesitation admitting that i'm really vain and this includes my rides too. haha the europeans are the smart ones who stick to wagons v. truck/suv obsessed usa where gas is still damn cheap.

 

[BonnerBB]

As amusing as it is - I would think that as small as the GX community is you guys wouldn't be such Diks to each other and keep your mean spirited personal opinions about one another's rigs at bay. To each his own!

 

[RCsGX]

As amusing as it is - I would think that as small as the GX community is you guys wouldn't be such Diks to each other and keep your mean spirited personal opinions about one another's rigs at bay. To each his own!

At the end of the day I dont pay ROK any mind hes just being him, we're just having a little fun. Like I said several posts above, to each their own. Im happy with my GX, I could care less what anybody really thinks about it.

Have fun mudding in your GX ROK, oh wait, forgot....your M/T tires are just for show! ;p

 

[uzj100]

Found them. Thanks. Your gx looks great.

 

[Makakio]

Both of your rigs look great. Thanks for the feedback and hey ROK: if you've got a side-look shot of those first wheels with the ATs on them I'd be stoked if you posted them. I'm not opposed to trimming if necessary, but if you had no rub with the previous setup, please give us a better look at what you were running before you went bigger and to M/Ts.

Also, you made a comment that left me thinking your MTs are quieter than the ATs you were running. Is that right?

 

[RCsGX]

Found them. Thanks. Your gx looks great.

Thanks...ask for Dustin if you decide to buy from FNwheels.com.

Also, you made a comment that left me thinking your MTs are quieter than the ATs you were running. Is that right?

Toyo M/Ts are not quieter than Toyo A/Ts.

hey ROK: if you've got a side-look shot of those first wheels with the ATs on them I'd be stoked if you posted them.

ROK if you do post pictures, please start your own thread and post them there.