Larger tires and front end wear

[Jack K]

Sportsmobile installed the Dynatrac Pro Series 60 heavy duty ends package in the front (larger knuckle, shaft, spindle, brakes, and internal hub) with Timkin wheel bearings, so it would seem to be able to handle higher stresses.

[TomsBeast]

Originally Posted by Jack K

Sportsmobile installed the Dynatrac Pro Series 60 heavy duty ends package in the front (larger knuckle, shaft, spindle, brakes, and internal hub) with Timkin wheel bearings, so it would seem to be able to handle higher stresses.

You should be good to go, then


Will 35's clear the fender openings?

[Jack K]

Originally Posted by TomsBeast

You should be good to go, then


Will 35's clear the fender openings?

Yah, that's the question. I don't know; best bet is to get some mounted and try 'em on for size.

[TomsBeast]

Originally Posted by Jack K

Yah, that's the question. I don't know; best bet is to get some mounted and try 'em on for size.

How much of lift does your van have?

For comparison, I have 4" lift, and the BFG All-Terrain KO's (16-285/75) which measure about 32" tall new, on 16x9 wheels with 4.5" backspacing. They're about right for good offroad clearance, have never rubbed a front fender during a tight turn, the closest fit. Mine is a UJOR conversion, that *I think* biases the axle forward in the wheel well opening, which could make a difference if yours is another brand conversion.

I wouldn't be able to use a 35" tire on my rig.

Selecting tires and wheels is a PITA to get juuuust riiiight, and expensive to get wrong.

I hope that helps

[Jack K]

Originally Posted by TomsBeast

How much of lift does your van have?

For comparison, I have 4" lift, and the BFG All-Terrain KO's (16-285/75) which measure about 32" tall new, on 16x9 wheels with 4.5" backspacing. They're about right for good offroad clearance, have never rubbed a front fender during a tight turn, the closest fit. Mine is a UJOR conversion, that *I think* biases the axle forward in the wheel well opening, which could make a difference if yours is another brand conversion.

I wouldn't be able to use a 35" tire on my rig.

Selecting tires and wheels is a PITA to get juuuust riiiight, and expensive to get wrong.

I hope that helps

My van has the SMB 6" lift, and I've PM'd a couple of forum members w/ larger tires who've reported minimal clearance issues. But to your point about hitting that Goldilocks sweet spot between form and function and the potential cost of getting it wrong, and since I'm a bit anal about these things, I want to be absolutely sure that 1) there won't be clearance problems, particularly articulating off-road, and 2) there won't be premature wear issues. At this point I'm pretty confident about both, but I'm a try before I buy kind of guy, so I'll have to figure that out. Thanks for your input, Tom w/ Beast.

[schluchtenflitzer]

I ran 37-12.5-17 on the Dana60. 45000km now in africa and the roads here are realy bad
No problems till now. I have a 7.3 powerstroke wit 4.56 ratio (10500lbs)
Dani und Didi in Afrika -

[JoeH]

Hey Jack, I have a similar SMB build with the Prorock60 and 4" lift. I went from 33s to 35" tires 4 years/50,000 miles ago and have not had any issues with additional wear on suspension components like ball joints and tie rod ends.

Just a guess but I think that the 35" tire thing comes from the earlier conversions when Quigleys were the platform and before SMB developed their own 4x4 conversion circa 2003/2004 with the Prorock and Atlas transfer case. The main thing being rub and how much of the fender well they cut. Generally folks have to cut even more to fit a 37".

[Jack K]

Hey canyon racer (I hope the translation is accurate), you are truly using your van for what it was designed! Great pics, and best wishes for continued safe travels. Good to know the larger tires present no issues.

JoeH, what you say about the SMB switch from Quigley to their own design with regard to 35" vs. 33" tire size makes sense. I've wondered why they now install 33" tires when they used to use 35 inchers. Question: did you have to do any cutting on your van to accommodate the larger size? Thanks also for the info that you've had no issues w/ front end wear from the additional diameter dimension.

Cheers!

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by Jack K

JoeH, what you say about the SMB switch from Quigley to their own design with regard to 35" vs. 33" tire size makes sense. I've wondered why they now install 33" tires when they used to use 35 inchers. Question: did you have to do any cutting on your van to accommodate the larger size? Thanks also for the info that you've had no issues w/ front end wear from the additional diameter dimension.

Cheers!

Uh, I'm not sure SMB ever used 35" tires. Maybe Daveb or some of the other SMB veterans know more. It was the Quigleys that didn't fare too well with a 35" tire and had clearance issues. I was just guess that as the reason for SMB never spec'ing them. My rig is leaf sprung and no I did not have to do any trimming to the fender wells to fit 35s.