Advice On Tyres & Modifications Needed

May 28, 2011

Hi, I've just bought a 1997 Rav4 stax after owning a lifted Mk3 Hilux Pickup, (33" tyres/body lift/extended shocks & shackles),injury to my ankle means that I am no longer able to get in & out of the truck so needed something smaller. I really like the Rav4 as it is so nippy & comfortable compared to the truck but it seems really strange after sitting so high up,(the pickup was 6' 9" floor to roof). At the moment the tyres I have on are 215/70/R16 & I was wondering how big I could go before the tyres start rubbing, I would like to replace them with AT's as we live on a farm & the roads are very small & muddy, can anyone recommend some. Also can these things be lifted, obviously don't want to lift it too much but could be an option in the future. :thumbsup:

May 28, 2011

Hi, I've just bought a 1997 Rav4 stax after owning a lifted Mk3 Hilux Pickup, (33" tyres/body lift/extended shocks & shackles),injury to my ankle means that I am no longer able to get in & out of the truck so needed something smaller. I really like the Rav4 as it is so nippy & comfortable compared to the truck but it seems really strange after sitting so high up,(the pickup was 6' 9" floor to roof). At the moment the tyres I have on are 215/70/R16 & I was wondering how big I could go before the tyres start rubbing, I would like to replace them with AT's as we live on a farm & the roads are very small & muddy, can anyone recommend some. Also can these things be lifted, obviously don't want to lift it too much but could be an option in the future.

Hi Louiseandi

Welcome to the club :thumbsup:

Right well,your Rav4 can be lifted ( not a lot ) but it can..only by 40mm though :crybaby: ,not really worth it though IMOP

You can fit larger tyres ( i have tried bf goodrich all terrains but they rubbed on full lock) so stuck with yokohama geolanders all terrains ( same size as originals )

Plus....if you get big stones stuck in the treads of bigger tyres,they will wreck your wheel arch liner on full lock.

Because the Rav4 is monocque chassis ( not ladder chassis) like your hilux was,lifting is very limited,on rav4world.com there is a member called Ravster i believe,he has the 40mm lift,with serious tyres.And does more off roading than me.

http://www.rav4world...er4x4-2307.html

I would have loved your hilux with a big lift for off roading myself.But cant warrant the running costs .

May 28, 2011

Hi

thanks for your reply, it was a hard decision to sell as we had fun off-roading in the lux but my injury forced the issue and I wanted to stick with Toyota.

Thanks for the info on the tyres will defo look out for some Geolanders AT's. :thumbsup:

and they have to stay the same size as what's on now ??

May 28, 2011

Hi
thanks for your reply, it was a hard decision to sell as we had fun off-roading in the lux but my injury forced the issue and I wanted to stick with Toyota.
Thanks for the info on the tyres will defo look out for some Geolanders AT's.
and they have to stay the same size as what's on now ??

I found it quite tricky to find anything A/T or M/T that fits the Rav4, ( seems quite a unique size)...as i mentioned earlier,i did try BF A/T at my local garage,but when we fitted one on the front,we tried the wheel on full lock,it missed the arch liner by about 10mm...& any big stones get caught in those treads would do some damage.

Some folk around the world have done it with spacers to push the wheel out a little ( but i dont think its much good for the wheel bearings).

What you gain with one you lose with the other :rolleyes:

So.....yes get the same size as originals....cant go wrong.its what i did. :thumbsup:

I do a little off roading in mine ( there are a few green lanes in essex / suffolk )..i'm on you tube as ' jamierav '...a few greenlane vid's there

Also do some with friends of mine.... (4x4adventuresdays) based in suffolk ,toyota hilux,suzuki jimney & lifted discovery that belongs to (get-wet.co.uk)..based in north wales

Its great fun :lol: :lol:

May 29, 2011

I fitted 18" wheeks to mine which are also a bit wider than the stock - it just depends on the offset as to whether they foul the inner wing.

Neither of my RAVs have any probs with the full wheel lock. I have DARE Drifts fitted on both but am going up to 20" on my fast RAv - low low profile though !