Wheels & Tires (Complicated)

[h4ngt3n]

Hello, I am new here. I have a 2018 LC 200 stock everything (Besides a temporary Yakima rack) until I go buy the Front Runner rack. This has been my wife's car but I am stealing it (traded in my 4Runner TRD Pro to get her this). She wants a smaller Lexus SUV now and I'm stoked.

Here is what I would like in an ideal world (Had on my 4runner but different sizes)
Wheels:
Drop Star 645 MB Machined Black
Tires:
Toyo OPEN COUNTRY C/T All-Terrain OR Mud-Terrain



With all the off-sets weight ratings, backspacing and etc, I just don't have any clue what will fit and what will not. Can anyone help? Has anyone gone with Drop Star brand wheels? Anything I should be concerned about? Alternatives that are not TRD/Method?

----Background Information (Before I get flamed)-----

1. I know how to search.

2. I understand that
BFG KO2s 275/70/18 are the largest and most popular selection (From wheel/tire db)

3. I understand almost everyone likes the TRD Pro wheels (Rock Warrior, New TRD Pro) and a lot of Method Wheels

4, I know nothing about off-sets, backspaces, weight ratings.

5. I just want a wheel that looks good but that is safe. I have seen a lot of discussions around weight ratings etc (is my request unsafe?)

Here is an example of the combo (Looks Awesome!!!)

 

[indycole]

Not a fan of the stock wheels? I'd run those for a while if I were in your shoes.

 

[h4ngt3n]

On a side note the other things I plan on doing include...
1) Removing the running boards
2) Adding FrontRunner Rack
3) TentBox Hardshell Roof Top Tent
4) Adding Front Runner Canopy
5) Adding OEM Spacer

This is my daily driver but I do love driving easy trails and last minute camping without an RV.

 

[ArnieC]

I went through this same thing a few months ago and finally decided on TRD Rock Warriors with 285/70-17 BFG All Terrains for a few reasons:

• No rub at all with stock suspension
• Lifts don't buy you much if any tire clearance on a 200 and I didn't want to modify my front bumper or fender liners at all.
• Most aftermarket wheels look and are cheap Chinese wheels made of God knows what alloy and who know's what spec, even if there are published specs from the manufacturer
• Most aftermarket wheels are manufactured for a short period of time, and as tastes change, you may be stuck with an oddball set of 3 if one gets damaged. Only solution for this is buying a spare wheel right from the get-go.
• Used aftermarket wheels hold their value about as good as a pumpkin in November.
• Rock Warriors and other upmarket TRD wheels will always command a decent value and be replaceable.
• TRD wheels are engineered for your application by engineers, not marketing teams and designer.

 

[h4ngt3n]

Not a fan of the stock wheels? I'd run those for a while if I were in your shoes.

Honestly, not a fan at all. To be quite frank, I wasn't even a fan of the LC200 altogether until I saw what people were doing with them. Now I was completely in love with my 4Runner TRD Pro. I like something that looks a little more youthful and less luxury.

 

[h4ngt3n]

I went through this same thing a few months ago and finally decided on TRD Rock Warriors with 285/70-17 BFG All Terrains for a few reasons:

• No rub at all with stock suspension
• Lifts don't buy you much if any tire clearance on a 200 and I didn't want to modify my front bumper or fender liners at all.
• Most aftermarket wheels look and are cheap Chinese wheels made of God knows what alloy and who know's what spec, even if there are published specs from the manufacturer
• Most aftermarket wheels are manufactured for a short period of time, and as tastes change, you may be stuck with an oddball set of 3 if one gets damaged. Only solution for this is buying a spare wheel right from the get-go.
• Used aftermarket wheels hold their value about as good as a pumpkin in November.
• Rock Warriors and other upmarket TRD wheels will always command a decent value and be replaceable.
• TRD wheels are engineered for your application by engineers, not marketing teams and designer.

I am expecting that this will be a popular conclusion. It's possible that the result of this post is me coming to the same conclusion. I appreciate the reasoning.

 

[indycole]

I currently run Fuel Beast wheels. I like the look of them but would prefer a higher weight rating and the offset is just enough that I still have a bit of rubbing.

I'd stick to either OEM wheels, TRD wheels (the 17" rock warriors or 18" BBS — both are forged), or the Evo Corse DakarZero if the offset is right. There's nothing particularly wrong with any of the other wheels folks tend to run... I'd just prefer to step up to forged or at least cast wheels with a higher than average load rating.

 

[h4ngt3n]

I currently run Fuel Beast wheels. I like the look of them but would prefer a higher weight rating and the offset is just enough that I still have a bit of rubbing.

I'd stick to either OEM wheels, TRD wheels (the 17" rock warriors or 18" BBS — both are forged), or the Evo Corse DakarZero if the offset is right. There's nothing particularly wrong with any of the other wheels folks tend to run... I'd just prefer to step up to forged or at least cast wheels with a higher than average load rating.

I could be convinced of the all black 18" BBS wheels, they just seemed a little expensive for a look I wasn't totally in love with but y'all can't be wrong.

 

[h4ngt3n]

I currently run Fuel Beast wheels.

Wow just looked those up, look amazing! Can you send me the specifics, I am okay with a little rubbing! giggity

 

[indycole]

The weight rating (2500 lb) is a much bigger problem than the rubbing. Pretty much all wheels other than those I listed above have a 2500 lb load rating or less. It's easy for these trucks to get pretty heavy so I'd encourage anyone in the market for new wheels to optimize around proper load rating and fitment over looks. This is why people like the TRD forged wheels.

