05 Flame Red TJ Build
- Thread starter JMT
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The front fenders I just didn't do very well. I probably used way too many coats. The rears came out great minus that cherry red that came in a PR4 can
Any more color matching I do I think I'll try this sunrise red, that looks really good
Oh maybe that's what I misremembered. I was only thinking of those rear flares which looked good once they had dirt on them (which convenient for me is the natural state of my Jeep).The rears came out great minus that cherry red that came in a PR4 can
I am eventually getting new wheels. I just can't decide whether to go to 17's or stay with 15's. Currently I think I could be happy with the tire offerings in both 17 and 15. What do you guys think?
My pros and cons here:
15's
More sidewall for traction airing down
Load C very common
Wheels plentiful in 15x8
Tires cheaper
BBK not an option (EDIT: the 15" or 16" BBK works with 15" wheels)
17's
BBK option
Tire market moving this direction
17" JK Moab takeoffs are cheap
May have trouble finding Load C tire I'm happy with
Things I don't know about:
Is there significant weight difference between a 15" vs 17" tire/wheel combo?
Is there any difference in hub kit install with 15" vs 17" wheels?
My pros and cons here:
15's
More sidewall for traction airing down
Load C very common
Wheels plentiful in 15x8
Tires cheaper
BBK not an option (EDIT: the 15" or 16" BBK works with 15" wheels)
17's
BBK option
Tire market moving this direction
17" JK Moab takeoffs are cheap
May have trouble finding Load C tire I'm happy with
Things I don't know about:
Is there significant weight difference between a 15" vs 17" tire/wheel combo?
Is there any difference in hub kit install with 15" vs 17" wheels?
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I'd remove this from the 15s thing. You can either do the 15" BBK or test fit on a 16" BBK (I know that @starkey480 , @jjvw and I have all used the 16"BBK on our 15" wheels - I dropped mine to the 15"BBK because of discount tire by me being mostly useless with the tire balancing).
As others said 15" BBK is an option. I have it on mine and it stops the 35's with ease.
https://www.shop.blackmagicbrakes.com/VANCO-15-Big-Brake-Kit-with-BMB-Pads-for-15-Rims-BBK-NDM15.htm
https://www.shop.blackmagicbrakes.com/VANCO-15-Big-Brake-Kit-with-BMB-Pads-for-15-Rims-BBK-NDM15.htm
16" BBK in 15" wheels user here, checking in
@rasband, @bobthetj03, @Alex01, @Apparition, @jjvw. It seems like 15” wheels still have more pros than 17”. Comments?
Seems it depends on your desired tire availability. If you can get what you want in 15 there’s no reason to run 17.
I'm a bit bummed the MT/R isn't in 15" anymore. That said I'm not dumping another 2k into a new set of beadlocks just to run that tire so I'll be sticking with 15s.
I you're buying a cheap set of wheels I guess it doesnt really matter much but if you're dumping $$$ on beadlocks I feel like 17s will be a bit more "future proof".
I figure 17's will be the new 15's as wheels get bigger to enhance MPG's, and 15's find the same death as the 13-14" wheels have done from the 90's. I've actually considered running a 34x1050x17 KO2. I like the skinny tire.
Is sneaking 16”BBK into 15’s worth the effort over going with a 15” BBK?
It seems to me that the writing is on the wall for 15s, my guess is there will be a niche selection of tires available in the not-too-distant future (but that's mostly just a guess). Since I planned on replacing my wheels eventually with beadlocks I am making my future plans based on that view, however I fortunately don't have to decide for at least another year or so and could be proven wrong by time I have the budget for new wheels anyway.
I don't really put much value in the C vs E sidewall discussion, it seems overblown to me. It's probably there - but that's not what I am focused on. My shocks can be tuned to deal with some decent amount of that concern.
The 15" has plenty of stopping power, the difference is slight. Fortunately the difference between the two is just the rotor (fairly inexpensive) as the knuckle is dual drilled/tapped where you can adjust the caliper saddle for either with no other changes.
If you are going to be buying new rims at some point then pick the tire and rim you want. And as rasband 15" tires might be going on the way side. 13 years ago when I'd built my dual beadlock Hummer rims 16.5 tires were available from 5-6 manufacturers but now the only one offering any selection is Interco and then Pit Bull has a limited size offering.
As to the sidewall debate that has been beat to death. I don't know how much it matters as I've never ran a load range E tire as an off-road tire. Do they air down and flex as well? Have no idea. 17's seem to be the NEW in thing.
As to the sidewall debate that has been beat to death. I don't know how much it matters as I've never ran a load range E tire as an off-road tire. Do they air down and flex as well? Have no idea. 17's seem to be the NEW in thing.
Yeah, what I’m trying to decide is probably inconsequential. I’ve never lost a bead and I’m not in terrain that demands 2-4psi right now, though the benefits would be obvious in snow. With kids around all the time I’m not able to do as much wheelin as I want and plan to in the future. Coyote’s are still an option with either a 17 or 15 wheel. The hassle may not be worth it at this time, but I get it that the benefits are not needed until they are. I want new wheels because they are beat up and hard to balance (could be bad tires), and I want to to get away from the DC-2’s and return to a more classic look. I appreciate the thoughts. I keep getting tempted by sets of 17x8 JK Moab’s for literally $75 or $80 on FB. Then I think, I’ll have to deal with spacers, so why not just get a Moab look-alike like the Mamba MX1, add a washer to the steering stop and add a BBK. I can’t run the MTR up here because they don’t perform well on the snow and ice, so that particular tire is off my radar.
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I noticed the interchangeability of the 15 and 16” BBK on the BM site. Thanks for the ideas. It’s kind of a hard decision for my situation, but I agree that the writing is on the wall to stay with 15’s for now. I’m not sure what I can’t do with them, so why not? I could add Coyotes, I can add a BBK, I can get a tire that works well up here.
If I was to get rid of my oem Moab’s, I’d go with 15s. Lots of wheels with ideal backspacing, more sidewall on the tire, usually cheaper.
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