Method 703 (17" +35, Gloss Titanium)+ Falken Wildpeak AT4W 255/80R17

[BMFS33]

It would help to know which tire you are putting on the 17" rims as well as the load rating (SL or E, for example.) One of the reasons I went with Falken WildPeak AT4w is because it came in a size and spec that met my needs, but the KO3 did not. So, I'd pick a tire first, then find the size that most closely matches the desired diameter.

I’m leaning towards the Falkens. I was originally looking at the Toyo AT III EVs but fear they’re not the right tire for the rocks of the Rockies. I’ve always had KOs but they’re a pain to balance and I never liked their wet traction. KO3s are supposed to be better but I believe the ride will better with the Falkens.

 

[Blue Bear]

I went with the LT255/80R17 and found them to be excellent for the trails in Colorado. If you're going off-road on the rocky trails out west, then I'd definitely stick with an E-load tire. We went over some pretty sharp rocks but I was never worried about a puncture (see pic below). I'm extremely pleased with both the on and off-road performance of the WildPeaks. I attached the size list from Falken to this post.

If you want something wider than the pizza cutter I picked, then the LT285/70R17 (get the E-load for off-roading) fits the bill nicely. Both the 255/80R17 and 285/70R17 are 33" diameter, which is just barely larger than the OEM tires. I found that the speedo was almost dead on for my size. I'm pretty sure that I could've fit up to a 34" tire without rubbing, even at full articulation.

Here's a pic showing how well the aired down AT4w went over a rock...

 

[BMFS33]

I went with the LT255/80R17 and found them to be excellent for the trails in Colorado. If you're going off-road on the rocky trails out west, then I'd definitely stick with an E-load tire. We went over some pretty sharp rocks but I was never worried about a puncture (see pic below). I'm extremely pleased with both the on and off-road performance of the WildPeaks. I attached the size list from Falken to this post.

If you want something wider than the pizza cutter I picked, then the LT285/70R17 (get the E-load for off-roading) fits the bill nicely. Both the 255/80R17 and 285/70R17 are 33" diameter, which is just barely larger than the OEM tires. I found that the speedo was almost dead on for my size. I'm pretty sure that I could've fit up to a 34" tire without rubbing, even at full articulation.

Here's a pic showing how well the aired down AT4w went over a rock...

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Thanks for that. My new spare is 275/70/18 and I don’t want to put a 285 under there. I’m going to stick with 275/70/18s and get rims that will have an offset without poke, like my OEM 18s. Method has one that should come very close to fitting the bill with a 40 offset. Method 18” wheels. If stock are +65 and these are +40 does anyone know how much this could cause tires to stick out? Is anyone out there running this kind of set up?

 

[Blue Bear]

Thanks for that. My new spare is 275/70/18 and I don’t want to put a 285 under there. I’m going to stick with 275/70/18s and get rims that will have an offset without poke, like my OEM 18s. Method has one that should come very close to fitting the bill with a 40 offset. Method 18” wheels. If stock are +65 and these are +40 does anyone know how much this could cause tires to stick out? Is anyone out there running this kind of set up?

It's a little bit more complicated than just giving the offset of the tires. The width of the rim also makes a difference. I don't have any noticeable poke with the +35 Method 703 in part because it is a wider rim than the OEM. The difference between +40 and +65 for rims of the same width is almost exactly one inch of poke. But, if your rim is 1" wider, then the poke is only 0.5".

 

[mav]

That looks great! I like the grey with blue. Any hit to MPG?

I would like to hear about the MPG hit.

 

[Blue Bear]

I would like to hear about the MPG hit.

1-2 mpg difference compared to the 20" OEM Geolander tires. I've found that the outside temperature has a greater impact on mpg than the tires.

 

[KoriCruiser]

nice build! what did you end up doing for the spare?

 

[Blue Bear]

nice build! what did you end up doing for the spare?

The spare matches and fits nicely under the LC. I do a five tire rotation - no sense in wasting $ on a tire that never gets used.

 

[KoriCruiser]

The spare matches and fits nicely under the LC. I do a five tire rotation - no sense in wasting $ on a tire that never gets used.

oh nice! any photos of how the spare sits? i assume it's slightly lower than stock because of the wider wheel?

 

[Blue Bear]

oh nice! any photos of how the spare sits? i assume it's slightly lower than stock because of the wider wheel?

No, it is slightly narrower than stock 20" tire (265/60R20 vs 255/80R17).

 

[papa_tonez]

I’m looking at getting this exact same setup. Did the overall height of your vehicle change with the new wheels/tires? And any impact highway noise? Thanks!

 

[Blue Bear]

I’m looking at getting this exact same setup. Did the overall height of your vehicle change with the new wheels/tires? And any impact highway noise? Thanks!

Yes, the Falken 255/80R17 is a true 33" tire plus it is an E-Load vs. SL load. At 39 psi I gained at least 1/2" clearance. Although the Falken is a relatively quiet AT tire, it is definitely noisier than the 20" OEM SL tires that came stock on my LC. I don't like tire noise, but find this Falken acceptable.

 

[x1di]

it’s also worth looking at

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T LT255/85R17 121/118Q E​

 

[Blue Bear]

it’s also worth looking at

Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T LT255/85R17 121/118Q E​

Mickey Thompson lists that tire as 34.6" diameter (substantially larger than the 255/80R17 Falken WildPeak AT4W which is listed at 33.0" diameter). The weight is 64 lbs vs 58 lbs for the WildPeak. The Mickey Thompson is certainly a nice alternative if you want a larger tire, but the penalty is pretty large in terms of the weight and rotational inertia (roughly a 28% increase in rotational inertia - this tire will definitely reduce mpg and push your brakes harder.) If someone prioritizes ground clearance, then the Mickey Thompson would be the way to go because it will provide about 0.75" additional ground clearance over the Falken.

 

[x1di]

Mickey Thompson lists that tire as 34.6" diameter (substantially larger than the 255/80R17 Falken WildPeak AT4W which is listed at 33.0" diameter). The weight is 64 lbs vs 58 lbs for the WildPeak. The Mickey Thompson is certainly a nice alternative if you want a larger tire, but the penalty is pretty large in terms of the weight and rotational inertia (roughly a 28% increase in rotational inertia - this tire will definitely reduce mpg and push your brakes harder.) If someone prioritizes ground clearance, then the Mickey Thompson would be the way to go because it will provide about 0.75" additional ground clearance over the Falken.

how did you calculate +28% rotational inertia?
weight seems only +10%, which is nothing.

 

[Blue Bear]

how did you calculate +28% rotational inertia?
weight seems only +10%, which is nothing.

Rotational inertia is a function of the radius squared.

 

[x1di]

Rotational inertia is a function of the radius squared.

Hi, a question - have you bought these exact nuts?
Thanks

 

[Blue Bear]

Hi, a question - have you bought these exact nuts?
Thanks

If I'm understanding your picture correctly, then the answer is yes. The Method wheels are lug-centric and require different lugnuts than the OEM wheels. The Toyota OEM wheels are hub centric.