I just ordered some BFGoodrich 265/65/18 for my 2008 CTT, so I hope they fit. I can let you know how they fit, assuming the clearance is the same on a 2004. I’ve read some old posts of guys using them with just the slightest rubbing at full turn. No one mentioned spacers.

 

Yeah, I saw the old threads - nerdtalker, if you're around, I saw your posts on Renntech about successful mounting of 265/65R18 on a 2004 CTT. That should nail it, as I guess the concern is that the intercoolers on that year could be what makes the space tighter than on a non-turbo model (like the Transsyberia or S).

And now I am thinking that the reason the clearance looks so tight on mine when I turn the wheel is my 12mm spacers, which would make the tires swing further out. But I have to have a spacer to mount even the stock 20" wheels, if I don't the wheel hits the caliper. Doesn't everyone with a CTT have some small spacer in there to move the wheel away from the brakes? I can find info about the stock spacer size for the rear but no one mentions the front. Does anyone know the stock front spacer size? Thanks.

Edit - To simplify this even further, it seems the 20" have a 60mm offset, whereas stock 18" rims have a 57mm offset, so the 18" rims would stick out even more. But maybe that means you can run the 18" without a spacer and clear the caliper (but would need a spacer for the closer fitting 20"). Do I have that correct?

 

I just removed the oem 19”, there were no spacers. Installed oem 18” without spacers. They are very close to the calipers but still clear.

 

Thanks for the info - with my 12mm spacers the caliper is 7mm away from the wheel, which is why I need 5mm spacers at least. This is strange; it’s a 2005 CTT but only has the red 350mm brakes up front. I wonder if that has something to do with it? It seems most people have the 368mm front rotors, maybe the calipers are thicker on the smaller size? Or is this just a problem with mine...

 

What’s the ET (offset) of your rims? If it can’t clear the calipers by touching the spokes, it’s got nothing to do with size.

I have 8pot calipers and 405mm (16”) discs and both 10x20” (concave) and 9x20” (regular) sport technos clear the calipers.

 

The 350mm are the regular front rotors for the Turbos. The 368mm came with the E81 power kit option. The 350mm are thinner than the 368mm.

 

They are ET60's, which from what I understand is the correct offset for the 20" rims for my year/model. But I also read that the 18's are supposed to be ET57's - I wonder if those few extra mm will be enough to clear the calipers.

But what is still strange is jeanmarcboilard, your 19" OEM wheels did not have spacers and fit, and they are the same 60mm offset as my 20". And ET60's should fit my year without spacers going by the book. So maybe I need to take a closer look at my breaks and make sure everything is on correctly.

And for tires, I guess I'll just have to buy some 18" rims, put on 265/65R18's and see if it works. If they clear the calipers just barely that's probably the best chance of not rubbing.

 

Sorry, I was wrong there. 368mm is Regular Turbo, 380mm is Turbo S or E81 power kit.
My regular Turbo size with 18” has probably 1-2mm clearance from the spoke.
I’m not sure if it’s possible but could maybe your rotors be the wrong size, with thinner hats, making your wheels closer to your calipers?

 

Actually both are correct! After some more digging, the 2004 CTT did have 350mm's (as mine correctly has) but the 2008 turbo was a unique year in that it has 368mm up front - although it seems some had 350mm for some reason. Either way I think the thing for me to do is just get 18" rims with 57mm offsets, then get spacers if they hit the calipers and then hope they don't rub.

 

In case people read, I wanted to post that I tried the ET60 rims on the 2004 CTT again and they cleared the calipers fine. Not sure what changed, but I was wrong about them hitting. So no spacers are necessary. Also with those tiny little wheels on (275/40R20) on I measured the space, and it does look like 31" 265/65R18's will fit fine.

So going to pick up the new 18" rims this weekend, and just have to decide on tires. In the ice tire (Nokian) versus AT (Duratrac) decision dilemma, I think I am going the AT route. We get really deep snow, and hard packed snow here in Alberta, and the ice tires just turn into curling stones when you slow down. Btw has anyone tried the new Canadian Tire Motomaster AT3's? About 10 years ago I bought these cheap a$$ Motomaster M&S tires, and they were the best tires I ever ran on my Jeep. Replaced those with Goodyear Territory's, almost as good but not quite. Then to Duratracs, which are another step down, OK in snow but not spectacular. There are only a few reviews on the Motomaster AT3's (which are probably Cooper's), but they are on sale now and I might give them a go.

 

If they are related to the Cooper AT3 you will find them to be some of the worst tires in the winter that you have ever owned. They are very slick in the winter. Duratracs are what replaced the Coopers and they are awesome by comparison.

 

Well CO is much like AB in terms of snow...worrisome if they aren't as good as Duratracs, which I have on my Jeep now. The Motomasters look kind of like a cross between the Coopers and the Duratracs.

 

Those rims look great! Same ones I'm buying tomorrow - did you refinish them yourself? If so, how was it done? Thanks.

 

I didn’t refinish them. I don’t think they were used much. The owner said he didn’t need them because he was using all season tires. The winter tires on them are from 2004 and still have tread on them. There’s no curb rash, just a bit of delamination of the clear coat on the lip. I paid $1000 for them.

 

Are you using the snows from 2004?

If you are, as tires age they start to get harder and more brittle. Winter tires are designed to have even softer tread pattern than normal tires. You might find that while the 2004 tires are working okay, a new set of tires would be in another league.