33x12.5x15 with Frontier wheels on 3" SL/2" BL

[ShockBlue_Scott]

I am planning on piecing together a 3" SL lift and 2" BL for my 02. I want to run 33" tires, but I am concerned with the whole rubbing. Are the Frontier wheels going to be fine with the 33x12.5? Am I going to have issues with rubbing?

Scott

 

[Roadwarrior]

Are you talking about the desert runner rims?

 

[xterror04]

You will be fine with those wheels, rubbing should be minimal may need slight trimming on the back side of the front fenders but very little

 

[Prime]

Like dis?

Sounds like my exact setup. I didn't have to do anything in the rear.

In the front I had to cut the rear of the fender back to the tub and trim the lower section of the plastic front and rear of the tire. You can't tell anything is cut on the front fender. The ONLY rubbing I get is on the lower control arms and the fuel line protection plate at full steering lock.

 

[ShockBlue_Scott]

Are you talking about the desert runner rims?

Yes I am referring to the Desert Runner wheels.

 

[ShockBlue_Scott]

Like dis?

Sounds like my exact setup. I didn't have to do anything in the rear.

In the front I had to cut the rear of the fender back to the tub and trim the lower section of the plastic front and rear of the tire. You can't tell anything is cut on the front fender. The ONLY rubbing I get is on the lower control arms and the fuel line protection plate at full steering lock.

Even though I have a good idea what your talking about, could you post a picture of the front? I'll creep around and see if I can find pictures of others setups.

 

[granitex]

You can also raise the cover for the fuel lines to help with the rubbing. I raised mine about an inch, you should not have to trim any of it off because you are running a body lift. Since I am not I had to trim the top of it to fit.

 

[KBC]

Those rims are only 7" wide. Most 12.5" wide tires say to use at least an 8" wide rim. Lots of guys still run them on 7" wide rims and are fine but yeah, now you know that you are ignoring the tire company's rim spec.

 

[Prime]

Even though I have a good idea what your talking about, could you post a picture of the front? I'll creep around and see if I can find pictures of others setups.

I will when I get home tonight

 

[Prime]

Those rims are only 7" wide. Most 12.5" wide tires say to use at least an 8" wide rim. Lots of guys still run them on 7" wide rims and are fine but yeah, now you know that you are ignoring the tire company's rim spec.

This is true. And while I realize that the 7" wheel does not allow the tire to sit as intended by the manufacturer, it's still perfectly functional.

 

[ShockBlue_Scott]

After talking to some of the techs at Discount/America Tire they wont mount the 33/12.5 on a 7" rim. Plus I was talking to a friend of mine he told me running a 12.5" tire on a 7" rim the tire will have uneven wear.

So after hearing this I am leaning towards running 285/75/16. Its a little easier finding a rim with the factory backspacing, but I am sure trimming will come into play as well.

 

[granitex]

The friend that you spoke with is mistaken when he said that, the difference between the 7 inch and 8 inch will have no effect on the wear pattern. alignment, and proper inflation on the other hand will have a great effect on proper wear. Tire techs in general are not the brightest of the bunch, I had one try to tell me that an entire exhaust had to replaced because of a bad muffler, he could not see a place where the two cam apart. Where a saw makes a very convient place where they come apart.

There are thousands of people running 33-12.5/15 on a 7 inch rim, and when I say thousands, I am under way under in the number.

Run what you want, but if you only listen to the tire techs of the world you will be missing out on a lot of life. A lot of them say that they will only install a stock size tire as well.

 

[ShockBlue_Scott]

Thank you for the advice. I will consider it since the 33x12.5x15 are cheaper.

 

[xterror04]

7 inch rim and 12.50 tire is a good combo, tons of people do it.... I had 11.5" mounted on 6" wide rims on my hardbody with 0 issues

 

[ShockBlue_Scott]

Thanks for everyone's opinion. I think I am going to run the 15x7 33/12.5 on the X. Now the hardship of finding the rims...

 

[KBC]

If you have to find rims you may as well get the 8" wide ones. Most guys run the Cragar soft 8s with 4.75" of back space. They are 15x8 and cheap at summitracing.com

 

[xterror04]

Problem with steel wheels is they are heavy, about 10lbs heavier per wheel, that sucks a lot of power

 

[ShockBlue_Scott]

And with an aging motor, less rotational weight will be better.