New to this

[Monkeyboy]

Hi all,

After a bit of advice. I recently purchased a 2012 PB LS Challenger. Great so far and has tackled everything. Im not sure if it's been lifted or not but it seems a touch higher than others on the road.

i've just had a set of MCC steps and side/scrub bars installed but i'm now looking at a proper lift kit and bigger/wider tyres. Currently running the stock 17in alloys with 265/65/17 cooper ST's.

What's the biggest wheel/tyre combo i'm likely to fit on a challenger that has no lift?

[old Jack]

Welcome Monkeyboy,

A suspension lift does not give you anymore clearance as the suspension travel is not changed just the ride height. The ST Pro is a big tyre for its theoretical size so you may be a to go up a profile to a LT265/70-17 but your front clearance will be reduced so some snow chains will not fit the front without hitting the front mudflap at 3/4 lock.
Changing offset also increases the lose of clearance at 3/4 lock.

There are some people that are running 33" 285 wide but they have removed the front mudflap and trimmed the inner guard lining at the front.
Lifting the front suspension by more than 30mm is illegal as you do not retain 2/3 of factory wheel travel in droop. Also if you lift too high it loads up the CV joints and it is common for these to snap when running big tyres and big lifts then going too hard offroad.

If you have an auto trans then the auto will not like the bigger tyres, expect fuel consumption to increase and also ATF temps.
If you have a manual trans then the bigger tyres will up your gearing so expect increased fuel consumption and also needing to slip the clutch much more when towing, hill starts and offroad.

OJ.

[amec]

Post a pic of the front and rear suspenders and someone here will quickly say if its the original kit.

Do you want a bigger tyre for a reason? If its just for appearance some tyres in original size look bigger due to the type or construction like mud tyres for example.

My Toyo AT's look bigger than stock but are the same specced size as stock.

Nce to have you with us.

[900canoes]

If you cannot post pics then tell us your EBH for each corner.

[Monkeyboy]

So i had a look at the suspension and it says Ironman Nitro?

I was hoping to put a set of 33 maxxis tyres on but have no idea the dimensions that i need. Very noob to it all. reason for bigger tyres is more contact area to the road/mud.

The car is a Manual and i also noticed when looking around under it, there's a lot of underbody protection.

[Ent]

Hi

I a running 235/85R16 tyres which are taller than the standard ones by around 16mm. Mine is a manual rather loaded with accessories so it really feels the taller gearing. I have a Marks low range 2.85 transfer gear (as opposed to 1.9 factory) so that deals with the higher gearing in low range, but in high range the vehicle feels rather over geared. It would be fair to say that MMAL geared the vehicle as high as they could to get good fuel consumption, so even the modest increase in tyre diameter has rather an impact.

For me fifth will no longer hold going up hills on the highway, thus forcing down changes, which with the manual the fifth to fourth is a bugger to get right as the lever appears to get lost in no-mans land. No issue changing up or down in other gears. On country roads it is easier to leave the vehicle in fourth as you now fall of the turbo quickly once speed drops below 90kmph.

The 235/85R16 allows the use of snow chains, but your rim is rather exposed due to the narrower tyre and rather wide 7" rim.

In all, maybe sneak up one size, but expect that the gearing to be rather compromised if you load on bash plates, bullbars, etc. If you normally run light then ok no great issues. I would hate to think of my vehicle with taller tyres again.

If you are towing then I strongly suggest sticking to factory size tyres.

The issue is on some deeply rutted tracks the monster 36" brigade have made life difficult. But the Challenger is not really suited to excessively tall tyres. Being independent front suspension you get good clearance, as no diff to foul. On the rear only taller tyres will lift the diff.

I went with a size up in tyres and moderate lift so have in effect similar or slightly better ground clearance than an off the showroom floor Landrover Defender. DooSo will never be able to legally and practically run monster tyres and huge suspension lift. But the Challenger is still very capable off-road assuming you do not get trapped into deep ruts made by the monster trucks.

[Monkeyboy]

Welcome Monkeyboy,

A suspension lift does not give you anymore clearance as the suspension travel is not changed just the ride height. The ST Pro is a big tyre for its theoretical size so you may be a to go up a profile to a LT265/70-17 but your front clearance will be reduced so some snow chains will not fit the front without hitting the front mudflap at 3/4 lock.
Changing offset also increases the lose of clearance at 3/4 lock.

