Rear Backing Plates
#11
09-16-2020, 09:20 AM
Have them turn whitewalls in.
Or ... locate something like https://www.spellurase.com/products/...tire-paint-pen . Note: Never have used, kind of like the white side walls; but that's a personal taste thing.
Or - as HeyYou suggests, upsize to 205/75R15s or 215/75R15s. For that skinny, they need to be LTs and Load range D (LT205/75R15D or LT215/75R15D).
You can fit a 225/75R15 without any problem; a 235/75R15 might rub at times (and if the shocks aren't great, a severe enough impact may make them bottom out against the inside of the front fenders. Which is one reason why I still plan on putting my KYBs back on, the Rancho ES5000s don't control well enough for highways in Louisiana and Oklahoma.) The 235/75R15 in a XL range (like the Nexen N'Priz tires I'm running now) will support the max weight the Dakota can; but if your factory was 195/75R15, it's not able to support max weight even with a LT/D tire on it.
RwP
Or ... locate something like https://www.spellurase.com/products/...tire-paint-pen . Note: Never have used, kind of like the white side walls; but that's a personal taste thing.
Or - as HeyYou suggests, upsize to 205/75R15s or 215/75R15s. For that skinny, they need to be LTs and Load range D (LT205/75R15D or LT215/75R15D).
You can fit a 225/75R15 without any problem; a 235/75R15 might rub at times (and if the shocks aren't great, a severe enough impact may make them bottom out against the inside of the front fenders. Which is one reason why I still plan on putting my KYBs back on, the Rancho ES5000s don't control well enough for highways in Louisiana and Oklahoma.) The 235/75R15 in a XL range (like the Nexen N'Priz tires I'm running now) will support the max weight the Dakota can; but if your factory was 195/75R15, it's not able to support max weight even with a LT/D tire on it.
RwP
Why would you even WANT something that small? I have seen many Dakotas with that as the listed size on the door sticker but have only ever seen 2 tires of that size in my life. On a shelf back when I worked for Sears. and they were heavily dusty. some of the old D 150s had that as the listed size...
I worked at a Dodge dealer back when these trucks were new and even on the cheapest of the bare bones trucks I don't ever remember seeing anything smaller on a Dakota smaller than a 205/75-R15.
I have one for you to think about (and I have seen this often in my years of fixing cars) I had a 1997 Wrangler. I got the original window sticker with it in the glove box when I had that Jeep. The door said "Minimum tire size".... 205/75R15 and even that window sticker said it came new from the factory with 215/75R15s....
I have changed out too many sets of "original" as in the tires the vehicle came with from the assembly line to even try and recount.... and it is quite common for that to be the case where what teh door says is NOT what the vehicle came with. especially it seems most common with Dodge and Jeep......
I worked at a Dodge dealer back when these trucks were new and even on the cheapest of the bare bones trucks I don't ever remember seeing anything smaller on a Dakota smaller than a 205/75-R15.
I have one for you to think about (and I have seen this often in my years of fixing cars) I had a 1997 Wrangler. I got the original window sticker with it in the glove box when I had that Jeep. The door said "Minimum tire size".... 205/75R15 and even that window sticker said it came new from the factory with 215/75R15s....
I have changed out too many sets of "original" as in the tires the vehicle came with from the assembly line to even try and recount.... and it is quite common for that to be the case where what teh door says is NOT what the vehicle came with. especially it seems most common with Dodge and Jeep......
one more thing about the whitewalls. i like them, but to me they are more of a car thing. they look out of place on a truck. that’s my view on it.
#12
09-16-2020, 09:36 AM
Record Breaker
Let me tell you a story of the only new vehicle I ever bought in the 90's. I chose a Tacoma because of Toyota's reputation and they were built right there in Fremont CA.I was not as happy as I thought I would be with it. Not being rich it pissed me off. Eventually I had the money for new more truck looking tires and I went to a tire guy. I explained what I wanted and he said "I know exactly what you mean." and showed me the BF Goodrich All Terrain (which have a white striped side if you like that) But the real benefit of these tires was not in the look of them but in the wearing of them. It was as if I had an entirely different truck. Suddenly it was exactly what I wanted when I bought it. I have the same tires on my Dakota and my little D50. IDK what size they are and its dark out. Your local tire shop should be able to what size to get, and maybe you need shocks 
But I'd try it with good strong side wall tires on it first.
But I'd try it with good strong side wall tires on it first.
#13
09-16-2020, 10:04 AM
Let me tell you a story of the only new vehicle I ever bought in the 90's. I chose a Tacoma because of Toyota's reputation and they were built right there in Fremont CA.I was not as happy as I thought I would be with it. Not being rich it pissed me off. Eventually I had the money for new more truck looking tires and I went to a tire guy. I explained what I wanted and he said "I know exactly what you mean." and showed me the BF Goodrich All Terrain (which have a white striped side if you like that) But the real benefit of these tires was not in the look of them but in the wearing of them. It was as if I had an entirely different truck. Suddenly it was exactly what I wanted when I bought it. I have the same tires on my Dakota and my little D50. IDK what size they are and its dark out. Your local tire shop should be able to what size to get, and maybe you need shocks But I'd try it with good strong side wall tires on it first.
But I'd try it with good strong side wall tires on it first.I don't have a good reference point because no one I know owns a Dakota with the torsion bar suspension. And when I got mine, none of the tires were matching and I didn't know which one was the right size.
Thanks for bearing with me everyone.😟
#14
09-16-2020, 10:29 AM
Record Breaker
Tires are only whitewall on one side. You can turn either side out.
Yes get better tires of whatever size you choose and the ride will be better. Honestly a set of matching crap tires will probably improve your ride just because they match.
The all terrain's will cost more than $100 each. I forget what I paid for them. Talk to your tire shop, they should be able to answer your questions and set you up with something that suits you and your wallet.
it is lighter out, I have 215/75/R15 they look right and ride well.
Yes get better tires of whatever size you choose and the ride will be better. Honestly a set of matching crap tires will probably improve your ride just because they match.
The all terrain's will cost more than $100 each. I forget what I paid for them. Talk to your tire shop, they should be able to answer your questions and set you up with something that suits you and your wallet.
it is lighter out, I have 215/75/R15 they look right and ride well.
Last edited by onemore94dak; 09-16-2020 at 10:33 AM.
#15
09-16-2020, 11:40 AM
Tires are only whitewall on one side. You can turn either side out.
Yes get better tires of whatever size you choose and the ride will be better. Honestly a set of matching crap tires will probably improve your ride just because they match.
The all terrain's will cost more than $100 each. I forget what I paid for them. Talk to your tire shop, they should be able to answer your questions and set you up with something that suits you and your wallet.
it is lighter out, I have 215/75/R15 they look right and ride well.
Yes get better tires of whatever size you choose and the ride will be better. Honestly a set of matching crap tires will probably improve your ride just because they match.
The all terrain's will cost more than $100 each. I forget what I paid for them. Talk to your tire shop, they should be able to answer your questions and set you up with something that suits you and your wallet.
it is lighter out, I have 215/75/R15 they look right and ride well.
Another 'want' would be rims because mine look like the rear fenders of an unkept old Ford. (Not dissing on Ford [too much] but my experience with them has included lots of rust.)
#16
09-16-2020, 11:39 PM
Champion
My factory tires were LT215/75R15Ds - and rode like truck tires.
I now have P235/75R15XLs ... and they ride much better; but they CAN rub without good shocks. You may want to pick something a small bit smaller.
As to rims - what year is your Dakota? I ask because mine is a 1988 with the 5 lugs, and I've got Jeep wheels on it now.
(I STILL need to get the center caps painted and put the Rams'Head logos on them ... )
RwP
I now have P235/75R15XLs ... and they ride much better; but they CAN rub without good shocks. You may want to pick something a small bit smaller.
As to rims - what year is your Dakota? I ask because mine is a 1988 with the 5 lugs, and I've got Jeep wheels on it now.
(I STILL need to get the center caps painted and put the Rams'Head logos on them ... )
RwP
#17
09-17-2020, 08:59 AM
My factory tires were LT215/75R15Ds - and rode like truck tires.
I now have P235/75R15XLs ... and they ride much better; but they CAN rub without good shocks. You may want to pick something a small bit smaller.
As to rims - what year is your Dakota? I ask because mine is a 1988 with the 5 lugs, and I've got Jeep wheels on it now.
