Time for some new rubber!

[HiImBrian]

Ok, so I finally got the fat check I was waiting for and it's time for new rubber.

I'm going to go with a set of treadwrights; they're more affordable and everyone seems to like them. However, I'm having some trouble sizing....

I'm torn between these
285/70/17
https://treadwright.com/p-52-285-70r17-guard-dog-m-t-d.aspx

And these
315/70/17
https://treadwright.com/p-79-315-70r17-guard-dog-m-t-d.aspx

I've got a 3" BL, I'm ordering 2.25/1.75 spacers from Brandon this week, and 2" wheel spacers that I'm thrilled with. The concern I have is that the OD of the two are only 1.4" different. Is that 1.4" really going to be THAT much of a problem? I know I'm going to have to trim regardless, so why not go just a little bigger? What do you think?

 

[Teejay4490]

Go big or go home. But make sure big isn't too big

 

[HiImBrian]

That's what I want to know...

 

[wood1]

You already have to trim, go bigger. Bigger is always better!

 

[Maxstealth04]

Bigger is always better!

That's what she said!

 

[fr0st m0nkey]

285s for sure.

Why?
1. Loss of power/gas mileage
2. Rubbing while turning
3. Do you have new UCAs?

 

[43]

Would be one of the few with 35s... if they fit.

 

[Kazer]

its not the height of the 315s, its the width that will make you have to trim A LOT more

hence why people run 285s intead of 33x12.50s

285 is the width in milimeters, add 30 more milimeters to 285 to get 315 and thats roughly 12.4" wide

 

[43]

Well he's got 2in wheel spacers, that should help with the width, right?

 

[HiImBrian]

3. Do you have new UCAs?

No, not yet; but I will. I don't do any serious off-roading so I'm not too worried about that. I'll be replacing my struts and ball joints at the same time.

 

[fr0st m0nkey]

Duner (the guy that made the huge drop down bracket lift) posted this in another thread:

Beefier balljoints will not solve the problem. The upper control arm is the problem. Go back and look at the picture of the failure and notice that the balljoint is still intact and the upper control arm is ripped out. The angle of the balljoint after installing the spacers increases so much that it "bottoms out" against the side of itself and rips it out of the control arm. You could have the strongest balljoint in the world and it would still do the same thing. The only true fix would be to get the BTF upper control arms. They are longer to get the camber adjustment back and the angle of the balljoint mount is corrected to match the new angle so the balljoint doesnt bottom out on itself. They are also beeefier around the balljoint. This is the only way to fix the problem.
I just dont want people thinking they can put new ball joints in a add the spacers and they will be good to go and they ride will be safe because its wont be. The control arm where the balljoint mounts is the weak link.

If someone can post the picture I mentioned above they can see where the problem really is. This will be the same case in any of the failures. I have never seen a balljoint come apart or fail in that way only get loose and floppy.

Also want to mention the wheel spacers that everyone uses add sooo much more leverage(more than you can imagine) to the upper balljoints and contributes to this problem in a big way also as well as the added stress to the rest of the parts.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[HiImBrian]

its not the height of the 315s, its the width that will make you have to trim A LOT more

hence why people run 285s intead of 33x12.50s

285 is the width in milimeters, add 30 more milimeters to 285 to get 315 and thats roughly 12.4" wide

The specs list their widths at 11.5" and 11.8" respectively.... That's why I was considering it, they seem so close together.

 

[HiImBrian]

Duner (the guy that made the huge drop down bracket lift) posted this in another thread:

I know, I've read that. Like I said though, I don't do any real off-roading. It's my understanding that the only time my ball joints will be at such an extreme angle would be when my struts are fully extended. The only time my suspension will be like that will be when it is on a lift. I will be upgrading my UCA's in 6-8 months, I would only have my current arms and new ball joints temporarily....