**PLEASE HELP with stock rim vs. new tires**

[SilverBlur4x4]

I need some help from some experienced wheelers out there.

Ok, I have trying to figure this issue with my stock rims (15x7) and the installation of new tires and cannot come to a conclusion on my own so if anyone has some good sound advice please help me out here!!

I have a 2002 FX4 Offroad 4.0L truck and my stock rims are 15x7...I am going to put 3 inches of lift on my truck and I want to get 33x12.50/15 tires. Is 12.50 too wide for a 7" rim?! I am not going to by new rims because I truly like the stock ones. I have heard of many putting 33x12.50s on a 8" wide rim so I figure it's possible to put 12.50s on 7".

I even heard of a 4x4 magazine just recently putting a 13.50 on an 8" rim but just trying to clarify here...

I'm just not sure if I will have to run lower psi to keep from having a "balloned tire", or kill my tire mileage by doing this. Has anyone done this or know of someone that has? Were there any problems?

If you know how to answer my question, please go into full detail because I am strattling a fence on what to do here.

Thanks in advance,
- Riley -

[86isuzu]

i've got 11.5 on a 7 in rim. it should work. u plannin on wheelin?

[BlackBII]

It's possible to put a 12.50 tire on a 7" rim, but it's hardly recccomended....
8" - 10" is a better width to use so the side walls don't bulge horrifically and the tread wear is even...

[SilverBlur4x4]

i've got 11.5 on a 7 in rim. it should work. u plannin on wheelin?


I plan on wheeling only about 5% of the time and 95% of the time the truck being my daily driver.

[rickcdewitt]

a 9" wide rim would be perfect but are hard to find

[martin]

A lot of the guys around here are running 33 x 12.50 on 7" rims, including myself. no weird wear issues.

[LittleBigFoot]

I'm runnin 15.5" on a 10" rim some how. Those tire boys at Wal Mart sure had to put some back into it tho.

Havn't had any problems yet....

[4x4junkie]

Go with 33x10.50-15 tires.

33x12.50 is too wide for a 7" rim, they will not wear properly (and yes, lowering the pressure will kill your mileage)

[AngloSaxon]

Speaking of 33x10.50r15's, is BFgoodrich the only manufacturer of all-terrain tire that size?

[JohnnyO]

I think Pro Comp also makes a 33x10.50 A/T but I'm not positive. 7" is really too narrow, also the stock rims have too much backspace for a 12.50 and they will probably rub on the inside. 15x8 with 3.75" backspace, steelies are reasonably cheap, and you're good to go.

[86isuzu]

Speaking of 33x10.50r15's, is BFgoodrich the only manufacturer of all-terrain tire that size?

Mickey Thompson Desert Kings and Super Swamper Thornturds