17" vs 15" wheels?

[Moab]

I have a chance to buy a new set of M/T tires for my Jeep. But I'm currently running JK Moab rims that are 17". Which confines me to 17" tires.

If I spend another $250 I can get some simple steel black rims in 15". Then I could buy 15" tires instead of 17". I'm trying to figure out if the extra $250 on rims is worth it.

Both tires are very similar in size. With the 17" tire I get an extra .5 inch in height. But lose .10 in width. So no real difference there.

Who's run both of these wheel tire combos? What are the actual benefits of each? Also if I buy a 10 inch wide rim will it be significantly more deep dish wheel than a 8 inch?

I know I have more sidewall with the 15's. But I'm also not a rock crawler. Daily driver and then old logging roads with lots of mud, rocks, dirt and snow. Would be my use. But the roads here in LA are pretty earthquake damaged. I might benefit from a thicker tire aired down some. Thoughts?

My Jeep now. Or with the stock JK 17" rims and tires.

Jeep as it will sort of look like. Different Jeep but the small 15" rims and tires.

 

[kmas0n]

I used to have 15" in steel wheels and 33x12.50R15 BFG MT and swapped to JLUR takeoffs, which are 287/75R17, or about 33.10/50. I noticed a huge improvement in comfort and driveability. The smaller wheel, more sidewall seemed to bounce more and sidewall flex made long sweeping high speed turns pretty miserable. It also helped that the JLUR takeoffs are 11 pounds lighter than the steel 15s with mud terrains... per wheel/tire!

That's as close as I can get for advice on 15 vs 17, but I'm not going back to 15's.

 

[Chris]

Blaine himself stated in another post that there is really no advantage to 15" wheels anymore in comparison to 17". There was at one point, but tire sidewall technology has gotten so good, that it's a moot point now (the larger sidewall that is).

If you look at the way things are going, 17" is definitely outpacing 15" I would say, and the tire selection for 17" is tremendous.

I never ran 15s (only 16" Moab wheels), but I did run 17" wheels on my TJ, and if I were to do it again, I'd go with 17s again (if I were going aftermarket).

 

[Leinhit]

along with all the other points made I would suggest you look at the same exact tire in the two different sizes. Once you hit 17 inch and up the tire prices usually increase dramatically..

maybe you'll get lucky and that's not the case here. I'm running 15 inch, I like the look of it and I like the extra sidewall and I can't see why you got to pay so much more the price for a tire that has less rubber in it.

 

[xxdabroxx]

To me 17" wheels start to make sense at a 35" tire. I like the extra sidewall the 15" affords you at a 33" tire but that's just my personal preference.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Personally I wouldn't run a 17" wheel on a Wrangler until I got to a 37" or larger tire.

 

[Moab]

along with all the other points made I would suggest you look at the same exact tire in the two different sizes. Once you hit 17 inch and up the tire prices usually increase dramatically..

maybe you'll get lucky and that's not the case here. I'm running 15 inch, I like the look of it and I like the extra sidewall and I can't see why you got to pay so much more the price for a tire that has less rubber in it.

If I went with Duratracs or K02's I'd be into them upwards of $200 each. These Patagonia M/T's are $118. I know they don't have as large a following as BF Goodrich or Goodyear. But they get good reviews. Especially how quiet they are on the street. And there at the limit of what I can afford. (Or what I can get out of the wife! lol!)

But more importantly I'm not seeing a huge jump between 17 and 15. 15 is definitely not getting you any price breaks. And there are fewer 15 tires available than 17's. In Patagonia there is no price difference between Patagonia M/T's in 17 or 15. And a much bigger selection in 17 than 15.

If it improved my street handling I would swap to a 15 in a heartbeat. As I spend most of my time on the street. Until I move back to the PNW. Then I will hopefully get about a third of the tires use on old logging roads, bad weather etc.

In all honesty if I wanted to stick with what is best on the street. I would just keep my Stock JK rims and tires. They are good enough. But I'd like my Jeep to be at least capable offroad or on old ripped up logging roads. I'm beginning to feel like 17 is the way to go. And spend the other $250 on things I need just as bad.

I still need to sound deaden and replace the carpet. Change my fluids. Replace the speaker system. New bumpers. A new wrap job instead of paint. Most of this I have on hand. But some of it I have not collected yet. And some I will pay to have done. So that $250 plus the savings on the tires. Can easily go back into the build. Probably close to $500-$700.

