Cragar soft 8's

[george0029]

I'm about to order my cragar soft 8's from jegs, about $40 each free shipping, not a bad deal IMO.
I can't come to a conclusion on whether I should order the 15x7 or 15x8.
Anyone have any experience with the 8" ones?
Personally i would like the 8" but I just want to make sure that they won't rub extremely (with 2.5" OME/Rancho lift and pounded pinch weld).
I'll appreciate any insight, thanks!

 

[DirtyKK]

I had the 8" before and will only ever buy the 7" again for any tire size that's gonna fit the Liberty.

 

[george0029]

Why? Was it too wide and rubbed on suspension components? Or are the tires just expensive?

 

[twack]

personally i went with 16inch soft 8s, i really dont like the tiny rim/brake caliper clearance you get with 15s. But ya 15s are cheaper, dont forget to order a 5th for the spare, chances are you will need it at some point.

 

[ptsb5a]

I've got the 8" wide Soft 8s. Needed them to safely run the 31x10.5x15 tires that I've got. There is some rubbing at all four corners when flexxing but it's no biggy.

 

[Uncle Krusty]

If I were going soft D's, I probably go with the 16x7. The added clearance around the brakes being the main factor. 16" tires are not that much more expensive, or harder to find than 15" ones.

Be sure to get the correct offset / backspacing. I changed out my 17" rims for a set of 16" Moab (Wrangler Rubicon) rims, and my only complaint is these have about 1" less bacspacing. This with the 245/75-16 MTRs gives me some rubbing on the front even with the OME springs. With the propper backspacing, I don't think I would have the same problem as the tires would then clear the pinch welds better.

 

[tommudd]

If I were going soft D's, I probably go with the 16x7. The added clearance around the brakes being the main factor. 16" tires are not that much more expensive, or harder to find than 15" ones.

Be sure to get the correct offset / backspacing. I changed out my 17" rims for a set of 16" Moab (Wrangler Rubicon) rims, and my only complaint is these have about 1" less bacspacing. This with the 245/75-16 MTRs gives me some rubbing on the front even with the OME springs. With the propper backspacing, I don't think I would have the same problem as the tires would then clear the pinch welds better.

You have rubbing with 245-75s on Moabs? Must not of did much of a lift or something. I haven't seen one yet that I lifted rub with that size?????
I've got tons of room with 265-75s on Moabs

 

[J-Thompson]

I've got the 8" wide Soft 8s. Needed them to safely run the 31x10.5x15 tires that I've got.

why?
I run 11.5" wide tires on a 7" wide rim
no issues at all even down at 12psi

to the OP
I would run the 15 X 7 for the reason above ,ability to run lower psi
with that wheel and a 31X10.5 you could easily go to 15psi maybe down to 13
with no issues

 

[ptsb5a]

why?
I run 11.5" wide tires on a 7" wide rim
no issues at all even down at 12psi

Because on Goodyear's web site the recommended rim size for the tire is a 15x8, not a 15x7. Some dude with a 40 lb head and a slide rule figured that 8" wide was the proper width. Who am I to argue with an engineer?

And... I don't have that much experience running fat tires on skinny rims. Give me time, it'll come.

 

[tjkj2002]

Because on Goodyear's web site the recommended rim size for the tire is a 15x8, not a 15x7. Some dude with a 40 lb head and a slide rule figured that 8" wide was the proper width. Who am I to argue with an engineer?

And... I don't have that much experience running fat tires on skinny rims. Give me time, it'll come.

The last tires I ran where 265/75's which is just a tad narrower then 10.50",about 10",and the tire was stamped to mount only on a 7" wide rim.

Save the 8" wide rims for 12.50" tires.

 

[ptsb5a]

Because on Goodyear's web site the recommended rim size for the tire is a 15x8, not a 15x7. Who am I to argue with an engineer?
QUOTE]

The last tires I ran where 265/75's which is just a tad narrower then 10.50",about 10",and the tire was stamped to mount only on a 7" wide rim.

Save the 8" wide rims for 12.50" tires.

If Goodyear recommends an 8" rim, there must be a good reason for it. Just doing what the dude with the PEng after his name suggested. I have a 265/75 on the stock 16x7 rims and they don't give me any problems.

 

[J-Thompson]

Because on Goodyear's web site the recommended rim size for the tire is a 15x8, not a 15x7. Who am I to argue with an engineer?
QUOTE]



If Goodyear recommends an 8" rim, there must be a good reason for it. Just doing what the dude with the PEng after his name suggested. I have a 265/75 on the stock 16x7 rims and they don't give me any problems.

Remember 1 thing
Professionals built the Titantic
Amatures built the Arc
Just saying that some times it is good to listen and some times not so much

 

[ptsb5a]

Remember 1 thing
Professionals built the Titantic
Amatures built the Arc
Just saying that some times it is good to listen and some times not so much

Well, the Titanic was real and the Arc is just a cool story. Go with what you want. I'm OK with it.

 

[tjkj2002]

For tire wear as mounting on a 7" rim will make the tires wear just a tad bit faster.For offroad and not using beadlocks you want to run the tire on the narrowest rim possible.

 

[george0029]

Remember 1 thing
Professionals built the Titantic
Amatures built the Arc
much

Hahahaha

Thanks for the replies guys! I've been watching the thread, and basically came to the conclusion that if I want to mount some nice wide tires then I should go with the 8". However I don't think I'll have money for any great tires anytime soon, with the lift and wheels dominating my budget, so I'll probably stick to some narrower rubber for the time being. That being said, I'll probably order the 7" at the end of the week. Again thanks for the input!

 

[kj924]

Like ptsb5a, I run the 31x10.5x15's on a set of 8" wide Soft 8's...and yes they rub on all corners...not that bad after trimming up front...but they still rub. I went with a 4" BS and 8" rims for better cornering stability...Having said that, I would not go with the 4" BS again though. 4.5" BS would be my choice.

 

[J-Thompson]

Because on Goodyear's web site the recommended rim size for the tire is a 15x8, not a 15x7. Who am I to argue with an engineer?
QUOTE]



If Goodyear recommends an 8" rim, there must be a good reason for it. Just doing what the dude with the PEng after his name suggested. I have a 265/75 on the stock 16x7 rims and they don't give me any problems.

Oh yeah
and GY recommends a 7-9" rim
They were measured on an 8"

 

[Jo6pak]

So, Cragar Soft 8s in 16X7" have a BS of 4". According to the chart posted by Bennet, this would make the offset 0.

The OEM steel wheels are the same size, with a 5.5" BS, and offset of +38.

A few stupid questions.:icon_redface:

1. Will the Cragars give me a wider stance. As I understand offset, they will actually be narrower than stock. Or do I have it backwards?

2. will the reduced offset cause any contact/rubbing issues with OEM suspension?

3. Can any of these problems be solved with wheel spacers? Or a spacers a bad idea?

Again, I'm still learning about all this stuff, so please bear with me.

 

[tommudd]

Just get 16X7 with 4 inches of backspacing
why would you run spacers if you are getting new wheels order the correct offset/ backspacing and be done with it
Only reason I run an 8 inch whel is because I like the looks of the MOABS, if not for that I would be running 7 inch wide wheels

 

[Jo6pak]

Just get 16X7 with 4 inches of backspacing
why would you run spacers if you are getting new wheels order the correct offset/ backspacing and be done with it

That is what I am asking. Since the offset is so different from stock to the Cragars, will it be an issue? And will it give my KJ a little wider stance?