Basketcase

Hey guys. I have a 2012 Tundra that I bought a few years ago. I put a mild lift and "35"'s on it and honestly, I love the look. Fast forward 2 years with the lift and I'm tired of the noisy tires and the gas mileage. I cant be the only one. I'm contemplating now going back to stock height and putting stock size Michelin Defender LTX tires on. Its the season of towing boats and I tow 2.5 hours each way a few times a month. Has anyone else had similar regrets? I told myself when I got the truck that I'd leave it alone. Oops!

230weekenderUSC

Basketcase

That too. The bed height is a bit annoying sometimes. Overall for a truck that will never see the woods, it just seems impractical. It is pretty though.

MacCTD

I don't regret it, I usually only go a couple inches, on my Truck I am running BFG radial all terrains, on my Jeep Toyo Open Country IIs, both pretty mild tread designs, no louder than stock tires. I am thinking of getting a Ram 2500 next and plan on leveling it and putting 35s on it as soon as I get it.

kurttruk

Yep i did the leveling kit and the bigger tires. I wish i never did. I have since down sized tires to just above stock and found the nitto terra grapplers are quiet enough. The bigger tires towed terrible and took forever to stop and accelerate.

avalonandl

Thats why I am stock on my 2015 Duramax.

Basketcase

I have the toyo AT II on this truck and they howl. Seemingly worse than when new, which is normal, but even when new they were louder.

lazyboi1212

If you tow leave it alone. If you don't - lift that thing.

btf112989

MacCTD

Surprising, do you rotate them, mine are 285/75/17s, I rotate them every 5k miles, I have close to 40k miles on them and they still have plenty of tread left.

Regulator29

I would not change a thing about my suspension and have 32,000 miles on it and the 35" BFG KO2s. Suspension is mid travel ICON VS2.5 front and rear and CB+2 shackles & polyurethane bushings. Trucks rides better then stock on pavement and get 14 mpg around town and 17-18 on interstate.

Salty22

I'm +2" in the front and same in the back over stock sized nitto terra grapplers. I've had it that way for two years and i'm very happy with the way it rides. I was most concerned that it would look like my truck skipped leg day sitting lifted over factory size rubber but the lift is mild enough that it doesn't look funny at all. I'm a big fan of the terra grapplers and would definitely recommend them

Basketcase

Mine are 295 70 18 rotated at 5k. Even when they were new I could hear them, but it was still new and still cool so I overlooked it. The novelty has worn off. I have probably 15 to 20k on them. I'd say they're half to 3/4 tread still left and they're getting louder. I used to be able to tow from NH to RI there and back on one tank of fuel very comfortably. Since the lift, I have to fuel up. The real killer is the noise though.

Basketcase

It looks great. Very similar setup as mine and I loved it when I first did it. Even for about a year and a half afterwards. I think that is about the mileage I get now. It was better before and I want it back. If you say yours isn't loud, I wonder if the 20 vs 18" wheel plays a part in that. I like the BFG tires. I have them on my 4runner but that truck is loud for other reasons, so I'd have no clue about tire noise.

Regulator29

When I was still trailering a boat I had an F350 6.7PS with GY Duratrac on 20" wheels and they had a pretty loud hum to them and why I went with the KO2. I still have tons of life in them, but when its time I will be going right back with the same tire. I haven't towed anything really heavy so not sure the impact my 2" lift would have if any. I hated how the truck looked stock and hated how the truck handled more, suspension fixed that, but still miss that F350 6.7 PS.

Regulator29

I also added Hypertech Speedometer Calibrator, so my speed an odometer is correct after increasing tire size. I calibrated with hand held GPS to get it exact.

tmd11111

I had 325/60-20 DuraTrac's on my F250 and found if you rotate them every 5-6k miles they stayed quiet and wore evenly. I got almost 70k miles out of the first set. Switched to KO2's and although they were a bit quieter traction on them sucked compared to the GY's.

Regulator29

DuraTrac's were noisy from day one, they wore great and when I traded in the truck with 50K on the odometer they had tons of life. Since I like money and I like expensive tires, rotating tire every 5K is part of my routine maintenance schedule. Not sure if the weight of the diesel was the difference. You are correct about the traction though, that F350 with DuraTrac's was a beast especially in the snow.

Tawn

I have a 2016 F-250 and have debated toying with it and lifting it - decided against it. It looks and drive nice as is. After the novelty of the idea wore off, I am glad I didn't.

On the Half Shell

I wouldn't lift a 3/4-ton truck because they are good as is to me.

For 1/2-ton trucks, they all seem to look better with it and some require it for anything other than easy dirt trails. GM's low front overhang are the worst. I put Bilstien 5100 shocks on mine which is an improvement in ride and handling over the Z71's Ranchos and it raised the front to the right height without having to add anything else such as a leveling kit or lift. Stock size tires but went more true AT than the not quite AT Goodyears it came with. No regrets going this route.

I'm sure a Fox/King/Icon set-up would be better but much more money.

Since you like the Tundra, I would buy a TRD with the Fox shocks and good tires and leave it alone.