2008 23' International: 14 or 15 inch wheels and which tires?

[whatsthebuzz]

Originally Posted by Haleakala

Got 'em! Went with the 15" Sendel rims (T02-56545T) and the Michelin 235/75/15 LTX M/S 2 tires. Haven't road test them yet, but I'll let y'all know when we do. Thanks to everyone for their input and advise. Cheers!

Haleakala, How is your clearance in your wheel well? I also have a 2008 23D and don't want to modify anything in order to upgrade my wheels. Do you have any close-up pix you could post?

Thanks!

[interstateflyer]

I saw a new 2015 International 23FB on a dealer's lot today. Looked like it had Sendel T02 wheels.....still 14 inch. The 2015 International 19 next to it had the same wheels, 15 inch.

[eganwh]

Thanks for everyone's comments on this thread. I recently pulled home a 2015 23D with 14" wheels, and have just ordered everything for the jump to 15" wheels and Michelin tires. Going with the 15x6 Sendel S20Ts to maintain the "International" look as well as the LTX MS/2 235/15s as recommended by many.

[explore-Air]

Please let us all know how it goes. Especially interested in any clearance issues. Thanks.

[eganwh]

I doubt I will be able to tell much difference since I will have had limited tow time with the 14"s on the trailer and it was all interstate driving. Going by the numbers, the 15" wheel tire package will be a little over 2" in total diameter larger translating to just over 1" more clearence. As other have pointed out, 8" clearence (versus 7") could be the difference between clearing that curb coming out of the gas station or clipping the underside. I will put up some before and after pics after the conversion is completed.

[eganwh]

Originally Posted by explore-Air

Please let us all know how it goes. Especially interested in any clearance issues. Thanks.

New 15" Sendels and Michelin 235s Installed. Gained 1.25" of ground clearance around the AS.

The gap from the front tire to the wheel lip molding was around a half an inch after the install, so I filed down the molding just around the front of the tire on each side to give roughly an inch clearance. We completed a 300-mile round trip this last weekend and I see no signs of contact of the tire to the molding. This trip included interstate, secondary highways, and gravel roads with washboards and pot holes. Curb side pic:

[eganwh]

Close up of the curb side front tire to wheel lip molding gap.

[explore-Air]

The wheels look great! The close-up really helps. Sounds like others have made similar modifications in front of the tire, but no other issues. The extra 1"+ clearance would be nice.

Thank you for the helpful info and photos.

[interstateflyer]

I ground down that lower leading edge detail back as far as I could. I thought that if it ever came into contact (in an unlikely impact) with the wheel it could do some damage.