What are the effects of running rims on the front with very little backspacing...say about 1-7/8"

To keep the tires out of the Hy-steer steering arms, I really need about 2.5 to 2.75" BS

I am having the centers removed from my wheels, and 5x5.5 centres welded in with custom BS.

Due to the design of the rims, if the ceneres go in the "normal" way, the least I can get is 3" BS

If the rim is flipped, and the center put in the other way...the MOST BS I can get is about 1-7/8".

Hmmmm....what to do?? The 3" might just work, but doesn't give me any fudge factor, and if the tires are any more than 1/4" or so wider on the new 8" wide rims than they are on the 7" rims...I'm screwed.

So I'm thinking, to be safe, go for the 1-7/8", but that really sounds like sooooo little??

Oh yea - 36x12.50R15 TSL, currently on 15x7, going on 15x8..hybrid axle with D44 outers.

Opinions??

Thanks

Bill

You may experience accellerated ware on your front wheel bearings due to increased leverage. Just keep them well lubed and repack them often.

2" is the most the custonm wheel people will do...I don't think I would do more than that due to the stresses that you will put on your wheels and your bearings. Lot's of leverage on that strip of metal where they are bolted in.

I have seen lot's of 2" wheels that work great and give no problems to the trucks they are on.

are new wheels really that expensive?? I would not push your luck with that little backspacing, if nothing else it will hurt turning ability and feel. Worse case acclerated wear and/or breakage.

Makes it a biotch to turn when stopped too because you're dragging the tire thru a larger radius arc.

What's with the wheel welding stuff :confused: Why not just sell yours and buy new ones?

Thinkin' the same thing at the same time Roktoy :flipoff2:

Let me explain.

New wheels won't solve my problem, as none (at least that i know of) are available with 2.5" BS and 5x5.5 bolt pattern.

So that would only leave ordering new wheels with custom backspacing, which gets quite expensive when you convert to Cdn $, add shipping, taxes, brokerage fee etc. etc. AND - having seen how its done, seems there's no guarantee I'd be able to get what i want anyway. Depending on the width of the "inner diameter" part, and the dish of the centers used, there are only limited choices.

Then, when you add that I found a guy locally with 1200 already machined centeres going for $1 a piece (that's like $0.60), and a buddy that will cut out the old and weld in the new for $50, and the fact that I like my heavy, thick rims......I dunno, just made sense for me to go with what I have.

Thanks for the input guys...keep it coming

Originally posted by Eric Ruhl
Thinkin' the same thing at the same time Roktoy :flipoff2: Your just jealous cause I was first :flipoff2:

BAD IDEA.

IMHO - any time you resort to that much backspacing you are asking for trouble, and are going about the wrong way to fix it.

You will find that steering will now SUCK. You will be dragging both tires through an arc every time you try to turn, this puts more stress on everything - from the wheel bearings, to the steering arms, to the knuckle joints, to the drag link, and all the way up to the steering box.

If I could tell a MAJOR difference between a set of 9.75" aluminum rims on my truck with 4" BS and 35x16 boggers, then swapping to 10" rims with 3.5" backspacing on the same tires, I can guarantee what you have planned will SUCK.

IMHO - keep those tires centered over the knuckle and you will be AMAZED how well that thing will steer.

rims with that little backspacing put WAY to much stress on all front end components. imho:eek:

Backspacing is related to your camber setting. I might have this wrong, but ideally your kingpin angle will pass through the center of the tire's contact patch. This affects the way the tires "scrub" when they turn - if they are not pivoting on the contact patch, you are trying to move the front end when you turn the wheels.

Anyhow, post this on the Suzuki board. These guys deal with goofy backspacing with 5 on 5.5 wheels, and 2" is not unheard of.

Brian

What is the backspacing on your 15x7's? If you keep the same backspacing on the 15x8's, your sectional width will get wider, but you will also get more clearance on the backside, which is where you need it. To explain it in another way, the center of the tire is moving out 1/2 of the difference in wheel width provided the backspace is the same, or 1/2". I put my 35.5x15.5 SX's on 15x8's with 3.5" backspace and had rubbage. I switched them to 15x10's with 4" backspace and had clearance. The major difference was that it moved the center of the tire out 1/2" even though the tire was wider.

The 15x7 have 3.75" BS. If I put some .75" wide nuts on the studs first, the clearance is just right.

This would make it seem that the 3" BS would be perfect...but I was worried that the slightly wider tire on the 8" rim would eat uncomfortably into my clearance.

BUT,,,,if I understand what Brian is saying...I should be fine.

I also see enough negative opinions to really warn me off the <2" BS.

