Wtf rim size?

[snowbound1975]

So I am underneath "el Burro" today fixing the oil pan gasket and chasing other oil leaks. I look over and see this. The tie rod end/ steering arm are rubbing on the tire. The PO put aftermarket rims on her and was already running 33 x 12.5 x 15. To the question at hand. What size and offset of rims do I need to get to eliminate the rub you see in these pics and also stop the tire from rubbing on the front leaf springs when I turn hard in either direction?

 

[GeologistFelix]

It's all about the backspacing, and the way the inside of the specific design is shaped, not the size of the wheel.

For example, Soft-8 style wheels are dimpled inward quite a bit, and may rub the calipers/TREs even with 3.5" of backspacing (the same as the stock wheels), while some aluminum wheels are fine with as much as 3.75" of backspacing.

My suggestion? If you don't want to spend a ton of money on new wheels, get some steel wheels from Summit Racing. 15x8 (if you plan on airing down a lot off road) or 15x10 (if you're not going to air down much).

These would work pretty well as a 15x8:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PCW-98-5883R3-25/

And these for 15x10:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/USW-70-5060SPEC/ (order with eithe 3.00" or 3.25" BS, and spray-paint whatever color you want before you mount the tires)

 

[Trapper50cal]

Yup ^ ^ ^

good answer. I was going to say that 3.75" BS was about the most you coud get away with but that with steelies, the "D" hole in the rim is press/extruded out and that makes the metal on the edges of the holes flare inward and potentially make contact. The best fitting rim I have seen is the Mickey Thompson Classic lock at 3.65" BS.

That steering arm and tierod end should move along with the rim though so that contact was due to a flat or aired down situation.

 

[snowbound1975]

I'm running old school TSL super swappers right now so they might be rolling on the rim a bit in corners. I do air down for trails up here. thanks for the quick advice guys

 

[GeologistFelix]

If you're running swampers, and know a tire guy who doesn't care too much about going outside manufacturer specs, I'd say a 15x7 would be even better for a 33x12.5...but that's narrow enough that you might get slightly uneven wear on pavement, or you might have to just run lower PSI to keep it even.

I have a friend with 29x11.5 swampers on 15x8 wheels his wrangler, and they sometimes burp a little air on rocks/logs when he's down at 8psi.

 

[snowbound1975]

I do my own tire guy work mounting/balancing ect..at our shop on base so all I have to do is get the correctly back spaced rims.

 

[snowbound1975]

I just checked the PSI on that tire. It's 35psi and that is the psi it was when it was rubbing so I guess that leaves improper back spacing on rims as the culprit

 

[snowbound1975]

So they DMF that was The PO has cost me more money. How long do tie rod ends last without dust boots? Mine got chewed off by the wrong sized rim snafu

 

[Heartworm]

As long as you are shopping wheels, widen your horizons and look at 16" rims. They inherently give you more room for the TREs and calipers. Also, you can get 10 ply rating tires. There are a number of threads on this subject: do search.

 

[Trapper50cal]

16's open up the 295/85/R16 category...great tall/skinnies!

 

[tclark]

You could likely also just slap on some cheap 1/4" spacers

 

[snowbound1975]

I have never run spacers. I would assume I would have to run longer lugs? & if I stepped up to 16's now I would have to get new tires immediately$$$$ I was budgeting on running these tires for the rest of the year.

 

[OrygunCruiser]

or you could just get some 1" adapters, gives you a wider stance and all you would spend is maybe 75-100$ on a set.

my 2 cents

 

[OrygunCruiser]

I have never run spacers. I would assume I would have to run longer lugs? & if I stepped up to 16's now I would have to get new tires immediately$$$$ I was budgeting on running these tires for the rest of the year.

DONT run spacers, adapters are a safe way to gain clearance.

you can see the difference here

 

[tclark]

While I agree adapters are a better option I can't imagine a 1/4" spacer would be that big a deal(of course I could be wrong, I was once before)

 

[OrygunCruiser]

While I agree adapters are a better option I can't imagine a 1/4" spacer would be that big a deal(of course I could be wrong, I was once before)

didnt mean to seem offensive, I have been in the wheel and tire business for 5 years and had nothing but issues with spacers. For the risk vs reward I would just get adapters, that way the studs wont end up being to short. you are right 1/4 spacers wont hurt, but in my opinion wont create enough a gap to be worth the trouble

 

[Trapper50cal]

I have run .25" spacers on many cruisers for many thousands of hard miles...no issues.

.25" is a lot if it's already rotating and almost clearing without them. Just my 2 cents.

 

[alaska60]

I have never run spacers. I would assume I would have to run longer lugs? & if I stepped up to 16's now I would have to get new tires immediately$$$$ I was budgeting on running these tires for the rest of the year.

Going with 16 inch rims will bring your tire cost down in the long run...

Seems that 16 inch tires are way cheaper then the 15 inch tires!!!

I went this route years ago. I save over 400 dollars everytime I buy a new set of tires.

 

[snowbound1975]

I just want a quick cheap fix to get it on the trail for the year. I have fishing to do. Those adapters look like they would be the ticket. How do adapters hold up under moderate offroading?

 

[tclark]

From what I've read a good adapter is pretty stout and you should have no trouble