3rd Gen Ground Clearance with 265/75R16

So I was off-roading with a buddy last weekend on a trail (Coney Flats) that's perfect for the limits of my stock (ish) truck. I have new Toyo 265/75R16 E load tires, RCI skids & sliders, and Archive Garage Hammer Hangers. I scraped rocks on this trail several times and even dented my 3/16" steel skid plate. Overall the truck did fine but it really made me want lift and put bigger tires on.

This morning I went out and measured my actual ground clearance and my rear diff pumpkin is sitting 9.25" off the pavement (with 36psi in the tires). The Toyota website says that these trucks are supposed to have 9.4" with the stock tires.

Anyone else look into this before? How is my pumpkin possibly lower than stock with taller tires?

 

Two things...
E rated tires require more pressure.

In order to replicate OEM measurements, you have to measure like they do with the components and tires and pressures they use. If you don't know them, you cannot replicate them.

Learn to pick a better line and you won't need more clearance.

 

the 31.7" -ish tall tires you added about 1" ground clearance IF and only IF they are actually 2" taller than stock and completely round (your contact patch on the bottom of the tire is not round, but flat, you lose about 1/2" or so you can measure, and do some calculations but you loose about a 1/2" to 3/4" due to this). so 9.4" is probably accurate. not to mention all the weight you have from sliders, and skidplates arent helping up front, or in the rear suspension.. also they may be pulling that 9.4" measurement from the SR5 which has a smaller ring and pinion in the rear axle vs the TRD Sport/Offroad/Pro having the larger 8.75" Ring gear. completely different housing...

 

Yeah, I get the whole deal with pressures. It's possible that Toyota over inflates the stock tires to get measurements maybe?

Also, have you driven that trail in a stock DCLB? There are a few spots that seem impossible to not scrape. The truck is long so it doesn't maneuver around those tight corner "crux's" like the shorter rigs do.

 

This is from the Toyota website. My Toyo AT3's are supposed to measure 31.6" according to the website which is exactly 1" bigger than the stock Wrangler 265/70R16's. This, if pressures are more or less equivalent adjusted for load rating, should net me 1/2" more than the supposed stock 9.4" clearance. I am, of course, assuming that the pumpkin is the lowest point on the vehicle. The only thing that affects the pumpkin height is the tires and pressures.



Maybe someone with a TRD OR on stock tires can confirm how close their pumpkin clearance is from the 9.4" stated by Toyota?

 

you do realize this was posted to toyotas website by advertisers trying to sell you something, why would an upscale model have less ground clearance than a cheaper model? that wont sell the upper "OFFROAD" models!!! change it to the SR5 specs, and if anyone questions it we can spew some BS to cover up why they dont have 9.4" clearance.. again I go with my original answer of that 9.4" is only on the sr5 models with the smaller rear axle housing...

 

Worn shocks, full tank of gas, extra weight from your mods, oh is that a shell in your pic? Those are heavy.

 

Thats why they call it the "trail limo"

 

None of those things change the distance between the ground and the pumpkin.

 

I'm bored OP, will go measure and report back in 5

 

Just measured mine. Its 9 1/8" from ground to the lowest part of the pumpking. 36 psi 265/70/17 C load tires. Wtf?

Where is the 9.4"? Bastards. I do have the larger rear diff though, maybe thats why?

 

9.25" interesting.

 

265/75/16 C load Duratracs @36psi

 

Yota lied!

 

First off stop tripping on the pumpkins clearance, if something is going to dig it’s up front and center (Like His skids) on an IFS truck or running boards.
Second I have the same exact E rated tire setup as you and that shit is too low for gnar gnar crawlin. I scrap bad over everything lol.

get taller tires and this won’t be as bad.

 

265/75/16 KO2s @ 36psi:

 

Interesting to see others with the same size tires getting the 9.25". Anyone on TW have stock tires on their TRD OR that wants to measure??

 

A lift will help get the front a bit higher as well as the body and sliders further from rocks. I can live with the pumpkin clearance for now but I'm just disappointed how it's less than advertised.

Getting taller tires opens up a whole other can of worms like regear, CMC, etc. 265/75R16 is the tallest I would go without changing the gearing. Trans already hunts around enough as it is lol.