Trim to fit

C

csparks13

Bought an X
Location
Katy, Tx
I have 33x12.5x15 tires at the tire shop waiting to be put on. I have to replace my radiatior (due to BL issues) before I can get it up there to have them installed. Are there any DIY's for trimming plastic in order to make the tires fit? In my mind Im thinking what will I do if the tires rub to much to get the X home from the shop. I have a PML and a 2" BL which got me 3.5" of lift in the front and 4" in the rear. I see more pictures of members who just take that whole plastic piece off by the doors. I's rather trim it and leave it if possible. At this point I have no clue what to expect when I get the new tires on. Just trying to plan ahead since I have the time to.

This is how she sits today.

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obi_krash

obi_krash

Suspension Lift
Location
Richmond, VA
Not sure how if it would be any different from 1st to 2nd gen, triming and all. I was able to take a razor to the bumper plastics, slice it right off. The inner fender I used tin shears. Really, you can't even tell I did anything to them unless you know your Xterras really well.
 
Intender

Intender

Wheeling
Location
Lewisville NC
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That was my initial cut into the metal just so I could drive around without hitting metal. I ended up having to cut from where the push pin for the fender liner is in the top of the pic to keep from hitting the fender when the tire was stuffed off road. I would start by removing the plastics completely before you go get the tires, and then after you get home you can look and see if you want to try and put them back on. They are a lot easier to take off with the smaller tires on, and if you get the bigger tires and they are hitting bad, you will probably destroy them before you get the truck home. At minimum take the tools with you to take them off in case they are hitting.

Oh and I had to beat on the pinch seams with a hammer because I was hitting them. I sprayed them with several coats of beliner afterwords to make sure the seam was still water tight and to stop rust.
 
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csparks13

Bought an X
Location
Katy, Tx
I'm taking it in today to get the tires put on. I went ahead and took the plastic covers off last night. I broke the top clip off of the PS trying to figure out how they come off. Very simple once I figured it out. Too bad Trial by error got the best of me on that first side. Im hoping I dont have to trim metal to get it home from the tire shop. How did you trim the metal on yours? Will tin snips do the job? Can you tell me where the pinch seam is?
 
Intender

Intender

Wheeling
Location
Lewisville NC
I did all my cutting with an angle grinder with a metal cutting blade. I cut a bit on the pinch seams with it too, but decided that might be a bad idea and took a hammer to them in the end. I think a lot of people use a sawzall but I cant cut straight with one if my life depended on it. I feel much more comfortable with the grinder.
 
CaptainMorgan_SOS

CaptainMorgan_SOS

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Alamogordo, NM
Intender, your MTR Kevlars also run large though (I have the same kind, just different size). For some reason, with those, you look at the tire size and add about 3/4. This is almost the complete opposite of most of the other tire manufacturers out there, so he may not have to cut as much.

Csparks, what backspacing are you running on the new wheels you are putting on? The stock wheel's backspacing is 5.5". The less backspacing you have, the more you will have to trim.
 
C

csparks13

Bought an X
Location
Katy, Tx
Yes until it came to matching both sides. I believe I got it pretty close on both sides. Captainmorgan how much did you have to trim off the back? Digging the color scheme also.
 
MichaelS75

MichaelS75

Bought an X
Location
Charlottesville, VA
Csparks, do you have any pics of the trimming? I'm gonna do the body lift later this week and I'm fine with taking the plastic off but I'm scared the tire shop won't even mount the tires unless I start hacking away at the wheel well.
 
CaptainMorgan_SOS

CaptainMorgan_SOS

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Alamogordo, NM
Almost an inch all the way around. But this was to fit 37" tires. With 33s you don't have to trim any at all on the rear. I ran 33s for quite a while. I didn't end up having to trim the front fenders either, but I was running 10.5" wide on the stock style wheels. But had I went with 33x12.5s like you did, I would have had to trim almost as much on the front as you did. Those tires look really good on your X.
 
C

csparks13

Bought an X
Location
Katy, Tx
I was able to hobble home from the tire shop. But I was rubbing on all turns. I took the plastic cover off and that's it.

I cut off the 1" lip in front of the tires. I cut right up to the bolt that hold the bumper. I pretty much cut an inch off the metal on the door side at the bottom. Then I used the plastic wheel well cover to cover it up as much as I could. I didn't cut any of it. It screwed right in.

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march490

march490

Bought an X
Location
NWA, United States
Looks good man! My BL is on the way and can't wait to slap some new meats on. This thread was informative and helpful so thank you.
I have a PML and rocking some cragar soft 8s. I reckon they are 15x8 with 4.75 back spacing and my 31x10.5R15 tires started rubbing on the front plastic mud guards when making tight turns.... No doubt I'll be trimming some metal once I slap on some 33s. >:)

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