Tire fitment with suspension lift

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Yes, the biggest spare you can fit is 32" so you need to either roll the dice with damaging your torsen center diff when running an undersized spare in an emergency, or you need to factor in how to carry a spare externally.

For me personally it wasn't worth the hassle so I stuck with 265/65/18.
 
I built a tire cubby that can fit up to a 40" tire. Because goals.
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alhounos said:
Yes, the biggest spare you can fit is 32" so you need to either roll the dice with damaging your torsen center diff when running an undersized spare in an emergency, or you need to factor in how to carry a spare externally.

For me personally it wasn't worth the hassle so I stuck with 265/65/18.
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The GX has three diffs between the front, the rear, and the Torsen center diff. So, it should have no problem with a different sized spare under emergency use as the front/rear diffs can accommodate different wheel speed from side to side, and the Torsen can accommodate different speed between the front and rear axles.

I personally have a 255/75R17 spare (which fits in the OEM spare area on my GX470) and 285/70R17 tires on the rig. I've never needed to use the spare tire. I also carry a flat repair kit and onboard air.
 
Rednexus said:
The GX has three diffs between the front, the rear, and the Torsen center diff. So, it should have no problem with a different sized spare under emergency use as the front/rear diffs can accommodate different wheel speed from side to side, and the Torsen can accommodate different speed between the front and rear axles.
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I have a good friend who was a former Toyota tech. I was telling him how I can't fit a 275 in the spare location and he also said you can run a different size as a spare and it would cause no problems.
 
Arailt said:
I have a good friend who was a former Toyota tech. I was telling him how I can't fit a 275 in the spare location and he also said you can run a different size as a spare and it would cause no problems.
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I agree, but... with the caveat that I'd get that matching tire you took of, either fixed or replaced as soon as possible.
In 1995 dollars, we wound up (as in winding up) our drive train on our all-wheel-drive Toyota Previa after replacing a flat with a spare that was too large. That would have, cost us over $3,500. Fortunately, we were still just inside of the warranty and Toyota picked up the tab.
I know many on here say it isn't a problem with the way the GX handles all-wheel-drive, but for me, how's that old adage go? Better safe than broke?
 
r2m said:
I agree, but... with the caveat that I'd get that matching tire you took of, either fixed or replaced as soon as possible.
In 1995 dollars, we wound up (as in winding up) our drive train on our all-wheel-drive Toyota Previa after replacing a flat with a spare that was too large. That would have, cost us over $3,500. Fortunately, we were still just inside of the warranty and Toyota picked up the tab.
I know many on here say it isn't a problem with the way the GX handles all-wheel-drive, but for me, how's that old adage go? Better safe than broke?
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I did some reading and it appears the Previa uses a viscous center diff, much like a manual-transmission equipped Subaru. They have their own fluid retained in a small differential case and rely on fluid-based friction between a stack of metal plates. Those diffs can be pone to having the silicone-based fluid overheat and a probably a lot more sensitive than a Torsen center diff which is 100% gear based (no special friction fluid) and uses all 1.3 quarts of gear oil in the transfer case.

The wheels on the GX turn different speeds all the time - every time you aren't going in a straight line, you have each tire turning a different speed on each axle and will also have some differential in speed between the front axle and rear axle. Driving a curvy mountain road or wheeling will result in everything always being turning a different speed :).

But to your point - use of a different sized spare is best left for emergency use. Put the spare on and go straight to a tire shop to get the damaged tire fixed or replaced. If you drive on mis-sized tires for long periods of time you are begging for trouble. There is some potential for inconvenience in this manner for a hypothetical future flat tire (as you would want to get to that tire shop ASAP), but there is real inconvenience with having a full-size spare mounted outside the vehicle and having to deal with it every day on the swingout.
 
r2m said:
I agree, but... with the caveat that I'd get that matching tire you took of, either fixed or replaced as soon as possible.
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Agreed. When I said as a spare, that's exactly what I meant (straight to get the regular tire fixed). Probably should have been more clear. Don't drive on a donut for 30k. ;)
 
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Rednexus said:
The GX has three diffs between the front, the rear, and the Torsen center diff. So, it should have no problem with a different sized spare under emergency use as the front/rear diffs can accommodate different wheel speed from side to side, and the Torsen can accommodate different speed between the front and rear axles.