 

[h4ngt3n]

So this guy Milaad must be my spirit animal because this is the exact look I want. I know I said no on method but this looks perfect. Even has the other mods I want, only thing I’d add is smoked taillights.

 

[M1911]

Stick with the stock wheels. Put the money that you were going to spend on the wheels into something useful like a lift.

 

[Just a Ninja]

I'm pretty new to this forum as well but I have learned one thing... If u get on here and say u want aftermarket wheels and ur not interested in Rock Warriors then you're going to get a lot of people telling you to stay with stock or get RW's. I was going to get new wheels but decided to try the 1.25" Spidertrax spacers and they actually changed the appearance enough that I'm happy with them for now.

WHEN I decide to get some other wheels I will most likely get one of the ones below:

Evo Corse DakarZero 18"x8.5" Toyota Tundra, Land Cruiser 200 Series ET

Overview: DakarZero is the 18 inch version of the famous Dakar line: a wheel dedicated to off-road, cross-country rally and rally raid. Compared to the smaller models, the new 18-inch version features a slight difference on the style, characterized by paired laterally ribbed spokes: a detail...

www.mainlineoverland.com

Products - Icon Vehicle Dynamics

Icon Vehicle Dynamics quality off-road suspension system components, lift kits, coil over shocks, uniball upper control arms, leaf springs, life-time warranty and guarantee of all manufactured parts, and personalized customer service and tech support for Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan, Jeep, Dodge...

iconvehicledynamics.com

Offset:.. this number is the difference, in millimeters, between the face of your hub (where the wheel makes contact) and the centerline of your wheel. Zero offset is when the centerline of ur wheel is in the same plane as the face of the hub. Positive offset is when the centerline of the wheel is pushed inside towards the middle of the vehicle and negative offset is when the centerline is pushed out away from the vehicle giving the wheels that popped out look.

Our stock LC 200 wheels are +60 offset (I think) which is why they are tucked so far under the truck. When I added the 1.25 inch spacers that pulled the wheels out and now they are roughly equal to a +28 offset which I think is about perfect. The Icon wheels above are a +25 offset so should result in tires that are pretty close to flush with the fenders. Plenty of people will tell you that flush wheels makes it harder to "tuck" the tires during articulation but I like the look and I haven't had any issues with the mild off roading I've done so far.

I know that was long but hopefully that helped a little.

Picture of mine with stock wheels and 1.25 inch spacers for reference.

 

[timjax]

285/65R18 or 285/70R17 should be a perfect fit. That is the go to size on the forum (same size tire, just different specs for different wheel diameters).

The Toyos are good tires, the All Terrains will behave a bit better on road (road noise, handling), while the Mud Terrains have a very aggressive tread and sidewall that's better for off road. Toyo also makes Nitto, so the Ridge Grapplers are a popular option as well. BFG KO2's are also tried and true.


Wheel wise, I feel like some good options are:
-EvoCorse Dakarzero: 17x8 +40
-Icon Rebound or Six Speed: 17x8.5 +25
-FN Wheels FX Pro: 18x9 +25
-FN Wheels Six Shooter: 17x8.5 +25 (text Dustin for our 5x150 FN wheels, these and the FX Pro aren't listed online)
-Method NV: 18x9 +25
-Method 313: 17x8.5 +25
-Stealth Custom Series Ray10: 18x9 +25
-KMC Turbine: 17x8.5 +25 (very affordable)


These all look great on 200 series Land Cruisers, and all have been confirmed to fit comfortably with the tire sizes I listed without a lift. They are also confirmed to be load rated for our trucks, lightweight to not kill MPGs and performance, and are made by reputable off-road focused wheel companies. I am not sure if I would trust the quality of wheels made for street trucks such as the Drop Stars you mentioned. Unfortunately, our options are quite limited based on offset and bolt pattern, so there's not a whole lot more than what I listed that you could run.

The approximate stock safe range are wheels 17-18" in diameter, 7.5-9" in width, and ET +18 to +50 in offset, of course in our 5x150 bolt pattern with a 110.5 hub centerbore. Tires below 34" in diameter and below 12" in width should work fine as well.

I would not stray out of those ranges if you do not want to do fender liner or frame modification, or if you do not plan on having aftermarket adjustable UCAs and a lift. +25 offset is about the sweet spot for minimal to no rubbing but still making the wheels sit a bit more flush with the fender, +40 or more is very safe and allows for very extended ranges of motions in weird angles as well.

Hope this helps!

 

[Just a Ninja]

@timjax said it MUCH better than I could... In fact that post should be stickied somewhere as the most concise rundown of tire/wheel info that most people want to know. Took me 2 weeks of researching to figure out most of that. Haha.

 

[AZCRSR]

So this guy Milaad must be my spirit animal because this is the exact look I want. I know I said no on method but this looks perfect. Even has the other mods I want, only thing I’d add is smoked taillights.

I'd add cutting off the mud flaps to your list of mods to help give you a more lifted look without the lift.

 

[h4ngt3n]

I'd add cutting off the mud flaps to your list of mods to help give you a more lifted look without the lift.

That's great advice. Will do, hopefully can find a good tutorial in the forums.

 

[h4ngt3n]

Picture of mine with stock wheels and 1.25 inch spacers for reference.

That's super helpful! I love the way yours looks as well.