Front vs Rear tire tread widths

[pflaming]

I cut off the old hitch and fabbed a new one on. Once painted it's going to almost disappear.

When I looked at the truck it looked like it was a "narrow gauge" wheel tread. So I measured the treads front and rear, outside tread to outside thread: rear 65"; front 66". Charlies' disc set calls for 1/2" spacers so that adds an inch to the front. The 97 Cherokee axle is 1/2" narrower than the stock axle so there is the cause.

Question: I think a vehical looks better, maybe drives better too, if the rear treads are a little wider than the front. I want to use stock Mopar 15" wheels, now I have stock 16". So, can I put a spacer between the drum and the wheel to get a wider rear tire tread. I would have to get longer studs, but that's no problem.

(Note to me): See the spacers Reg used. That will make my rear width 68". With newer wider tires it will look great)

Edited August 6, 2012 by pflaming
Personal note to myself

[NiftyFifty]

Sice when did the kit say that? I never used any spacers front or rear, my rear is a 93 YJ and is maybe 1/2 inch narrower then the old 1 ton axle, and of course if the front disc conversion with all the parts listed in the parts sheet.

I'm actually running ford ranger rims but I did have to do a little honing in the centre hole for them to fit the drum and rotor centres. I'm running decent size tires with 235/60/15's on the front and 255/60/15's on the back and I love them!! My speedo is maybe out 2-3 mph fast and I can turn them in a parking lot at dead stop...so they aren't killing my arms.

I would deffinatly drop to some decent 15" rims, but then again 16" tires are becoming way easier to find, but harder to find nice dodge rims that will fit the 5 bolt pattern I think?

Edited August 3, 2012 by 4mula-dlx

[Dan Babb]

I didn't have to put any spacers on the front rotors when I put in the disc brake conversion on my 52.

I think the conversion might push the wheels out a bit further than the stock drums (not positive about that though), but why would you need to add a spacer to the wheel mounting surface?

By the way....you might get some grief from the local PD because your license plate is obstructed. You may need to find a way to fix that. Maybe put a removable plate mount in the hole where you're trailer hitch will go. Then you put the plate in the hole when the hitch isn't mounted. Find another spot to put it when you are pulling something behind the truck.

Edited August 3, 2012 by Dan Babb

[Plymouthy Adams]

if you notice the two holes on teh tisilgate..license plate was affixed here I believe..looks identical to the tailgate on my 58 with the holes there for the license plate also..seemed to have been a common practice in the past..

[NiftyFifty]

Depending on what your rules are, but here you have to have a license plate light so the tailgate wouldn't work. I'd mount under the bumper with a small light, and pulling a trailer shouldn't cause concern, no new vehicle allows you to see it while pulling, then again you US guys don't all have to plate your trailers either.

[pflaming]

Dan, my kit from Charlie had spindle spacers so the rims rotors would clear the new backing plates. It is stated in his instructions. So the front is fine, there are several ways to get a wider rear tread: different wheels and adapters are two I know of.

I will decide on wheels and tires first, then address the width issue.

Thanks for your remarks.

Tim, yes I will have to make adjustment for the plate. I can reverse the tail light mount and that will raise it about 4" which should be enough.

Lots of little things. But I have the major items usable, use will tell how good my work was. So license is next.

Paul

Edited August 3, 2012 by pflaming

[Young Ed]

Paul I wouldnt worry about it too much unless you have inspections. My plate has been like that for years and I haven't had any trouble. Just tell them thats factory equipment from new. What will they know?

Edited August 3, 2012 by Young Ed

[B1B Keven]

Here's what I did Paul. Flip the license plate bracket over and drill a large hole for a generic light.

[Reg Evans]

Paul, I too like the wide stance look. My rear tires measure 75" outside of tread to outside of tread. The fronts measure 65" with the same 15" tires and rims. I got my rears wider by using 1.5" thick spacers with built in studs. Found them on eBay similar to these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-2006-Jeep-Wrangler-5-Lug-by-4-5-Blue-Wheel-Spacer-Kit-Pair-4x4-SUV-/270894012804?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2005%7CSubmodel%3AX&hash=item3f128a9984&vxp=mtr

[pflaming]

They look very good. And they have the collar that to which Tim was referring in an earlier post.

Question, what impact does a wider stance have on: driving, steering, or 'muddy roads' and rail road tracks?

Seriously I lilke the look of your stance, the truck is more balanced. It could be that the engineers may have wanted a wider stance back then and finally took the move with Pontiac in 1956. There certainly is ample room in the fenders.

Thanks

Chances of making the April BBQ just got significantly better.

Keven: if the light is turned upside down, won't that light illuminte the plate?

Edited August 3, 2012 by pflaming

[B1B Keven]

Keven: if the light is turned upside down, won't that light illuminte the plate?

My tail lights don't have the built in plate light.

[wallytoo]

Question: I think a vehical looks better, maybe drives better too, if the rear treads are a little wider than the front.

it turns sharply better with the rear narrower than the front track width. it may go straight down the road better with wider rears.

my '75 jeep has a wider front, as does my '95 subaru. i believe my wife's '97 corolla does, too.

wally

[55 Fargo]

it turns sharply better with the rear narrower than the front track width. it may go straight down the road better with wider rears.

my '75 jeep has a wider front, as does my '95 subaru. i believe my wife's '97 corolla does, too.

wally

Hey Wally, maybe Paul,should drive it and enjoy, unless it is a mechanical or safety issue, thats what I would do. 1/2 inch on each side, hardly noticeable, get wider back tires............PS don't be such a perfectionist it will drive a Man insane

[tom'sB2B]

Paul

That bumper looks great on your truck. I'm glad it worked for you

[Scruffy49]

Really clean bumper rework. Need to do that to mine, Grandpa's angle iron and welded on ball hitch is some kind of ugly. And in the way.

Tread width difference? Just run a set of big and littles, I'm probably going with 215-75 on the front and 235-75 on the rear of mine until I settle on which rims to use. Might just swap the LT235/75-15s on L'il Red Express rims from the Sweptline to the PH and the PH 15" white Ramcharger wheels to the Swepty. I've always thought trucks needed bigger rear tires to look right. The stock 600-16s on mine look goofy, too skinny. And won't fit if I swap a Ranger rear end in (already have the rear end, a driveshaft, a 5 spd, seats, seatbelts etc from a junk farm truck). Ranger rear ends are rather narrow, but with the right offset wheels open up some neat choices of wheel/tire.

[NiftyFifty]

Does the trans swap kit work with the ford t5? I thought they had some major issues with shifter placement? I don't recal ranger diffs as being very strong, but behind a flathead I'm sure it'll be fine.

I wouldn't run 215,s on the front, I did and your pretty darn close to the ground with those, and the looked bad on a full size dodge truck rim IMO

[bach4660]

Question: I think a vehical looks better, maybe drives better too, if the rear treads are a little wider than the front.

I agree with the looking better part. I still haven;t driven yet so I will comment on that later, but with the backs a bit wider than the front it looks better.