Topic: TIRE & Wheel SIZE ?

[JeepersCreepers]

Got a 4Banger & use to putt back and forth to work.I am in bad need of some good looking wheels & tires.The factory steel wheels & small tires(215/75R15)look like crap.What can I get away with with out killing off a lot of pep from my 4 banger & still make it look a lot better? Got the 2.4 TJ with the 6 speed tranny BTW........Thanks........... :D

[Crunch]

I put 30x9.50's on the Jeep before I did suspension upgrades.  They fit nicely on the factory rims, didn't rub, didn't require gear changes, etc.., but I didn't wheel it much then.

[Jeffy]

Got a 4Banger & use to putt back and forth to work.I am in bad need of some good looking wheels & tires.The factory steel wheels & small tires(215/75R15)look like crap.What can I get away with with out killing off a lot of pep from my 4 banger & still make it look a lot better? Got the 2.4 TJ with the 6 speed tranny BTW........Thanks........... :D

Well, you could move up to 225, 235 or even 31".  Aluminum wheels will always look nicer then steel wheels.  So if you want some bling, go with aluminum wheels.  They cost more but they are usually lighter then their steel counterpart. (although not always the case.)  Besure to do some searching on backspacing though.  This is really important.  You'll also have to recalibrate your speedometer.  (It's in the FAQ Forum)

[jagular7]

Preference to one is not the same to another. I see a TJ or YJ and those real pizza cutters and ask where's the beef? The stock tires are definately not filling any fenderwell.
Wheels are not important to me as I'm in the driver's seat and not looking at my wheels. The more bling you have, the more attention you get, the more attention, the more problems with vandalism.

If anything, take the stock 9 holer and paint it the same color as your Jeep. Reuse the black plastic center cover. Cheap, not everyone's is like it, doesn't draw much attention, adds some bling, etc.

[Jeffy]

Preference to one is not the same to another. I see a TJ or YJ and those real pizza cutters and ask where's the beef? The stock tires are definately not filling any fenderwell.
Wheels are not important to me as I'm in the driver's seat and not looking at my wheels. The more bling you have, the more attention you get, the more attention, the more problems with vandalism.

If anything, take the stock 9 holer and paint it the same color as your Jeep. Reuse the black plastic center cover. Cheap, not everyone's is like it, doesn't draw much attention, adds some bling, etc.

Only problem with the 9-slots is their BS.  With a tire like a 31x10.5, it's gonna rub.  In that case, it might be better to get spacers to move them out an inch.  The tires will tend to wear in the middle at regular pressure so he's have to lower them into the teens to get a flat contact patch.  Wheels are cheap, especially steel ones.  $50-75 each and you've got new wheels.  Although everybody has AR767/Rockcrawlers just like how everyone used to have white wagon wheels.

Aluminum wheels don't draw any more attention then steel wheels.  They're more likely to steal your wheels for the tires mounted on them.  especially if they're a popular size.  Although with tires under 33", I doubt anyone would steal them anyway.

Aren't you running pizza cutters? :nothing:

[jagular7]

....snip....Aren't you running pizza cutters? :nothing:

Yah, sort of. At speed they look like cutters (funny how the Jeep looks when you are behind it in another vehicle). But they are a little meaty in the lugs which makes them look wi d e  r....

[JeepersCreepers]

Got a 4Banger & use to putt back and forth to work.I am in bad need of some good looking wheels & tires.The factory steel wheels & small tires(215/75R15)look like crap.What can I get away with with out killing off a lot of pep from my 4 banger & still make it look a lot better? Got the 2.4 TJ with the 6 speed tranny BTW........Thanks........... :D

Well, you could move up to 225, 235 or even 31".  Aluminum wheels will always look nicer then steel wheels.  So if you want some bling, go with aluminum wheels.  They cost more but they are usually lighter then their steel counterpart. (although not always the case.)  Besure to do some searching on backspacing though.  This is really important.  You'll also have to recalibrate your speedometer.  (It's in the FAQ Forum)

Thanks for all the comments guys! I think maybe something along the line of a 235 on a nice set of aluminum wheels will do.What about width.The factory are 15x7",do I need to go to a 15x8 to give it a little more beef?These maybe?

