So, I'm going to put a 3"lift on my 83 Brat and already have 14"pugs for the wheels. My question is what is the largest size tires I can run without having to do and body fabrication (cutting of the wheel wells or fender trimming)?

I've got a 3" lift on my 86 Brat, and I've got 25.5" (205/65R15) diameter tires on now. I had to fold over the seam at the rear of the front wheel wels, and remove my front mudflaps.

I run 205/14's on my 3" lifted '78 brat. It rubs a little on hard turns. I never did do any body work to mine.

I ran 205/70/14's on my hatch with no lift, no cutting and no rubbing.

175/70/14 no mods no probs

 

-mike

I was hoping to go a bit beefier than 175's - more like the 195 - 205 range. But I don't want to modify the fenders and wells. I suck at body work, and I don't want to invite rust in any earlier than I have to. Thanks for the input so far, but I'm wondering if the Brat's wheel wells are any different than the hatches or other vehicles cited with 14" wheels.

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked this question. . .

 

Here's how much "body work" that has to be done to make 27/9.50 swampers fit without rubbing.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/37919799/107671889qfOUGp

Not very much. . .

 

 

Here's a brat with similar sized tires. Not much cutting involved at all.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/37919799/60788563yXAxQr

 

 

If you do have to do any cutting, just coat exposed metal with rustoleum or something. The biggest problem with rubbing is the floor board behind the wheels in front. You can beat it back without any cutting or anything showing.

Is it too late to get the 4 inch lift instead of the 3? Then you have the extra clearance for some beefier tires.

I've been led to believe there are other mods one needs to do with a 4 over the 3. Thus, I opted for the 3. I am also concerned about bogging down the 1.8 liter engine too much. But it's starting to look like the 195 /70/R14's might be the max I can put on. Other opinions appreciated.

205/70R14's should work fine, but you'll still have to beat down the seam at the back of the front wheel well (after removing the plastic to do it) then put plastic back. and you might have to remove the frotn mudflaps. I did, but mine were aftermarket ones, that may have been made differently that stcok ones....

 

you'll need to beat the inner strut tower area anyway, so may as well do the seam while you're at it...

these are 25.5" (205/65R15) the 205/70R14's are 25.3".

 

no or cutting involved.

Probably not a lot of help to you but I've got 185/80/13s on with no problems. That translates to just under 25" with room to spare in the wheel wells.

Cooper makes a good tire (DIscovery/er?) in a 205/75/14 that should fit with very minimal rubbage.

the extra mods for the 4 inch lift. are redoing the shift linkage. not a real big deal or project and a little more BFH in the strut wells.

 

 

look up on my web site there's an offroad tire article. cooper makes a good discovere sst like eric said and also a little smaller all terrain tire too. check them out.

Should check out Kumho Venture M/T 27"x8.5x14" the tires I waited 4 weeks 3 days

for:banghead: but who was counting!

-Sean