I was looking at rockcrawlers at my local 4x4 shop, but dag! they are HEAVY...

I don't do rock crawling.... I certainly don't need all that extra rotating mass..  SO, long story short, I am going with aluminum wheels..


I know I need  5" on 5.5  for the pattern.. but what about offset and back space?

I want it an inch or inch and a half wider each side...  but would like to use only a 2 inch suspension lift, or better yet nothing at all.

I have 235-75  Buckshots on it now, and will continue to run that tire till they wear or I get the bug for big.

SO...  Help me pick the right wheel, that will look good with the 275's and still be the right tire for some bigger (31-33) when the lift allows..

7 inch wide?  8 inch wide?     4 inch backspacing with 13mm offset?  HELP...

I'd try to find a 15x7 with the same backspacing.  That'd mean the extra 1.5" of wheel width would go towards the outside and get the tires away from the frame at lock.  They'd also be wide enough for a 10.5" wide tire.  If you intend on one day going big and fitting a 12.5" wide tire you might consider 15x8's but that brings tire fitment issues up with your 235's..  As it is with the 15x7's I'd bet you'd rub the fender with the 235/75R15's.

OK, thanks, that works...   I was thinking the 15x7's...

Same backspacing, how about offset?    I am looking through these catalogs with hardly a clue on offset, I guess stock is 13mm

Just need to know which to order...   For some reason, I just can't "visualize"  the offset/backpspacing/width  and how that changes everything... (brain is a bit addled)

My Jeep CJ wagon wheels are 15x7 5x5.5 and the weight about 27lbs each, do you know how heavy the rock crawlers are? I want something lighter too, I was thinking aluminum 15x8's off an early bronco...

I am thinking about going back down there tomorrow or Friday, if I do, I might bring my shipping scale, cause I am truly interested. I will also get the brand.. He admitted that they were cheapies, but still good quality (does that make sense?)

I mean, to tell you the truth, I like the way the rockcrawlers look, but they are heavy as heck for the front suspension especially...  I am new to zuki's but not to 4x4..  rotating mass is rotating mass, AND unsprung weight.. the lighter the better, and these don't look like they would bend easily at all.. the fellow at the shop runs them.. and he can run anything he wants.. that means something....

I will let you know what I find out.

I'd try to find a 15x7 with the same backspacing.  That'd mean the extra 1.5" of wheel width would go towards the outside and get the tires away from the frame at lock.  They'd also be wide enough for a 10.5" wide tire.  If you intend on one day going big and fitting a 12.5" wide tire you might consider 15x8's but that brings tire fitment issues up with your 235's..  As it is with the 15x7's I'd bet you'd rub the fender with the 235/75R15's.

How about with a 2" suspension lift... cause I have just about decided that one is in the cards...


it's a bug... I got bit....  now comes the big ole wallet hit....   (hey that rhymed!)  Crud, I am 44, I am too old to play with toys.. but these babies are cheaper than my ATV's   if I put what I have into my 600 Sportsman into this Tracker... it would be KICKING... check the sporty

http://www.forumsigs.com/users/quaddawg605/ATV_Album/

(also some nice shots of my 10 year old winning the 250 ute class drags....on a 90...lol)

I used my stock rims on my X-90 and spaced them out with wheel spacers.

Zig

I'd bet with a 2" lift you'd clear with 235's and 15x7's.  Not sure on the 15x8's.  Someone on here has to know.

Well, I ordered the 2" suspension lift today.... thinking about some poly spacers for the body.. is there really a need for a kit? I mean it seems pretty straight forward...

I looked at 15x8's and 15x7's...   not sure which yet..  I am thinking the 8's, so I can go to a wider tire later... and just trimming, and lifting as needed to get them to fit.


I got the exhaust put on today, magnaflow downpipe and cat.. then custom from cat back with a little glass pack style turbopak muffler.. sounds good.. quiet cruising, but opens up when you mat it... just fine for what I want.. Got some body work done, arresting more rust.. lol..

