ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: AJMBLAZER on March 17, 2006, 04:53:46 PM
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My '96 has the 6" Calmini lift system. Has about zero flex so I figure from looking at it I can in fact fit a
bigger/more aggressive tire. The problem is that my rims are some custom made jobbies with about 2" of backspacing so they stick WAY out from under the truck and send muck, water, salt, and all matter of general crap ALL over the vehicle. I can't keep it clean for a day if the roads are at all wet or damp.
I'd like to get a set of 15x8's with more backspacing to fix this problem. However I've read conflicting reports on these forums about how much backspacing to use for this. I'm thinking of either a 31x10.5R15 or 32x11.5R15 tire on a 15x8 rim. I'd prefer for it to not hit the body or the frame. Anyone know my ideal backspacing? Would somewhere in the 3-4" range work?
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if you read the instructions for the calmini 6"lift the tire must be spaced 3" away from the truck from stock for the system to work properly if you do a lote of flexing 32s are going to hit your finders. i run 15x8 with a backspace of the mouting from stock on 32s and when i flex a lote thay hit my finders. i did cut the inside of the finder at the bottom on the inside whare you cant see and it didnt hit when turning. befor it did. if corse my rig is pritty much a trail rig so i flex a lot on hard trails so my finers are bent up a little. if you care about looks and take it off road on diffaculd trails dont use 32s. you might bend your finders.
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I didn't put the lift on, I bought it that way about two weeks ago. I know nothing about Calmini's recommendations.
So what do they say will hit with backspacings of more than 3"?
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http://www.puresuzuki.com/tire_chart.htm
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Damn, what are they expecting to rub exactly? ???
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I don't have the body lift... but since that doesn't impact the frame clearance.. I can tell you this.. 235's rubbed my frame after my 2" longer coils were installed.. they didn't before the lift, since the lift actually moves the tires closer to the frame if you aren't using the Calmini arms..
Seems like they would make the arms wide enough to allow 9.50 inch wide tires to not hit the frame without using a 2.5" backspace, but that is what they suggest...
When I installed my 11.50" wide LTB's, I HAD to go with 2.75" backspacing to keep them off the frame.. they don't come close now... The added wheel arc, made floor board pounding necessary, but remember you have a 3" body lift I don't have..
I think it's the frame you will be hitting if you try a 10"+ width with more than 3.00" backspacing, even with a 7" wheel..........but, I could be mistaken.
Fender Flares of some type might be your compromise?? It will probably be mine
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Yeah, I'm starting to think about those flexy flares you can get through JCWhitney. I know how to get them from the supplier in bulk 50' rolls. Oh well. I guess I'll just have to clean these wheels up some. :P
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Yeah, I'm starting to think about those flexy flares you can get through JCWhitney.
Me too. Maybe we should split a roll. I like the way they look on HotRods 4 door.
I have the same lift on my 96 4 door (BL is 3" Boondox) and I have the 2.5" BS 15x8s with 31s. I wish I had gone with a 15x7 with 3"BS. I think that would put my tire more where I want it. While we had snow I put some narrow traction tires on stock rims just so I didn't have all that slop hitting the mirrors, windows etc. Looked weird with all that lift and 30" skinny tires but it was nice to keep all that $#!+ under the fenders. Here is a shot of it with the snow tires.
(http://www.teamlifeforce.net/012106TrakiSnowTires1s.jpg)
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i don't have a body lift either, but i do have the calmini 3" suspension lift. i run 30x10.5 tires on 15x8 rims with 3.75 backspace. i have perfect clearance with no rubbing from lock to lock and flex. i do however get crap all over the side of my rig because the tires stick out about 3" past the fenders. so your going to have to get fender flares no matter what tires you choose.
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Shredder, that might be a good idea. I need some for my Ranger though...still, I doubt I'd need half of the 50'. When are you thinking about doing this?
Agent Orange, no frame, body, or suspension rubbage? I need to do some measuring...
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I run 15x8 rims with 3.5" of back spacing and 33x10.50-15 Swampers. I had to trim some because I didn't have enough lift for the tire size, but they only stick out about 1" or so... sammy flares cover them nicely...
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Digger, where did you have to trim?
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Don't forget that you can adjust your steering stops.
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Shredder, that might be a good idea. I need some for my Ranger though...still, I doubt I'd need half of the 50'. When are you thinking about doing this?
I would like to do it before the April 1st ride. Everytime I hit a mud hole that I need to spin in I end up with mud covered windows and mirrors. I actually carry a water bottle with me just so I can was it off enough to see where I am going. They make a few different styles which one are you thinking?
Hotrod if you happen to read this what flair did you get?
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I was thinking about the side mount version shown here:
http://www.pacerperformance.com/pages/products.asp?id=2
It's part number 52-169 most of the way down the page.
I need the side mount for the Ranger and was thinking that would be the best way to keep the things on since these Track/Kick's don't have much of a "horizontal" fender edge to screw into.
I'll PM you in a minute with an idea.
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Digger, where did you have to trim?
I had to pound back the pinch weld at the back of the front wheel wells and trim about an inch to an inch and a half from the back edge of the front wheel well and the front edge of the back wheel well...
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When you say edges of the wheel wells do you mean down at the bottoms where they sort of "fold in" or did you do big cuts a good distance up the fender?
I was looking at it today and man, with my backspacing it'd be hard to get a wider or taller tire on. A real 32x11.5R15 would be TIGHT in there, I have perfect clearance now but going half an inch in every dimension would be close front, back, and next to the suspension. :P
If I get the thing mobile fast enough tomorrow I'll take a wheel off and measure my backspacing. I can't picture a bigger tire fitting with an inch or more backspacing. Wonder if the geometry of the components changes some with a Calmini lift?