I suppose I could always make new steering arms that bend in more....but what a royal PITA :(

you can get 2 in back spaced rims in 15x8 for 50 bucks i had a set of 12s made with 2 in back space for 70 apiece from bart but evey wheel manufacture will do it. try diamond, or some of the stock car shops. mike

An 8" rim with the same backspacing as a 7" rim will give MORE clearance. This is true because the inside edge of the rim is located in the same spot but the wider rim causes the tire to bulge less so the tire extends past the inside edge of the rim a shorter distance. So go find yourself some 3" backspaced 15x8's !!!!!!

hey bill......first of all, 36"s is that what your running on your xj now? when did you put them on? and anouther thing, my zuki has 5x5.5" lug pattern and i go a set of 15x8 rims off a ford bronco(full size) and they have a good BS to them, not sure exactly but with my 31"s the tires have about 1.5" away from the leafs fully turned....
well l8r

make the wheels with 3 in backspacing, if they don't work out get some 1/8 inch spacers. there is your fudge factor. I know people will say spacers are wrong, but 1/8 inch or 1/4 inch is no big deal it is the thick spacers that cause wheel alignment problems with lug-centric setups like the dana 44 outers. Everything in moderation.

out on the west coast I can get 15x8 2" BS steel wheels for around $75 CDN a piece from 4offrd (www.4offrd.com) unpainted but big deal.

Maybe try them? Or try the national4x4 place in Ontario?

Well guys....many thanks for all the great info and ideas.

I'm going to have the 8's made with 3" BS for $50.

Like Gordon suggested, if there's a problem, a 1/4 spacer will do the trick. Don't want to spend too much now as one day I hope for MRT beadlocks (LONG way off!)

Roktoy....You know - I can never get a consensus on the rim / tire width issue....where's the dividing line?

I mean, some say a wider rim makes the tire narrower, some wider.

Take the 36x12.50...surely they are wider on a 10" rim than a 7",no?

So are they narrower on an 8" than 7"??

In my head (a scary place) - I can make sense of it both ways.

Mudmagnet - yes, I've had them on the XJ for a couple of weeks now - Got them from National in Burlington - $1460 for 4 to my door in 3 days via Purolator.

It must look mint bill, do you have any pics? did you try it on cripple creek yet? are you going to?

http://www.rightcoastcrawler.com/tech/BillTire/Dcp_3396.jpg

I must admit I'm pretty happy now - it looks much more balanced than it did with the 33's.

Only had it on one trail...but I'll be tackling Cripple Creek again as soon as I can....migh even try some of the "impossible" waterfalls.

Pics of the tires at:

http://www.rightcoastcrawler.com/tech/BillTire/BillTire.html

and some pics and vids of Cripple Creek at:

http://www.rightcoastcrawler.com/trails/cripplecreek/20011013/Story.html

Originally posted by BillaVista
Roktoy....You know - I can never get a consensus on the rim / tire width issue....where's the dividing line?

I mean, some say a wider rim makes the tire narrower, some wider.

Take the 36x12.50...surely they are wider on a 10" rim than a 7",no?

So are they narrower on an 8" than 7"??

In my head (a scary place) - I can make sense of it both ways.

well the tire is wider on a wider rim but a 12.50 is not 2" wider on a 10" wheel then it is on a 8" wheel. The side wall bulges less on the wider rim, thats why this happens. To picture the bulge thing think of a 33x12.50 on a 6" wheel and the same tire on a 12" wide wheel. The tire on the 12" wide wheel will not bulge out at all and no rubber will be past the outside edge of the tire.

Oh yeah bad ass XJ!!!! just need to trim the rear sheet metal to match the flares :p

Mudmagnet - yes, I've had them on the XJ for a couple of weeks now - Got them from National in Burlington - $1460 for 4 to my door in 3 days via Purolator. [/B][/QUOTE]

That price seems high to me:confused: I got 4 38.5x14.5 sx's for $900 bucks delieverd in 22hours form compton to Nor Cal:D

Oh it is....welcome to the Great White North....home of the 60 cent dollar !!

That proce is $876 US and you have to remember I'm picking up the freight, customs, brokerage, taxes, etc etc.

Any price you guys down there see, X2.2 to get to me

:(

Yeah i saw chads reports.....i so want to go do that trail next spring/summer but i don't know what will happen.....i can't get into your pics, but i think its my computer...
well i'll be intouch when i see them
l8r

Originally posted by yurtle
Anyhow, post this on the Suzuki board. These guys deal with goofy backspacing with 5 on 5.5 wheels, and 2" is not unheard of.


Correct, just check with most any of the Suzuki suppliers. We are pretty much forced to use them to keep the tires off the springs on full turn.

Most of them stock custom backspaced wheels. I'm running 15x8 2.75bs black wagon wheels from Petroworks that I picked up for $45 each plus shipping. Some of the other suppliers stock 15x8 2.0bs steel wheels.

Originally posted by BillaVista
Oh it is....welcome to the Great White North....home of the 60 cent dollar !!

That proce is $876 US and you have to remember I'm picking up the freight, customs, brokerage, taxes, etc etc.

Any price you guys down there see, X2.2 to get to me

:(


Dam that sucks. :(

Originally posted by mud-magnet
Yeah i saw chads reports.....i so want to go do that trail next spring/summer but i don't know what will happen.....i can't get into your pics, but i think its my computer...
well i'll be intouch when i see them
l8r

Power was out here last night, so my web server was down all night until about 11 pm.

Chad

that must have been it chad.......i just saw them....one word..."mint"...... what happened to your back window bill???? a little trail damage......or was it a roll over...:^).... now all you need is some olive drab paint for it.....that'll look sweet.....where abouts are you in halifax bill? PM me or e-mail if you don't want to post in on the board.....well l8r