Hey!

Simple question, hoping there's a simple positive answer

1991 Suzuki Escudo Nomade (1600cc SOHC 16valve injected 4-door 5-spped manual LWB).

Will 30x9.5" mud tyres on 15x8 -18et wheels fit with NO lift?

Thanks

Never tried it but I seriously doubt it - you're attempting to go from a stock 27" tire to a 30" - you're either going to have to lift or trim, and you'll probably need to look at the gearing.

As the Suzuki Escudo is known as Sidekick or Geo Tracker in North America I would say no.
On my 93 Tracker I ran 30x9.5x15 tires on 8" rims with 3.5 inch back spacing and had to lift it because of rubbing at back of wheel well, I also bent over the joining lip at back of wheel well.  I When lifted over 2 inches I also encountered an issue in that when stuffing a front tire (by attempting to climb over a rock or log) and turning that tire hard to outside the brake brake caliper would contact the spring (which would bow outward from the compression) and compress the caliper puck.  This would cause no brakes for two strokes of the pedal.  The outward bow of the spring is caused by having the A-arm at an downward angle, so I cut around the outside edge of spring seat on A-arm and lifted it one inch, then cut a 1'X1/8" flat bar and rolled it to so it would fit the cut in A-arm then welded it in place.  This makes the spring seat close to parallel with upper seat.
 
We also ran this same way on our Desert Race 93 2 door Tracker with stock rims on 30X9.5X15 tires .
I have only heard of a couple other members having this issue with brakes, but not having brakes (even momentarily) can create significant problems. 

Great thanks for the info.!

I've heard from a couple of people that running gear is alright up to 30's and anything past that is when you start having issues with 5th and other gear etc. so I'll try my luck with 30.

3.5" back spacing? Is that negative offset? -89 offset? Surely not. The offset I'm looking at is either 0 or -19et.

Don't mind trimming guards it's a beach/bush hack so looks don't really matter will trim where I have to.

BRD HNTR you have some mad CV angles there do you blow many!?

I'm getting too much conflicting info. on different forums so going to see if I can go and test fit somewhere this weekend!

Thanks.

I had 2" spacers on the springs before I switch to 3" springs from Zukination.  I have recently added front diff drop brackets to improve the CV angles but I ran the 2" springs for a few years and then the 3" lift for one year without damaging CV's. 

As far as the gearing, I am fine with mine on 30" tires.  A loss of power is noticeable for sure but you get used to it and the benefits offroad are well worth it.

I had 2" spacers on the springs before I switch to 3" springs from Zukination.  I have recently added front diff drop brackets to improve the CV angles but I ran the 2" springs for a few years and then the 3" lift for one year without damaging CV's. 

As far as the gearing, I am fine with mine on 30" tires.  A loss of power is noticeable for sure but you get used to it and the benefits offroad are well worth it.

Sweet man sounds like a good little setup!

Yep I have 33x11.5 on my new Navara and had 33x12.5 on my 1995 Surf so know all about CV angles and loss of power on the road etc.

Hopefully going to go and test fit the 30x9.5s on a couple of different offset 15" wheels this weekend FINGERS CROSSED. If anyone is interested in what I find fits/doesn't fit let me know and I'll try to remember to post it up with photos.

You are right those angles were too much  I was running 4 door springs with 2" spacers, and broke a couple CV's fast.  That was over 5 years ago.  I built a steel front diff and dropped it a couple inches.  Many mods, a 2.7L, 33's, and I have broke one CV since then.  30" tires does drop your power, but 5th was still usable except on big long hills.  31's are a much larger drop.
As WVzuk has learned springs are a better ride than spacers.  Many of us started with spacers and they do produce a useable lift, but springs have more travel.

Nice. Hey I'm having trouble finding spring spacers for my truck in New Zealand do you still have the ones you used? Or do you know where to get them that'll ship to NZ?  Cheers

Low Range Off Road can supply just about any Suzuki suspension spacer/lift kit you might need, and they ship worldwide.

Nice. Hey I'm having trouble finding spring spacers for my truck in New Zealand do you still have the ones you used? Or do you know where to get them that'll ship to NZ?  Cheers

They have been recycled to another one of the Zuk's here.  Jeff1997 here on ZW has both spring spacers and strut spacers, and I believe he is supplying LROR.  Also checking on Ebay, I see some being provided out of Australia.  Some of the cheap one were being made of lower density polycarbonate and had a tendency  to collapse.  I believe you may be able to get by with spring & strut spacers, if you only go to the 2" lift.  Anything more and you will start to see angles similar to what I was having, then it will be time for diff drop brackets.

Just remember "Every modification begets another modification".  Welcome to an endless procession.

Just remember "Every modification begets another modification".  Welcome to an endless procession   

that's so true ......sometimes I wish it would end, but it never does 

Just remember "Every modification begets another modification".  Welcome to an endless procession   

that's so true ......sometimes I wish it would end, but it never does 

Says the man with a spare drive train.

Thanks for all the tips/info. people.

For anyone wondering, you CAN fit 30x9.5 mud tyres and 15x8 -19et wheels with very very very little hassle at all. Some basic and easy trimming on the door-side of both front guards is all that's required. Not saying it won't rub/scrape with full compression but it's enough to make them fit.

Getting a 2" body lift in the next week or so which I'll fit and then should be good to go.

Cheers all.

How about a photo of your rig, and what wheeling is like in New Zealand.

Sure thing, here you go.

As purchased:


Shortly after:


2" body lift to go then chuck on some LED bars and that'll probably be a wrap other than intake (snorkel or pod filter) and new radiator.

I'm not much of a fan of the bush, prefer to hit the beach (Muriwai in Auckland) and then hack up into the bush just off the beach if it gets boring no photos of it in the Escudo as hasn't been offroad yet have only had it for just over a week. Plenty of photos of offroading in my old Surf but not handy to me at the moment