Wheel & Tire Recommendations and General Wheel Fitment

[LJRubi]

Hey guys, right now I'm running Milestar Patagonia 38x13.50R17 on American Racing AR201's. These wheels have only a modest -12mm offset. To accommodate this wide a setup on the Dana 44's, 1.5" hubcentric spacers are a necessary evil on my rig. There are a few things I'd like to accomplish with my next wheel/tire setup, in order of importance, that are as follows:

1. Eliminate the spacers.
If I find a wheel with a -50mm or lower (higher absolute value) offset, I in theory should be able to eliminate these spacers (1.5" = 38mm, and adding that to the existing 12mm gets to 50mm).

2. Beadlocks

3. Go down to a 16" wheel, pending tire availability still staying with a 37-38"
Anybody running 37's+ in a 16" wheel size? BFG, Nitto, Toyo, Milestar, Goodyear, Mickey Thompson and General Grabber don't seem to offer anything this large in a 16" wheel diameter. Street drivability (noise, tracking, or even DOT legality) is really not a concern of mine.

Anyone running any wheels that satisfy a combination of these? The aggressive offset is the most important. If I can't find that in a beadlock, they can always be converted to such. And I'd prefer a 16" wheel simply for more meat on the sidewall, but can definitely live with 17" if tires end up being the limiting factor I'm finding them to be.

 

[Mr. Bills]

#1. Stop thinking in terms of wheel offset for TJ axles. Think backspace instead.

What backspace do you want/need?

What wheel width do you want?

 

[LJRubi]

#1. Stop thinking in terms of wheel offset for TJ axles. Think backspace instead.

What backspace do you want/need?

What wheel width do you want?

Thank you. I come from primarily a street background so need to get used to that.

Current wheels are 17x9 with 4.53" backspace. So, sounds like if I stay with a 9" wheel width, I need a ~3" backspacing. And if I were to go up to 10" in width, I'd need a ~2.5" backspace?

Regarding the wheel width, I am fine sticking with 9" - I am never going to run a tire wider than 13.50, but depending on selection/availability, would be fine going up to 10" wide.

 

[Mr. Bills]

The general consensus in the TJ world is to run wheels with 3.75-4.25" backspace for 12.50" wide tires. For 13.50" wide tires I would think 3.75" would work. I run wheels with 4.0" backspace with "metric 35's" which are 12.4" wide and think 13.50's would be a bit wide for that backspace.

I think you will find the best wheel selection for 37" tires in 17x9. Finding wheels with a TJ lug pattern and the correct backspace may be more difficult, but there are spacers for that.

________________________________
Note: I am assiduously avoiding any discussion regarding whether tires larger than 35" in diameter on TJ axles are good or bad practice as such discussion would be irrelevant to the questions posed. That horse has left the barn.

 

[Rubicon88]

Hey guys, right now I'm running Milestar Patagonia 38x13.50R17 on American Racing AR201's. These wheels have only a modest -12mm offset. To accommodate this wide a setup on the Dana 44's, 1.5" hubcentric spacers are a necessary evil on my rig. There are a few things I'd like to accomplish with my next wheel/tire setup, in order of importance, that are as follows:

1. Eliminate the spacers.
If I find a wheel with a -50mm or lower (higher absolute value) offset, I in theory should be able to eliminate these spacers (1.5" = 38mm, and adding that to the existing 12mm gets to 50mm).

2. Beadlocks

3. Go down to a 16" wheel, pending tire availability still staying with a 37-38"
Anybody running 37's+ in a 16" wheel size? BFG, Nitto, Toyo, Milestar, Goodyear, Mickey Thompson and General Grabber don't seem to offer anything this large in a 16" wheel diameter. Street drivability (noise, tracking, or even DOT legality) is really not a concern of mine.

Anyone running any wheels that satisfy a combination of these? The aggressive offset is the most important. If I can't find that in a beadlock, they can always be converted to such. And I'd prefer a 16" wheel simply for more meat on the sidewall, but can definitely live with 17" if tires end up being the limiting factor I'm finding them to be.

You said you don't really care about street behavior...if so then go with a tire from Interco.
I promise you will find a size exactly what you need in every rim range from 15" onward.

Performance? Off road? The toughest most badass tire you can get.

 

[Mr. Bills]

. . . Interco. . . .

Performance? Off road? The toughest most badass tire you can get.

Performance? On road? The worst ride you will probably ever experience. Especially if you have loose fillings.

 

[Rubicon88]

Performance? On road? The worst ride you will probably ever experience. Especially if you have loose fillings.

To each their own. I do recall the OP stating on road behavior was of little concern.

Moreover Interco makes many different styles. A Bogger isn't road friendly whatsoever however if there is traction to be had a Bogger will find it.

I prefer the TSL SX and the new SXII...even just the original TSL is great.

I ran some for years on a v8 CJ with no harsh ride issues wgatsoever. I was only running about 16-18 psi in them but that platform didn't need any more air with that specific tire.

As I said to each their own

 

[Rubicon88]

To add...the best troubke free backspacing (I never care about offset) we aren't running mall crawlers here)...

