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  • March 28, 2024, 10:18:36 AM

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Author Topic: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...  (Read 25801 times)

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4hammond

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #15 on: November 23, 2013, 07:21:58 PM »
That's a cool option

Offline carnuck

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2013, 02:35:32 AM »
Most of the TJ/XJ stuff fits fine. Here's mine with a main leaf with the eyes cut off in #2 position and 235/75R15s on TJ rims.

« Last Edit: November 24, 2013, 02:57:46 AM by carnuck »
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline 1985amceagle

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2013, 11:43:18 AM »
Do those wheels fit well, or do they rub occasionally, and take out wheel bearings.  For some reason I can find these wheels, but not the amc era xj wheels.
1985 Eagle Wagon

Offline eaglefreek

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #18 on: November 24, 2013, 02:30:02 PM »
I've had 215/75/15's and now have 225/75/15 and had to trim some for the 215's a little more with the 225's and I have  a little lift up front.

215's



225's
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon As Seen On TV  Lost In Transmission


 

"I know he'd be a poorer man, if he never saw an eagle fly,
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Offline vangremlin

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #19 on: November 24, 2013, 05:49:01 PM »
eaglefreek, are the wheels you have on there now 7" or 8" wide?  Thanks.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline carnuck

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #20 on: November 25, 2013, 12:02:43 AM »
Do those wheels fit well, or do they rub occasionally, and take out wheel bearings.  For some reason I can find these wheels, but not the amc era xj wheels.

They are correct offset (any of the XJ ones should be) The 2wd TJs used a narrower rim than the 4x4 did. I get a slight touch on low speed (but not high speed) corners due to slop in my strut rod bushings. I need to change my steering box and put in the new pitman arm next. The Ranger went away so I have a few $$ to put into it and finish the 4x4 with low range conversion! Woo hoo!
AMC/Jeep gauges are for amusement only. Any correlation between them and reality is purely coincidental!

Offline vangremlin

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #21 on: November 25, 2013, 10:51:16 PM »
I found a couple other sites for wheels that seem to have a few more options in terms of backspacing.

http://www.treaddepot.com/

http://www.performanceplustire.com/

I usually base my search on a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee, as I believe that is the vehicle my current wheels came off of, and they work well.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline eaglefreek

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #22 on: November 26, 2013, 09:42:02 AM »
eaglefreek, are the wheels you have on there now 7" or 8" wide?  Thanks.
I believe the are 15x7. They are OEM Jeep wheels known as 10 spoke or turbines.
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear.
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon As Seen On TV  Lost In Transmission


 

"I know he'd be a poorer man, if he never saw an eagle fly,
Rocky mountain high"  John Denver
Click for Fayetteville,TN Forecast" border="0" height="100" width="150

Offline IowaEagle

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #23 on: November 26, 2013, 07:12:28 PM »
I believe eaglefreek is right.
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Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe;
2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline vangremlin

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #24 on: November 26, 2013, 09:56:22 PM »
eaglefreek, are the wheels you have on there now 7" or 8" wide?  Thanks.
I believe the are 15x7. They are OEM Jeep wheels known as 10 spoke or turbines.

Thanks!
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline Zoro

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #25 on: November 27, 2013, 08:28:35 AM »
215/75/15 BFG AT's on XJ/YJ Jeep wheels





They rub at full lock and especially in reverse. I'm in the process of changing the springs so hopefully no more rub.
84 Eagle Wagon aka 'Zoro II'
263,000 miles and counting!

Offline Amc1320

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #26 on: November 27, 2013, 10:29:00 PM »
Really nice Eagle Zorro
Rob c
84 Eagle Limited Wagon (driven everyday)
81 Eagle Kammback
81 Spirit (undergoing surgery)
83 Spirit (parts car giving it all to keep the rest going)
Manchester, TN

Offline vangremlin

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #27 on: November 29, 2013, 02:55:16 PM »
I've been spending waaaaaay too much time looking at wheels and tires, so I thought I'd share my conclusions (for what they are worth) with everybody and hopefully save some brain damage for others.  Most of this is probably available elsewhere so you may have read it before....

