ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Model Specific Suzuki Forum => Suzuki Grand Vitara, Vitara, Chevy Tracker (Gen. 2 Platform) 1999-2005 => Topic started by: NVR_LEVN on April 10, 2009, 04:07:05 PM
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Hi folks,
After seemingly figuring out this boards search function, and multiple searches, I hope I'm not being an obnoxious newbie but looking for some guidance.
I'm ordering Jeff's 99+ kit and the necessary shocks in the next few weeks, but doing this lift for purely functional purposes only, in order to run larger tires. I live on a mudhole fire road in Maine, and our 02 Tracker 2dr zr-2 wont make it through "mud season" as all the snow/ice has finally melted here.
The stock zr-2 wheels are in horrible condition, and needs new tires anyway, and upgrading in size at the same time.
What's a budget minded wheel and tire combo that would be good with running Jeff's coil spacer lift only?
I read in my search 29" is the size I would be looking for, but since I'm looking for new rims at the same time, the possibilities seem endless, aside limited choices in the 139.4 bolt pattern. (Please tell me to correct that if it's wrong). Prefer no rubbing, will compromise to little rubbing if I have to. Wheels must be "shiny" per fiance. (her ride) Can you help point me in right direction?
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PS - I know about Treadwright tires, I'm not convinced to use them (yet), so looking for a combo of new wheels/tires. Thanks
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My all-time favorite tire for mixed duty (road, mud, rocks, gravel, etc) is the BFG Commercial Traction tire. They're pushing 90% as effective as a "mud tire" for off-roading, but without nearly as much of that annoying "howl" when driving on the highway. They're usually not as expensive as the better-known AT's and MT's, either, and they're heavily siped so they are not too bad in snow either (compared to an AT or MT -- they're still not as good as snow tires).
If your rims are 15 inch, the then typical/common size is LT235x75R15 (approximately a 29x8.5 inch tire).
Or for 16 inch rims -- LT225x75R16's would be the most common size (approximately a 29x8 inch tire).
On the plus side for 16 inch tires, is you can get them in 10ply, which would be for all intents and purposes indestructible under a light truck like a Tracker. :)
Other side note - for even more inexpensive tires, check out Kumho's lineup. I've run them off and on for years, and have always got great service out of them. I only switched to the BFG's because Kumho didn't really have an equivilant to the Commercial Traction tire I noted above.
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Does yer truck have ABS? I'm originally from Maine (still have all my family up they-ah...lol). Anyway....reason I ask is I know the suspension laws are real shitty in Maine. They don't want you changing tire size on ABS equipped vehicles last I knew. On non-ABS vehicles they limit you to 2 tire sizes or 2" I believe. Make sure you're careful with that if you want that Maine inspection sticker without too much trouble. Good luck. On a side note....Cooper Discoverer AT were very good tires for me a few years ago, and reasonable in price. Don't recommend Dunlop Rovers or the Bridgestone stuff. Kelly might be a good cheaper brand you could get up there, too. Good luck, fellow Mainah!
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Does yer truck have ABS? I'm originally from Maine (still have all my family up they-ah...lol). Anyway....reason I ask is I know the suspension laws are real shitty in Maine. They don't want you changing tire size on ABS equipped vehicles last I knew. On non-ABS vehicles they limit you to 2 tire sizes or 2" I believe. Make sure you're careful with that if you want that Maine inspection sticker without too much trouble. Good luck.
I appreciate the warning, but I'm familiar with Maine's lift laws. I'm a member of a local offroad club with my F-150, and run oversize tires. We have much of the state's regulations on our club's private forum, most of which has to due with maximum frame height, or having the speedo corrected for the tire size. (which I believe allows the ABS to work fine, so the laws may have been updated.) Much of the club I'm in has Cherokee's, and run 33's.
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as for what rims to buy find something 'shiny' that she likes and put some 30x9.5 all terrains such as the bfg's, you might get slight rub on the frame at full lock of the steering wheel but it really is not a big deal..
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Thanks for the suggestions folks:
Using a basic tire size calculator:
stock zr-2 - 215/75/15 - 27.7 in
225/75/16 - 29.3 in
235/75/15 - 28.9 in
I have a 5 tire set of 265/75/16 BFG A/T's and would love to stuff them under the tracker?
The calc shows this as 31.6 inches, but after measuring them, they seem closer to 30.5 in.
You think these will fit with Jeff's lift only? From the responses and searches I've seen, I'm thinking not.
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I just got a smokin' deal on some barely used 31x 10.50 Goodyear MT/R's I found on craigslist. Not sure if your're looking for anything that aggressive; I just needed a place to gloat. I'll try to get some pics up after the body lift and MT/R's are on.
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well.. my new tires are 31x10.5 ssr's that measure just under 32 and i've got a body lift and the suspension lift and still had to trim. my last 31x9.5 swampers fit no issues. so you'll almost certainly have to cut and hammer to fit those tires you've mentioned.. that being said, if you're gonna take it that far might as well put the biggest tires you can fit on there! i wish i'd gone bigger......
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Suspension's already lifted. I know the 31's will be close. I'm certainly not scared of the Sawzall and sledge, if neccessary. In keeping w/ the theme of the thread, though, I do feel compelled to put in another shameless plug for Jeff's stuff. :-[
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Hey NVR_LEVN,
What size tire did you end up going with? I plan on installing Jeff's lift only (as you mentioned) and am wondering what tire size I can fit.
Any pics?
Thanks
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We ended up trading in the tracker during cash for clunkers...sorry, lift and tires for the tracker never materialized
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Wow! A Tracker qualified for the cash for clunker program??? Amazing. (Shakin' my head in disbelief!)
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getting off topic, but if you go look at what got vehicles were traded in during the cash for clunkers program, even Hybrids were taken in trade for the rebate. I saw a Silverado Hybrid in the list of cars, as well as cars that were worth well more than the 4500 rebate. (Fishy in my opinion)
http://www.cars.gov/files/official-information/trade-in-vehicles.pdf (http://www.cars.gov/files/official-information/trade-in-vehicles.pdf)
There were over 100 trackers taken in, in the program
Ours was apparently the ONLY 2002 Tracker ZR2 4wd Convertible though
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Crazy isn't it? They toasted the engine on it too!! Bunch of guys and gals would have loved to get their hands on the 2 liter engine and the power train on that truck. Well, at least you got a fair trade-in value for yours. Normally get severely raped when trading vehicles.
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Thanks for the update NVR_LEVN
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I am running 16x8 dick cepek dc-1 rims with bfg mud terrain km2 225/75/16 tires with just jeffs lift on my 2000 tracker 2 dr 2.0 convertible 4x4, rims are shinny when clean ;)
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I am running 16x8 dick cepek dc-1 rims with bfg mud terrain km2 225/75/16 tires with just jeffs lift on my 2000 tracker 2 dr 2.0 convertible 4x4, rims are shinny when clean ;)
Thanks for the info... I went back and took a look at your pics. Nice lookin ride. Do you have any more rub issues? Did you ever do anything concerning you rear springs? (pop out?)
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The rear springs have not been a problem at all.
There was some slight rub in the front while cornering and pulling into my driveway which has a bump then ramp up. Seems the tire tread would rub the inner fender on the back side. Annoying but not a big deal. I now have a 2" body lift + jeff's, so plenty of room for articulation.