Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Running JK 17" wheels with 35" tires - setups requested

... When I was considering 35s, I entered the specs and then figured out what spacer thickness got me closest to OE inner sidewall clearance to ensure I wouldn't rub.

When one pays attention to the SAI and preserving steering performance, there is likely to be a compromise to allow some amount of tire rub at the ends of the steering and suspension travels.
 
With a larger tire, we do not care about OEM specs or replicating those specific measurements. We are more interested in the steering axis inclination and where the center of the tire contact patch rotates relative to the SAI.

Well I just meant from a standpoint of how does it all fit relative to where the factory tires were. But I also don't have any concept of steering axis inclination, what it is, what it needs to be, how various things change it...
 
Well I just meant from a standpoint of how does it all fit relative to where the factory tires were. But I also don't have any concept of steering axis inclination, what it is, what it needs to be, how various things change it...

Screenshot_20250721_101416_Chrome.jpg


In a perfect world, we want the SAI and the center of the tire to intersect on the ground. This intersection point changes with tire diameter and wheel backspacing.

The further away the tire center and SAI points are from each other, the more the tire needs to roll as it is being steered. This is a problem with lockers and steering resistance. While driving, the further away those two points are from each other, the more steering input from the road is transferred through the tire due to the increase in leverage on one side of the tire patch.
 
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When one pays attention to the SAI and preserving steering performance, there is likely to be a compromise to allow some amount of tire rub at the ends of the steering and suspension travels.
Almost everything is compromise when you start deviating from factory specs.

I ended up with (what I think is) the thinnest adapter I can use with stock wheel studs at 1-1/2".
 
I value better steering at the expense of a small amount of tire rub.
I'm probably going to beef up the steering sometime this year with ZJ parts. I don't mind a little reduction in steering radius or rub... so, what's a good way to figure out a target for optimal camber given a wider tire? My tire centerlines are ~1.5" outside of factory, which I think is a pretty common setup.
 
... so, what's a good way to figure out a target for optimal camber given a wider tire? My tire centerlines are ~1.5" outside of factory, which I think is a pretty common setup.

Post #63 shows you what to think about
 
Post #63 shows you what to think about
It's a good visual. But I don't know how a TJ compares to the sketch... where does SAI land with stock tires in the stock location? I dunno.

Maybe I'll crawl under there at some point and pull a string to represent the SAI and figure it out. It seems like one of those things that could be documented somewhere on these forums. My trig is strong enough to figure it out, but the only numbers I have are old tire center vs new tire center, and old tire radius vs new tire radius.

What's your tire size & camber setting?
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts