11 replies to this topic

[Ben762x51]

Ok, so i've been getting hassled by police that my wheels "stick out wider than the bumper" (obviously they do even stock, but that's a whole issue in itself). I need new rims anyway, and i'm wondering what's the most backspacing I can run on my rims (to "pull" the tires in) with what I have, and have no issues while off road? For the most part I won't be hitting off road super hard, but I would like to be able to without having to cut, or have rubbing issues. I have already cut away some of the front brush guard to make a little more room, but don't want to cut anything more.

Setup is....

Z with 6" superlift lift kit, and 33x12.5xR15x8 with a 4" backspacing. This is the maximum tire size that superlift recommends, and their recommended rim size for these tires with this amount of lift. Functionally everything is great, but as I said above. Can I get away with running a 5" backspacing? This would pull the tires in another 1" on each side, and would make it less noticeable. Any thoughts on stability off road if I loose a total of 2" width on the footprint?

Thanks guys!

[Private_Ops]

You can run 5".. some people even run 33s on the stock wheels at 6" and do fine.

[Ben762x51]

You can run 5".. some people even run 33s on the stock wheels at 6" and do fine.

Ok, cool. 6" even with the 12.5" width, and while off road? Thanks!

[the.clemons]

12.50s will rub the sway bar with 6in of bs. Even with sl6 5 or 5.25 is ideal

[Ben762x51]

12.50s will rub the sway bar with 6in of bs. Even with sl6 5 or 5.25 is ideal

Ok. I was thinking about going 5" BS initially. At least it would bring each tire in 1". So the 5" with 12.50 would be fine during full flex and turning then right? Visually it looks like it, but it's just good to KNOW it works from someone with the same setup. Thanks!

[gsmobile2007]

Most states only require that nothing sticks out past the stock mirrors, and or that any tires must be inside fender flares/mudflaps to prevent spray/rocks from hitting vehicles behind you. It may be more cost effective to just make or buy some flare liners (like a garage door rubber bottom), I've never heard the "wider than your bumper" bit. Especially since the mirrors are wider than that. I'd check the actual motor vehicle laws in your state before spending a bunch of $$$ on new wheels. Did they ticket you?

[Byam]

In NH, tires must not stick out past fenders or flaps

You can make your own "extensions" for your fenders, as indicated above, and be perfectly legal.

[N2O_ZR2]

Fucking cops, good for nothing thieves.

Edited by N2O_ZR2, 25 April 2012 - 09:06 PM.

[Byam]

Damn tow truck drivers, couldn't make it through high school so they settled for one of the worst possible jobs.

And then bitch about how hard it is.  

[N2O_ZR2]

At least they are there to help stranded motorist, and not steal hard earned money from honest citizens to justify their sad existence of a job they chose because of their little man complex.

[Ben762x51]

At least they are there to help stranded motorist, and not steal hard earned money from honest citizens to justify their sad existence of a job they chose because of their little man complex.

[Ben762x51]

Most states only require that nothing sticks out past the stock mirrors, and or that any tires must be inside fender flares/mudflaps to prevent spray/rocks from hitting vehicles behind you. It may be more cost effective to just make or buy some flare liners (like a garage door rubber bottom), I've never heard the "wider than your bumper" bit. Especially since the mirrors are wider than that. I'd check the actual motor vehicle laws in your state before spending a bunch of $$$ on new wheels. Did they ticket you?

Good idea. I did talk to the DMV, and the state police. It seems that it is in fact the law here. That is that your vehicle's foot print can't be wider than the bumper. What floors me though is that the foot print of a stock Z is wider than the bumper. The same goes for just about all Jeeps, or at least all Wranglers, and multiple other vehicles. That being said, Jeep, Chevy, and Ford (probably others too) are all technically selling vehicles in IL that would be illegal right out of the factory. It's absolutely ridiculous. The cop told me that the fender flares don't even count in the measurement. I will get another opinion on this, and if making mud flaps makes me legal, guess who's cutting rubber.

I didn't recieve any tickets, but if I had it would have been about $400, and if I was ticketed again for it substantially more next time. I played ignorant with the cop, and was as co-operative as I could be without letting him get away with bogus crap. I literally spent an hour with him walking around my Z measuring things, debating interpretations of laws, etc..... By the end of it I think he just wanted to leave. lol Naturally it was on my way to work.