Well, April has started and so has the warmer weather, so its time to dust off my tool boxes and get to work on the Dakota. This coming weekend is booked to install new suspension components, rear shocks, struts, ball joints, tie rod ends, and 2" leveling kit. Once that's in, I plan to order the 3" body lift and a new set of wheels, and I've been looking at the Nitto Terra Grappler 285/70-17 which is 32.7" diameter and 11.5" width - from my measurements, this might fit, but I'm not sure and might get 1 mounted to check. The height of the wheel well opening will be OK, especially with the leveling kit and the 3" lift, but the width has me bothered. Any comments?

 

I'm running 285/50/20 with only a leveling kit and a small amount of trimming, so the width shouldn't make you worry.
With the body lift, I'd think you'll be good. Of course the offset of your new wheels need to be correct.

 

Don't forget about this body lift :P

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/parts-s...-lift-new.html

 

Thanks for the link bump!

Still available!

 

Send me a PM with your email address and I'll get in touch with you & we can work out any details. I have a US address you could send it to where I could pick it up.

 

Thanks for the info, that's very close to the size I'm looking at. I'm going to do a test fit with that Nitto tire on a 17" rim with an 8.5" width & about 1" offset. From my measurements, the OEM rim is 8" wide & has approximately 1.25" offset, so that should bring the wider tire inboard just a bit.

 

PM sent

 

I don't know if you want to bring the tire in, I get the slightest rub on the sway bar and frame at full turn. That's on a 9" wide wheel.

 

OK, thanks, I'll look for that on the trial fit, I might need a rim with a greater offset for the wider tire. I've been finding that many of the rims I can get here as part of a "package wheel deal" with the suppliers that carry the Nitto, have very small offsets (mostly 0 to .75") - I was looking for around 2" or a bit more with the understanding that I'd probably need to add some narrow flares (local road laws on "rooster tailing" on wet roads).