2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission wheel spacers

[Walker]

I'd like to keep my stock wheels (for now) and put new wider 305 or 315's on and fill up my wheel wells a little more. I put on the Xenon flares a while back and want to bring the edge of the tires out a bit. And from the looks of others with the 305/315 tires, they fill the stock wells up good, but it doesn't look like they will come out enough to keep the tire from having that tucked under, skinny look with the wider flares on.



Is there a safe way (or option) to put a spacer on the hub and get an extra 1" or 2" width and keep the stock offset?



FWIW: I like the look of the factory rims, and I'd eventually (if there's no option) get an 8" after market wheel anyway; so, I'd like to save a little coin and use the stockers if I could.

 

[w-cummins]

Will the 305 or the 315 size tires even fit on the stock rims seems like they might be too wide.

 

[Walker]

Yeah. Both, I think, require (recommend) an 8-10" rim. Lot's of guys are runnin them fine; with a little rub on the lower control arm. Nothing severe.

 

[jkern]

i wouldn't do it...

... because this throws off the load torque moment on the wheel bearings and spindles. with as heavy as our trucks are especially on the front using spacers would definetly lead to premature wheel bearing and possibley spindle failure.



just my opinion, but talk to the mid 60's muscle car guys... they used to do this and then replace wheel bearings every 40k or 50k miles because of it.

 

[Walker]

So, what 's the difference in a spacer and going to a wheel with less offset, as far as stress on steering components?



Do they even make such an animal for all four corners of our trucks(spacer wise that is)?

 

[jkern]

walker, that is the next logical question, and i would tend to believe that it would behave the same as a spacer as far as the wear and stress are concerned.



jkern

 

[P Madrid]

There are several 8" wide wheels or wider that have the same back space as the stock wheels. The extra length is added to the outside, making the wheel and tire stick out but keeping the inside as close as possible to stock. Wider tires on the stock wheels wear out the center real fast. I seen several 285s with the center worn out and the edges looking like knew on the stock wheels and this is with 10 psi under recommended pressure of 80 or 60 psi, depending on the tire.



Pablo

 

[JaMan]

I'm thinking about the same thing withethe spacers only a half inch or so to keep from rubbing at full lock. Maybe a 1/2 " spacer on the front wheels and the stock wheels might not rub but what would the problems be? Check out my post on the offroad forum.





Thanks for any help. Jared