[dastro123]

I bought a '89 Jeep Sahara for my wife recently. The previous owner had just installed a 4" Rubicon leaf spring lift kit. He also installed Cooper 33x12.50R15LT's mounted on Eagle Alloy 187's.

My wife loves the jeep but hates the tires because they stick out 6" beyond the flares and look too "monster truckish" in her eyes and completely soak you when the top is off and the street is barely wet. See pics:

http://flickr.com/photos/26153803@N07/2454596228/

http://flickr.com/photos/26153803@N07/2454677886/

The wheels are 15x10 and , have an offset of -46mm and backspace of 3 5/8". I'm new at this, but the wheels are spacing the tires too far away from the body, right?

I want to mount tires to the original matching Sahara rims that are 15x8 (pic). These rims backspace go the opposite direction of Eagles, allowing the tire to not stick out as much. I want the tires to be completely within the flares (looking somewhat stock), but have enough diameter to not make the jeep look dumb with the 4" lift. I'm thinking about 32x11.50's. We hardly do any offroading so the type of tire isn't too important. Am I right thinking the wheels are the problem? Any input is greatly appreciated!

[jrollings]

yea you need new wheels with more backspacing. stock wheels are i believe 5" or so

[jeepbro's]

those stock wheels are 5.5" back space and are only 15x7's, those tires on there currently could be put on them but they would rub when turning and probably rub the inner fender wells when going up or down, you could get some 33x10.5's on those rims, possibly 32x11.5's but you still might run into problems with them running, those are your chances at keeping the tires completely under the flares,
i personally would mount those tires you already have on the orig rims and get some 1 or 1.5" wheel spacers, to avoid rubbing and they would just barely stick out and also give it a nice rounded out look

[blue1989yj]

Different wheels will change how far the tires stick out. I have 31x10.5 and they are still slightly past the flares. I am in the process of picking out a wider flare to replace the stock ones.

[lobukjeep]

Yuo better get your measurment down to exactly what you want,so you don't spend your hard earned cabbage on the wrong thing..I had 31x10.5x15 on my 89 yj on stock rims and they rub the springs on tight turns.I have a set of outlaw1 rims now with the same tire and they only stick out about 3 inches at best.Not sure what the back spacing is on them though.Seems to be a happy medium.

[sprngrider]

leave the tires alone and get wider flares

[l3it3r]

Originally Posted by sprngrider

leave the tires alone and get wider flares

Agreed

[SwearingYeti]

Agreed again!

[YJGEEWA]

Originally Posted by jeepbro's

those stock wheels are 5.5" back space and are only 15x7's, those tires on there currently could be put on them but they would rub when turning and probably rub the inner fender wells when going up or down, you could get some 33x10.5's on those rims, possibly 32x11.5's but you still might run into problems with them running, those are your chances at keeping the tires completely under the flares,
i personally would mount those tires you already have on the orig rims and get some 1 or 1.5" wheel spacers, to avoid rubbing and they would just barely stick out and also give it a nice rounded out look

I don't recomend spacers at all they are a DANGER to you and everyone else on the road, that's just my . Here is a stock wheel specs,Vendor: AMERICAN WHL (A78)
Part: 1365765
Style: A78 136 VENTURA POLISHED
Rear/Back Spacing: 3.75 INCHES
OffSet: -6MM,-.250 INCHES
Size Desc: 15 X 7
Lug Style: CONI SEAT/ACORN LUG
Hub Ring: Not Required
Center Cap: A78 1327000S

[LilViper95]

I would just buy some larger flares.....tell your wife she's lucky it doesnt look like this!!!! those bad boys stick out about 11 inches, I cant find flares that even come close to covering them!

[tcourdin]

Originally Posted by sprngrider

leave the tires alone and get wider flares

X3, there are some pics in my gallery of a couple of different brands of wider flares on my Jeep. I dont like getting soaked with water and mud while wheeling either.

[flame0086]

I'd buy the wife a rain jacket

[jeepbro's]

Originally Posted by YJGEEWA

I don't recomend spacers at all they are a DANGER to you and everyone else on the road, that's just my

what i meant is adapters, that have lug studs mounted in billet aluminum that are same lug pattern,
not the actual spacers that just move wheels and relies on orig studs, i agree those are dangerous but adapters are just fine

[sprngrider]

The aluminum spacers are great i have them installed in the front to prevent rubbing

[MLJeeper]

i disagree on the spacer/adapter issue. I dont "like" them but they do their job safe enough. You HAVE to recheck the torque every now and then though.

As for the op, i agree with the ones that said get wider flares keep the tires.