Tire Upsizing - Clearance and Pressure Monitors?

[Crazy888888s]

My LC200 came with stock 285 60 18 Dunlops Grand Treks. These are really all season tires best for moderate weather highway use.

I was going to mount a set of Bridgestone Blizzak dedicated snow tires for the winter in size 265 70 18 (model DM Z2). These are beasts and have a weight rating suitable for the LC200.

So based on my online tire calculator (the best one is here: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html since it shows the sidewall and end image) the overall diameter of the snow tire will be 32.6 inches which is 1.1 inches taller than the stock tire which is 31.5 inches in diameter.

The snows will be about a little bit narrower than the stock tires which is a benefit in snow traction. I know my speedo will be underreporting my speed by about 5% but I'm OK with that.

Will I have tire clearance issues or rubbing? I know you wheelers must have upsized. I am assuming I will be OK.

Will any of this mess up my tire pressure monitors?

I guess with 1 inch of extra tire diameter I will gain about 0.5 inches of ride height. Is my math right?

 

[Crazy888888s]

Not a single response?

I can't believe that not one of the LC200 folks that lurk on this board have up-sized tires. Come on folks, chime in, please.

 

[dtt255]

Well Upsizing the tires would hurt the off road performance.....that is why most people here dont do that.

 

[Crazy888888s]

Well Upsizing the tires would hurt the off road performance.....that is why most people here dont do that.

Really? How come most "built" rigs that I see on these boards have monster large tires?

Does everyone agree that smaller overall diameter tires are better for wheeling?

 

[bwbski26]

Yea you should put like 28 inchers on there.

Of course larger tires are better offroad, more clearance. more surface area.

 

[Crazy888888s]

Ok. I guess tire size and clearance are not hot topics for LC200 folks. I will just assume I will be OK with my 32.6 inch overall diameter and go for it.

 

[chimyz]

Go for it...you will be ok.
There is only minor rubbing on full turn reversing when you get up to 33s.

 

[JBHorne]

Well Upsizing the tires would hurt the off road performance.....that is why most people here dont do that.

? ? ? ? ?

 

[dtt255]

Don't ask....I do not know what the hell I was thinking!!

I could erase the comment, but why bother....I made a mistake. I misunderstood the question.

 

[JBHorne]

Don't ask....I do not know what the hell I was thinking!!

I could erase the comment, but why bother....I made a mistake. I misunderstood the question.

Alrighty then....we'll just leave that at "no comment"...lol

 

[007-FJC]

Well Upsizing the tires would hurt the off road performance.....that is why most people here dont do that.

What dtt255 meant was that upsizing your rims would hurt offroad performance, right dtt

 

[Crazy888888s]

Ah, OK. Now I get it. Bigger diameter and width tires are better for wheeling. Bigger diameter wheel rims detract from performance.

I get what you were saying now dtt.

It's all good because we all learned something.

I am mounting the 32.6 overall diameter tires today so I will let you know if I have rubbing issues.

 

[spressomon]

Ah, OK. Now I get it. Bigger diameter and width tires are better for wheeling. Bigger diameter wheel rims detract from performance.

I get what you were saying now dtt.

It's all good because we all learned something.

I am mounting the 32.6 overall diameter tires today so I will let you know if I have rubbing issues.

I'll stir the pot a little. I ran 315R75 16 (35" x 12.5" x 16") for a couple years. Then this past summer, wanting something not as wide but on 35", I converted to 285R75 18 (35" x 11.2" x 18")...that's the size wheel I have to run if I want ~11" x 35". I've covered some fairly gnarly terrain (same type of trails/terrain as before...typical overlanding/expedition style routes/trails...) with this size and I have to tell you it is better for our conditions out here in Nevada (not much mud; lots of rock, etc). They require less air which accelerates air up/down and takes less CO2 from my tank; tread to ground contact patch is better, etc. I generally am able to run off-road with more air than before with better overall handling and traction characteristics.

I was worried about the 1" less side wall/air gap between the wheel and the ground...but it hasn't been an issue at all.

Having said that I think problems would arise if the wheel was any taller on 35". Or smaller wheels with bigger tires are better for rock crawlers where you need that ultra low PSI and distance from rim to tread of that combo. But the hundy and twundy aren't suited for that type of terrain...

 

[boobook]

Crazy888888's

It will be fine, lots of people here in Australia put 285/70 17 which is the same width and 0.1" bigger in daimeter than your new tires. The 200 ships with 17" rims here. It will be close on the fronts but will clear.

 

[dtt255]

What dtt255 meant was that upsizing your rims would hurt offroad performance, right dtt

At least someone knew what I meant!! ;p

 

[Crazy888888s]

I can report that the 32.6 inch overall diameter tires fit just fine. No rub at all. I do notice that the handling is tiny bit looser with the snow tires. Probably owing the fact that they are 1.6 inches taller than stock, narrower than stock, have more sidewall than stock and are probably not as stiff as stock.

Unfortunately, during the tire changeover, the tech broke one of the tire pressure monitors. They are not a Toyota shop but they bought the Toyota part and installed it when mounting the tire. Problem is, the tech says I need to bring it to a Toyota dealer to have the car "plugged in" so that the new sensor can be recognized. Has anyone ever dealt with this issue?

Sh*t happens.

 

[chimyz]

What about trying the reset button underneath the dash below the steering wheel? Not sure if it will work, but it's worth a try.

 

[Crazy888888s]

What about trying the reset button underneath the dash below the steering wheel? Not sure if it will work, but it's worth a try.

Tried that. The techs called Toyota and the trip to the dealer with the computer flash blast seems to be the only cure.

 

[chimyz]

Sucks!

 

[007-FJC]

At least someone knew what I meant!! ;p

Duh