""Fred - wicked awesome post, but what's wrong with wheel spacers? Everyone I'ved talked to said I will need them with the 35x12.50's ""

That's wickedly awesome post outside of Beantown!


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> TYTO, my apologies for the Brevity, I just didn't want to get into the long drawnout discussion about wheel backspacing and offset. Here's the rub; wheel spacers are a quick fit to avoid buying new wheels (rims), and will eventually lead to problems. Yeah, a lot of four wheelers use wheel spacers and don't realize the damage they're doing. Your plan is to be a bigdog; and you're making great/rapid progress on the learning curve. Keep in mind that I've always recommended developing a complete plan, and to seek out gurus that know how to build rockcrawlers correctly. Everyone has their opinions, to be sure, but there are correct resolutions to problems. Also keep in mind that the friendly 4x4 shop is in business to sell stuff.
Okay, let's attempt to discuss this issue. I'll attempt to gloss over it slightly, and let others throw in their comments and knowledge. Backspacing: to explain backspacing, picture putting the wheel on the ground with the inside upward. Place a straightedge across the inside of the wheel, and, then measure down to the wheel's mounting phlange. What makes backspacing important is that it determines how far in, or out, the wheel sits in relationship to the hub brakes, suspension and wheelwells. More backspacing means that the wheel sits further inboard; less backspacing means the wheel is situated further outboard. If the tire-wheel combination is installed further outboard than its original stock position, it will cause more leverage on critical wheel bearings and steering components, and, increase wear. If you purchase a wheel with more backspacing, it causes clearance issues with inner fender, disc brake calipers, wheel weights, and steering components.
Wheel offset is interrelated; it's measured by determining the wheel's total width and dividing by 2 to determine the wheel's centerline. The distance between the centerline and the mounting flange is the offset: it can be positive or negative, or for that matter zero. Positive offset is when the mounting flange is toward the outside of the wheel. You can quickly calculate the offset by dividing the wheel/rim width by 2 and subtracting it from the backspacing measurement.
Yeah, When and if you build the Jeep, you'll need to get new wheels, too! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />