From my email to John Shotts:
Hello Shotts
I'm interested in putting 315/75/16 KM2s on my 2000 LC I've got the OME
t-bars and OME865s with the diff drop. I can see that you are running
these. What do I need to do to make them fit? Reading some posts yesterday
left me the impression that I might need spacers. Can you let me know what
you did to make yours work out?
Thanks!
Chris
mud name "Kahlua"
John Shotts Reply:
Hi Chris. I seen that thread. Spress's comment about "spacers must be used with any 315 tire" is plain trash. Folks shouldn't post unless they know what they're talking about. Sorry these posts make things confusing for those wanting to make changes. Now, on to the truth:
#1...Pics and eval here...and watch the auto slide show as well on my home page. There's some wheeling shots of the KM2's there. They not only look amazing but they are plain insane on the trail. Can you say GRIP!
http://shottscruisers.smugmug.com/ KM2 pics upper right.
#2...To run 315's? Easy, all bolt-on solution. I've run them for 100,000
miles. Wheeled them on a 75-100 trips. Again, the inaccurate info on MUD is just amazing and it usually comes from somebody who has done something "unusual" or "unique" so they push their agenda. Here's the real deal:
*You do NOT need spacers and that's GOOD news. Spacers put all kinds of added stress on the components. That's bad as lifts and large tires already add stress. The less things you can change the better for your vehicle. I would not use spacers for ANY reason on my truck.
http://shottscruisers.smugmug.com/Vehicle-Specs-and/2001-UZJ100/Upsize-to-31 5x75-16 Tires/984600_zxBZM#45560761_SF5zf
*You need to add 20mm (or 2 each 10mm) trim packs atop your rear springs. Cake...$50
*You need to raise/adjust the front to 2.75" above stock. Cake...$0
*You have the diff drop. $0
That's all unless you want to address some minor rubbing issues. These
solutions are easy as well.
*Rear...I didn't want the rubbing so I added 2-inch bump stop spacers. We made our own though Slee sells them for the 80 Series lifts...the stops are the same on the 100. Or, you could go with only 1-inch though you'd get an occasional rub when flexed out.
*Front...at full turn the tire rubs the upper arms a bit. A simple 5-minute
adjust of the turn-stops on each side eliminated this. It can't be any
easier!
*Front wheel well weld...we pounded is back a touch (oh, 1/4-inch) and spray painted the area.
You're done. My mechanic can make these changes in about an hour. Maybe 90-minutes. The change off-road is worth it for certain. If you like, Paste this replay into that Mud thread. Good luck.
John Shotts Second Reply:
Toyo MT's were the ones with the huge side lugs that rub bad on the arms. Very unusual though I'm sure a turn-stop adjust would fix that too...however I haven't done it.
As usual he talks out of both sides of his arse; how convenient in the same post no less. They "do not rub" then they "do rub", but this, but that. And it is humorous how he finds the rest of us 'with agenda'; 'untrue information'; even to the point of challenging some very, very highly knowledgeable industry experts (of which I am self admittedly not one
) who do this for a living!
The reality is you have very, very tight clearance with most 315 tires. Just less clearance for stones, mud, etc. And, although not important for many fair weather travelers, John included, you can't run recovery chains with 315s without spacers.
FYI: With the 60mm of offset the wheel on our 100's sits virtually as far inboard as a wheel can especially compared to an 80 (relative to the wheel bearings). 1" will do zero harm to our wheel bearings assuming you are using quality wheel spacer adapters and they are torqued properly.
You can however argue steering scrub effect from the 1.5" additional track width (1" spacer x 2 minus the 1/2" decreased track width at 2.75") although he doesn't mention that. But heh...I suppose its not important when driving to/fro the mall.
At 2.75" of lift you've decreased the front track width by about 1/2" or possibly a little more. Funny how that doesn't bother him. Nor does he mention the additional stresses (FAR MORE THAN ANY 1" SPACER!) placed upon the entire front end components by running 35" tires. But then again he's only replaced 4 or maybe 5 now steering racks so I guess that hasn't registered yet with him.
He's a funny man that John!
and not on the sand either!
