Been reading around and people talk about wheel diameter and lifts in different ways so it is hard to get a clear picture on *actual* clearance gains.

Soo... if I go from 31s (on healthy non-sagging suspension) to 33s + 1.5" bj lift and matching adjustment in the rear lifts? I'm especially intersted in improvement in approach angles (I.e. I'm trying to figure out if it is worth it to spend all that cash). TIA

 

33s and 1.5" ball joint spacers isn't exactly expensive.

But its pretty easy to figure out what kind of "clearance or lift" you'll get...

besides, you dont exactly need to do spacers. 33x10.50s ( what i have ) will fit without a lift. and they look nice

 

well, that bit about all things being relative is especially so with budgets, no?

ok, that's what i thought too but then i started reading threads... i'm expecting 2" all around but i'm not sure if a) that is actually what i will get 'cause there's so much variation, especially when people mess with the torsion bars and, more importantly, b) what that really means for approach and departure angles in terms of numbers

from what i read i'd have to bash in some body with 10.50s but what i'd really like is 9.50s so i might be able to do that without bashing (to be confirmed)

 

Well from the tires you will gain 1" (your rear axle will be 1" higher same for the front).

Ball joint spacers will add 1.5" of lift if you choose not to relax your t-bars after the install.

So.... If you match the rear to the front and tires all around. You are looking at 2.5" max.

Mak is right. 33x10.5 will fit with no lift (may have a little bit of rubbing). That's what I have also.

 

took a long time to decide on this but i'm set: i want 33-9.50s mounted on my factory 15s. of course now that i decided there are apparently none to be had. i wrote bridgestone and they wrote me back saying they have no plans to make any in the near future.

 

yeah your stuck with 10.50's

im going to go with 33x10.50 bfg km2's and wabfab's 2inch bj kit.

personally i think that is the best upgrade you can get for the price!

 

and in the rear?

i was really hoping to leave the stock geometry in place, there's gotta be some other tire size that comes close to 33 x 9.5 x 15, right?

 

BFG still makes a 33x9.50 in an AT tread:
http://bfgoodrichtires.com/tire-sele.../9.50/15/tires

Or the 33x10.50s are much nicer and still fit stock rims:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/BFG_AT_KO.shtml

I'm still on my last 2 of the old 33x9.50 BFG/MTs that I bought back in '97. Those tires just won't die.

 

i will have to see if i can find any of those.

i will probably begrudgingly go with 33x10.50s . i wanted the pizza cutter look for my truck and i didn't want to have to lift it or have rubbing... oh well, more money for you 4crawler (if i do go that route i'll probably order from you)

 

About one inch of clearance.

Going from a 31 to a 33 will only net you 2 inches in extra tire height, but only 1 inch more in tire radius..

Having said that, your truck will sit 1 inch higher than if it had 31's.

 

The pounding you heard is the pinchweld in the fender. or you can cut it out like i did. i ran 31s stock, then 31s with 4crawler bj spacers and a 2in AAL, then added 33s, then a 2in BL and 35s. but i had different wheel when i had the spacers on. ill post pics, notice how the body damage increases lol

31s


33s


35s

 

actually, i already contacted BFG (not sure why i said bridgestone earlier )

this is what they said: "We apologize the the BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO tires in size 33x9.50r15 are on national back order, as you may know, and not available for retailers to order. Currently, we do not have a production schedule for this tire and it may be several months before it's available."

so not a total no but not very encouraging. still looking for other companies making this size

 

If you really want pizza cutters you still have the option of going with a 16" wheel with a 255/16 which is pretty narrow. Downfall is you'll need new wheels and 16" tires cost a little more.

33x10.5s should suit you at any height with little work, but not many brands of this size tire. I have 33x12.5x15 Toyos and it took a little more work but is doable (correct offset wheels, pinch weld, misc pounding or minor cutting) Front is setup with around 1.5-2" lift from BJ spacers and just enough tbar crank to keep tires from stuffing too far and rubbing. Rear has 2" OME Dakar leafs with stock shackle. Need to lift rear an inch or so with shackles to make it not rub at full full stuff. I could take some measurements but I think I got around 2-3" lift total. Aproach angle definitely improves with the larger tires and lift.