Does wheel width affect turn radius?

[Chero77]

I picked up some 15x8.5 alloy wheels off EBAY. The backspacing on these wheels is 3.75 inches. The stock wagon wheels are 15x8s with 4.0 inch backspacing. So if I put the alloys on the truck they are going to stick out an extra .75 inch. A friend says this is going to increase my turn radius. Anyone know if this is true and if it is, is 3/4s of an inch enough to be significant? A lot of guys on this board are running 15x10s or 15x12s, does the added lenght effect steering or turn radius much?

Also haven't decided on whether the extra 3/4s stickout will make the truck look better or worse. I could easily sell these wheels in the LA Recycler for what I paid. So I may just let them sit in the garage until I decide what to do with them.

[PhilSine]

It will affect turn radius, but not by much. Your overall width will be increased by 1.5", but the effect on your turning radius will be minimal.

I wouldn't go calling the President about the minimal increase in turning radius claiming it's a national security issue or anything like that.

[Lindel]

Since you're running a little less back spacing, then the front wheels will be a little further out form the front suspension parts. With no clearance issues, you should be fine, and the turning radius will change by a couple of inches, no more.

[Chero77]

Thanks for the info. That's one issue resolved. However, I was thinking last night, do these wheels load the bearing and wheel studs more than stock. In other words, isn't using these about the same as using stock wheels with 3/4 inch spacers? Seems like the better setup with 8.5s would be a wheel with 4 1/4 inch backspacing so the centerline doesn't change from stock. (Yes, I am kind of bored right now so what else to do other than ponder jeep tech trivia.)

[CowKiller]

i went from 10 inch rims on 33 12.50's and i had to move out my bumpstops alittle. now that i have eight inch rims the rub again. now i can really sa that i have the turning radius of a yhat and the areodynamics of a barn.

[Lindel]

To answer your question about the load on the bearings, keep in mind where the wheel mounts. The center of the wheel, and the centering of the rim around that will be what determines the bearing load.

You've moved the wheel center in by 1/4", so the loading is negligable, but if you were to use spacers (not safe or recommended), then you'd be increasing the load exponentially. In fact, most of the stress would be on the lugs, and not the bearings.