And again, I'm not out rock crawling with Blaine or Jerry. The best I will use these rims and tires for is old ripped up logging roads. And of course on the street.

 

[Mrprez]

Going back to 15” steel wheels with Patagonia M/T tires.

 

[Moab]

Going back to 15” steel wheels with Patagonia M/T tires.

View attachment 128681

Why? Interested in your experience.

 

[Mrprez]

I have no experience. I like the look of the 15” wheels/tires better. It’s a Jeep. If I want comfort, I have other vehicles for that!

Mine came with the 17” JK wheels that you see in my photo. They are for sale if anyone is interested.

 

[Moab]

I have no experience. I like the look of the 15” wheels/tires better. It’s a Jeep. If I want comfort, I have other vehicles for that!

Trust me. It's not comfort I'm after. If so, I'd have kept my Yukon. lol. A Jeep is a like a horse. It's not perfect but it gets the job done.

 

[Rubisohoe]

I like the look of the stock wheels much better. My Jeep looks just like the second photo. If I could find someone around here that would swap with me, I would do it in a heart beat.

 

[Moab]

I like the look of the stock wheels much better. My Jeep looks just like the second photo. If I could find someone around here that would swap with me, I would do it in a heart beat.

Someone needs to build a better tire and wheel app. Like one of those where you can see what specific tires and wheels look like on a specific lift. That would be cool.

 

[billiebob]

Going back to 15” steel wheels with Patagonia M/T tires.

View attachment 128681

This is my favourite combination. There must be millions of those rims out there and they sell for a $20 a piece. There were the base Jeep wheel on YJs, TJs, XJs since '87. I think I have 12.

But 17s are probably the smarter buy. I could see 15s disappearing over the next 10 or 20 years.

 

[Moab]

This is my favourite combination. There must be millions of those rims out there and they sell for a $20 a piece. There were the base Jeep wheel on YJs, TJs, XJs since '87. I think I have 12.

I love your tall tire look on older Jeeps with subdued paint jobs. Makes them look old and cool. Reminds me of my Dad's old trucks that he took everywhere. From mountain passes snowed in to elk hunting way up in the mountains.

And ya those rims are cheap. that's why I bought the JK's. $300 for all 5 wheels and tires. I don't see anyplace where you can beat that. And there are tons of them on the market. I do like how they look. But my first concern was price.

 

[Moab]

I have no experience. I like the look of the 15” wheels/tires better. It’s a Jeep. If I want comfort, I have other vehicles for that!

Mine came with the 17” JK wheels that you see in my photo. They are for sale if anyone is interested.

Your new ones are AT not M/T. Minor difference. But you'll get better handling on street with the AT's most likely. Let us know how the Patagonia's work out.

 

[Mrprez]

This is my favourite combination. There must be millions of those rims out there and they sell for a $20 a piece. There were the base Jeep wheel on YJs, TJs, XJs since '87. I think I have 12.

But 17s are probably the smarter buy. I could see 15s disappearing over the next 10 or 20 years.

$16 each!

15 to 20 years? Not a concern for me. At 67, I don’t think I’d be able to crawl into a Jeep in 15 years.

 

[Mrprez]

Your new ones are AT not M/T. Minor difference. But you'll get better handling on street with the AT's most likely. Let us know how the Patagonia's work out.

I bought ATs, says on the sidewall MT (in the fine print), but the tread pattern is definitely AT. I will let you know.

Went back up to the garage and looked at these again, I mistook the M + S. There are the ATR version. They also make an ATW with a less aggressive tread.

 

[bobthetj03]

If you can find a load "C" 17" tire in a 33ish size, I'd vote to keep the JK wheels and roll on.

 

[Moto Mike]

17 to 15 for me. I had 35x12.5x17 Toyo RT, load range E and 10 ply. Felt safe off road but rode like crap on the road and totally sucked in the snow. My opinion is any thing greater than a C tire is over kill in these lighter weight jeeps. Not many load range C tires in 17, but a lot more choices in 15 in. Went with Grabber at's in load range C and the ride quality is SO much better and the snow/wet handling is light years ahead of the Toyo RT's. (RT is between a AT and a MT).