Bigger Tires / Wheels for 4" Rancho - Need Input

[VT_Z71]

I'm about to pull the trigger on some larger Toyos and wider wheels for my truck. My GMC has the 4" Rancho kit, which we all know is about 5.5" in the end, and for the past 40k has been running 295/70/17 Toyo MT (33x11.5x17) on stock GMC 17s (5.5bs, +31offset) without any issues other than the sidewall being a little close to A-arm but never touching.

 

I want to go up to a 35" tire. The wheel I'm getting is the Procomp 7036, 18x9, 5" BS and 0 offset. I'm going to stick with Toyo MTs, so my sizes are between 35x12.5x18 or 285/75/18 (which is a 35x11.5x18). The best deal is on the regular 35x12.5 size so that is what the tire guy has quoted.

 

With the space I have leftover on my current tire setup, I'm thinking I will only have rubbing when turned lock to lock, and only then on the fenderwells. The new wheel having lower offset and lower BS should push the wheel out, which I hope gets its further away from the A-arm even though its a slightly wider rim/tire combo. I do head offroad often, but nothing more than hunting trails and fields so I'm never 'stuffed' too awefully bad.

 

Truck is paid off and I'm prepared to trim up front to an extent. I'm counting on the tire shop having to cut the front lower bumper valance, lower lips of inner fender plastic and maybe even the metal cut/tuck displayed by Norcal's fender mod. However, I don't want to be forced to go much further than that with the cutting (no reshaping metal bumers, or visible areas of the fender). Do you think I should be fine with the 35x12.5x18 size considering all of this? If I'm asking for trouble, how about the narrower 285/75/18 (35x11.5)? If all else fails, I guess I could go to a 33x12.5 or even the 33x11.5 I'm running now (really wanna go bigger though).

 

Thanks for any input.

[cparks555]

I'm running a 35x12.50 on 18x9 wheels +18 offset, I did add a 1.5" body lift to clear them though. I zip tied the plastic flaps that hang down near the front bumper forward some to keep the tires from grabbing them at full lock, not even close to rubbing the cab side. I drive logging roads daily without any issue. I could see 0 offset and no body lift with 35's being a bit of a problem. By the way, seeing pics of your truck is the reason why I chose Rancho to begin with.

 

33x12.50 + body lift(tires look small IMO)

 

35x12.50 + body lift

[VT_Z71]

Thanks for the quick answer. What did you have to cut other than the lower bumper trim on yours?

 

And why the issue with 0 offset...just because they'll be sticking out further? Where do you think the problem will lie, bumper side or cab side?

[blackout07]

You can expect to do the "NorCal" fender mod but you'll be okay once that's done, other than off camber situations

when going offroad. When comparing what you want to cparks setup you need to consider some key points.

 

1. Toyos are quite a bit larger than BFGs. Ie. Toyos run true to size and BFGs run small.

 

2. The 0 offset you're looking at will eliminate any rubbing on the suspension side, but will push the tires out and create more rubbing on the outer rear portion of the fender. The +18 that cparks is running helps.

 

3. He has an added 1.5" and still had minor clearance issues despite having a small 35 and conservative offset.

 

 

[cparks555]

Agree with everything above. These Bfg's measure a hair over 34, where as the 33 Toyo's were actually a hair over 33. I rubbed with the Toyo's in the front with just the Rancho from day one. If you don't want to add a body lift, I think a nice wide 33 would look killer on 0 offset wheel. Getting these Bfg's just killed the whole aggressive look on my truck, they will be gone soon!

I'm relaxing at the house if you need pics of anything else.

 

This is what I've trimmed so far:

 

Clearance cab side(didn't trim any of this):

[VT_Z71]

_{CParks: where your original Toyos 33x12.5 18s or one of the PMetric sizes that are close to 33 but not quite? Also, I'm not really worried about tearing into the lower valance and plastic fender liners up front, the shop can cut away as much plastic as needed like you have shown. I'm more concerned about the rear of the wheel well, where I'm pretty fine with minor metal cuts & tucking like the NorCal mod, but don't want to get crazy with any of the metal. Studying your pics, and the one I've included below when my current Toyos were new, it looks like the biggest concern is up in front of the wheel (bumper side), not so much rearward on the door side.}

 

_{My current 295/70/17 are technically 33.5 per Toyo's website (when new)...I don't really want to go smaller in diameter, but, with the width gained and deeper tread in the 33x12.5 size & 0-offset rim, maybe it will make up for the look.}

[cparks555]

Yes, those pics are 33x12.50x18 Toyo. They will look almost identical height wise, but much wider. From my experience it seems the width of the tire plays a bigger role in rubbing issues more so than the height. I don't see a 33x12.50 on a 0 offset wheel rubbing cab side, I could be wrong though. Like you, I also own my truck, so a little fender massage front or back isn't going to matter much.

 

[VT_Z71]

Thanks again for the pics. Would you happen to have one of your truck looking from the front/rear or looking down the side when you had the Toyos so I can get an idea of the 33x12.5 profile? My fronts already stick out about an inch and a half from the lift, and I just added 1.5" BORA spacers to the rear to equal out the stance (the uneven-ness after 3 years finally got the best of me and I bit the bullet)

 

As of this afternoon, i do have another potential option. I can score these rims from my buddy for next to nothing (see attached below, in great shape w/ maybe 10k on them). 18x8, stock BS and offset specs. I can go with the 285/75/18 (35x11.5R18) Toyo MT, which is slightly narrower than my current rubber. However, its actually 35.1 diameter, same tread depth, and 2lbs lighter than my current. Therefore, im thinking if i run this setup, I will have about the same clearance to my rear A-arm but should still be good since tire is slightly narrower in section. Plus, since its lighter, I shouldnt have to re-gear or re-program my Blackbear'd shift points to maintain performance acpects (at least no re-gear for now until that bug bites). Still might have to trim somewhat due to sheer diameter, but not as bad since wheel is tucked in.

[Chiefmorton]

VT I personally think your truck looks awesome the way it is with the 295-70-17 tires and stock wheels but I know it's nice to change things up a little. I was on the BDS suspension web site the other night and found that they have a very nice photo gallery of different trucks and lifts with the tire and wheel description, very handy. The majority of the trucks shown have the 6" lift but sounds like the Rancho is pretty close to that height. I'm still saving my pennies for the Rancho lift and keep going back and forth on whether to go with different wheels but then I look at your pics knowing I have the same wheels and think damn that looks good just the way it is lol!!!

[cparks555]

These are the best I could dig up, hope it helps some. They measured out close to 33x13 if I remember correct.