So, after working a ton, plus school, and a girlfriend, along with winter which basically halted most of my progress on my raider.

I am looking pretty green at the moment <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

And have been pondering about what to do with my raider..i was going 31 10.5 15 But now, i'm thinking 33 12.5 15

Info on my vehicle
Engine: 4 Cylinder Remanufactured
Mileage: 100 on new engine
Replacements: Bigger Radiator, KYB Shocks (Equate to 1 1/4 Lift, almost 1 1/3) All new hoses, etc

Is this a viable choice? I am going to go with 15x8 Rims if i do this.

Any problems may i encounter? I know i will most likely have to trim the bump stops. But also on a mechanical level, may 33's put too much strain on the good ol' 4 cylinders? (This will basically be my DD, and a bit of an off road vehicle..nothing major besides an easy going trail or two :] every now and then)

Also-what backspacing should my rims be? 3.25?


I've read the links, and have sort of asked this question before, but i like a more thorough response to basically all the things i have. Looking at a chart or what others say about a general consensus of things makes me kind of nervous on whether or not I should order the 15x8 rims and 33 12.5 if i'm going to encounter more trouble then they are worth.

Nick,

There are a few persistent questions raised on this board, tire sizes being one of them. I've put about 50K miles on my 87 Raider with 225/75-15, 31x10.5, 32x11.5, and 33x12.5 tires. I like the ride of the 33 the best, both for street and dirt. Since my Raider is primarily for work, and I work in the dirt, I've sought the medium between freeway and haul road performance for my needs. Over the last year, I was running the 33's and travelling up and down the mountains between Lake Tahoe and Sacramento, from 7800 feet at Echo Summit to 25 feet MSL in downtown Sac. The 33's and mountain descents are not for the faint of heart. I'm going to be adding the V6 front brake setup this year, maybe checking out the EBC products from UK. I have not corrected my speedo and still the Raider returns respectable mileage, ranging between 13 pulling my water trailer to 20, as measured one way from Tahoe to Folsom, but my average has been between 15-18 mpg. I'm also planning the 5.29 gear sets maybe next year, I have a 1-ton Chevy to buy this year. I'm currently using 15x8 wheels with 4" backspace, no rubbing once the front bumper ends and leading edges of the fenderwell insides were trimmed.

However, if you don't choose to chop up your truck, 31's will work with no trimming, they weigh less and won't as negatively affect your mileage. They look tough enough and I could drift my Raider with the BFG all terrains. The 31's will work on your stock rims, too. With the V6 brakes, 31's would be REALLY easy to stop.

In the end, we hope that opinions expressed here will help your truck positively.

33x12.5 on alloy spokes:





32x11.5 on 15x8 with 3.25" BS under full compression:



Far shot, but 31's mounted up and the Chevy I'm buying:

This is where Russell's other tires went to:



ME! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the info, but one question, do you think 4" Backspacing is a good one to go for? And trimming the bumper ends/fender wells won't be too big of a problem for me.

I am getting rid of the current bumpers anyway.

I also plan to go for the biggest and baddest my vehicle can be. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" /> 31's were a thing i wanted, but i have accumulated more money so i am going to get new rims and have more for tires anyways :]

ONE MORE THING I SWEAR! XD

How much of the fender do you have to cut and where at? i'm not going to be tossing these tires on myself, and i doubt i'd be able to cut them AT the tire shop. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

You have to trim the bumper end cap a little bit. Or you can just take it off like some have (its just plastic). I would go with the 33's if possible, but 32's would be a good compromise also if you worried about MPG etc. It is true what they say about 31's, after you get them you will want 33's.

I can second that. I had 31x10.5s for a year before I moved up to 33x12.5s on 15x8 rims. When I wear out my current set of tires I may move up to 35s, but I'm undecided at this point whether I go with 35s or stick with 33s. 33s are a great tire for the Gen I SWB. I have plenty of room for 35s (could probably fit 37s), but I also have a 2" body lift, a 2" suspension lift, and regeared my diffs (expensive).



You can put on 33s without any lift at all. As mentioned, the only things required are:

- trim (or remove) the front bumper end-caps
- push the splash-shield at the front of the front wheelwell forward a smidge (no tools required...can easily be done with one hand)

Also as mentioned, with stock gearing and a 4-banger, you'll see a highway performance hit and your MPG will be affected too. Best thing you can do is make sure you carb is in tip-top shape.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I drove with 33s on for 2 years with the stock 4-banger brakes before upgrading to the V6 brakes. The difference is big. Yes, you can stop with 33s and your stock brakes, but it can be heart-stopping sometimes. With the V6 brakes stopping is a whole lot more like it should be. They work very well. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Nick, after hearing you say that, definitly go with 33s. You'd kick yourself later for anything smaller. Then do the V6 brake upgrade--you can find the info on it after a thorough search, it sounds like you're getting handy with tools, and you can get everything you need at a junkyard cheap.

Until you get the upgraded brakes (and even after that, actually) drive it like a truck and not a sportscar. Don't tailgate, keep aware of the traffic way ahead of you, use engine braking by downshifting down hills. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> those brakes. Date only nervous girls. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Currently, i have to drive a Grand Am as my DD, i drive a good 200-300 miles a week on average. Which averages like 20 mpg anyways.

I know Gen 1 Montero 2 drs are around 18ish on average. So i wasn't too worried about MPG. Only thing is i don't want to have the 18, only to put tires on it and notice a huge decrease in it. Aslong as i can average a good 15+ i really don't mind.

I'm not too worried about the whole braking part. I realize that it will be harder, but for whatever reason i am alot more safer and drive a bit slower in any SUV i am in when it comes to driving.

In small cars....let's just say i'm lucky cops aren't around <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

I agree, i feel with 31" i will just end up losing money by taking them off, reselling them, to put 33"s on it eventually.

The brakes also will probably be replaced eventually, when i can find a v6 montero of course. I was close to buying another raider in my area, and stealing the brakes, then parting that sob out, but i didn't have the money at the time. Well, i did, but i didn't know my income after that and would be short on other things needed for it, but then i started working 30-40 hours (I'm 16 mind you, so...thats a bit for me) so i probably could have gotten it. :[

I'm trying to make this the best it can be, to an extent of course. My carb is in decent condition i'd say, i was looking at replacing it with a weber carb. But my father thinks it's a waste of time, and "carbs are things you don't mess with unless needed". (Of course, he also says spending anymore money then the cheapest ***** i can get is stupid for this POS, yet he paid to put a motor in it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />)




This was what i was questioning, i already plan on taking my bumper stops off so i'm not worried about that. But the fenderwells? Like the lower end of the fender? Near the bumpstop on the front i assume?

How much should i take off, or do you think it would be fine if i drove my SUV home and then trimmed em once the tires were on?

Edit: What exactly is different from the 4cyl to v6 brakes? And I can only get it from a junkyard, or a parted out vehicle right?

Oh and don't worry, my girlfriend likes when i drive a bit scary. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />