Hey everyone. Been a long time since i have been on here. Gonna get straight to it. Ive got 3"SL/2"BL running 285/70/17 right now with no trimming and with the ever so slightest rubbing when fully turned or compressed when off road in the front.

Been looking at some new shoes. The Nitto Trail Grappler M/T's in 295/70/17. Are any of you guys out there running a similar set up? and how much did you have to trim on the plastic. Im not opposed to losing plastic, but trying not to cut metal.

Its gonna take me from 32.71" to 33.26" Wondering how much 1/2" is gonna affect me here.

Any pics would be nice also.

It would help greatly to know what Xterra you had...but I'm GUESSING you have a 2000 - 2004?

The 1/2" added diameter would effect you by about a 1/4" in clearance...

...as clearance is based on the increase in radius, which is half the diameter.


The 295 vs 285 millimeters of sidewall will mean the tire sidewall clearance will lose ~ 0.2"

All in all, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference with such a teeny weeny little change.

So, if adding a wee bit as described above will put your tires on metal,and they're not even rubbing now, I'd be shocked.

If you take something ~ 1/4" thick for example, and pass it around the tire with it turned and or compressed, etc...and the 1/4" object clears/fits through...you have room.

For perspective, this assumes you have 5.5" of backspacing (OEM BS RIMS)...as otherwise ALL bets are off, on everything.

I run 33x13.5/16's, which are about the diameter you are looking at, but a few inches WIDER than you are looking at...and I didn't have to trim metal....and I also have a 3" SL/2" BL combo.












This means you could ALSO consider a 33x12.5/17 tire, and get a lot better foot print.

TJ,

Thanks for the response, and apologize, but I have an '04 w/ the stock 17"SE wheels.

http://4wheelonline.com/Nitto-Trail-Grappler-Offroad-Tires.135956.456184

Thinking about going with the 295/70/17 in the above tires.

The problem i have is the tires that come in the 33/12.5 are mostly found in the 16" wheel size. Ive thought about it but i just stealthed my wheels and am happy so far with them so why change right?

Have a good one, thanks again for the info and pics.

hey TJ, you seem pretty mart on this stuff, I am new here, just got my 2004 XE, i put new tires on, Destination ATM's size 265/75/16. I am going to put new struts on because the stocks are shot, is there anything on the market that can give me like a small lift.. like 1/2"... my boyfriend is a Tacoma owner and his is super nasty, he has been searching and is plannning on getting me some bilstein struts that have a 16"-24" travel with a higher valve rate.... what ever that means....

he told me i should get on here and ask around.

thanks