Cooper ST Maxx (tight fit)

I just had a local tire shop put these on yesterday (275/70r18 - Cooper ST Maxx)

The mechanic said they were close but only rubbing front fender. Once I got home I noticed that they ARE rubbing more than just the fender at full lock - forward and reverse -
Will a wheel spacer fix this or will I need to change out the wheels themselves (I'd like to stick with these tired if possible)

 

A wheel spacer will push it away from the control arm. Not sure what effect that would have on contact elsewhere at wheel lock.

 

Wheel spacer would make the rub worse on the fenders/mud flaps and lesser on the UCAs.

 

I'd probably see if a wheel option exists to eliminate both.

 

Hey those are nice looking tires

 

Out of curiosity, why would changing the wheel help?

 

Different offset/back spacing changes the position of the wheel in the fender and other cool stuff I don't fully understand.

 

A wheel spacer or new wheel will both push everything further away from the UCA and more fender interference. The difference is with wheel spacers we can easily get 1.25-1.5" because that completely covers the threads of the wheel stud so you don't have to cut them. With new wheels you could get something that only moves the wheel out say .5" or 1" so it isn't as far out as the wheel spacers. What changes is the backspacing and offset of the wheel.

 

So, there are aftermarket wheels that have better offset specs than OEM? Usually aftermarket wheels cause more rubbing right?

 

That's my long term plan, I was hoping a wheel spacer would be a quick fix. If the spacer does push it back to the fender I can always trim those.

Spydertrex makes a 1.25 spacer....does anyone make a 0.5 - 1.0 spacer? That might be my happy median for getting it off the UCA and still staying off the fender

 

OEM is "better" for OEM size tires, but even then.. I wouldn't say better. Just different.

 

It all varies, a lot of members run 16" x 8" with 0mm offset and 4.5" of back spacing and it fits nicely in the wheel well. My truck has 17" x 9" with -12mm offset and 4.5" of back spacing and it sticks out and causes more rubbing. It all depends on the specs you choose on if it'll make rubbing better or worse.

Not that I've seen, but going that short you'd need to cut your wheel studs or buy shorter ones

 

Wheel spacer will increase your rubbing on the scrub line, so if you're already rubbing on the fender/fender liner/mud flaps you'll have to trim all of those areas. If you add a wheel spacer, you'll have to trim them even more since you're pushing the tire further out from the hub. So, in one hand you'll make room for the UCA, but the other hand is making the other areas worse.

 

No idea about difference in "size" off hand but maybe it's time you get some Total Chaos UCA's Great product and may fix your current issue lol

 

I'm close

 

OP - You need aftermarket wheels that have a greater offset rather than simply using wheel spacers.

Upgraded aftermarket UCA's will help with this as well. You'll probably also have to considering a Cab Mount Chop in the event you're rubbing there (or at least trimming the inside of the fenders).

 

UCAs might help.. wheels might help.

Probably a grand or more for both, depending. If you don't mind cutting, a cheaper solution would be a spacer.

 

This is only "close" because there's no compression/flex on your suspension. Once that wheel gets pushed/stuffed up into that wheel well it WILL start rubbing. Ask how I know!! I've got chunks missing from my ST Maxx because they rubbed so bad in Moab. And I'm running 255's!

 

No, wrong. Its the wheel specs that can make aftermarket wheels worse.

 

Why don't you get tires that fit?