My Ridgeline RTS is going under the wrench tomorrow! (Fat Bob's & 255/70/17 Tires)
My Fat Bob's lift came in and will be getting installed tomorrow. While the Ridge is in the shop, they will also be installing new tires and performing a four-wheel alignment. The local Goodyear shop ordered me a set of 245/70/17 Duratracs and 255/70/17 Wrangler SilentArmors. I'm still trying to decide which ones to go with, but I'm leaning toward the Wrangler SilentArmors because I think they suit my driving better. I'm not sure if they will fit without rubbing though. I went ahead and removed the mudguards as a preventative measure. If they still rub, I'll just get the Duratracs. Here are some before pics. I'll be sure to post some after pics when I get a chance. I took before measurements of the front and rear fenders. I'll post an update to confirm whether this is truly a 2" lift front and rear, or 2" front & 1.5" rear.
You do realize your fender measurement will be higher with larger tires and no lift. What I'm trying to say is if you don't put your same worn out tires on and measure after the lift your numbers will be off when trying to figure how much actual lift Fat Bob kit gave you.
You are correct. However, I will be able to tell whether the rear was lifted the same amount as the front. Also, I can measure the overall height of the new tires compared to the old, and subtract the difference from the overall fender height after the lift, to see how much height the lift gave me.
The Tire Fitment Chart has been a big help in my tire size research. The 255/70/17 isn't listed yet, so I am going to experiment with them. The spec sheet lists their overall diameter as 31.1". The Fat Bob's lift paperwork states that a 31" tire will fit. When I measured the tire with a tape measure, it looked more like 30.5". I am going to have the shop mount one of each of the tires and check the fitment on the front. If the SilentArmors still rub on the front wheel well with the mud guards off, I'll go with the 245/70/17 Duratracs instead. I'll update the thread with the results.
I've got 245/70 17's Toyo A/T without a lift and there is definately a little more room in there, so for you, with the lift, I would assume you will be good to go! :act035:
And I still have the factory mud flaps all around!:act064:
I had the 255/70/17 Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor installed and they fit with no rubbing. It is a good thing I had already removed the mud guards, because I think the tires would have rubbed on them. The truck looks awesome. I'll post some pics later. The tires seem to be balanced perfectly and are very quiet. So far, I'm very happy with the upgrade.
I've updated the original post with the new measurements and pics. I am very happy with the improvement. Well worth it. The pictures don't do it justice. It looks awesome in person. After measuring, the Fat Bob's Lift is 2" Front, 1.5" Rear, even though it is advertised as 2"/2". Doesn't bother me though. It still has a little bit of rake, and I like how it looks. The local Goodyear shop only charged me 2 hours of labor to install the lift, which I considered more than fair. Again, I'm very happy with the improvement!
SBD, your truck looks really sharp. It just all goes together with the black sidewalls and all. Great comparison shots too with similar positioning and lighting.
I put ~600 miles on the truck driving to Myrtle Beach. Love the new setup. It drives great, and the tires are very quiet. So far, I would definitely recommend them. Also, the balance and alignment seem perfect. The truck drives very smooth.
Well, the truck is noticeably taller when getting in and out, but it's not a problem for me. My wife and kids are able to get in and out just fine as well. I'm not a big fan of step bars. I like the look better without them. I think they make the truck look lower and take away from the ground clearance.
Well, I've been driving on the Silent Armors & Lift for about 8k miles now, and wanted to report back with my impressions. First of all, I've received numerous compliments on the truck. The tires are holding up great, and I haven't noticed any abnormal wear. We have finally started getting some decent snow around here, and the combination of the tires and the extra ground clearance have made this truck a snow machine. I did take a little bit of a hit on the fuel economy with the taller, heavier tires, but that is to be expected. I'm not having any rubbing problems whatsoever, with the mud flaps removed. I recently had the 105k service done and the truck is running like a champ(Not that it didn't before.) Overall, I'm still very happy with the truck and the modifications I've done.
SBD,
Thank you for posting an update. I think I'm going to use your truck as a template for my '07 RTS which is due to for tires; I have been vacillating between 245/70s or the 255/70s, and the 255s+lift combo changes the look completely.
In looking again at the big "after" rear 3/4 view photo you posted on Page 2, I think your truck would look even more "boffo-matic" than it does now without going overboard if you did the following:
(1) Added the Honda factory accessory taillight garnish to knock down the chrome on the taillights and subtly "butch up" the tough look you have going a wee bit more.
(2) Replace the factory muffler downturned tip with a short chrome or SS straight tip ($20 to $30) coming just out under the lip of the bumper.
(3) Pull out your hairdryer, WD40 and fishing line and debadge the tailgate a bit to look like this:
Damn fine looking truck you got there. Might I inquire what fuel mileage you're seeing. I've got about 15k before I need to make the decision to dump the 18" for 17"...
Yes & no. The lift goes on top of the suspension, so it doesn't lift the suspension. Instead it lifts the body in relation to the suspension, but the suspension doesn't really get in the way much anyway. The RidgeLine has a unibody construction rather than the typical truck frame setup. Not only that but it doesn't have the typical solid rear axle, where the differential would normally be your low point. So, most of the truck gets lifted. Look at the difference between my before and after profile shots, specifically the ground clearance under the doors. The RidgeLine's lowest points(Lower Control Arms?) are unchanged by the lift, but most of the truck is, if that makes any sense.
Your RL looks sharp. With the lift, is there any difference in stablity? What I mean is - do you feel any movement on turns or initial acceleration that wasn't present before the lift was installed?
With this wheel and lift combo, the truck feels more solid than ever. The tires offer much more grip than stock. I believe RidgeLines should come from the factory like this.
How big of a hit did you take on your gas milage. I do a lot of commuting and I'm really debating on if it is worth it. Also I'm curious about body roll while corning.
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