tire trouble

shanemfng · 07-20-2011, 10:40 AM

Will 295/70/r18's fit wit just a leveling kit?

Mack207 · 07-20-2011, 11:03 AM

I think Pro4Jackster (Pro4X model Titan) did it with a leveling kit and with reshaping of the fender liners. What are the specs on your truck?

shanemfng · 07-20-2011, 08:30 PM

Wat you mean specs? Specs of wat exactly?

NorCal 4x4 · 07-20-2011, 09:17 PM

Probably the year, 2wd or 4x4, the leveling kit height, and if you have stock wheels, or if aftermarket, width and backspacing, or width and offset to calculate the backspacing.

shanemfng · 07-21-2011, 05:06 AM

All ik is it's 4x4, the RC 3", Idk yet if im staying stock are going wit some 18s

NorCal 4x4 · 07-21-2011, 07:39 AM

An '07 doesn't sit as tall as the Pro-4x so you might need to do the pinch weld mod, (see the link in my sig), especially with the taller M/T's in that size. Also, with the RC UCA's, inside clearance can be a problem on stock rims, but since you're running a 33x12.5 you might be o.k. ... it depends where their UCA's stick out in relation to your tires. You could probably look at your current setup and see if another inch, or inch and a half to account for tire wear, would cause rubbing on it.

Since only aftermarket rear gears are available, and you have a 4x4, (so you'd need the fronts too), you might consider staying closer to, or under a 34" tire, especially if you have the non Big Tow gears which are the 2.94's.

The Toyo M/T in a LT285/70R18 is 34.1x11.2" on a 8" width rim. Since I had issues with my torque converter not locking up when it should with my BT 3.36 gears and 33.98" A/T's, if it were me, I would get either the Toyo M/T in a 33.6" LT275/70R18 or a 33.1" LT295/65R18 GoodYear DuraTrac, (I just went down to the 33" DuraTracs in the 17's and my lockup into overdrive is back, as well as the engine braking or down shifting on hills ... more power too). DuraTracs are light tires for their size too. The LT295/65R18 are only 58 lbs, and mine are only 53.

shanemfng · 07-21-2011, 07:55 AM

That's wat I needed to hear. Do you know if motto trail grapplers make a 33x12.50x18? And if I do a 3" leveling kit would I need new shocks? Or would it just be smart to change them anyway?

Mack207 · 07-21-2011, 08:04 AM

The OEM shocks are not very good and do not last long. Also, the RC 3" kit is only about 2.5", and they have redone their UCA's which might allow for more tire clearance. To get a true 3" lift, You could go with the Bilstein 5100's, which are .5" taller than the oem struts, and have a much better ride.

**Scan999** · 07-21-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCal 4x4

GoodYear DuraTrac, (I just went down to the 33" DuraTracs in the 17's and my lockup into overdrive is back, as well as the engine braking or down shifting on hills ... more power too). DuraTracs are light tires for their size too. The LT295/65R18 are only 58 lbs, and mine are only 53.

How are your Duratracs so far? Did they soften up? Are they as M/T as they look? I went with Cooper S/T Maxx but it has been less than a day so I can't rate them yet.

shanemfng · 07-21-2011, 08:20 AM

Are the bilstein shocks easy to install? And how much for a full set?

Mack207 · 07-21-2011, 09:08 AM

Install is moderate in difficulty, If doing first time completely on your own. What I would do is buy the shocks/struts from shockwarehouse.com for $360, take the OEM struts of and take them to a shop to have the spring compressed and reinstalled, and instal the rear shocks yourself. Shops usually charge ~$20 to swap the springs, and it's a lot less of a headache for you: 5100's Install and tips

shanemfng · 07-21-2011, 09:46 AM

Dank you really know your s*#@! Well I don't think I have anymore questions but im sure I will. Thanks for all your help

NorCal 4x4 · 07-21-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scan999

How are your Duratracs so far? Did they soften up? Are they as M/T as they look? I went with Cooper S/T Maxx but it has been less than a day so I can't rate them yet.

I'm liking them, and I plan to stay with D load rated tires from now on, (last two sets were E load ... Nitto Terra, and Toyo M/T).

They also only have a two ply sidewall, (at least in the LT285/70R17), so they have always been soft, but are still a little bumpy. I think it is just the big lugs. They definitely look more like a M/T than a A/T, and I even think that they look more agressive than my old Toyo M/T's were. I had a load of finely choped branches that I hauled out of the steep backyard and left it in 2wd with no tire spin, but the 450 pound load helped.

They handle curves very well, but don't seem to handle quite as good as the BFG A/T KO's LT285/70R17D, or Toyo M/T's in the LT295/70R17E, (both have 3-ply sidewalls), but I'm planning to bump up the air pressure a little more. They do handle better at 42 psi than the 35 psi the tire store put in. They don't seem to have sidewall flex now, but maybe a little tread lug flex, and if this is the case, they should get better after they wear down some.

Need to get an alignment too, probably tomorrow.