33" BFG Needs correct size Rock Crawler Wheels

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elburacho

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Feb 18, 2012
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I thought I researched this to death but of course I messed up. I just recently purchased my first 1986 FJ60. Very happy. I love the look of the FJ60's with the Rock Crawler wheels and the 33 inch BFGs. My plan is to install am Old Man lift as well. I bought some BFG 33X12.5XR15 and then I ordered the Pro Comp Rock Crawlers size 15x8, 6 on 5.5 Bolt Pattern, Backspace=3.75. I had a local tire store start to install them but he came back and said they rub. I obviously ordered the wrong wheel size. What size should I be looking for and what back space?

Thanks for the help!
 
I think you need at least 4" to clear stuff up front.

Back in the day, I used .25 inch spacers and cleared.

Edit: It may have been 4" BS on the rims and I needed to get .25" spacers to get to 4.25"...let me check.

HAd my math wrong... 1/4" spacers REDUCE the amount of backspace, here is my original post...

"The rims are actually 4inch backspace with .25 aluminum spacers to bring it to the magic BS number of 3.75" to clear the front calipers. I bought these tires/rims from Zen80 in Alb. NM. Great deal by the way Zen, thanks! But if I had it to do from the starting gates, I would get 15x8's instead of 15x10's and I would obviously get them at 3.75" BS to begin with instead of running spacers."
 
Last edited:
I can still return them. Should I get 10.5 too. Is that a better fit?
 
It appears everything is correct except the backspace.
You'll want 3.5" or less backspace.

Unfortunately the most popular BS wheels sold are 3.75" or 4.25"

Just about all the steel wheels are made by two companies, Unique and I forget the other.
Both companies will make custom BS and offsets. Your tire shop should be able to order your same style with the BS you want.

I ordered my Cragar (made by Unique) steel wheels through Jegs and it was only an extra $15 per wheel to have them made with 3.25" BS.
 
FL cruiser said:
It appears everything is correct except the backspace.
You'll want 3.5" or less backspace.

Unfortunately the most popular BS wheels sold are 3.75" or 4.25"

Just about all the steel wheels are made by two companies, Unique and I forget the other.
Both companies will make custom BS and offsets. Your tire shop should be able to order your same style with the BS you want.

I ordered my Cragar (made by Unique) steel wheels through Jegs and it was only an extra $15 per wheel to have them made with 3.25" BS.
Click to expand...

x2

3.5" backspace w/ 33x12.5 works for me with OME suspension. https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/78117-15-wheel-recommendations.html#post922486
 
I wasnt very specific in my original post. The rubbing was the wheel and the callipers. Does everything above still apply? Are spacers ok or should I just return the wheels and get a different size?
 
You could see where the wheel is contacting the caliper and then grind the calipers down. I'd do that before adding spacers. You wouldn't be the first person to have to grind the calipers.

Also check the clearance between the rim and tie rod end. If it's almost touching there you'd be happier in the long run exchanging them for some 3.5" BS rims.
 
It's not an optimal situation to run spacers...

When I had spacers, I had 4" back space and needed to get to 3.75" BS
and that was CLOSE. Some of these steelies have "D" holes that were "punched" out from the front and that bends the edge of the hole inward a bit, making it even closer. Many have simply dremeled the edge of the caliper off where it's making contact but you have to be careful doing this as there isn't a ton of material on the caliper at that point and you don't want to go to far and expose the internals of the caliper pistons.
 
elburacho said:
I thought I researched this to death but of course I messed up. I just recently purchased my first 1986 FJ60. Very happy. I love the look of the FJ60's with the Rock Crawler wheels and the 33 inch BFGs. My plan is to install am Old Man lift as well. I bought some BFG 33X12.5XR15 and then I ordered the Pro Comp Rock Crawlers size 15x8, 6 on 5.5 Bolt Pattern, Backspace=3.75. I had a local tire store start to install them but he came back and said they rub. I obviously ordered the wrong wheel size. What size should I be looking for and what back space?

Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...


Are you saying the tire rubs or the wheel rubs?

i have the same or similar setup. 15*8 rock crawler black steel wheels, with 33*15*12.5 BFG KM2. The wheel rubs the caliper on the front (so spacers required). I run 1.5 wheel spacers front and back because at the time that was the thinnest spacer with the built in studs that I could find. I would be happy not to run spacers with a black steel wheel. I also have a set of FJ cruiser black steel wheels that are 17 inch and they too require spacers.

My tires do rub at times off road on the front and that is probally due to the width.

If I go SOA I will re-look the wheel issue as I would like to do away with the spacers...I'm not set on 16 or 17 inch wheels just yet and will run a tire somewhere between 35 and 37.
 
Last edited:
Elbert said:
Are you saying the tire rubs or the wheel rubs?

i have the same or similar setup. 15*8 rock crawler black steel wheels, with 33*15*12.5 BFG KM2. The wheel rubs the caliper on the front (so spacers required). I run 1.5 wheel spacers front and back because at the time that was the thinnest spacer with the built in studs that I could find.

My tires do rub at times off road on the front and that is probally due to the width.
Click to expand...

It's due to those giant spacers (in comparison to what is needed) although I understand wanting stud-based spacers over just the disks. The disks don't allow for as many threads being captured by the original lugs/studs. If you are going to go with the larger spacers that incorporate new studs, it seems as though you have to buy rims with even more backspace to compensate so that you wind up around the magic number of 3.5"BS to 3.7"BS
 
Just run the wheel spacers. I think I got a 6mm spacer and they are fine.
 
run .250 spacer

I have been the .250" spacers for nearly 10 years without issue. I think I bought them from Jegs for very little $$ no sheared studs yet.
 
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