The best back spacing for larger tires on the TJ is 3.75.
Spacers? No. A tad out past the flares? Yes. Not too obnoxious spitting Smokey's face.
Unless you're running an extremely wide tire (15" and up) 3.75 is the happy back space

 

[LJRubi]

To add...the best troubke free backspacing (I never care about offset) we aren't running mall crawlers here)...

The best back spacing for larger tires on the TJ is 3.75.
Spacers? No. A tad out past the flares? Yes. Not too obnoxious spitting Smokey's face.
Unless you're running an extremely wide tire (15" and up) 3.75 is the happy back space

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you! I will look for a 3.75 backspace.

Also appreciate the rec on Interco...I had heard of Super Swampers, but was unfamiliar with the mfg behind this model. They truly make every size imaginable!

 

[BCB75]

Also, you mentioned different backspacings for different wheels widths earlier... The backspacing requirements will not change based on wheels widths (even though I know offsets do).

The backspacing is how far in the wheel protrudes under the body from the mounting surface. So a 10" wide wheel and a 7" wide wheel with 4" of backspacing will sit the same distance from your control arms/sway bar, etc.

 

[Apparition]

Also, you mentioned different backspacings for different wheels widths earlier... The backspacing requirements will not change based on wheels widths (even though I know offsets do).

The backspacing is how far in the wheel protrudes under the body from the mounting surface. So a 10" wide wheel and a 7" wide wheel with 4" of backspacing will sit the same distance from your control arms/sway bar, etc.

But backspacing is a concern for tire width. A 12.5” tire on an 8” rim is different than a 10.5” tire.

 

[LJRubi]

Also, you mentioned different backspacings for different wheels widths earlier... The backspacing requirements will not change based on wheels widths (even though I know offsets do).

The backspacing is how far in the wheel protrudes under the body from the mounting surface. So a 10" wide wheel and a 7" wide wheel with 4" of backspacing will sit the same distance from your control arms/sway bar, etc.

Extremely helpful as well. Thanks for clarifying this.

 

[BCB75]

Apparition, thank you for expanding on that.

Yes, the tire width can create different situations for rub on suspension components, given the same backspacing. From a wheel perspective though, it ends at the same spot.

 

[Rubicon88]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you! I will look for a 3.75 backspace.

Also appreciate the rec on Interco...I had heard of Super Swampers, but was unfamiliar with the mfg behind this model. They truly make every size imaginable!

Absolutely positively a fantastic company in the Bayou.

Don't let anyone fool you...
The Super Swamper is the tire by which all others are measured against off road.
They set the bar off road. Of course they won't feel like BFG all terrain on the highway but what is the goal? Given the size you're looking for I'd say your goal is leaning more toward off-road traction and durability.

You will have no trouble getting the size you want in a 16 or even 15" rim.

P.s.

Allow me to recommend a good wheel for your purposes...

https://www.4wd.com/p/pro-comp-69-s...ttern-flat-black-7069-5165/_/R-BKBQ-7069-5165
That has a 3 5/8 back space...a legit 10"width. Aluminum. Black is never uncool.

I've used those with 13.50 wide tires in the rocks, stumps, mud...never an issue.

Then find a set of swampers to the height you want and go cat go.

And a tire...
Sam-75
that is a Swamper TSL SX
38x14.50x15

 

[bvd28]

#1. Stop thinking in terms of wheel offset for TJ axles. Think backspace instead.

What backspace do you want/need?

What wheel width do you want?

This is confusing to me because when I search for wheels online, tirerack.com for example, they only list wheel offset and not backspacing. I'm sure I am confused somehow, but how do I find a wheel to replace my stock TJ 15x7 wheel?

Thanks!

 

[BCB75]

You can calculate backspacing if you have the wheels width and the offset. They're related. The reason we care about backspacing, is because too much and the tires will rub against suspension components. 5" backspacing has basically the same risk of rubbing whether your wheel is 7" or 12" wide

 

[bvd28]

You can calculate backspacing if you have the wheels width and the offset. They're related. The reason we care about backspacing, is because too much and the tires will rub against suspension components. 5" backspacing has basically the same risk of rubbing whether your wheel is 7" or 12" wide

Ok, according to another post on this site my stock wheels are:
15x7 steel
5 on 4.5" bolt pattern
Backspacing = 5.5"
Offset = +38 mm

I'm running 30/9.50-15 tires...it's a 4cyl auto and I'm in CO so putting a bigger tire on it would just make it more gutless that it already is. Anyway, if the offset it +38, why can't I find any replacement wheels that even come close to that? The closest I can find is +20 and there's only 1 choice...that can't be right...?

https://www.tirerack.com/wheels/res...oModel=Wrangler+SE&autoYear=1998&autoModClar=

 

[Rubicon88]

This is confusing to me because when I search for wheels online, tirerack.com for example, they only list wheel offset and not backspacing. I'm sure I am confused somehow, but how do I find a wheel to replace my stock TJ 15x7 wheel?

Thanks!

Quit looking on Tire rack.

Look at National Tire and Wheel out of Wheeling, WV.

4wd hardware. Quadratec...