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The measurements I stated are at the bottom edge of the fender opening and the cut extended up about a foot or so to blend in with the line of the opening.
As for the fit with a little more backspacing, having a little more backspacing will allow the tires to "tuck in" better when turning. Grab a freind with a full-size bronco or 80's F-150 and grab one of his wheels to try out and you'll see what I mean...
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I run 15x8 rims with 3.5" of back spacing and 33x10.50-15 Swampers. I had to trim some because I didn't have enough lift for the tire size, but they only stick out about 1" or so... sammy flares cover them nicely...
i don't have a body lift either, but i do have the calmini 3" suspension lift. i run 30x10.5 tires on 15x8 rims with 3.75 backspace. i have perfect clearance with no rubbing from lock to lock and flex. i do however get crap all over the side of my rig because the tires stick out about 3" past the fenders. so your going to have to get fender flares no matter what tires you choose.
I notice both of you have the same tire, width and only a 1/4" difference in backspacing, yet Shredders tires stick out 1" and Agent Oragne's Tires stick out 3 inches.
Does this mean that the CALMINI 3" Suspension Lift ARMS are longer than stock? I assume Shredders Lift has stock Arms?
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Both have the Calmini 3" suspension lift.
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all i know is that if i put a straight edge to my tires, and measured the distance from the straight edge to my fenders they stick out 3".
my tires are actually 265x70x15 which works out to 29.61x10.43 which is roughly the same measurements as 30x10.5
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Okay, just to dig this back up.
I've got a line on a set of BFG Muds in 32x11.5R15 for a really good price and they're damn near new.  I measured my wheels and they definately have 2.5" of backspacing. Should I run the 32's on these wheels and live with them sticking out or can I go with less backspacing? I have a line on some 15x8's with 3.5" of backspacing and also I've found some new 15x8 alloys that I can get with 3.25" of backspacing as other options.
What do do...what to do... ??? :P
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???
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Okay, just to dig this back up.
I've got a line on a set of BFG Muds in 32x11.5R15 for a really good price and they're damn near new.  I measured my wheels and they definately have 2.5" of backspacing. Should I run the 32's on these wheels and live with them sticking out or can I go with less backspacing? I have a line on some 15x8's with 3.5" of backspacing and also I've found some new 15x8 alloys that I can get with 3.25" of backspacing as other options.
What do do...what to do... ??? :P
I think the 3.25" BS might work it's only 1/2" less than my 11.50's.. and I am prolly at least 1/2" from the frame at full lock ...... might be close.. but without big side lugs like my LTB's.. you might just gettem under there..
I have heard of others with that wide of a tire with that BS'ing...
Would be nice to be able to check first though.. huh?
Anyone with this combo?
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Okay, just to dig this back up.
I've got a line on a set of BFG Muds in 32x11.5R15 for a really good price and they're damn near new.  I measured my wheels and they definately have 2.5" of backspacing. Should I run the 32's on these wheels and live with them sticking out or can I go with less backspacing? I have a line on some 15x8's with 3.5" of backspacing and also I've found some new 15x8 alloys that I can get with 3.25" of backspacing as other options.
What do do...what to do... ??? :P
You could go with a 5x7" instead of the 5x8", it will suck in the side walls causing the tire to be taller and narrower.
Desert Prerunners (Trucks) run 33x12.5x15s on 5x7 inch wheels all the time. I guy I know has a sandrail, and he runs a 35x12.5x15 on a 5x7 wheel. When I saw it for the first time, I swore it was a 33x10.5x15 by looking at it.
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Eh, the buyer backed out on my tires so now I may not be getting the 32's at all. I'm probably just going to be keeping the rims I have for the conceivable future.
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I'm running the flairs everyone is talking about, the JC Whitney surface mount ones that are like 2" or something. I think they came out great. I got them instead of the lip mount ones since I trimmed the back of the front fenders (now there's no lip). They weren't hard to put on, I cut a notch every few inches to help them flex a little so they'd still sit flat, it's not hard.
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Thread archaeology! ;D
Well, Calmini's rim recommendations are NOT due to them thinking you'll hit the suspension with the tires and wheels.
I sold my 31's today and have reinstalled the 215/75R15 Goodyear GSA stockers I have until I get my 31" mud tire situation sorted out. I might reuse the wheels I have (15x7 with 2.5" of backspacing) but only if I can't sell them. That said I know where to get a set of 15x8's with 3.75" of backspacing. Thinking about running those to keep the tires closer to the truck.
It looks like a roller skate with the little tires. ;) Rides a bit rougher too as there's less sidewall and overall tire to take the bumps in the road. Man, I hate how this Calmini lift rides. :( Doesn't feel quite as stable in corners but driving sanely makes it a non-issue.
On the plus side it steers MUCH nicer thanks to the much narrower track width. Definately has me thinking about not using those 2.5" BS wheels. I also have PLENTY of clearance. Even with the factory 15x5.5 wheels with right about 4" of backspacing I have several inches between them, the tires, and all suspension components. Personally I think Calmini's just trying to cover their |removethispart|@sses related to Suzukis and them "being so tippy." ::)
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Yeah, but larger tires will come closer to the frame in a turn.. think about the geometry of it.
Turn your wheels to full lock, then look to see how a larger tire will be closer to the frame..
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Yeah, I've thought of that but...I think...I'll be okay. If some of the guys on here can do it so can I.