2000 Xj Sport 4.0, putting a 3" Trail Master lift kit with add-a-leafs for the rear on hopefully this weekend if I can find the time. I have a set of 31/10.5/15's on stock steel wheels I'm looking to put on it after the lift. I'm not a fan of having a narrow stance so I'm looking at some U.S. Steel Mountain Crawlers in a 15x8 currently. The listing says the backspacing is 3.75. So to my knowledge, the lower the backspacing the more it sticks out right? I would like them to be a bit wider for stance but not anything drastic. How much will these stick out from the fenders?

 

Those will stick out a pretty decent amount, I can't give you an actual number though. I'm running 15x8 wheels with 3.75" BS and 32x11.5 so maybe this will give you somewhat of an idea.

 

Ehhhhh you are correct sir. The less back spacing the more it will stick out.

 

actually thats more or less what I was looking for. The stock wheels I'm assuming are 15x7?

 

Stock back spacing is 5 1/4 inches. I run the stock wheels with these spacers, http://www.roughcountry.com/wheel-spacers-1090.html, which give me the 3 3/4 inches back spacing needed. I've had these on my Cherokee for a few years with no issues. I like the looks of the stock wheels.

 

That's something I was also considering was getting wheel spacers. I might have to look into that while I'm waiting to get some different wheels.

 

The best way to figure this out is just do the math. In your case you
will be running a tire with a 10.5 center section on an 8 inch wide wheel.

So that would be 10.5/8=1.3x3.75=4.9, 10.5-4.9=5.6

That gives you a tire would stick out 5.6 inches from the wheel mounting surface.
I rounded some numbers so this wouldn't be exact but it'll be really close.

It is the best way I've found to check for back spacing on different rigs,
with various and tire combinations.

 

Spacers are just a Band-Aid for the proper wheel that being just what your looking at a 15x8" with 3 3/4-4" of BS.

 

Hey Fred. I disagree with you calling spacers a "band aid"; they are an option. When used properly they achieve the 3 3/4" back spacing just like buying wheels with 3 3/4" back spacing. The mounting directions do say to check the mounting lug nuts torque specs at a certain periodicity, that guidance needs to be followed. There are many off road manufacturers who supply these spacers. Again, I have had no issues.