It's coming together!   Already have WAY more in it than I planned... LOL.. so now there is NO reason to stop.... it'll get outta hand here pretty quick...   what with wheels, skid plates, an new highlift jack...   Got the minispool ordered...    ah yes.. can't wait!

your trying to kill 2 birds with one stone(buy one set of rims, that will work with 2 sets of tires).  I think you need to come to a conclusion on what tire you are going to end up with, especially width.  you said 31-33", so you are looking at 9.5~12.5" wide.  I use rim width + 3.5"=max tire size.  So 7 " rim will work well with 10.5" inch tire.  to sum it all up, I like the look of 2" backspacing(might stick out a little far for your 1-1.5" wider look), but works well for clearance and kick ass wide stance.  For what you want, I would use a 3.5-4" backspaced wheel(custom backspaced rims are available anywhere, 4 wheelparts are prolly the cheapest), and for the width, just sit down and think of what lift you want, to determine tire size.  I would leave the rims/tire setup you have on now, and get rims that work perfectly with bigger tires.  Also just search for body lift and you will find a bunch of posts on how to DIY. 

Thanks that is exactly what I needed to hear, and you are right, these 235's will get passed down to someone else very soon..  they are a nice size for stock YJ's and Trackers..


I think I will go ahead and start planning to get the 15x8 wheels, they will work well with 10.5's or 11.5's (do they make 11.5's?  should have looked that up before writing...lol)

I think the biggest I will go is 33x10.50  I was looking at some tires today at my local 4x4 shop.. and wheels....  still undecided, will probably shop for used aluminums to save funds for something more important.

Will a 2 inch suspension lift, helped with some coil spacers (nother inch...) with a 2 inch body life... 4.5-5 inch total, do the 15x8's with 4 inch backspacing and say... boggers or swampers in 33x10.50?   I haven't measured a mounted swamper in the 33 inch size...  My 36's on my truck were only about 35, aired up for street....

I hate to beat this topic again, but I would go with the 3" bl, the pros outweigh the cons IMO, especially if you are going with 31"+ tires.  If you are going with a 10.5" tire I would go 7 " rim, holds the bead better when aired down

Thanks for beating this topic again.. I need it... this is obviously my first tracker, and this will make a nice searchable topic for other newbies with title and all..

3" body lift is better than 2?   I will search and read up on pros and cons... My thinking was 2" would keep me out of messing with shifter and steering and all.. but let me search and read.

15X7......  ok... mine stock are listed in the books as 15x6... is this wrong? are they more like 5.5?   I know they have very very little backspacing... anyone have a link for this info?

I haven't measured the 235's but they SHOULD be close to 29, and I have no idea of width... might go look for that tire calculator again and play with tire sizes...  they fit fine with NO rub, so I was thinking that 31x10.50's on 7's should be fine with 2" sus, 2" BL..  but I guess it's the width..

thanks again, sorry for so many questions, rest assured, I DO search and read alot before posting.. but my mind is going a mile a minute....  caught the bug bad...

I run a 15x8" with 2 3/4" backspace and 30x10.5 TSL's and I get coments on the look, just my .02$.



   Kevin

Thanks for beating this topic again.. I need it... this is obviously my first tracker, and this will make a nice searchable topic for other newbies with title and all..

3" body lift is better than 2?   I will search and read up on pros and cons... My thinking was 2" would keep me out of messing with shifter and steering and all.. but let me search and read.

15X7......  ok... mine stock are listed in the books as 15x6... is this wrong? are they more like 5.5?   I know they have very very little backspacing... anyone have a link for this info?

I haven't measured the 235's but they SHOULD be close to 29, and I have no idea of width... might go look for that tire calculator again and play with tire sizes...  they fit fine with NO rub, so I was thinking that 31x10.50's on 7's should be fine with 2" sus, 2" BL..  but I guess it's the width..

thanks again, sorry for so many questions, rest assured, I DO search and read alot before posting.. but my mind is going a mile a minute....  caught the bug bad...

Personally I like as little lift as possible and the tires under the vehicle as much as possible, so remember that's where my opinions come from.  I like the 4" of lift and 31x10.5R15's on 15x7's idea.  Not to mention just about EVERY mud tire ever made comes in that size and is decently priced.

235/75R15 are about a 29-30x9.5R15.  Some are short and are around 28" on a vehicle and others are about the same size as a 30x9.5R15.  Various from brand to brand.

Factory rims should be 5.5" wide with a backspacing somewhere in the 3.5-4.25" range.  They actually have a decent amount of backspacing.