Best lift kit height and tire size for daily driver

I've been planning/searching for a lift kit and tire size... I've been considering 265 65 17 KO2s with my stock suspension..
Please help.. with pictures please.

PS: I have -10 offset wheels installed and running my stock tires on it.

Thanks in advance

 

For a daily driver 2 inch max lift. Any more than that and you have to put on such a large tire to fill the wheel well in regearing becomes a necessity. IMO the only thing that looks worse than too large of a tire for the suspension is too small of one.

 

No lift for my daily driver
265/65-17 tires
2017 4Runner wheels

 

I was reminded of this yesterday in high winds on the freeway at 75 mph: being top heavy, high profile, and/or no swaybar, can feel like a rolling ship at sea.

 

Lets start with the "why" and "what" part of this post. Why do you want a lift and what are your intended uses? If the answer is looks and street driving which is perfectly legit, I would just go with a 2/1 leveling kit. Shouldn't throw anything majorly out of whack and they're pretty cheap. Honestly I think that this is the best option for most people where their truck lives 99% of it's life on pavement, but they want something that looks a little more rugged.

If you want to daily something that also has more off road capability I would suggest nothing more than a 2in suspension lift and 33in tires. However, this is dependent on what kind of off-roading you're doing. Gravely back roads where you really don't flex out the suspension? Bilstein 5100's and some upgraded leaf springs and you're good to go. Rock crawling? Probably are wanting to go with a mid travel kit which are pricey. All of that said, once you get over 3in you have to start making major changes to the suspension and other drivetrain components, and that's where things get even more expensive. Taller lifts will also cause premature wear and failure of stock parts, kill mpgs, etc.

I would also advise you to browse this thread and really read through it: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-skinny-on-skinny-tires.529656/
You can stuff a skinny 32 or sometimes a 33 on the stock ride height with some minor modifications. This will add you a few inches but not kill your mpgs. You don't have to spend $5k+ on a lift, but at the same time I also wouldn't cheap out. There's nothing more frustrating then realizing what you thought was a good deal was actually low priced garbage, and then needing to spend more money to get what you should have bought initially. Goodluck and really do your research for whatever your specific needs are.

 

Yep……lifted FJ is a pain driving with high winds.

 

I just installed Bilstein 5100s set at clip 4 for 1.5” of lift up front with an Icon progressive add a leaf and kept the overload in since I’m running a topper with 265/70/17s. I think it’s perfect for daily driving and mostly forest service roads I take it on for a good combo of looks and performance. The ride is better than stock; this is probably the best budget “performance lift” you can buy.

 

Bilstein 5100’s on the 4th perch, so ~1.55” of lift in the front. Icon AAL in the rear which makes the truck level, maybe a little higher in the rear when unloaded. Tires are 265/75/16 E-Rated General Grabber ATX. Wheels are 16x8 Black Rhino Stadiums with the -10 offset you want.

Been rocking this setup for about 55k miles and I wouldn’t change a thing. I drive it all over North America and haven’t gotten stuck yet. I also get great gas mileage for a modded truck.

 

TS4x4 pretty much nailed it.

only other thing to consider is buy once, cry once.

think about how you plan to use your truck over the next couple years and save up/spend the money up front on quality.

you’ll notice how well (or poorly) it drives every time you’re in it.

 

Daily driver?
265 65 17?
- Best lift kit height is 0"

Most bang for your buck.
No salesman in the world will tell you that...

 

For now, I'm lifted 1" in the front. Looks about level with the rear to me.
Yokohama Geolander X-AT's in 265/70/17 Load Range E.

If you don't plan on doing any off roading, stray away from the load range E tires. They ride a bit rough, especially for a daily.

 

Loving the stance on your truck, I'm looking to do something similar, I just had 265/75/r16 toyo open country rt trails installed on my 2012 tacoma and was thinking maybe a slight lift in the front like yours, looks awesome

 

Ive been wanting a smaller lift for my daily too. I do take it out so a little extra clearance would be nice.

 

Thanks! I think the 1.5” is about perfect, if I were not running a topper, I might have gone 2” up front with the AAL, but didn’t want it squat loaded since I was already sitting level stock with the camper shell. @Road_Warrior’s insight on this was very insightful.

I’ve put a couple thousand miles on this set up so far and still enjoying. Noticeably better ride (and stance) over stock on both on and off road.

Here’s a few other pics if these help.

 

Mine is not a DD, but I put a lot of weight in road manners/weight/efficiency/longevity because I like to cross the country via interstate. I also rarely hit actual off road "trails," but forest service roads can get pretty lively and I frequently decorate my skids and wheels with new character marks.

I'm at maybe 1+" lift in the front (CV joints are a hair above straight) and 1" in the rear. 6112's on 3/4 w/600 lb springs and Icon RXT stage 1 in the back, with extra weight on both ends. With my ARB skids, I probably have about or slightly less then stock ground clearance.

Loving my 265/75r16 discoverer at3's in load range C. I think they weigh 47lbs a piece. They are really excellent tires. I really punished them out in death valley, at street pressure, and they performed great. I may go down to P series tires next to regain some efficiency. I'm also not a fan of low offset wheels. In my experience, they only cause clearance issues for no real benefit. Many aftermarket wheels are also heavier (and unnecessarily wider) then the stock ones.

If I were really DD'ing, I'd stick with street tires. Definitely no more aggressive then my AT3's, and id stay in P series. Just my take. Some people love their 22" low pro mud tires. I don't get it, but to each their own.

 

Oh hell yea, I definitely gotta get this same setup, I don't go offroadin by any means but would love to hit up a few trails and maybe light mudding, can't currently due to fear of bogging down without a lift and risk tearing something up on the fenders , especially on the 265/75's, I love the look already, just would maybe need a slight lift, this one is mine

 

That's a good looking truck! Love those 2.1 gens.

 

Not to hijack the thread, but if I put Bilstein 5100s on and no aal, will my truck have the same stance as it does before the new suspension? For context, I don't want my truck to sit level. I have a slight rake and want to keep it.

Thanks!

 

I had the same concern, which is why I went 4th clip for 1.5” upfront and the icon AAL in the rear and kept the overload in. This provided an additional .5” of lift and helps support loads. I was sitting nearly level before the lift with the weight of my topper and now have 1/2 to maybe 1” of rake. To maintain rake with clip 4, you’ll need to add something to the rear.

 

To sit level or with slight rake, I wouldn't go above #3 on the front. My plan in the future is install the Bilstein 5100s with the fronts at #3, and a 1" rear block. Keeping factory rake.

Since i don't have a constant load, I don't see the need for an AAL.