Wheel spacer option/concern for 35's on Overland OEM wheels. Thoughts?

[Sarge502]

I've search the forums for my specific concern and cant find it, and although there are tons of threads on stock Overland wheels, none I've found to address my concern. If its been covered and I missed it, I apologize in advanced and wouldn't make a new thread.

Hear me out.

I'm definitely keeping the Overland wheels (at least for now). As many fellow Overland owners, I do however hate the stock tires. Being 18inch size I know that limits my tire options. However, I've spent nearly a month now deciding my tire size and narrowed down to two options;

*1. Settle by going up only an inch from the stock tire size to a 275/70/18 (33.2 in to be exact). Which I really don't want to do. Although I've looked into this and even picked out a tire and held it up for comparison, I feel that a year or so later, I'm going to wish I went bigger.

*2. Go to a 35x12.5./18 on the stock wheel. Which I'm now leaning more towards since I know for a fact it'll work. I've talked to numerous people on here with that exact size (only one who happens to have the Overland wheels though).

In the event I go with the second option that I'm leaning towards, I've heard from both people on here and at Tire Discounters that I may need a wheel spacer for inside clearance. Some have also said I won't. So I'd like some clarification on that first and foremost. Normally I'm not a hug fan of spacers but if I had to, I'd obviously make sure its hub centric and a good quality of course.

But my main question or concern is, in doing so. I'd prefer to stay under a 2 inch spacer mainly because I don't want a lot of poke. I'm not a fan of that for many reasons. But I do like a small amount of poke outside the fender. I've seen what 2 inches on a spacer does to the Overland wheel and would like to stay below that yet still be able to clear the inside without rub. With that said, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the smaller the wheel spacer, the more room and potential for the original lug stud length to stick out of the spacer during install, thus preventing the wheel hub to sit flush against the spacer. I've had to install shorter lug studs on previous vehicles I've had spacers on and I'm not a fan and if I have to go through that, than I just won't run a spacer at all since I'm not super happy about the idea anyways.

Does or anyone run a wheel spacer under 2 inches on an Overland wheel with a large size tire as a 35's without issues or mods to the lug studs?


side note: I'm not worried too much about height clearance as I am inside control arm area clearance, since one; I know it'll work and two; plan on doing a Teraflex 1.5 leveling kit there after anyways for aesthetics. Besides I'm primarily a city driver anyways and would have minimal off road fender rubbing. My concern is more inside clearance at full lock both ways and then the size of spacer fitting.

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[HjStrater]

I also kept my Overland wheels but rather than run wheel spacers or compromise down to a 33 I found that 295/70r18’s are a bit of a Goldilocks size. At 34.3x11.5, height wise they are in line with many “35x12.50” just a bit narrower. Still look nice and beefy, and perform well off road.

I went with Falken Wildpeak AT3w as they met my need to be snow rated, quiet, all terrains but also we’re $50 a tire cheaper than the KO2 equivalent size.

 

[Sarge502]

I also kept my Overland wheels but rather than run wheel spacers or compromise down to a 33 I found that 295/70r18’s are a bit of a Goldilocks size. At 34.3x11.5, height wise they are in line with many “35x12.50” just a bit narrower. Still look nice and beefy, and perform well off road.

I went with Falken Wildpeak AT3w as they met my need to be snow rated, quiet, all terrains but also we’re $50 a tire cheaper than the KO2 equivalent size.

Nice. This helps a bit. For me it's been hit or miss with other's reviews on their Wildpeaks. I've been initially leaning towards a Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT, which they make in a 275/70/18 (33) or the 35x12.5/18 which I'm considering.

I'm not opposed to the Wildpeaks but I've heard the Coopers are more quiet and more road friendly since that would be my main use. Very light off road here. Not sure if Cooper of what other brands make the 295/70s you mention besides Falken. May need to research that.

Any chance you got side shots showing how much the tire sticks out if any or how deep inside they go for that matter? No other fitment issues to make those work, leveling kit, etc? Although I plan on a leveling kit regardless.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

I did Rubicon 17s with 35s and spacers. Then sit he'd the spacers for Method wheels.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I have a high altitude overland with factory 20s. It's getting 1.5" wheel spacers and 35x12.50r20 when the lift gets here in a couple weeks. Not sure how quick you are looking to do something, but I can report back after install.

I was going to do a 33-34" metric size, but I noticed the 35x12.50s were usually cheaper.

 

[Sarge502]

I have a high altitude overland with factory 20s. It's getting 1.5" wheel spacers and 35x12.50r20 when the lift gets here in a couple weeks. Not sure how quick you are looking to do something, but I can report back after install.
I was going to do a 33-34" metric size, but I noticed the 35x12.50s were usually cheaper.

Thanks but again I’m specifically referring to the stock overland wheels.

 

[steveorama]

Thanks but again I’m specifically referring to the stock overland wheels.