 BTW anyone got a link to the speedo calibration stuff?..............Thanks........ :D

[Mozman68]

Well...Jeffy may like aluminum, but I dig the black steelies...nothing looks better IMO....

and like he said, the speedo gear is here as well...

http://www.4bangerjp.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=731

[Jeffy]

I never said I prefer aluminum, BUT if you're trying to minimize weight then aluminum is the way to go.

The order of strength goes something like this for Al wheels;

Cast
Billet
Forged

If you're factory wheels are 15x7's they are not 9-slots (15x6).  That would make them 'Full-Face' steel wheels.  I think they're 5 spokes.  Honestly, you could reuse your old wheels with the new tires. Probably looks like this one.   That would be the cheapest way to go.

I'm not really fond of many of the new aluminum wheel styles out there.  When choosing wheels pay close attention to the Backspacing/Offset.  You will really want to stay with more then 4".  Especially with those smaller tires.  The problem is when you get a wheel with a generic 3.74" BS, it pushes the tires out past the stock flares, which is illegal in many states. They also look ugly and a clear sign of someone who didn't do any homework.
 

So with that said, I wouldn't buy those wheels. Not to mention they only have 4 so good luck trying to match the spare.  It's not really a deal either.

These are the common ARE wheels (there are many more.);


Mickey Thompson/Alcoa had some nice wheels but they got rid of their forged wheels in favor of cast wheels.  Kinda sad that they show off their fake beadlocks.

Here's Crager Wheels





I really like Stockton Wheels.  They have some nice retro no nonsense wheels that can be built to your exact specs.  Want an oddball offset or with, no problem. They will even rebuild your existing steel wheels to your new specs.


When it's time for new wheels I might get those middle Stocktons or maybe these;

[chrisfranklin]

I use 235s on my Yj and have to use spacers.  Running a TJ and choosing from larger size tires -- 225, 235, 31s -- I'd do the 31s.  235s look ok and drive ok, but 31s would fill out the wheel wells better.

Frankly, my own next set of tires is going to be 31" (though likely 33s) for four reasons:

-31s seem to be the minimum tire size for joining most of the 4x4 clubs here in Southern California -- clubs in your area may have the same size criteria.  So, if you are ever considering doing some more serious trails with a club in your area, save yourself some money and buy probably the right size the first time, 31s.
-You probably won't need to regear with 31s (33s a different story)
-31s look good without needing too much in the way of lift.  Look very balanced on stock vehicles like Rubicon.
-31s are, historically, the largest tire size that Jeep would put on stock rigs from the factory.

As for wheels, I am kind of a Jeep-alloy-wheel fan myself.  That is, I'd have no problem running Jeep wheels from other Jeeps on my old YJ.  
Here's a place that sells Jeep wheels that will fit on Wranglers:  
http://www.wheeltechnologies.com

[Crunch]

If it helps any...here is what 30x9.50's look like on stock wheels

[gomi]

I got some new tires today. Dunlop radial mud rovers. I wanted to get 30x9.5 and went to the local tire shop my family has been going to for years. I didn't get the 30's because they gave me a deal on some 235/75/15's I paid $200 for four new ones. Don't know why but they seemed to think that 30's were not a good idea for the four banger. I had the feeling it was because they figured that I was a woman and didn't understand the practicality of it all. Oh well, for $200  Guess I couldn't say no.

[Mozman68]

you can't beat that price...but I went with 31's when I had stock suspension and didn't notice the lag too much.  Not too many hills in Michigan though and they looked "kick ass!"

[Jeffy]

That's cheaper them my tires which cost about $200 each.

[gomi]

That's cheaper them my tires which cost about $200 each.

yeah, only thing is I probably should have gotten 30's they would have looked cooler.