Lift Kit or just larger tires

[perryt]

So I am looking to raise up my tercel a bit, should I go with a lift kit of sorts or should I just go with larger wheels / tires ? If wheels & tires how large can I go?

[Neu]

Larger tires/wheels. There isn't really a lift for the tercel, there's spacers to do it, but even that isn't that great.

[splatterdog]

I just put 195/70/14's on my 85. I would say, any bigger and you will probably have some clearance issues at stock height.

[keith]

A lift kit does not give you any more ground clearance, it just lifts the body. It does give you more room for larger tires and larger tires do give you more ground clearance. If your springs aren't sagging, then you should be able to put on tires that are about 2" larger in diameter that will give you about 1" extra ground clearance and height. 185/80-13 tires would do that for you if you can still find them. I've used 185/65-14's. No clearance problems and it added about 1/2" extra ground clearance and height, looked good too.

[simon84]

I'd say a suspension lift of an inch or two at the most is the way to go. Then you can add larger wheels/tires and you are set. I really like the way mine rolls and handles with 205/70/14's and about an inch lift. Without the lift the bigger tires just scrape and rub in the wheel wells too much.
New springs and spacers seem to be the way to get the lift. Some like the air shocks for the back. I used spacers, but I plan to upgrade to pathfinder springs.
Lots of info on here about lifting the tercel.