tires and wheels

[pookie]

Hi i just bought my first commanche and was wondering whats the biggest tire size i could run on a stock setup. I was thinking about buying 15x8 black steel wheels and what would be a good backspace. Thanks this is a great site.

[Pete M]

2wd or 4wd?

 

aftermarket rims will lessen the size of tire you can run without a lift because they have less backspacing and will push the tires into the flares when turning.

 

and welcome! :waving:

[mkbruin]

I ran with aftermarket wheels and 31x10.50's on my factory MJ... I also had slightly trimmed fenders, and could still manage to sipe the tires on the sheetmetal at full flex...

 

I loved it though!

 

 

On factory rims with no trimming, 30x9.50's is generally the max.

[pookie]

I'm sorry its a 88 pioneer 4x4 so could i run 30x9.5 on 15x8 aftermarket wheels with out any rubbing issues and if i bought a 2 inch lift how many mods to you have to do to the front end. which brand to yall recommend for the lift. I'm new to jeeps i have always had older chevys any help would be appricated.

[Pete M]

31s will work fine on factory rims on a stock height 4x4. they may rub on the control arms at full lock, but there are ways around that (adjust the steering stops or swap in WJ lower control arms). if you go with aftermarket, get the most backspacing you can get. stock is around 5.25".

 

for a 2" lift, you can get away with poly pucks up front, and then either longer shackles or an AAL in the rear. for 2", your brake lines, shocks, and steering will all work ok. you may need to adjust the steering though to fix the alignment or to center the steering wheel.

 

 

my 4x4 90 with 15x7 Canyon rims (from a ZJ), 31" tires, stock height and WJ lower control arms.

 

[mkbruin]

for a 2" lift, you can get away with poly pucks up front, and then either longer shackles or an AAL in the rear. for 2", your brake lines, shocks, and steering will all work ok. you may need to adjust the steering though to fix the alignment or to center the steering wheel.

 

Sure about shocks?

 

I brake liens should be good, will absolutely need an alignment, and will most-likely need shocks (unless he wants to bottom them out on every pothole or going over speedbumps)

[Pete M]

and will most-likely need shocks (unless he wants to bottom them out on every pothole or going over speedbumps)

 

 

so you've tried it?

[btm24]

ive been running 31" tires on stock rims with some rubbing when turning and hiting big bumps or holes but my shocks are very very old and bad

[Incommando]

For about $50 you can get extended shackles and front pucks at O'Reilly's or some place and wind up with 2 inches or so of clearance.

[mkbruin]

and will most-likely need shocks (unless he wants to bottom them out on every pothole or going over speedbumps)

 

 

so you've tried it?

 

 

I've done 2" pucks on a friends TJ... stock shocks were nearly at full extension sitting on flat pavement. Of course, that was the rear shock, which on a TJ are tiny.

 

Aftermarket shock companies list 0-3" for most factory replacement options.

[pookie]

If i used 30x9.5 tires with 15x8 wheels would it rub anything and were is the best place to buy new shocks and what brand.

[Eagle]

If i used 30x9.5 tires with 15x8 wheels would it rub anything and were is the best place to buy new shocks and what brand.

If you run 30x9.50 tires on 15x8 aftermarket rims, the tires will almost certainly rub the flares every time you turn.

 

Why the fixation on 15x8 rims? 8" rims are almost too wide for 30x9.50 tires anyway. OEM Jeep 15x7 rims will work fine with both 30x9.50s and 31x10.50s and require no trimming, and no lift. With either tire on OEM rims, you will probably have some rubbing against the lower control arms at full steering lock. Adding lift will NOT correct for this. To eliminate it, you can either shim the steering stops, or use WJ Grand Cherokee lower control arms.

 

You do not need new shocks with a 2" lift.

[pookie]

I'm not set on getting 15x8 wheels 15x7s is fine with me.I am just trying to find out what would be the best setup with out rubbing to much and spending money on tires and wheels that don't fit the truck.I need new shocks anyway the ones on it now have seen there better day.THANKS for the replies.

[Eagle]

I'm not set on getting 15x8 wheels 15x7s is fine with me.I am just trying to find out what would be the best setup with out rubbing to much and spending money on tires and wheels that don't fit the truck.

The problem you face is that the OEM Jeep rims have a 5-1/4" backspace. There are NO aftermarket rims with that much backspace. About the best you can find is a 4-1/2" ... that immediately sets the tires 3/4" farther outboard. Then you go from a 15x7 to a 15x8, so you add yet another inch. On OEM 15x7 rims, you can run 31x10.50s with no rubbing on the flares, and the tires will "stuff" inside the flares when the suspension compresses. Set the tires 1-3/4" farther outboard, and then the tires hit the corners of the flares when you turn, and the tires hit the flares when the suspension compresses rather than tucking up inside.

 

The best setup, unless you really WANT to start carving up the sheet metal and spending big $$$ on a lift, is to run OEM 15x7 rims and either no lift or maybe a 2" budget boost. Going that route, the worst case is you might swap the lower control arms for WJ arms, but no other mods are required.

 

One other point about running wheels that set your tires much farther outboard: You haven't mentioned where you live, but most states don't allow the tires to extend beyond the sheetmetal. How strictly they enforce that varies, but I have been ticketed for tires extending too far because my '88 didn't have front flares when I bought it, and the front tires (31x10.50 on OEM rims) were about an inch outside the fenders.

 

Of course, the previous owner had cut off the lips where the flares mount, so I had to buy two new front fenders, get them painted and installed, and mount flares, all within a ten-day window so I could get the truck inspected.

[pookie]

Thanks eagle, I live in tennessee i don't think it matters down here. Does most jeep wheels have the correct backspace if there 15x7 wheels and what models come with the correct lug pattern its 5x4.5 right.

[Rymanrph]

One other point about running wheels that set your tires much farther outboard: You haven't mentioned where you live, but most states don't allow the tires to extend beyond the sheetmetal. How strictly they enforce that varies, but I have been ticketed for tires extending too far because my '88 didn't have front flares when I bought it, and the front tires (31x10.50 on OEM rims) were about an inch outside the fenders.

 

I find this rather amusing because if cops started handing out tickets for that here in NC, that would be all they do. What's the reason for this type of law?

 

Oh and I am changing out my 15x8 wheels with 4" backspacing today for factory Wrangler rims specifically because of the fender rubbing. I have a 3" lift and I rubbed all the time. Putting a couple washers on the steering stops sits a whole lot better with me than hacking up my fenders.

[Pete M]

What's the reason for this type of law?

stones or rain that gets flung up in the air by the tires.

 

 

 

any TJ/YJ/ZJ/KJ/XJ/MJ and a couple of the newer jeeps can donate their wheels to your truck. with few caveats, they all have the same backspacing and bolt pattern. :thumbsup:

[SW86]

Thanks eagle, I live in tennessee i don't think it matters down here.

 

damn right and if i go into another state and get pulled over for it. i just have to say, look at my plate. i don't go by your damned rules! god how i love our southern states sometimes. no gives a f*** down here.

[Eagle]

and if i go into another state and get pulled over for it. i just have to say, look at my plate. i don't go by your damned rules!

Reality check -- if you are driving in their state, you DO go by their rules. You may not like it, but that's the law. Your home state license and registration allow you to use their roads, but when doing so you are subject to their laws and regulations.