From what I can figure out, wheels for our Eagles are quite unique and very limited.  Yes, there are a number of Jeep wheels that will work, but in terms of after market wheels, especially larger sizes, its tough to find many choices.  I think its because of the way the Eagle was adapted from the original 2WD cars, that the axles stick out farther than the originals, thus the reason for the fender trim.  So the Eagle's needed a wheel with mid-high backspacing, because the mounting surface was relatively far out in the wheel well.

I'm currently using Jeep Grand Cherokee wheels, 15x7 with a 5.25 backspace (+30 offset), 215/75-15 Goodyear Wrangler tires.  I am not having any rubbing problems.  I like the wheels, but the clear coat is coming off of them, and so I will need to have them rehab'ed if I'm going to keep them.  I also need new tires, so I thought now would be the time to really figure out if I want to go with new wheels.  I think a larger size would look good on an Eagle, without going to extremes.

Problems I'm finding with aftermarket wheels:

- Most of the 15x7 have a small backspace (negative offset) which will push the wheel and tire to the outside, increasing the likelihood of rubbing.  It also leads to a lot of spray on the car.  This is also due to the fact that the sides of the Eagles curve in as you go lower

Car with current wheels, note spray pattern behind the wheels



Note how the fender curves in, unlike the 97 Ford Expedition behind it.  If you go with wheels with a smaller backspace, the tires will stick out even more, and spray will be worse



- If you want to go with a bigger wheel, its even harder to find a 7" wheel width.  And when you go to an 8" wheel, you should be using a wider tire, like a 225.  Increases the chances of rubbing.  And its still hard to find a wheel with sufficient backspacing.

- You have to be careful of too much backspacing.  Here is a picture of the back of my wheel, and you can see how close it gets to the spindle.  It looks like I have about 1/2-3/4" of clearance.  One nice thing about the larger wheels is that I'll have more clearance as the wheel will be higher in relation to the spindle.



- There are lots of front wheel drive wheels that may fit, but probably wouldn't look very good on an Eagle.

So, given all that, I'm currently leaning towards an American Racing AR895.  Its available in 7" width for both 15 and 16" diameter.  Backspacing on the 16" is 4.57", about 0.30" more than on my current wheels.  Its got the right bolt pattern.  Its also available in 17x7.5 with a 6.02 backspacing.  Its readily available over the internet, but I'm going to try and find a local tire shop that will order it in so I can test fit it.  It's got a semi-modern look, but not too much like a totally modern wheel.

Let me know what you think....

1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline Amc1320

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #28 on: November 29, 2013, 07:09:46 PM »
I like them and think they would look great on Pepe!!

I like an older style wheel, maybe because I'm an older style too, my favorite wheels Ive ever has on a car was a set of Keystone Classics, if I can find some that's what I want to put on the Ambassador

All AMC small body cars from 70 and up (the hornet body and all the variations) have the curved body and its tough to keep spray off of them, Our Sprit and Concord are worse than the Eagle as they don't have any extensions and unless you run skinny bicycle looking tires you get spray. We have some pretty FAT tires on the Spirit and it looks great, until  it rains, which it like every other day in Tennessee

Cant wait to see how they look on the car !
Rob c
84 Eagle Limited Wagon (driven everyday)
81 Eagle Kammback
81 Spirit (undergoing surgery)
83 Spirit (parts car giving it all to keep the rest going)
Manchester, TN

Offline vangremlin

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Re: Need help chosing the right rims and tires...
« Reply #29 on: November 29, 2013, 09:43:05 PM »
Thanks Rob!  Yes these small body AMC cars are certainly prone to the spray.  I even have splash guards on the Eagle, and its not enough. 
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

 

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