Spacers or new Wheels? Tires Rubbing, Help

[80wag]

What's Up Group,
This cold is slowing my project down. Got my new rear springs on and tires are rubbing the springs on both sides. Here's the facts.

Dana 20 rear, stock 5 slot alum. rims 15x7's w/ 35/12.50/15

Front's are fine, turning radius slightly smaller but no rub, rear rub only.

Would you scrap the stock wheels and go with a 15x7 w/ less backspacing?

Would a 15x8 make the tire not stick out as much?

Would a set a spacers cure the problem and let me go with same wheels just that it would almost cost the same for newer wheels?

I'm bummed about the rubbing going on, I really like the old 5 slots look.

However, I've seen Stuka's rig and some others and I think those are black steel rock crawlers and I like the black look. Any suggestions or answers would be greatly appreciated.

I did a search on backspacing and read all the posts that came up. I'm still unsure. Thanks, guys, after this comes the POR 15 and to the body shop for paint. Pics will come when finished.

Thanks, Mario in Texas 1980 GW, 360, 727,FF44, RR D20, 3in.Spring Lift, 3 inch Body Lift, 35/12.50/15, Flowmaster, Warn

[j20brett]

How much lift you put on? Im pretty sure everyone on here recommends 33" max without rubbing, or in your case you might have to cut the fenders. If you plan on wheelin it you'll need to cut them anyways to fully stuff those tires. check out www.tfsja.org while your at it lol

[PhilG]

i think he is rubbing the springs . not the fender wells . .looking at the best way to push the tire out and away from the spring using wheel offset or wheel spacers . .I am anxious myself on the replies :-)

[JeeperJay]

Honestly, I wouldn't be using a 7" wide for a 12.5" wide tire. What you are seeing is the effects of a too-narrow rim causing the sidewalls to bulge out more. This will also cause the middle of the tire to "balloon" out, which will cause uneven tread wear on the tires.
If you do a lot of driving, I would suggest going to an 8" wide rim with the same or less backspacing as stock. You need a rim with around 3.5"-3.75" backspacing.

If you don't do a lot of driving and tread wear is not a concern, you could go for a small wheel spacer.

Just my $.02

[Heavy_Metal_Thunder_81]

Where can you find wheel spacers for a 6lug? All I can find are the 5lug ones for baby Jeeps

[80wag]

I have been thinking about the spacers or for the same amount getting some 15x8's. I'm going to check something before I go buy anything because I wasn't having any problems before I got the tires on there so the rims could be the problem. I've seen some spacers from Spidertrax in JP magazine. Thanks guys I will post results when I do somthing. Sometimes building and not buying a FSJ is a pain. I know it'll be worth it. Mario

[J10_Jimbo]

My son is running 35X12.5 on 10" wide rims tires fit well, but his is a W/T, personally I wouldn't run the 12.5 on a 7". As for spacers I found them at a drag race / performance store when I used them. Just be sure and check your lug nuts on a regular basis, I had a problem with them becoming loose.

[Headhoncho]

I had to run 1/4 inch spacers on the rear of my j-10 so the tires (36'' on 15x10 whls) wouldn't rub the springs. I bought mine at shlep boys or ben pilla perf. a hundred years ago. They had multiple oblong holes in them for different bolt patterns. I just made sure the lug nut went all the way through the wheel and partially into the spacer to keep it from walking. And yes, re-torque your lugs frequently after driving.


JR

[BlackSheep]

A narrower rim will actually reduce the overall width of the tire as compared to a wider rim. It will appear to bulge out more, but if you actually measure it, you'll find it narrower on the 7" compared to say an 8".

The 7" wheel width is definately not recommended for a 12.5" tire. By using a rim of this width, you are really changing the footprint / profile of the tire to a much rounder shape. This reduces the contact on the shoulders and will very likely result in an irregular wear situation. Not to mention the additional stresses at the belt edges as it rolls through the footprint - meaning less casing endurance.

I prefer 10" wide wheels for 12.5" width tires, although the tires are ok on an 8" wide wheel. You'll want to check your backspacing and get backspacing so that the center of the wheel is further away from the center of the vehicle. I am still never clear on whether that means more backspacing or less backspacing, so I have to think of it relative to vehicle centerline.