I personally wouldn't want a 12.5" tire on the factory wheel. It's going to look pinched and may not wear evenly or come off the bead when aired down. I think around 11.5" would be about as wide as I would personally want to go if you're going to do any off-roading. No need for wheel spacers that way either. If it was me, and my heart was really set on 35s, I would look at 285/75R18 (34.8"x11.2"). Also good news is those Coopers you like come in that size. They're not cheap, but they're available.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...eModel=Discoverer+AT3+XLT&partnum=875SR8DAXLT

 

[usnavycdr]

I run 35s on 1.5" spacers on my WJ for years without issues. I'm sure you will be fine.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Thanks but again I’m specifically referring to the stock overland wheels.

I figured I could tell you about the lug studs and how they work with 1.5" spacers. Wheels won't matter when it comes to that.

I personally wouldn't want a 12.5" tire on the factory wheel. It's going to look pinched and may not wear evenly or come off the bead when aired down. I think around 11.5" would be about as wide as I would personally want to go if you're going to do any off-roading. No need for wheel spacers that way either. If it was me, and my heart was really set on 35s, I would look at 285/75R18 (34.8"x11.2"). Also good news is those Coopers you like come in that size. They're not cheap, but they're available.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...eModel=Discoverer+AT3+XLT&partnum=875SR8DAXLT

I have run 12.50 wide tires on 8" wide wheels for over 100k miles. No problem whatsoever. If the wheel is any less than 8", I wouldn't do it.

As far as the tire unseating a bead, it's harder to do with the narrower wheel.

 

[steveorama]

I have run 12.50 wide tires on 8" wide wheels for over 100k miles. No problem whatsoever. If the wheel is any less than 8", I wouldn't do it.

As far as the tire unseating a bead, it's harder to do with the narrower wheel.

The stock wheels are 7.5" not 8".

You're right about the bead holding better on a narrower rim though. My mistake, I don't know what I was thinking when I typed that.

 

[ShastaJT6]

Im running a Willy`s Sport, stock wheels & 33`s, with a 3.5" front / 2" rear Skyjacker lift, so my situation is a little different, but I can chime in on the spacers - Ive been running Quadratec 1.75" hub-centric wheel spacers for probably 6 months now, have had the tires rotated during that time frame, and have had zero issues with them. I put red loctite on the OEM Hub lugs when I installed them and had the truck aligned after just in case, the truck feels much more stable with the wider stance and I havent had any nightmare "lost a wheel on the freeway!" type shenanigans that the honda / tuner scene seem to have so commonly.

 

[Sarge502]

I personally wouldn't want a 12.5" tire on the factory wheel. It's going to look pinched and may not wear evenly or come off the bead when aired down. I think around 11.5" would be about as wide as I would personally want to go if you're going to do any off-roading. No need for wheel spacers that way either. If it was me, and my heart was really set on 35s, I would look at 285/75R18 (34.8"x11.2"). Also good news is those Coopers you like come in that size. They're not cheap, but they're available.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...eModel=Discoverer+AT3+XLT&partnum=875SR8DAXLT

I’m with you and HJStraders imput. And I think y’all have helped the route I’m going to take. Instead of going with a full out 35x12.5/18 tire on a 7.5 wide rim and risk issues with the tires, having to possibly run spacers etc…….or settling for the true 33s that I’ll most likely be unhappy about the size later…..

I may just meet in the middle with the 285s or even better the 295s HJStrader suggested. Both of which come in that Cooper. I think that’s the route im gonna go, although they aren’t cheap as mentioned. Less worry and complications that way. And by HJStrader’s pics as a guide (although not my preferred tire) I think that helps a lot.

thanks y’all

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

The stock wheels are 7.5" not 8".

You're right about the bead holding better on a narrower rim though. My mistake, I don't know what I was thinking when I typed that.

Sorry, my confusion on what actual model I have. lol

I have a High Altitude. For some reason I thought it was an Overland with this special High Altitude package, but now I see it is just a High Altitude.

 

[aai]

I’m with you and HJStraders imput. And I think y’all have helped the route I’m going to take. Instead of going with a full out 35x12.5/18 tire on a 7.5 wide rim and risk issues with the tires, having to possibly run spacers etc…….or settling for the true 33s that I’ll most likely be unhappy about the size later…..

I may just meet in the middle with the 285s or even better the 295s HJStrader suggested. Both of which come in that Cooper. I think that’s the route im gonna go, although they aren’t cheap as mentioned. Less worry and complications that way. And by HJStrader’s pics as a guide (although not my preferred tire) I think that helps a lot.

thanks y’all

here's an image of the 295 Cooper on the overland wheel, brings it out flush with fender. Lower pic is with a 1.75" wheel spacer. Spacer was installed in anticipation of a suspension lift with lower control arms. Hope that helps, GL

 

[Sarge502]

here's an image of the 295 Cooper on the overland wheel, brings it out flush with fender. Lower pic is with a 1.75" wheel spacer. Spacer was installed in anticipation of a suspension lift with lower control arms. Hope that helps, GL

Very nice. Even with the spacer. Although I may not do a spacer at all now, if I were to I would want it to be for aesthetic reasons and not function, especially with my back and forth tire/size on stock wheel dilemma. But that looks nice, not too much as I was saying a 2in spacer can do. That's the perfect amount in my opinion if I were going that route.

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