Do you have a big brake kit or stock calipers?
Stock will fit a 15 inch rim no problem. Most OEM wheels were 15 inch.
A 15 inch big brake kit and sometimes even a 16 inch big brake kit will fit in a 15 inch rim without much issue at all.
15" vs 16" wheels
- Thread starter TJim
- Start date
Stock will fit a 15 inch rim no problem. Most OEM wheels were 15 inch.
A 15 inch big brake kit and sometimes even a 16 inch big brake kit will fit in a 15 inch rim without much issue at all.
VI_TJ
Member
I feel the 16” pain. Unfortunately at some point the PO got some moabs 265 75 16 duratrac. Want to go 33’s here soon and will be going back to 15’s. I have 15” canyons on my trailer to keep the Jeep theme
This is the echo chamber of anti 16” wheels lol. There are options in load range c & d if you like the wheels both in AT & MT tred pattern. I’m a 16” Moab fan.
I’m unsure, that’s a question I’ll have to find the answer to. The brakes are new and they “look big” I just like the look of the 15’s
Take a photo, particularly of the knuckles. I kind of doubt someone would put a big brake kit on it for stock tires, but it's possibleI’m unsure, that’s a question I’ll have to find the answer to. The brakes are new and they “look big” I just like the look of the 15’s
...also if you are in an "air down" situation, the 15's will leave you a little more buffer (on same size tire).
The size of the hole in the middle
Seriously just price out a 15" and a 16" tire of the same dia. and you see the difference
So, correct me if I'm wrong.
1) For a vehicle light as a TJ, one must ideally choose a tire with Load Rate C over Load Rate D or E.
2) (POSSITIVE FOR 15" WHEELS) A 31" tire in a 15" wheel will give me more sidewall than a 31" tire in a 16" wheel, SO I can deflate more safer?
3) (POSSITIVE FOR 16" WHEELS) A 16" wheel will be more likely to fit in a big brake kit than a 15" wheel.
Is there an other difference that I should be aware of between a 31" tire in a 15" wheel vs a 31" tire in a 16" wheel, in the same Load Rating (i.e. LT C) besides the sidewall?
1) For a vehicle light as a TJ, one must ideally choose a tire with Load Rate C over Load Rate D or E.
2) (POSSITIVE FOR 15" WHEELS) A 31" tire in a 15" wheel will give me more sidewall than a 31" tire in a 16" wheel, SO I can deflate more safer?
3) (POSSITIVE FOR 16" WHEELS) A 16" wheel will be more likely to fit in a big brake kit than a 15" wheel.
Is there an other difference that I should be aware of between a 31" tire in a 15" wheel vs a 31" tire in a 16" wheel, in the same Load Rating (i.e. LT C) besides the sidewall?
Now I do have a set of 15x10 steelies that fit over the front brakes due to the weights get put on the edges, but concerned about 3 1/2" back space.
Was thinking of putting 35x12.5 on these. Just seems like a lot of tire hanging out to the side???
Was thinking of putting 35x12.5 on these. Just seems like a lot of tire hanging out to the side???
3.5" of backspacing on 15x10 wheels will be quite wide, and personally I would avoid it due to the extra stress on the axles.
Generally, the recommendation is for 3.75" of backspacing on a 15x8 wheel. This puts the centerline of the tire 0.25" outboard of the wheel mounting surface (WMS).
3.5" on 15x10 will put the centerline of the tire 1.5" outboard of the WMS, which can put excessive stress on bearings and ball joints, and will have more significant effects on scrub radius and Ackermann steering geometry.
Generally, the recommendation is for 3.75" of backspacing on a 15x8 wheel. This puts the centerline of the tire 0.25" outboard of the wheel mounting surface (WMS).
3.5" on 15x10 will put the centerline of the tire 1.5" outboard of the WMS, which can put excessive stress on bearings and ball joints, and will have more significant effects on scrub radius and Ackermann steering geometry.
With 15"wheels, the tires "look" bigger- the 15" combined with the larger tire to most folks "looks " better.
Larger tire , more side wall means better ride.
Cost of the tire is less with the 15"
Consensus IS-- go with the 15's
Larger tire , more side wall means better ride.
Cost of the tire is less with the 15"
Consensus IS-- go with the 15's
Fashion. It was a way of setting the early Rubicon apart from the rest of the line.
I'm not convinced that load range on modern tires matters as much as so many think it does. I never thought my last two sets of 33" E's on 16's rode poorly. My new 35" C's on 15's are ever so slightly smoother. But is it because of the LR, the increased side wall, the differences in tire construction? Whatever it is, it isn't anywhere near dramatic and the ride was never a problem to begin with.
I agree with this. I used to have Load Range E tires on my LJ and they seemed OK. I ran them with a few less pounds pressure which may have had a bit to do with it. I have Load Range C now and I like them but I can't say they are significantly better. I may not be that critical … these things will never run like sports cars.
The original tires on a TJ/LJ Rubicons were Goodyear Wrangler MT/R 245/75/16 Load Range E. I don't know if things were different back then.
Thanks guys, I have always had the E's on 16" wheels on my LJR and didn't think there was anything wrong with them. I have seen so many people here talking about the huge difference that C's make on Tj's that I was thinking about going that route when I need tires in the future. I do have my air pressure about 26 Lbs and it feels good on and off road. Also don't get many flats or damaged side walls.
TJRick
TJ Enthusiast
I took the liberty of checking the cost of similar size tires in the same brand for 15" wheels and 16" wheels, and the difference was a mere $10:
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac 33x12.50 R15 (standard): $223
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac 285/75 R16 (metric): $233
While I agree with you that the tires themselves look bigger on a 15" wheel, they also tend to look more "ballooned" due to the extra width of standard size tires. That extra width means extra rolling resistance which is going to cost you more.
Metric size tires in the same size are typically more narrow than the equivalent standard tire. But with 16" wheels, the wheel and wheel package as a whole looks bigger, due to the larger (taller) wheel. Also keep in mind that the TJ has much larger wheel wells than either the CJ or the YJ, and both of those models came with 15" wheels. For that reason, the TJ looks proportionately better with 16" wheels compared to 15".
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Depends on the tire. When I was comparing, the cost difference was quite a bit more. I remember figuring out that it would take about 3 sets 16" tires to break even with the cost of the same tire in a 15" plus new 15" wheels.
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