[nolaboy]

I'm so confused over my prospective lift and tire change.
I've called daystar, smart madness and tire rack and haven't found an answer. I've searched this forum and have more of a clue. I figure a direct question would be the way to go.

I'm wanting more ground clearance for the flooded streets typical in my neighborhood and wider tires for the hunting camp.

I'm looking at the 2" lift kit from daystar. My biggest problem is choosing tires. I plan on running stock rear steels on all four corners. I'd like to put the biggest tires the car can hold. Minor trimming wouldn't bother me either. I've put a sawzall on many of my 4x4's.

Daystar's website states that you can run up to 175/70-15 front and 185/70-15 rear. It doesn't look like these tire sizes exist. I called tire rack and they suggested that I do more homework. Smart madness suggested that I do more homework as well because of rubbing issues and possible computer-confusion issues.

I would also like an all terrain dot approved tire if possible.

So again my question…
With a 2" lift, what are the biggest and widest tires I can run on rear stock steels at all four corners?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SmartCarVlogs]

Get some of these SMART CAR WHEEL ADAPTER / CONVERSION (4) - 3 TO 5 X 112MM and get some 5 lug wheels and tires that will fit. If money isn't an issue... Like you sad that the tire sizes they say you can run don't exist. I believe the bolt pattern would be 5 x 4.5" for the rim but i'm not sure what the back spacing would be. This website seems to have lots of info and might help find all the sizes you need on bolt patters and offset backspacing, then you can find a good tire size that you can run. Hope this helps.

 

[Huronlad]

More info for you.

The lifted 451 thread - Club smart Car

 

[nolaboy]

Thanks y'all!
I'll give these a look.

 

[nolaboy]

Hello again, I've decided to use rear steels all around. Some of the nice looking alloy wheels are more than I want to spend.
185/65-15's will probably be my choice so I can rotate.
Anybody have some rear steels for sale? I've checked craigslist, ebay, dealer(ridiculous) and local salvage yards.
Thanks again guys!

 

[nolaboy]

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Not trying to "cheap out", just constantly on trails and muddy streets. Don't want to waste great looking wheels on my urban mud catcher.

Thanks again y'all!!

 

[nolaboy]

Thanks again for all the help!
I've finally installed the daystar kit. I opted for rear steels at four corners and 195/60r15's.
No rubing issues.
Thanks y'all!!

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[chieftmc]

Not trying to "cheap out", just constantly on trails and muddy streets. Don't want to waste great looking wheels on my urban mud catcher.

Thanks again y'all!!

Thanks again for all the help!
I've finally installed the daystar kit. I opted for rear steels at four corners and 195/60r15's.
No rubing issues.
Thanks y'all!!

I like the "naked" :naughty: steelies

Lookin' good

 

[nolaboy]

Hey y'all,
I've got some handling questions. The steering is "touchy". I feel like I could easily oversteer the car. Would wheel spacers in the rear help in returning the original geometry?

My traction controll is acting up as well. When cornering it feels like the front brakes seem to grab. It scared me the first time! I thought I'd run over something.
I've read some other threads about the computer reading tire speed and thinking it's slipping.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[nolaboy]

Hey y'all I've messed with tire pressure with no change.
I'd like to duplicate the original geometry of the stock set up. Can anyone reccomend the correct size wheel spacers for the rear?
Thanks in advance.

 

[CCJ22]

Hey y'all,
I've got some handling questions. The steering is "touchy". I feel like I could easily oversteer the car. Would wheel spacers in the rear help in returning the original geometry?

My traction controll is acting up as well. When cornering it feels like the front brakes seem to grab. It scared me the first time! I thought I'd run over something.
I've read some other threads about the computer reading tire speed and thinking it's slipping.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Did you ever get any help on the speedo issue and car thinking it's slipping?

 

[GoFaster]

I know just enough about suspension geometry to be dangerous.

It appears from poking around on this kit that this is what has been done:

- Front struts were lengthened.
- Spacers were installed on the rear springs.
- Rear dampers were lengthened somehow or the pivot points modified in some way to make them function lower in the chassis (I can't tell from the photos of the kit).

What I have not been able to establish is whether any of the following was done (and perhaps you could address this)

- Was the entire front subframe spaced down lower, thus moving the inner control arm pivots down and the steering rack down along with it? If this was not done, the lower control arms will have an excessive down-angle, which will result in an excessively high roll-center and excessive side-kick and tire-scrub on bumps.

- Was the rear lateral control arm assembly spaced down lower, so as to level out the lateral arms? If this was not done, the excessive down-angle of the lateral arms will result in a bizarre toe curve and introduce an "uncontrolled rear wheel steering" effect and plenty of bump steer.

If the above two items were done, it should drive OK in normal gentle-driving circumstances. Even if those were done, it will not handle optimally with the center of gravity raised up. There will be more body roll because you have increased the roll moment (related to C of G height) but you have not increased roll stiffness (stock -wimpy - springs and dampers). There will be more pitch because you have also increased the pitch moment (again related to C of G height) but have not increased resistance to pitch (basically, spring rates).

 

[Msconniefang]

so what ended up happening nolaboy?

 

[Eduardo Morales Soria]

did you fixed the problem of thw speedo

 

[Willys]

I also am interested in this, I'm halfway through making my own kit similar to the Daystar kit. The rear is done same 2" lift in the same mannor, simple enough, Now making the strut extension bolts and 2" spacers for the strut. Yes I'm dropping the whole front suspension on 2x3 inch blocks and then bolting through it all and adding a tack weld to each corner just to keep me asleep at nights..lol I have yet to make the steering shaft extension, but it's simple also. Just time on the lathe.

My question is, what tire size is best for this amount of lift? I am after aggressive snow tires not street crap rain tires...lol. I am doing this simply to be my winter time beater vehicle. I also do not want to sink much money into this if it's a dead end project....so any help is greatly appreciated...!
Thanks in you in advance.