35" rub with leveling kit and stock wheels

4718 Views 21 Replies 6 Participants Last post by red_rider_elsinore, Oct 11, 2007

red_rider_elsinore

Discussion Starter · Sep 8, 2007

I have the stock OR 17" wheels and wished to mount some 35x12.50x17 tires. I took it in this morning, but the shop took a lot longer than I thought to do the work. I had to go into work so my father went to pick it up later this morning. The problem is that the tires are rubbing in the front & rear of the inner fenders :huh: . Since I wasn't there to see how much they were rubbing and they don't time to put the original tires on, my truck will be there 'till monday. This is the first I hear of 35" rubbing with stock wheels and leveling kit. I have a 4x4 with a 2" leveliing kit. I would rather keep the tires and don't mind having to cut the inner fenders a little. Any suggestions?

The tires are 35x12.50x17 Big O XT. Will the pinch weld help or a 2.5" leveling kit with trimmed bucket or both be the solution?

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NorCal 4x4

· #2 · Sep 8, 2007 (Edited)

Pinch weld mod should help. Probably have to remove the mud flaps too, and in addition to cutting away the pinch weld, soften the fender liner with a heat gun, being careful not to set the Titan on fire, and reshape the softened plastic. Also most of the people that run "35s" on those rims are actually running BFG AT KO LT315/70/17 which are 34.5x12" on those rims.

Bucket has nothing to do with the tires, but people notch it where the upper A-arm/UCA hits it when someone put on a 2.5" level kit on a 4x4. Supposed to use a PRG 2" level kit. This could provide a bit more clearance, but I don't think it will where you have the rubbing.

Kartman's Pinch-Weld-Mod
He didn't have the fender liners. Also there is a different pinch weld mod that involves many cuts, and then the tabs created by the cuts, are bent over. Kartman's method looks simpler and better to me. I'd add primer and paint where the cut is to prevent corrosion.

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red_rider_elsinore

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 8, 2007

My father said the tires were rubbing in the front too. He also suggested that if hit a bump and suspension compresses the tire would kit the to of the fender ripping it. I really like how the 35's look, but it would be too much trouble I'd go to 33's. I don't mind cutting some.

NorCal 4x4

· #4 · Sep 8, 2007

red_rider_elsinore said:
My father said the tires were rubbing in the front too. He also suggested that if hit a bump and suspension compresses the tire would kit the to of the fender ripping it. I really like how the 35's look, but it would be too much trouble I'd go to 33's. I don't mind cutting some.

Sounds like 33s would be a good choice for your case. Also, I notice a trailer in your avatar pic. Your truck will perform better, and not have any torque converter issue when towing up grades with 33s.

I have my lift set for about 3" and the 33s look o.k. IMO, (see sig. pic or gallery by clicking on it). Sometimes I think I want 34s, but probably not worth the extra weight, with gas prices the way they are.

The reason I plan on the pinch weld mod at some point is I eventually plan to get 17x8.5" wide rims with 4.5" backspacing, for a bit more stability, ~2" wider track.

Yellomantis

· #5 · Sep 8, 2007

It would help if you can post some pics of what you are talking about.

I ran both 315/70R17 AND 35/12.50R17 mt's on my OR wheels and all i did was the pinch weld mod. That solved my rubbing issues.

red_rider_elsinore

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 8, 2007

NorCal- the 33's do look very good but I had my heart set on the 35's :crying: I like big tires with small lifts look. With the leveling kit the stock BFG looked too small for the truck.

YellowMantis-I didn't see the truck. I had to leave for work and the shop closes before I leave work. My father went to pick it up. He said it was rubbing in the front and back and too close on the fender on top. I don't think it would hit the fender. But new fenders + paint so more than I want to spend

-thanks for the replies
oliver

Yellomantis

· #7 · Sep 8, 2007

Does the truck still have the mud flaps on it?

red_rider_elsinore

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 8, 2007

Yes. What really concerns me is the front side hitting and ripping my fenders. I've never heard of the front hitting. For the back side I'm removing the mudflaps or modifying them.

Yellomantis

· #9 · Sep 8, 2007

That is where you are rubbing. Remove the mud flaps and 90% of your rubbing will be gone.

I wouldn't worry about rubbing with the 35's. I took my truck through hell with my Kumho's and they never tore up my fender liners.

red_rider_elsinore

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 8, 2007

You had a leveling kit before? Did they ever rub in the front? By front I mean on the bumper side.

Yellomantis

· #11 · Sep 8, 2007

nope. I never had issues with rubbing on the bumper side. That's defiantely strange.

