Hello,

I'm new to this site. So far I've found lots of great information so I hope you guys can help me. I recently bought a 2000 Suzuki Vitara 2.0L and I want to know if i can put 15" rims on it!!

I've done my research, I've read pages of threads on this topic but I haven't found a clear answer.

Some have said the V6 models have larger brakes. Thus they got 16 inch rims from the factory and the 4cyl Tracker got 15's because they had smaller brakes. But my Vitara has the same 4cyl as the Trackers and has 16 inch rims!?!

Others have said that the Tracker have specially designed 15 inch wheels and that's how they clear the calipers. So does that mean all the brakes are the same and other then the special Tracker wheels none of our vehicles can clear 15 inch rims?!

If anyone has previous experiences with trying to install 15's on a 4cyl Vitara please share. In fact, all input is greatly appreciated!

Cheers!
Daniel

you have the 4cyclinder so your tracker can fit the 15 and 16 inch rims........ due to the brake caliper bein smaller a bigger rim means nothing...just means you get a smaller tire (if your trying to keep factory specs) you can have a 17 or 18 inch rim just as long as you change the tire size accordingly.......would not go 14 inch on it though

Our ZR2 V6 has 15X6  OE rims on it. Possible the previous owner swapped the 16's on your truck. IIRC, the 16' OE rims are 7" wide, the widest 15's Ive seen are as on our truck, 6" wide. If you want 15's,  our `97 came with 15X5.5" rims, stay with the later, Gen2 15X6's

For what it's worth - Suzuki offered two second generation four cylinder vehicles - the SQ416 & the SQ420 - the 1.6L G16B engined SQ416 has a smaller front brake assembly than the 2.0L J20A engined SQ420 - I just eyeballed my SQ420 (a '98GV with the optional factory 16x7 Enkei alloys) and the clearance to the rim is around 3/8 of an inch - the only way to get a 15" rim over those brakes will be to space it outwards, which is not something I would be comfortable doing.

The deciding factor here is going to be what brakes are on the vehicle the OP has, which by the way is a Vitara, not a Tracker - so I suggest you do what I just did - go out to the vehicle and take a look - you're looking specifically at the clearance between the caliper and the rim - if it's less than half an inch, with the 16" rims you now have, you will be unable to fit 15" rims.

A point worthy of note - in some cases the cross sectional profile of the rim will dictate whether or not it clears - I have another Suzuki on which I have upgraded the front brakes (going from a solid rotor to a larger ventilated one), the stock 13" steel rims will no longer clear the calipers, but the 13" alloys that I've been using do.

This is really a very confusing topic.

I've already got some 15x7 steel wheels off an old Ford. I'm just going to order some 1" spacers and hope for the best.

Apparently lot's of guys here are running spacers without any issues.

This is really a very confusing topic.

Here's the thing - you're not necessarily comparing apples to apples.

You asked about a 2000 Suzuki Vitara 2.0, but, what was sold in the US as a 2000 Suzuki Vitara 2.0 may well have been sold under a different name in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world - add to that, that fact that the specifications change to suit local requirements and the confusion begins.

Excluding the Japanese Domestic Market production which is not documented in the worldwide electronic parts catalog, there are 76 different versions of the Suzuki Vitara - and I have not included the Grand Vitaras and XL-7 - even though, the Grand Vitara that I drive IS sold as Vitara in other countries (albiet with different components).

In some cases a test fit IS the only way to know.

Good luck with your rims.

My 2.0L 2000 Grand Vitara came with 16" rims and the larger V6 front brake setup, the rotor diameter is 12" (IIRC).. I have tried getting 15"s to fit but the inside lip of the rim kept hitting the caliper..

My 2.0L 2000 Grand Vitara came with 16" rims and the larger V6 front brake setup, the rotor diameter is 12" (IIRC).. I have tried getting 15"s to fit but the inside lip of the rim kept hitting the caliper..

I think you & I have similar vehicles - I haven't tried 15" rims, simply because an eyeball check of the caliper to rim clearance with 16's showed inadequate clearance.

It had been my intention to get a set of 15" steelies to mount mud tyres for off road use, partly because there is a better selection in the 15's - but as you discovered, that is a no-go.