(I STILL need to get the center caps painted and put the Rams'Head logos on them ... )
RwP
I now have P235/75R15XLs ... and they ride much better; but they CAN rub without good shocks. You may want to pick something a small bit smaller.
As to rims - what year is your Dakota? I ask because mine is a 1988 with the 5 lugs, and I've got Jeep wheels on it now.
(I STILL need to get the center caps painted and put the Rams'Head logos on them ... )
RwP
#18
09-17-2020, 10:03 AM
Champion
225s I found were all trailer tires, not warranted for usage as a truck tire, alas.
Let me pull it up - I THINK a late 90's Cherokee. I do know the middle 90's Grand Cherokee uses the same 8.25 axle and 5x4.5 bolt pattern.
The wheel center caps fit 1997-2001 Wrangler directly. But, there's several other years with the 5x4.5 bolt pattern and a large enough center hole.
But.
Look at https://www.roadkillcustoms.com/whee...5x4.50-inches/ and check wheels with a 71.5mm center bore (that's critical; Mustang wheels that are lugcentric and have a big enough center bore will fit, but factory Mustang wheels are tight going on and tight coming off due to Ford's axles being a small twitch smaller diameter.)
Offset is important also; but some 300s have the same 5x4.5 and 71.5 CB wheel pattern; there it's more important to check offset so that they're not shoved too far IN and binding.
RwP
Let me pull it up - I THINK a late 90's Cherokee. I do know the middle 90's Grand Cherokee uses the same 8.25 axle and 5x4.5 bolt pattern.
The wheel center caps fit 1997-2001 Wrangler directly. But, there's several other years with the 5x4.5 bolt pattern and a large enough center hole.
But.
Look at https://www.roadkillcustoms.com/whee...5x4.50-inches/ and check wheels with a 71.5mm center bore (that's critical; Mustang wheels that are lugcentric and have a big enough center bore will fit, but factory Mustang wheels are tight going on and tight coming off due to Ford's axles being a small twitch smaller diameter.)
Offset is important also; but some 300s have the same 5x4.5 and 71.5 CB wheel pattern; there it's more important to check offset so that they're not shoved too far IN and binding.
RwP
#19
09-18-2020, 09:00 PM
225s I found were all trailer tires, not warranted for usage as a truck tire, alas.
Let me pull it up - I THINK a late 90's Cherokee. I do know the middle 90's Grand Cherokee uses the same 8.25 axle and 5x4.5 bolt pattern.
The wheel center caps fit 1997-2001 Wrangler directly. But, there's several other years with the 5x4.5 bolt pattern and a large enough center hole.
But.
Look at https://www.roadkillcustoms.com/whee...5x4.50-inches/ and check wheels with a 71.5mm center bore (that's critical; Mustang wheels that are lugcentric and have a big enough center bore will fit, but factory Mustang wheels are tight going on and tight coming off due to Ford's axles being a small twitch smaller diameter.)
Offset is important also; but some 300s have the same 5x4.5 and 71.5 CB wheel pattern; there it's more important to check offset so that they're not shoved too far IN and binding.
RwP
Let me pull it up - I THINK a late 90's Cherokee. I do know the middle 90's Grand Cherokee uses the same 8.25 axle and 5x4.5 bolt pattern.
The wheel center caps fit 1997-2001 Wrangler directly. But, there's several other years with the 5x4.5 bolt pattern and a large enough center hole.
But.
Look at https://www.roadkillcustoms.com/whee...5x4.50-inches/ and check wheels with a 71.5mm center bore (that's critical; Mustang wheels that are lugcentric and have a big enough center bore will fit, but factory Mustang wheels are tight going on and tight coming off due to Ford's axles being a small twitch smaller diameter.)
Offset is important also; but some 300s have the same 5x4.5 and 71.5 CB wheel pattern; there it's more important to check offset so that they're not shoved too far IN and binding.
RwP
I just seen this now, but earlier today I went off to the scrapyard and found rims off of a '97 (I think) Grand Cherokee. The tires that are on them are 215/75R15s, and they work. There's no rubbing at lock and no rubbing going over bumps. The rims are a tiny bit wider I believe, but there is enough room for everything to move around and such. Even with the front half shaft protruding, the center cap on the rim still fits, too.
Thank you for your help, though.