What's needed to run 35" tires on a 1997 4x4 ??

[MDF99]

I've got 33x12. 5x16. 5 (worn out) tires on it now and the massive wheel wells still look a little empty. What, if anything is needed to run 35" meats? What are the cheap options and what are the expensive options? What's best? Thanks, i've got no experience truck suspension mods.

 

[Cooker]

I think if you have the wheels with the correct backspacing (and sorry I don't know what it is) you can run 35's with adding 2-2. 5 inches to the front. The rear will be fine. The tires may rub the lower control arm and how bad depends on the backspacing of the wheel.



WOWZY has 35's on his with only a 2. 5" leveling kit.



Ryan

 

[Spooled-up]

Expensive option:

Just got Rickson's info in the mail the other day. Their website www.ricksontruck.com was not up last time I checked.



Although expensive, I am thinking that I may eventually go this route. They make 19. 5" wheels that use commercial truck tires. They use steel wheels with polished stainless wheel covers that look really nice.



As for tire sizes, they have a chart in their literature that gives overall unloaded diameter. There are 10 different tire manufacturers that are listed in the brochure. Michelin makes tires that go from 32. 0" to 36. 3" in diameter, and an example of one of the 35" tires is 10. 9" wide, a 35. 4" tire is 11. 2" wide, and a 34. 5" tire is 10. 5" wide. There are many size options besides these.



Rickson makes these tires and wheels for 3500's and 2500's. I think the stainless covers are what's different, but that is a guess on my part. I have yet to see any pictures of these on a 2500, other than a direct side view of the truck. I'd like to see how wide they look with a picture taken directly from the front or rear.

 

[DAWG-1]

See SIG... .

 

[WOWZY]

It all depends on what wheels youre gonna run. I had no problem with 35x12. 50's on the Eagle 589 16. 5x9. 75 wheels as long as I didn't cross any deep ditches with the tires turned in just the right spot.

Since I went with the 16. 5x9. 75 Weld typhoons the back spacing is less (1/4") with the Weld's than the Eagles and my tires are real close to rubbing. If my 35's were new, it would be a problem even with everyday driving with the Welds. I'm definately gonna have to go down a tire size or add another 2" of lift in a few months when my tires wear out.



What size wheels are you planning on mounting these tires on?



One thing to consider is trimming the sharp corner at the bottom of the front fenders to prevent tire damage if they do rub. File the corner smooth and paint it.



I would spend the money on a 4. 5" lift just as a precaution.

 

[DAWG-1]

Hi MDF,

I looked all over for a 16x10 with the correct backspacing. I did not want 16x8, most aftermarket wheels in this size will work with 2 1/2" lift. I wanted a wider wheel to help make the tire more stable. I found Centerline Extreme series wheels had about 5" of backspacing, which is needed for them to clear. I have not had this combination rub one time and I dont have to be careful. If you go with a 4 1/2" lift and 35s it will still have that massive wheelwell look. If you need any help e-mail me at -- email address removed -- . A side note on 16. 5" wheel do not have a beadlock, which means if your down lower than 16psi the tire will come off the rim easier. Check out these : https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=21835

 

[MDF99]

The wheels I have on it now are American Racing 16. 5 x 9. 75, not sure about the backspacing. I'll have to remove a rim and check it out.



Thanks

 

[WOWZY]

Make sure that it has at least 4 3/4" back spacing. My Welds have only 4. 5" backspacing. I think that the Eagles and the American Racing have the same back spacing. A friend of mine has the AR Outlaws and his back spacing was the same as my Eagles.



I've seen some of our Rams with wheels that have 5" back spacing, rub the trailing arms with 35x 12. 50 BFG's. Don't worry too much about having to air down as I haven't found the need to air down on mine. I guess the weight of our engines makes up for the need to air down.



Here's an old pic to give you an idea of how it will look:

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