There are some people that are running 33" 285 wide but they have removed the front mudflap and trimmed the inner guard lining at the front.
Lifting the front suspension by more than 30mm is illegal as you do not retain 2/3 of factory wheel travel in droop. Also if you lift too high it loads up the CV joints and it is common for these to snap when running big tyres and big lifts then going too hard offroad.

If you have an auto trans then the auto will not like the bigger tyres, expect fuel consumption to increase and also ATF temps.
If you have a manual trans then the bigger tyres will up your gearing so expect increased fuel consumption and also needing to slip the clutch much more when towing, hill starts and offroad.

OJ.

Thanks for all the info!

Not sure about how to trim an inner guard lining (or what it is) but i'm sure it'd be easy enough to remove the front mudflaps.

If i was to get a set of 33" tires, do you happen to know what the specs of the tire would have to be?

[old Jack]

Standard tyre diameter is 776mm and legally you can increase this by 50mm as long as the tyres do not rub on the body work, suspension, steering or anything else. So this means a max legal tyre size if they physically fit of 826mm (32.5").

Tyre size options, based on Cooper St Maxx specifications are;

In 16" so this would mean a rim change.
245/75R16 779mm dia. Rim 6.5"-8".
235/85R16 812mm dia. Rm 6"-7.5".
265/75R16 813mm dia. Rim 7"-8".
255/85R16 833mm dia. Rim 6.5"-8" (over max legal size).
285/75R16 836mm dia. Rim 7.5"-9" (over max legal size).

In 17";
265/65R17 776mm dia. Rim 7.5"-9.5".
245/70R17 780mm dia. Rim 6.5"-8"
265/70R17 809mm dia. Rim 7"-8.5"
275/70R17 817mm dia. Rim 7"-8".
285/70R17 838mm dia. Rim 7.5"-9". (over max legal size).

Modern 4wds are not like old live axle 4wds so the "big tyre" mod is fraught with legal and insurance implications as well as putting extra load on independent suspension components. Be careful what you wish for and the implications of such mods.

OJ.

[Apollo]

I run a set of standard 265/70/16 HT tyres in my normal use and have a second set of 265/75/16 km2 muddies for travelling outback and 4wding trips. My PC is a manual and chipped. I tow a 1T camper (with the km2s on) or a 1.5t boat (with the HTs on). Based on experience so far, I would not want to go any bigger than these. It was noticable how much the performance/fuel was affected towing the camper when I temporarily had the chip out. My current set up is legal and I will keep it that way.

[whereswes]

So i had a look at the suspension and it says Ironman Nitro?

Just wondering if the springs are yellow? If so there's a chance you've got an Ironman system fitted which is around a 30 to 40mm lift.


Cheers
Wes

[02-SR5]

Thanks for all the info!

Not sure about how to trim an inner guard lining (or what it is) but i'm sure it'd be easy enough to remove the front mudflaps.

If i was to get a set of 33" tires, do you happen to know what the specs of the tire would have to be?

I fitted a set of 285/70/17 Pirelli Scorpion AT's. That was fitted to standard sized rims.

I had an OME HD suspension kit (ride was like poo, I hated the ride and driving it) and I had no rubbing issues anywhere. Looked great too ��

[Monkeyboy]

Just wondering if the springs are yellow? If so there's a chance you've got an Ironman system fitted which is around a 30 to 40mm lift.


Cheers
Wes

They look black? but the shocks are white.

[whereswes]

Pretty sure ironman springs are yellow.other than OEM not sure what else would be black.

[littleriver]

Pretty sure ironman springs are yellow.other than OEM not sure what else would be black.

EFS are black ...

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-Challenger-PB-PC-4WD-EFS-Shocks-Coil-Springs-1-5-30mm-Lift-Kit/252488901475?hash=item3ac982e363:g:bdgAAOSwAuZX3zPF

...

[Onyx]

EFS are black ...

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-Challenger-PB-PC-4WD-EFS-Shocks-Coil-Springs-1-5-30mm-Lift-Kit/252488901475?hash=item3ac982e363:g:bdgAAOSwAuZX3zPF

...

As are OME/ARB.