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UPDATED * New Shoes BFG's TA/ KO 275/65R/18

Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 3:33 pm
by ThePainClinic
I had noticed the rubbing issues and potential alignment issues in jumping up from the stock wheels to 285/65R 18's some of the guys on here have experienced. I was wondering if anyone was running this set up. I have a 2010 LE V6, I'd like to powder coat the stock rims. I am contemplating the 2-2.5 inch quick lift. I was thinking these aren't quite as beefy on width as the 285's but give the same height.

Just wanted to see if anyone had some pics.

Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 10:43 pm
by doctahjones
honestly "the rub" when running 285/65/18 isn't -that- bad. it mainly rubs in the back of the wheel well, but a little heat gun work and carving out a little from the mud flaps takes care of that.

and really if you just wait about 15-20k miles your tires should wear enough that the rub goes away. i do still get just a tad (seriously, just enough to barely make a noise against the frame) of rub when at full steering wheel lock, but that's very infrequent and at low speeds so no big deal.

i also never got it at highway speeds, only when making left/right hand turns while under ~15mph. it also never caused any damage, you'd just get a 'rumble strip' sound from your mud flaps when doing those 90 degree left/right hand turns.

Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:53 am
by NmexMAX
These are skinnier and shorter than the 285 65 so I would say they wont rub at all. And if they did, the modifications needed would be a lot less than with the 285's.

These are 32.1 vs 32.8" tall for the 285's. And of course they're a bit less wide too, so I bet these will be easier to run without rubbing issues. There's a member running the PRG lift (2.5") with 275 70's (33.2" tall) and only required minor trimming and removed the flaps all together. Pretty sure most of the rubbing is because of the width on 285's.

Also, haven't heard of alignment issues with adding larger tires.

Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 11:29 am
by ThePainClinic
Shouldn't they be about the same height? Both 65R? The diff between 275 and 285 is what, like half an inch. Also these have a more aggressive tread than the KO's Doctajones is running....

That's why I was hoping for pics!

Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:53 pm
by NmexMAX
http://www.thenissanpath.com/viewtopic. ... b7d7f769e5

Last post on that link is a 2.5" lift with 275 70 18's.

Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 9:41 pm
by ThePainClinic
How much difference is there between a 275/65R 18, 275/70R 18, and a 275/75R 18?

I was planning on using the same tire height as stock..but now I'm thinking a 275/70r 18 or 275/75R 18 won't rub, with a 2-2.5 inch lift??

Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 1:23 am
by ThePainClinic
doctahjones wrote:honestly "the rub" when running 285/65/18 isn't -that- bad. it mainly rubs in the back of the wheel well, but a little heat gun work and carving out a little from the mud flaps takes care of that.

and really if you just wait about 15-20k miles your tires should wear enough that the rub goes away. i do still get just a tad (seriously, just enough to barely make a noise against the frame) of rub when at full steering wheel lock, but that's very infrequent and at low speeds so no big deal.

i also never got it at highway speeds, only when making left/right hand turns while under ~15mph. it also never caused any damage, you'd just get a 'rumble strip' sound from your mud flaps when doing those 90 degree left/right hand turns.
Didn't you stay with the same height as the factory tire (65R)?

Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 5:20 am
by doctahjones
ThePainClinic wrote: Didn't you stay with the same height as the factory tire (65R)?
nope. here's my post (and pics) on the matter:
http://www.thenissanpath.com/viewtopic.php?t=7722


and factory was 265/60/18 for me.

Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 8:28 am
by NmexMAX
ThePainClinic wrote:How much difference is there between a 275/65R 18, 275/70R 18, and a 275/75R 18?

I was planning on using the same tire height as stock..but now I'm thinking a 275/70r 18 or 275/75R 18 won't rub, with a 2-2.5 inch lift??
Here are all the Duratrac sizes available, along with specs (width/diameter, etc)

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... mpare1=yes

Here are the sizes of LT tires explained:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/ ... ?techid=53

In short, it's aspect ratio that plays the factor.

Example :

Tire size 275 70 18 =275*0.7 = 192.5, multiply that # x2, because both top and bottom of the tire, so 192.5 * 2 = 385.

Ok, now take the wheel diameter in mm, which is 18" * 25.4 = 457.2

Now add the tire size (385) and the wheel diameter (457.2) = 385+457.2 = 842.2, then divide that by 25.4 to convert back to inches and get the overall diameter.

Which is then 842.2 / 25.4 = 33.16. Most if not all tire manufactures round to the nearest tenth, in the case of the Duratrac, TireRack and Goodyear both have it listed as 33.2".


Another item to think about is the offset and backspacing of your wheels. Though if you're staying with the factory wheels, then that's not that much of a concern. I've got about a 6" lift, had the fenders modified, and also did some trimming and I still rub. I've got 295 65 18's, but my wheels are 9" wide and have a very low offset.

Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 9:19 am
by doctahjones
this is also a good site to use if you don't want to do all that math :)

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 9:20 pm
by yeziam
I have 275/65/18 Cooper Discoverer A/T3s with no lift and have no rubbing at all.

New Shoes

Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:06 am
by ThePainClinic
I decided against Dura Tracs...for now. Maybe I'll pick up another set for winter. I went with BFG TA/KO 275/65R/18's as the 285's were about $300 more due to it being a "commercial" tire. I'm not running a lift at the moment and I haven't noticed any rubbing.

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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:15 am
by ThePainClinic
Definitely want to add the airlift but do you think I need the Rancho Quick lift package (2inch lift)?

Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 1:25 pm
by doctahjones
are you asking do you need the 2in quicklift in order to do the airbags? no, you don't have to have a lift to run the bags.

but if you're asking if you "need" the 2in lift......well, i guess no one -needs- a lift, but i sure do like mine 8)

Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:12 pm
by ThePainClinic
Docta, Did you add the tires first then lift? I think I gained maybe an inch in just tires alone. But it does seem the vehicle still sits low, especially in the wheel well. I guess this is where the lift will help.