ready to order lift, now what width wheels and backspacing?

[weider1717]

going with either the 2" or 3" tuff country suspension lift for my 87. The wheel width will I guess determine if I need the 2" or the 3" lift.

the stock rallys are 8" and i thought about putting the 33's on those but I really like the mickey thompson classic II's and if I get them I am thinking about getting them 10" wide for a beefy look.

question is would 33x12.50's on a 10" wheel rub with a 2" lift? if so would it even with a 3" lift?

the 3" might be safer but I'm not too big of a fan of a lot of fender gap so still kinda leaning towards the 2" but if 10" wheels would rub I will do 3" because iMO the 10" wheels look better than the 8's.

thoughts?

[88Jimmy4x4]

dont get a wheel with same tread width of tire, looks silly imo and not good for treadwear...get 15x8's with 4" backspace (0 offset) or close to it

[weider1717]

The tires will be 12.5" and the wheels 10" but are you saying thats too close together still? I noticed the mickey thompsons also come in a 8.5" width would you suggest that as somewhat of a happy medium?

also the stockers are 15" would it be silly to move up to a 16" or do people typically stick with 15" rims on these trucks? I wonder what size has more tire options.

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by weider1717

The tires will be 12.5" and the wheels 10" but are you saying thats too close together still? I noticed the mickey thompsons also come in a 8.5" width would you suggest that as somewhat of a happy medium?

also the stockers are 15" would it be silly to move up to a 16" or do people typically stick with 15" rims on these trucks? I wonder what size has more tire options.

12.5" is not the tread width

what tires are you looking at?

[Your41Plague12]

I'd go with the 2" lift with factory rally wheels. I love the look of "stock but mean."

[ymerej71]

With a 2-3" lift I'd go with the stock (or aftermarket) 15"x8" wheels with the 33"x12.50" tires. I've always ran 33x12.50 on 8" wide wheels on my jeep for years... It's a perfect size / width combination. I think they just looked a little stretched on a 10" wide wheel. Also, if you stick with a 15" wheel you can save a little $ on tires... Generally the same size tire will be cheaper in a 15" diameter than some of the newer more popular larger wheel diameters (16"-20"+).
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[Ski-me]

I agree, the 15x8's will look great with 33x12.5's. I ran 15x9's and still looked good but saw a lot of 15x10's and in my opinion.....too much rim exposed and looks goofy to me.

Suburban - 33x12.5 bfg's on 15x8 stock wheels. 1.5" add-a-leaf lift.

Blazer - 33x12.5 or 32.11.5 bfg's on 15x9 Progressive wheels. Stock height.

[Ski-me]

and now today.....

2.5" BDS lift, 35x12.5 with, I think, 15x10's.

The larger tires are actually 37" tires and the 2.5" lift when I got the truck back....... It rubbed all the time!!

[weider1717]

Originally Posted by Ski-me

and now today.....

2.5" BDS lift, 35x12.5 with, I think, 15x10's.

The larger tires are actually 37" tires and the 2.5" lift when I got the truck back....... It rubbed all the time!!

that pic with the bfg mud terrains..thats looks great thats just a 2.5" lift and the bfg's are 35's? looks sweet! does it rub bad?

[weider1717]

Originally Posted by Your41Plague12

I'd go with the 2" lift with factory rally wheels. I love the look of "stock but mean."

I agree a stock look and mean is what I like too. Would a 2" clear the 33's completely? even with 10" wheels if I ever went that route.

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by weider1717

I agree a stock look and mean is what I like too. Would a 2" clear the 33's completely? even with 10" wheels if I ever went that route.

are you going to offroad with this or strictly street driving?

[zirk]

Originally Posted by Ski-me

Suburban - 33x12.5 bfg's on 15x8 stock wheels. 1.5" add-a-leaf lift.

That burb is the look I want with my truck, nice

[Ski-me]

Originally Posted by zirk

That burb is the look I want with my truck, nice

Basically, I wanted the 1/2 ton truck to stand like a 3/4 ton. So 1.5" add-a-leaf up front was the looks I was going after. I think I experimented with the back and might of ended up with 2" in the back if accounting for sagging rear springs......

Minimal rubbing with the 33" on the suburban
Minimal rubbing with the 35" on the Blazer

It does rub just a little on the rear, inner corner when I turn and hit a large bump or driveway with a little speed. Take it more gently (keep the suspension from moving around) and I get no rubbing. On the blazer, the inner lip is hammered in just a bit but nothing out on the fender. Still looks good.

37"....rubbed all the time!

[Ski-me]

Originally Posted by zirk

That burb is the look I want with my truck, nice

If I did it over again, you could get some zero rate springs up front and possibly out back to get a 1" lift. I will say, the 1.5" add-a-leaf was less than perfect.

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero%20Rates.htm

[88Jimmy4x4]

zero rates are good to add a lift to new spring lifts, but adding them to an old sagging leaf pack with worn out cracked bushings is not the way to go imo.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Depends on what your going to be using the truck for. If your going to be wheeling a lot I would go with the 3" lift. If its mainly street driven the 2" lift should be just fine. I like the 10x15 rims personally but that's me They do stick out a bit more defiantly.

[weider1717]

looks like your k5 clears 35's fairly good with only a 2.5" if I went 3" I would have the option of 33's clearing in whatever cond and 35's clearing on the street pretty good...

ok here is what I plan to go with so far tuff country 3" all springs, mickey thompson classic ii 15X10...here is the part thats gonna make it I think..toyo 33x13.50 tires on a 10" wheel it should look nice and they're true 33" tires so def should be a big diff with them and a 3" lift.

[88Jimmy4x4]

sounds like a good plan (exactly what I had aside from wheel width) but I would go with 15x8 so the sidewall doesnt balloon out...just my opinion and coloradok5 general concensus

here is my 33x13.50 on 15x8 with 4.25" backspace

[weider1717]

13.50's on 8" wheels? I had in my mind the wider wheel wouldn't cause the ballon look but a smaller wheel would but in your picture the tires look great on the 8" wheels.

[Your41Plague12]

Originally Posted by weider1717

13.50's on 8" wheels? I had in my mind the wider wheel wouldn't cause the ballon look but a smaller wheel would but in your picture the tires look great on the 8" wheels.

I'm running 38x15.50's on a 16x10". It works just fine and looks great. I'd go with an 8" wide wheel on anything 13.50 wide and smaller. 14.00 and up should get a 10-12.

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by weider1717

13.50's on 8" wheels? I had in my mind the wider wheel wouldn't cause the ballon look but a smaller wheel would but in your picture the tires look great on the 8" wheels.

thats not tread width thats overall width which includes sidewall....look at secs of any non metric sized tire.

for instance....a 33x12.50x15 BFG has a tread width of only 10", the section width is 12.4.

if you want 10's....go for it, Im just giving you some advice, you dont have to take it

[88Jimmy4x4]

Heres the 33x13.50 on 15x10's, looks like the tread width isnt as wide as you thought and Im not digging the ballon look.

[88Jimmy4x4]

heres the same tires 8's

[Ski-me]

I'd say 15 x 8's. If you already have them, mount them up and see if you like them. If you don't, you can pay more and switch.

Love the rims 88Jimmy! Sharp!

[weider1717]

ok, I agree thanks for the advice this is why I post before I buy and also from what I read going with 12.50's on 8's I should not rub even wit hthe 2" lift.