Hi , I am new to Samurai.
I like to know the wide of the 1988 Samurai stock wheels .
Also like to know if 235/75/15 or 30 x 9.5 work fine in stock wheels with stock suspension.
What tire size is better  for the stock Samurai ,235/75/15 or 30 x 9.5?
Thanks

The stock size rim is 15x5.5" I run 31x10.5 bfg m/t on them just fine with jeffs 1.5" spacers, and the strut mount flip. No problems. just a little bit of rub on the frame in the front when I turn all the way. I run a 90 tracker.

There's a lot of information on tire size and wheel width should you choose to research the subject. It seems that there is no shortage of opinions! Spec's for my tire, the BFG AT/KO can be found at: http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/all-terrain-t-a-ko/44.html
For my model tire, there is little difference between the two sizes you mention. 
Their 235/75R15 is spec'd for a 6.5" (± 0.5") wheel, while the 30x9.5R15 is spec'd for a 7.5" (± 1") wheel. Neither is spec'd for a 5.5" wheel, although a lot of Samurai guys run wide tires on skinny stock wheels and don't seem to have tires popping off the rims. The largest tire that will fit an unmodified Samurai is 215/75R15, which is almost a 28x8.5.  Tires wider than about 9.5" will likely project out past the fender flares, and may subject you to unwanted attention from your local highway patrol (e.g. California CHP).

A couple of relevant articles to get you started:
http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=277628
http://www.oregonbushhackers.org/tech/tiresize.shtml 

Note that the OBH site tends to be kinda optimistic about what fits, compared to others.
Check the various Suzuki/Samurai online forums for a lot of discussion on this subject.

I was running 235/75's on factory rims on one of my stock samurai, worked great and still had enough power and gearing to get into 5th gear on the freeway. Even with 235's you do need to trim the front bumper mounts and a little off the bumper corners to clear lock to lock. If you dont want to trim anything on your samurai I found running 235/70's (shorter/wider) or 215/75's (taller/skinner) works prefect on a stock sammies with factory rims and they ride better then the stock 205's. Hope this help.

      My tracker is totally stock...and is wearing 235/75/15's.  No rub at all.  Weird.  I bought it stock...and bought that set of tires already mounted on some aluminum racing wheels.....they fit quite well, with room to spare.

I just ordered Jeff's coil spacers, and bought new wheels and tires(30x9.50).  I'm figuring it will match up pretty nice.

You need to check local legislation if its for road use. I can't comment about the US but in the EU the tyre must be of a size approved for the rim so 235/75s and the like would be illegal.

You need to check local legislation if its for road use. I can't comment about the US but in the EU the tyre must be of a size approved for the rim so 235/75s and the like would be illegal.

Never heard of anything like that here in the US. The only thing I do know is that it is illegal to run Beadlock wheels on the road in the US...and also non-DOT approved tires.

Samurais and sidekicks are a little different when it comes down to it. You can fit a bigger tire on a stock sidekick and not so much on a stock samurai.   

Thanks guys for all the response.

One more question.
What is jeffs spacers ?

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=23231.0


^  That is a link to Jeff's most recent page in which he is selling 1", and 2" coil spring spacers.

Samurais and sidekicks are a little different when it comes down to it. You can fit a bigger tire on a stock sidekick and not so much on a stock samurai.   

Hmmm.  In my experience I have been able to fit the same size bigger tires on both.....225/75-15s (I actually switched the wheels and tires from one to the other).

Quote from: Rhinoman on October 28, 2008, 05:59:22 AM

You need to check local legislation if its for road use. I can't comment about the US but in the EU the tyre must be of a size approved for the rim so 235/75s and the like would be illegal.

Never heard of anything like that here in the US. The only thing I do know is that it is illegal to run Beadlock wheels on the road in the US...and also non-DOT approved tires.

I have read several threads on the beadlock wheels and their legallity (mostly on pirate).......no one has ever came up with a source (a law) that states that they are illegal.  Has a new law been passed recently that makes them illegal?

It's not so much that bead locks are illegal, it's that they are not legal. 

In order to be on the road, your wheels need to have DOT approval.  Since most bead locks do not have an outer bead, they just squash rubber lip between two pieces of metal, they can leak just because of the design.  Thus there is not an 'error free mounting system' in place, and thus no DOT approval.

Not that you can't run them on the road.  Just if you get in an accident and they claim your tires where to blame...

Quote from: Z71Edge on October 28, 2008, 07:48:00 AM

Never heard of anything like that here in the US. The only thing I do know is that it is illegal to run Beadlock wheels on the road in the US...and also non-DOT approved tires.

I have read several threads on the beadlock wheels and their legallity (mostly on pirate).......no one has ever came up with a source (a law) that states that they are illegal.  Has a new law been passed recently that makes them illegal?

I couldn't tell you to be honest. All I know is I have NEVER seen a set of beadlocks on any vehicle driven on the road, except for an H1 style Hummer. I don't believe there is a set "law" stating Beadlocks are illegal, however, anything that is not Department Of Transperation (DOT) approved then it is not road legal...be it wheels or tires...and so far, other than the Hummer wheels, I don't believe there is a Beadlock wheel that has been DOT approved

It's not so much that bead locks are illegal, it's that they are not legal. 

In order to be on the road, your wheels need to have DOT approval.  Since most bead locks do not have an outer bead, they just squash rubber lip between two pieces of metal, they can leak just because of the design.  Thus there is not an 'error free mounting system' in place, and thus no DOT approval.

Not that you can't run them on the road.  Just if you get in an accident and they claim your tires where to blame...

Quote from: Skyhiranger on October 28, 2008, 05:29:25 PM

Quote from: Z71Edge on October 28, 2008, 07:48:00 AM

Never heard of anything like that here in the US. The only thing I do know is that it is illegal to run Beadlock wheels on the road in the US...and also non-DOT approved tires.

I have read several threads on the beadlock wheels and their legallity (mostly on pirate).......no one has ever came up with a source (a law) that states that they are illegal.  Has a new law been passed recently that makes them illegal?

I couldn't tell you to be honest. All I know is I have NEVER seen a set of beadlocks on any vehicle driven on the road, except for an H1 style Hummer. I don't believe there is a set "law" stating Beadlocks are illegal, however, anything that is not Department Of Transperation (DOT) approved then it is not road legal...be it wheels or tires...and so far, other than the Hummer wheels, I don't believe there is a Beadlock wheel that has been DOT approved

IIRC, the so-called non-DOT approval is what they were discussing on most of the threads.  The bottom line was, the wheels they make the beadlocks out of had the DOT approval stamp on them and therefore there was no issue (even though the wheels had probably been modified after the original DOT stamp was added).  And no one had any proof that anyone had ever been written a ticket for beadlock wheels.
Another point that was brought up.....there are enough fake beadlock wheels out there, it would be very hard for the common officer or DOT official to determine if they are actual beadlocks or not, without close inspection.....so unless they were looking for beadlocks specifically (as if most even know what beadlocks are), then most woudn't even give them a second look.

Not looking to argue about it.....just reiterating what I have read on the beadlock discussion.

From some of the heaps of sh!t I have seen out on the road, whether or not beadlocks are DOT approved should be the least of their worries.

Off topic FTW!  =p

There's a company called AEV.  They make nice beadlocks for Jeeps....here's some info about their wheels.  Straight from the horses mouth.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/products/wheels/beadlock_info.php


If that doesn't clear things up, I don't know what will.