Winter wheel and tire setup for a LC Premium in the Great White North

Rijk Liebemshats

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Jan 8, 2025
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(incoming) LC250 Heritage Blue, Toyota Hilux , VW Eurovan CV Westfalia , Subaru BRZ , BMW 440i GC
I am looking at a smart winter setup for Canada, now that I have a confirmation that our TLC is on a boat from Japan. It will land in February so it will be snowy when we take delivery.
As you know, it comes standard with 20 Inch wheels and what I presume are road tires (not sure what). I've been contemplating buying a set of 18's with quality winter (no studs allowed here) but I am having a hard time justifying putting on steelies for 6 months a year on such an expensive truck. So I might spring for a nicer set of wheels.
Also, If I were to go for 18's and not swap my spare, I would have to exactly match the diameter. Would it be wiser to just go for 20's for the winter setup too?
Also, if I choose to go for a nice set of wheels, what would you do. Use the stock wheels for winter tires and get some nice different wheels for summer? Should I consider dark bronze wheels on our heritage blue (wife says no lol) or maybe grey?

Sorry if I am beating a dead horse.
 
I think you are thinking correctly. If you match the outer diameter of the tire, it doesn't really matter about the wheel's diameter. ie.... 265/70/18 on an 18" wheel and a 265/70/20 on a 20" wheel would basically be the same. So which ever spare would drive the same until you got it fixed/replaced.
 
I presume you mean 265/60R20 vs 265/70R18. which would have the same diameter.
 
Mine should arrive with 20s, i recently picked up a set of like new 20s of same.
Keep your 20s with whatever tire you prefer.
Pick up a set of like new 20s and mount a nice other season tire.
This custom wheel thing is way over done. The factory wheels are excellent and look great. You pick up very little and no advantage by going to 18s. The 20s with a decent profile such as 60 handle much better regardless of the tire type.
A fancier more soccermom look admittedly, but thats ok, allows for the thousands to be spent on better things more necessary like a compressor and other goodies.
The 20s are a bargain when a set comes up reasonably local to you. Personally the 20s look great with any 60 series tire.

See what i mean, all this money spent and now dead weight.

Drive the Cruiser for a while and figure out what's really important.
πŸͺ πŸͺ πŸͺ
 
I was in the same boat, I grabbed a set of 275/60/20 winter tires and bought a nicer set of wheels for spring. 265/60/20 is a bit of an oddball size and way more options in the 275 and they fit without issue.
 
I was in the same boat, I grabbed a set of 275/60/20 winter tires and bought a nicer set of wheels for spring. 265/60/20 is a bit of an oddball size and way more options in the 275 and they fit without issue.
I also used the 20” wheels for my winter set and got a set of 18” wheels for my summer/off-road set, but as mkt says there are almost no 20” winter tire options in 265 and lots in 275. For 18” it’s the opposite, at least if you want to stay with standard load tires instead of heavy E load β€” not many options in 275/70R18, many more in 265. I went with 5 wheels for both so it doesn’t matter.
 
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My winter set are take off 18” First Edition wheels I purchased from another member and got TPMS for.

Tomorrow I hope to get the Michelin X-Ice Snow tires installed on them, sized 265/70/R18 so they’re an identical rolling diameter as the 265/60/R20 that the truck came with.
 
I have seen a lot of folks selling their 18” original wheels, check out Facebook Marketplace for sales near you. I picked up a set of LC 18” wheels w TPMS for $600 CDN last Fall.
 
I have seen a lot of folks selling their 18” original wheels, check out Facebook Marketplace for sales near you. I picked up a set of LC 18” wheels w TPMS for $600 CDN last Fall.
I also bought take off 18” rims for winter tires. The OEM 18’s look great imho. Fit them with blizzaks 255/70/18. Not much difference in diameter to the OEM 20’s, not enough to worry about using the 20” spare. O.P. Yours will most likely be fitted with Yokohama geolander on the 20’s from the factory.
 

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I am going to see if the dealer has any take off rims for the winter.

I've been checking Kijiji and Facebook marketplace for some rims but no luck so far. I live in the boondocks so finding a set is a bit of a challenge.

Is there anybody out there running steelies? I might consider that if it looks decent. I still have a bag of grey powder coating I planned on using on my FJ40 but I never did.
Maybe grey steel wheels will look cool.
 
I am going to see if the dealer has any take off rims for the winter.

I've been checking Kijiji and Facebook marketplace for some rims but no luck so far. I live in the boondocks so finding a set is a bit of a challenge.

Is there anybody out there running steelies? I might consider that if it looks decent. I still have a bag of grey powder coating I planned on using on my FJ40 but I never did.
Maybe grey steel wheels will look cool.
Wait for a nice set of Cruiser take offs. They are dropping like flies here.
Great value. Even if you have to drive a couple hours well worth it.
Arguably if your really going to thrash steelies are always a good way to go.
 
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