16 to 15 inch rim question

[crabnebula]

I am trying to get 15 inch rims on my truck cause I am poor. I cant afford new tires for the 16 inch rims now and need tires bad...I was given 4 new tires for xmas (early) that are 265/75/r/15....what rim size do I need for these tires to work? what is the bolt pattern measurements? the backspacing needed for the 15 inch rim to work on my truck (2001 xlt 4x4 ranger)?

Any help would be great and sooner than better if folks could email me at z2jakub@aol.com I cant get on computers that much and cant check forums on my computer cause it cant go online,,...I am at the Library.

I was going to get some Black rims from SummitRacing...if that helps!

 

[Captain Ledd]

Bolt pattern 5x4.5, and yes, your new tires are for a 15" rim.

Either search the junkyards for another Ranger, or even a Jeep, Cherokees are popular, they're very similar to Grand Cherokee's and Wranglers so just about any will work. IIRC a 265/75/R15 tire is more or less a metric 31"x10.50", so the width of any of those rims will be fine.

If you just need something quick I'd hit the local junkyards and search for either another Ranger or a Jeep Cherokee and snag those rims off of them, the steelies would be the cheapest, but any is going to be cheaper than new.

 

[fordboi415]

I would run a 15x7 or a 15x8 with a backspacing of 3.75" to 4" and your bolt pattern is 5x4.5 (5x114.3) metric

 

[Captain Ledd]

I would run a 15x7 or a 15x8 with a backspacing of 3.75" to 4"

Which is a stock Ranger/Cherokee rim. But yes, those are the measurements.

 

[krugford]

The 2001 and up use a different offset because they went with the live axle.

My 2003 uses a +12mm offset. That's a 4.5" backspace on a 7 inch wide wheel and a 5 inch backspace on a 8 inch wide wheel.

The standard answer of a 3.75"-4" backspace regardless of the wheel width suggested simply does not apply to the new Rangers (2001+) and OFFSET is the number you want to pay attention to to maintain stock suspension geometry so you don't start chewing through things like balljoints and wheel bearings.

 

[crabnebula]

Ok so what I have ordered for rims is a 15 x 7 bolt pattern is 5 x 4.5.....back spacing is 3.75 and I believe that the offset was -6mm and a 3.3 diameter center hole.
http://store.summitracing.com/partd...795067+4294755966+4294906359+115&autoview=sku
that is the link for the rim that i was going to be getting!

-6.oomm offset is that bad or good...? cause I can get +12.00mm there are all sorts of choices...

again the tires are 265/75/r 15

 

[crabnebula]

I have the CRR-3655712 on the way but i put them on hold until I understand if the +12mm is needed or am I ok...I am already tired of replacing ball joints!

 

[crabnebula]

what exactly does -6mm offset represent compared to 12mm offset (i know that the offset is how much the back and foward spaceing reveal is per side) but what does it do...damage wise, handling wise...etc
thanks!!! you guys are all awsome! what a great web site!!

 

[4x4junkie]

Offset is the position of the wheel's mounting flange relative to center, negative numbers stick the wheel outward more, positive numbers tuck the wheel in more.
Backspacing is the distance from the rear bead edge of the rim to the mounting flange (both Offset and Backspacing are related to each other).

If you are ordering a 15x7 with 3.75" backspace, it should have a +6mm offset (not sure maybe the -6mm is a typo on that page).
15x7s with +12mm offset should be 4" backspace.

As for damage, wide offset wheels put higher stress loads primarily on the wheel bearings (and to a lesser extent, balljoints and steering) because the tire's contact patch with the road is no longer centered directly under the wheel bearing (it has to support a lateral load in addition to the truck's weight).