The only time I had any kind of rubbing was when I had the sway bar disconnected, steering at full lock, and compressing the suspension completely.

red_rider_elsinore

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 8, 2007

I just got and spoke with my father. It would hit the mudflap at full lock. He also voiced his concern that there was not enough room between the top of the tire and fender. He says that it would hit. I doubt it would hit or cause any damage. Monday I will how tight the fit is. If anything later I'll buy some new fenders. hehe

red_rider_elsinore

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 10, 2007

Went to check out my truck and I found where it rubs. Here is an illustration of how the tire fits and where the pinch weld mod would be used.

I would need 1inch more space. How much room would the pinch weld give me. If not I'm going to move down to 285/70/17 tomorrow.

thanks
-oliver

P.S. They look really good in the truck.

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Energizer

· #14 · Sep 10, 2007

NorCal 4x4 said:
Pinch weld mod should help.

details please...

I have a 6" lift and 35" tires.

When I first picked it up, it had rubbing during partial turns, so the shop trimmed the fenders and adjusted the wheel well cover for a professional look. Turns out, one side of my truck seems to have a tad more room than the other... Now I occasionally get some rubbing when going over large bumps, etc. Nothing major though.

NorCal 4x4

· #15 · Sep 11, 2007

Energizer said:
details please...
...

I have a link in my post, (#2), to the pinch-weld-mod thread.

troutstitan

· #16 · Oct 8, 2007

I have a 4x4 with the 2.5 lveling kit I also have the 18 '' chrome wheels that I want to keep . So how wide and taall can I go. Was hpoing for 305 65 BFG at'a. 0r 325 60 18's any thoughts would be a huge help???

NorCal 4x4

· #17 · Oct 9, 2007

troutstitan said:
I have a 4x4 with the 2.5 lveling kit I also have the 18 '' chrome wheels that I want to keep . So how wide and taall can I go. Was hpoing for 305 65 BFG at'a. 0r 325 60 18's any thoughts would be a huge help???

Are those chrome wheels 18x8 with a +25mm offset? You can probably see something like that if you look up at your spare tire rim.

If that's the case, you can fit either of those. The 305/65/18 is almost a 34" and is about 11.8" wide on an 8" wide rim. The 325/60/18 is shorter and fatter, at 33.3" diameter and 13" wide on a 9.5" rim, but on an 8" wide rim they'd be about 12.4" wide.

Kumho recommends at least a 9" width rim for a 325, but lots of people run that size on a stock rim. Some even have run the 325/65/18 which is 34.7" in diameter, although they might have had to trim the pinch weld for these.

troutstitan

· #18 · Oct 10, 2007

Thanks NorCal Yeah I have the chrome rims which I want to keep. So you think those 305 65 18 would fit with no rubbing? How about sticking out too far? BF Goodrich has that size, expensive but I like the (old school solid letter look). Nice truck by the way mines silver too.
Thanks for anymore opions.

NorCal 4x4

· #19 · Oct 10, 2007

troutstitan said:
Thanks NorCal Yeah I have the chrome rims which I want to keep. So you think those 305 65 18 would fit with no rubbing? How about sticking out too far? BF Goodrich has that size, expensive but I like the (old school solid letter look). Nice truck by the way mines silver too.
Thanks for anymore opions.

I've never heard of the chrome rims, but noticed you have something called the chrome package ... so if the rims are Nissan Titan stock rims that are 18x8 with a 5.5" backspacing, (+25mm offset on an 8" wide rim), then they will fit with your level kit, or even a 2" level kit, and probably the the PRG 1.3" level kit.

If you currently run 265/70/18 Goodyear Wranglers, they are 10.7" wide on an 8" wide rim, and so the BFG 305s will stick out only 1/2" more on an 8" rim, (because they are about 11.8" wide on an 8" wide rim, or about an inch wider ... so they'd stick out half an inch more to each side of the rim).

The BFG AT KO is a great tire, I run the 32.8" LT285/70/17. They handle amazingly well on curvy roads. And big pot holes that sneak up on you are cake. I've got 33K miles on mine and should get 45K miles ... I've driven maybe 1% freeway miles, so if you don't have a lot of twisty roads, (I do), or do burnouts, (I don't), they are probably a 55K mile or greater tire.

Btw, consider having your tires siped. Gives them much better traction on wet roads and ice. My next tires will definitely have this done. Since my tires are on their last 12K miles and winter is approaching, I just threw 180 pounds of sand bags into the bed, but if they were siped it would be a bit safer. It's cheap too, like $15 or $20 a tire.

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troutstitan

· #20 · Oct 11, 2007

Thanks for all of the great info NorCal. Thats why I love the site . Never heard of the siping I'll lookm into that.

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