My late model 99 has a 2.0 and came with 16" rims. I'm running 15" 93 Ford OEM Outlaws on it. There isn't a more than .5 clearance between the rim and the caliper face.

I don't think you can run a spacer unless it would be something like .25. There wouldn't be enough lug bolt length left to mount the rim. Unless you intend to remove the rotor and drive out the old lugs bolts to install newer longer ones. 

Quote from: 3stagevtec on March 27, 2010, 12:37:02 AM

My 2.0L 2000 Grand Vitara came with 16" rims and the larger V6 front brake setup, the rotor diameter is 12" (IIRC).. I have tried getting 15"s to fit but the inside lip of the rim kept hitting the caliper..

I think you & I have similar vehicles - I haven't tried 15" rims, simply because an eyeball check of the caliper to rim clearance with 16's showed inadequate clearance.

It had been my intention to get a set of 15" steelies to mount mud tyres for off road use, partly because there is a better selection in the 15's - but as you discovered, that is a no-go.

Even with a 1/2" spacer, we couldn't get the rims to fit.. I really wanted 15"s to get more rubber between the rim and the road, which should give a more comfortable ride in the rough stuff..

My late model 99 has a 2.0 and came with 16" rims. I'm running 15" 93 Ford OEM Outlaws on it. There isn't a more than .5 clearance between the rim and the caliper face.

I don't think you can run a spacer unless it would be something like .25. There wouldn't be enough lug bolt length left to mount the rim. Unless you intend to remove the rotor and drive out the old lugs bolts to install newer longer ones. 

Ever seen this style of spacer?  It bolts to the hub and has it's own lugs for the wheel to go on to.

I've had a look at my brakes. Indeed my caliper is VERY close to the spokes of the 16" wheel.

I'm hoping a one inch spacer (with it's own studs) will allow me to clear a 15" rim.

I've had a look at my brakes. Indeed my caliper is VERY close to the spokes of the 16" wheel.

I'm hoping a one inch spacer (with it's own studs) will allow me to clear a 15" rim.

Which part of the caliper are you looking at ?  The critical area (in my opinion) is the outer edge, which would be at right angles to the spokes.

Think about it carefully - what is the difference between a 15" rim and a 16" rim ?

The diameter changes - if you like, the spokes get longer (or shorter) - the spokes themselves don't get any closer to the brakes, the circular outer part gets smaller and closer to the center.

So, what you're saying is; it's the "height" of the caliper that is the problem. It causes interference between the inside edge of the wheel and the top of the caliper.

What's confusing me is that people say with a 1" spacer they can clear 15's.

Adding a spacer only moves the spokes away from the front face of the caliper, the diameter of the rim is unchanged. This suggests that the issue is not insufficient space radially, but simply the spokes hitting the front face of the caliper. Furthermore, if this is true, I could have just as many problems fitting aftermarket 16" rims as i might with 15's!

If i could just test fit rims on the truck before i order/buy them we wouldn't have to discuss this topic to death!!

So, what you're saying is; it's the "height" of the caliper that is the problem. It causes interference between the inside edge of the wheel and the top of the caliper.

Correct!

What's confusing me is that people say with a 1" spacer they can clear 15's.

Adding a spacer only moves the spokes away from the front face of the caliper, the diameter of the rim is unchanged.

Correct - but - there is usually a step in the inside edge of the rim, to allow the tire to be mounted and moving the rim an inch outward may allow this step to clear the caliper.

This suggests that the issue is not insufficient space radially, but simply the spokes hitting the front face of the caliper. Furthermore, if this is true, I could have just as many problems fitting aftermarket 16" rims as i might with 15's!

See my response immediately above, usually the interference occurs between the outer edge of the caliper and which ever portion of the rim comes closest to it, to date I have only seen one rim (an alloy rim) that had a spoke design that came anywhere close to contacting the face of the caliper.

If i could just test fit rims on the truck before i order/buy them we wouldn't have to discuss this topic to death!!

Exactly! And if you check two or three posts up, you'll see I point that out - if I might go off on a slight tangent, I fitted oversized front brakes to a Suzuki car that I have, and despite being told that I would have to switch to 14" rims, I found that whilst the 13" OEM steelies won't the new calipers, the 13" alloys that I have had on the car for almost a decade do - sometimes the only way to be sure is to try it.