Wheels and Tires

[grimlock97]

Okay, I have searched and searched and searched, my 78 sii is in the body shop after the engine rebuild from my two bent pushrods thread, the rust is getting cut out and fixed and it's all getting painted back white, I am ready to buy my rims, tires, lift and brake lines, everything I have seen is 3.5" backspacing for the rims but all the ones I can find are 3.75" backspacing, I don't want the tires to stick out too far, I plan on the bushwacker fender flares, I'm still not sure if I want 33x12.50 on 15x10 or 31x10.50 on 15x8 and I'm not sure if I want 4" or 2.5" I know this is personal preference but does anyone have a pic of a Scout with 4" lift sitting next to a 2.5" lifted Scout? I have attached a picture of what I'm going for, I am really leaning more towards 4" of lift just b/c this is going to be a hunting truck and a truck for weekend rides, will the 3.75" backspacing work? Should I go with 15x8" rims and 33x10.50 tires so it doesn't stick out too much, I want a little overlap but not the whole tire, not past the fender flares, I was looking at the simple black steel rims from Rough Country or 4wheel parts, could someone please assist, and let me know if you need more info. Thanks

 

[Scoutboy74]

I can't speak to your back spacing questions, but as for some of your other questions, here goes.

A 2.5 inch lift will be plenty sufficient for the 31" tires and probably fine for the 33's as well. I've got an rc 4" lift on my Scout clearing 33x10.5 swampers up front and 32x10.5 swampers in the rear mounted on 8" aluminum mags of unknown back spacing. The wheels are the apropriate clearance for front disk brake calipers without being deep dish. Whatever that tells you. I've got a buddy with a 2.5" rc lift running 30x9.5 tires on his Scout. Just eyeballing it with both vehicles in close proximity, there doesn't seem to be much discernable difference in lift height between the two. Sorry, I don't have a pic to illustrate that.

 

[grimlock97]

Thanks for the info, do you have a picture of your rig? I think I am going with the 4" lift bc it's only like 20 dollars more and I don't want to have to re-do it. I guess the problem is there is not any one definitive source to really decide on what rim/tire package to go with, there needs to be a poll or something where everyone inputs their tire size and rim dimensions and backspacing and then have a tally of the most common, I think this would help a lot of people when deciding this as for size.

 

[Scoutboy74]

The first two are current condition and the next two are the before/after lift with 31" tires.

 

[grimlock97]

Thanks for the pics! Just one question, why did you go with a little different tire in the back? Just curious, I like the way your Scout looks and I think I want the 4" lift just b/c the price difference isn't enough to get a 2" and then later want a 4".

 

[Scoutboy74]

It's a long story, but basically it came down to the most economical way of problem solving. Last year I had the 32's all around. They were a good, older, used set...no warranty. One got fubared big time. 1 or 2 good, used 32" radial tsl's are harder to find than a pot of gold. Forget about it. I was lucky enough to get the used pair of 33's, which I don't believe had ever been mounted, from a friend for less than what 1 new 32" radial tsl would have cost me. So the odd 32" became my spare. Compressed diameter with equal psi is only half an inch difference front to rear, so wubbedee freakin' do is what I say. Mud don't give a shit!

 

[grimlock97]

Thanks for all the advice! I went ahead and bought the 4" rc lift and 15x8 dc2 wheels and 32x10.50 tsl tires! I hope they fit. Now I need the stainless brakelines and I'm raplacing all the lights and trim on the outside! (if it ever gets back from the body shop!)

 

[Scoutboy74]

No sweat. That combo should fit like a glove and look real purdy too. The rc will definitely give you a stiffer ride than what you're used to. Are you getting the full kit with extended travel shocks and braided brake hoses? It must be nice to be able to get most of the big issues tackled nearly at once. Yeah, you got some down time, but it's front loaded. That's the way to do it. Nine years later my pile still looks like a total pos...but she don't run like one.

 

[grimlock97]

Yeah, I got the full kit with loddy doddy everything included! I almost had to do everything up front so my wife doesn't find out, I had to sell my 87 k5 to afford everything, so I had 4k to work with, lift , rims, tires was 2k, rebuilding the motor and everything new under the hood was 1k , truck 500, body shop ends up to be 1200 when originally quoted 600, so I'm 700 over budget so far with nothing left for new trim accessories and nothing left for the interior, but I can work on that later! My lift and everything will be here tomorrow and the Scout is due back the first week of March so hopefully I can get the lift done then!!