I personally have a 255/75R17 spare (which fits in the OEM spare area on my GX470) and 285/70R17 tires on the rig. I've never needed to use the spare tire. I also carry a flat repair kit and onboard air.
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yeah there's obviously a question of how much of a size differential really matters and how far you can drive, etc.
Your case obviously is pretty unusual at less than 1" difference. But realistically do people buy 33" tires and a separate new 32" spare? no, they just keep a 31" OEM spare and 33s, or bigger, which is a ~ 8% wheel speed difference. that's enough that if you had a flat you really have to end your trip and go directly to a tire shop. it also means you have an "only emergency" spare sitting there dry-rotting away instead of being part of a 5-tire rotation. for me, not really worth it for an extra 0.5" of ground clearance over a set of 5 32" tires. for hard-core wheelers who do day trips only, maybe it makes more sense.
 
alhounos said:
yeah there's obviously a question of how much of a size differential really matters and how far you can drive, etc.
Your case obviously is pretty unusual at less than 1" difference. But realistically do people buy 33" tires and a separate new 32" spare? no, they just keep a 31" OEM spare and 33s, or bigger, which is a ~ 8% wheel speed difference. that's enough that if you had a flat you really have to end your trip and go directly to a tire shop. it also means you have an "only emergency" spare sitting there dry-rotting away instead of being part of a 5-tire rotation. for me, not really worth it for an extra 0.5" of ground clearance over a set of 5 32" tires. for hard-core wheelers who do day trips only, maybe it makes more sense.
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If you are a hard-core wheeler you really.need a full size spare.

This is a hill i have decided to die on in my 4wd club.
 
alhounos said:
yeah there's obviously a question of how much of a size differential really matters and how far you can drive, etc.
Your case obviously is pretty unusual at less than 1" difference. But realistically do people buy 33" tires and a separate new 32" spare? no, they just keep a 31" OEM spare and 33s, or bigger, which is a ~ 8% wheel speed difference. that's enough that if you had a flat you really have to end your trip and go directly to a tire shop. it also means you have an "only emergency" spare sitting there dry-rotting away instead of being part of a 5-tire rotation. for me, not really worth it for an extra 0.5" of ground clearance over a set of 5 32" tires. for hard-core wheelers who do day trips only, maybe it makes more sense.
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I specifically bought a brand new 255/75R17 spare as my spare was OEM-original and quite dry rotted :). I expect it will go 5-7 years before I replace it again. Regardless, it's a cheaper Kenda Klever which was ~$180 or so relative to my Falkens 285s that were over $300 a tire, but still a good enough AT tire that I'd be comfortable getting off the trail using it.

FWIW, I ran 32s for years and was amazed how much better the rig wheeled with 33s and how much more comfortable it was over rough terrain. That extra 0.5" of sidewall makes a big difference.
 
anecdotal experience- in a very hot july day, i got a side wall tear 40 miles into white trim trail, which is over 100 miles including connecting roads needed to access. it was either turning around which would take 6 hours , or finish the trail which took 8 hours.

i was glad i had a full sized spare and not have to worry about not only the way out, but also the 800 mile drive home.

there was however a fantastic view and it was flat

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llm said:
anecdotally experience- in a very hot july day, i got a side wall tear 40 miles into white trim trail, which is over 100 miles including connecting roads needed to access. it was either turning around which would take 6 hours , or finish the trail which took 8 hours.

i was glad i had a full sized spare and not have to worry about not only the way out, but also the 800 mile drive home.
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Yea... stuff like that makes me think about going aussie style and having two spares.
 
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llm said:
yeah and get this. the adhesive or the accelerant for my glue tread hardened! lots of complaints about this recently
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Oofta, thats a bitch
 
llm said:
yeah and get this. the adhesive or the accelerant for my glue tread hardened! lots of complaints about this recently
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Perhaps I should check mine. It's been in the back of the rig for sevearl years now!
 
Just a reminder, you can travel unlimited miles on any size spare that'll fit as a replacement for you flat tire, the caveat is that you have to be driving on a surface that will allow tire scrub, such as: gravel, dirt roads/trails, snow, ice, mud, etc.
 
another quick question - can you deactivate the trackpad? I never use it and my wife likes to bump it and mess w/ the navigation system
 
sandypheet said:
hey guys, I have my 30k service coming soon, should I just do a local mechanic or the lex dealership?
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I've been using the same independent certified mechanic for about 35 years. Cheaper, honest, and only a few blocks from my home.
Only thing is he only works on stock vehicles, excluding lifts. I mean, no hot rodding mods.
Find a local independent with LOT's of review and a high, as close to 5 star as possible, rating.
Considering you're in San Diego, I have two guys that are really good up here. One in San Clemente and the other in San Juan Capistrano. Honest, fair and certified.

PM me if you want names and numbers, unless you find someone near you.
 
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