Help with FJ62 that tires are rubbing when turning

[Zef66]

A friend of mine has an '88 FJ62. He is either thinking about selling it, or putting a little money into it and keeping it. So he is asking me to help him figure out what things would cost. Most of the stuff I can figure out. But not sure about his rims/tires that he is having issues with.

First, a little back story. This guy doesn't know a whole lot about cars, but thought the 62 was nice, so picked it up at the local Toyota dealer. Apparently, it was owned by the family that owns the dealership. Somewhere along the lines, someone put different rims and tires on it. No clue what the rims are, but the tires are Michelin 265/70-16. These were on it when my friend bought it and it was inspected. He drove it for a couple months and when it came time to get inspected again, it failed. The local mechanic doing the inspection failed it because the tries are rubbing on the frame and wearing through. So he says something needs to be done.

I think he *might* be able to get by with some .25" spacers on there, but not sure. At the very least, he should be able to just get new tires that are narrower so they don't rub. But I have no clue what tires would clear. Any thoughts?

Here is a picture of the rims and tires currently on the wagon:

Thank you for all your help!

 

[Rigger]

I don't think the tires are the problem. I'm betting the rims have too much backspace.

 

[D'Animal]

Make sure his steering stops are not cranked all the way in on the front axle.

 

[KLF]

Those are wheels from either a T100 or a Tacoma, so yes it's a backspacing issue. IFS-era wheels are deeper. Dunno where you are, but spacers flunk inspection here.

Toss a message over in the Wanted section, you can usually find someone with old original chrome FJ62 wheels that are trying to get rid of them.

 

[RockDoc]

x3 on the rims. Have a look under in behind the rims with the steering cranked, and you should see that this is the issue, and be able to eliminate anything else. Take a look in the wheels and tires for sale section in the classifieds. You are looking for FJ60/62 rims. As a bonus, they look better on the truck anyway.

Both the photos show the stock rims, first with OE size tires, then 33x12.5 mudders, I have a 2-3" lift, but even with the larger tires and no spacers, I have not noticed rubbing yet.

 

[jonzen1977]

I tried some 17x9 rims with 32's, from my Tacoma on my 60. The rims had 0 offset (4.5" backspacing). The right side tierod rubbed when I turned left. Couldn't turn very far at all. So I had another set of rims from my Tacoma that werer 16x8's with 4" backspacing. They don't rub with 285/75-16's on them. I don't have any lift at all.
The wheels came from WHEELERS OFFROAD, under the Tacoma section. 16x8 black steels. Thick heavy beasts!

 

[zuluzeugma]

Those are wheels from either a T100 or a Tacoma, so yes it's a backspacing issue. IFS-era wheels are deeper. Dunno where you are, but spacers flunk inspection here.

Yep...

Exactly correct. I'm kinda suprised they even cleared the calipers...

Get some stockers

 

[Zef66]

Yep...

Exactly correct. I'm kinda suprised they even cleared the calipers...

Get some stockers

Any way that I can get a nice set of 16s so my buddy doesn't have to buy new tires on top of new rims? If the tires will work, what rims can I get that will work as well.

And thank you everyone for all your help!!

Edit:

I checked the Wheeler's Offroad wheels from the link posted above. It looks like those might work, but do I need to go with 4.5" backspacing or 4" backspacing? Some inspection agents here in PA can be pricks about tires sticking past the outside of the fenders. Would this be an issue with the 4" backspacing rims?

Thanks again!

 

[RockDoc]

I believe you can order 16" landcruiser rims from your local dealership. They weren't stock in NA, but were elsewhere in the world.

 

[D'Animal]

Are you going to post pictures of where the tires are rubbing before you buy anything?

 

[beaufort-fj60]

Are you going to post pictures of where the tires are rubbing before you buy anything?

I put some 08 taco rims on the 60... they were stock 235 tires, on the rear they rubbed on the upper wheel well during mild articulation. I couldn't imagine them even working on the front without some grinding or a spacer. I think you need a 1" spacer to make them the "same" as a oem 60 rim. And those rims were also used on older tundras.

 

[D'Animal]

I rub and I have OME 3.5" lift and 33"s on stock rims on my FJ60.

I know when I rub since it happens when I'm off roading, generally in a wicked rock garden. or going down to get the mail "cross country style".

 

[Zef66]

Are you going to post pictures of where the tires are rubbing before you buy anything?

This is the best picture that I could find without going back out to my buddys to take more pictures:

Hope that helps. And thanks again for everyone's help.

I think I am leaning towards recommending rims from Wheelers Offroad as posted above as I haven't been able to find anything else right now.

 

[beaufort-fj60]

I bet that line on the tire is from the wheel well....

 

[D'Animal]

Is the rub fresh?

I had rub marks just like that on the front tires when I aired down my 38" super swamper to 3 psi. They rubbed the steering arm. I took the front tires and mounted them on the back and then aired up to 10psi. No problems. I them had funny rub marks on the rear tires with no explination to the untrained eye.

 

[Zef66]

Is the rub fresh?

I had rub marks just like that on the front tires when I aired down my 38" super swamper to 3 psi. They rubbed the steering arm. I took the front tires and mounted them on the back and then aired up to 10psi. No problems. I them had funny rub marks on the rear tires with no explination to the untrained eye.

The wagon threw a belt, so I wasn't able to drive it like I had hoped. So I don't know where exactly it rubs, or what it feels like. Nor did I have a jack to jack it up and investigate further. But from what I was told, the tires rub when turning hard and the inspection agent wouldn't pass it for safety inspection. I could probably slide it through somewhere else, but my friend that drives the wagon doesn't know a whole lot about mechanics of cars, and I would feel bad if anything happened because I told him it would be okay to drive. So just trying to find the cheapest solution for him. And since his tires are in very good condition, I think the best solution would be a cheap set of 16" rims, either new or used with the proper backspacing.

 

[D'Animal]

Were are you and your friend located?

Woyotovich (sp) always has FJ60 wheels for sale in the upper east coast. OrangeFj45 has them for sale in the Northern California area and I seem to always have a stack of them in central California.

 

[D'Animal]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/sale-tires-wheels/237209-16-chrome-split-rims-$300-no-shipping.html


Shipping rims is a pain, but doable.

 

[fowldarr]

there are a lot of posts on here about what rims fit. Just buy new ones, you can get them in 16s if you want. Problem fixed, inspection passed. If that fails, I know a guy that does safety inspections in some podunk town in Pa.

 

[Zef66]

Were are you and your friend located?

Woyotovich (sp) always has FJ60 wheels for sale in the upper east coast. OrangeFj45 has them for sale in the Northern California area and I seem to always have a stack of them in central California.

Updated my location. I am in central PA.

I would love to find something close that we can work with. And thank you for all your help. I am trying to wade through the classifieds right now.